Your Lungs and Psoriasis

Several lung diseases occur more frequently in people with psoriasis than those without. The ongoing inflammation and the immune system dysfunction associated with psoriasis could be factors that lead to the development of lung diseases. Smoking is another factor that could explain why people with psoriasis develop lung diseases more often than those without the skin condition. Research shows a correlation between smoking and psoriasis and smoking is linked to the development of several lung diseases.⁵ Challenges related to psoriasis, such as uncomfortable skin symptoms, social isolation, or stress, may cause people with psoriasis to smoke.⁶

Lung diseases associated with psoriasis include:

• Asthma — This inflammatory lung disease causes airways to narrow when they come in contact with an irritating substance. Studies show that people with psoriasis are 32 percent more likely to develop asthma than those without psoriasis. People ages 50 and older are at greater risk than younger individuals.⁷
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — This disease blocks airflow through the lungs. Research shows that people with psoriasis, particularly severe psoriasis, are more likely to develop COPD than the general population.⁸
• Interstitial lung disease (ILD) — ILD is a group of diseases that cause scarring in the lungs.⁹ Researchers have identified a possible relationship between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and ILD, though more studies are needed to better understand the connection.¹⁰

Your Liver and Psoriasis

Psoriasis is associated with a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a chronic liver condition affecting about a quarter of the United States population.^17,18 One of the risk factors for NAFLD is metabolic syndrome, which occurs frequently in people with psoriasis.^11,18

A large study of U.S. adults found that NAFLD was more prevalent in those with psoriasis than those without: 32.7 percent versus 26.6 percent.¹⁷ Other studies have reported higher prevalence, ranging from approximately 44 percent to 66 percent.¹⁷

Your Joints and Psoriasis

Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.²⁰ Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that causes symptoms like painful and stiff joints.²¹ Telltale symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include swollen fingers or toes (sometimes called sausage fingers) and nail symptoms like pitting.²⁰

Researchers are working to understand why some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis while others don’t. Psoriasis on your nails, scalp, or genitals may be associated with greater likelihood of developing psoriatic arthritis.²²

Dr. Haque explained that he regularly asks about symptoms related to psoriatic arthritis: “Do you ever feel like you wake up stiff in the morning? The first signs that we’re seeing may not be that your joints are getting swollen. It might just be that they’re a little stiff.”

It’s also possible for people with psoriasis to develop rheumatoid arthritis, another form of inflammatory arthritis.^21,23 Both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis cause joint pain and swelling, but there are some key differences. Your dermatologist may refer you to a rheumatologist who can examine your joints and run tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. It’s important to treat both conditions early so that you don’t develop permanent joint damage.²⁰ A treatment delay of just six months for people with psoriatic arthritis can result in joint erosion (destruction of the joint) and function limitations.²⁴