Business Insight Psoriasis and Stress I often get asked whether stress can cause psoriasis. Patients tell me stories that led to their bad flares or even initi- ation of the skin plaques. The answer is not as simple as yes or no. Psoriasis like many skin disorders has its origin in the immune system. We see skin being symptomatic but the actual pathology is associate with protein ac- tivity in our immune DNA design. To simplify the process, our immune system produces too much of certain proteins and our body cannot contain them, so it erupts with psoriatic plaques. While this short description is a very much simplifi- cation of very complex processes, it is il- lustrating the fact that skin (middle layer of it) has connections with receptors of our immune functions, more than likely conditioned additionally by our genetic mune shields allowing bad guys to take dispositions. So more questions are asked: nobody attack, whatever our code dispositions in my family had psoriasis, so how can it are. be genetic. First and foremost, huge ma- jority of psoriasis is and has been called through undergoing some other medi- eczema. Often, patients not educated by cal problems or treatments. I have heard a dermatologist, use a word eczema and patients fighting bad pneumonia and psoriasis exchangeable. They are not the coming out of the hospital cured of this same disease. So yes, it is genetic and infection but with psoriasis flare due to you may not even know it was in your the body stress and compromise. family. econdly, genetic does not mean mother to daughter or son, it might be search and learn about psoriasis inva- more complicated and come from an un- cle or grandmother. Fifty years ago, pso- blood biomarkers that are being studies riasis as a term did not even exist in our in hopes of targeting the disease even common language. So yes, psoriasis is a more than today. Every year, we know genetic disorder. Our immune system and responses are still do not know. While it might be hor- dependent on hundreds of triggers and rible feeling to never get full answers, at conditions. There are many environmen- the same time, it is a huge motivation to tal factors that influence it. Our diet and over. Bad guys can be psoriasis or heart Body stress can be also identified And finally, there is much more to re- sions into our skin, including multiple much more and we realize how much we continue research and work hard to find habits influence it. And stress does too. more answers. I invite all of my patients and readers When we are under a lot of stress, and we all are, our bodies open to multiple to participate in clinical trials that not 'attackers: Those attacks are often asso- only can benefit them in treating psoria- ciated with our genetic dispositions but sis but most of all will help us find more not only. Lots of stress, lack of sleep and answers. proper nutrition create holes in our im- Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Psoriasis and Stress I often get asked whether stress can cause psoriasis. Patients tell me stories that led to their bad flares or even initi- ation of the skin plaques. The answer is not as simple as yes or no. Psoriasis like many skin disorders has its origin in the immune system. We see skin being symptomatic but the actual pathology is associate with protein ac- tivity in our immune DNA design. To simplify the process, our immune system produces too much of certain proteins and our body cannot contain them, so it erupts with psoriatic plaques. While this short description is a very much simplifi- cation of very complex processes, it is il- lustrating the fact that skin (middle layer of it) has connections with receptors of our immune functions, more than likely conditioned additionally by our genetic mune shields allowing bad guys to take dispositions. So more questions are asked: nobody attack, whatever our code dispositions in my family had psoriasis, so how can it are. be genetic. First and foremost, huge ma- jority of psoriasis is and has been called through undergoing some other medi- eczema. Often, patients not educated by cal problems or treatments. I have heard a dermatologist, use a word eczema and patients fighting bad pneumonia and psoriasis exchangeable. They are not the coming out of the hospital cured of this same disease. So yes, it is genetic and infection but with psoriasis flare due to you may not even know it was in your the body stress and compromise. family. econdly, genetic does not mean mother to daughter or son, it might be search and learn about psoriasis inva- more complicated and come from an un- cle or grandmother. Fifty years ago, pso- blood biomarkers that are being studies riasis as a term did not even exist in our in hopes of targeting the disease even common language. So yes, psoriasis is a more than today. Every year, we know genetic disorder. Our immune system and responses are still do not know. While it might be hor- dependent on hundreds of triggers and rible feeling to never get full answers, at conditions. There are many environmen- the same time, it is a huge motivation to tal factors that influence it. Our diet and over. Bad guys can be psoriasis or heart Body stress can be also identified And finally, there is much more to re- sions into our skin, including multiple much more and we realize how much we continue research and work hard to find habits influence it. And stress does too. more answers. I invite all of my patients and readers When we are under a lot of stress, and we all are, our bodies open to multiple to participate in clinical trials that not 'attackers: Those attacks are often asso- only can benefit them in treating psoria- ciated with our genetic dispositions but sis but most of all will help us find more not only. Lots of stress, lack of sleep and answers. proper nutrition create holes in our im- Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net