psoriasis | MY SPECIAL DOCTOR

Can you play sports with psoriasis?

20 February 20246 January 2024 by Alessia Giannino

The onset of psoriasis can lead to the abandonment of sports activities, as physical and psychological discomfort causes the patient to isolate himself and suspend what were previously his daily routines.

Psoriasis is characterized by the presence of lesions, which obviously also negatively affect the mood of the sufferer, who often does not continue the activities he or she used to do before the onset of psoriasis. Research conducted in Finland found that most patients give up physical activity altogether or only partially. Another study, conducted in Italy, although confirming young people’s abandonment of sports activities, showed that a quarter of them found benefits in sports, preventing the natural course of the disease.

So while it is true that psoriasis patients tend to give up their habits, it is also true that consistent physical activity plays an important role in improving the symptoms of the disease. In addition, sports also reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and type 2 diabetes, which can occur as a result of psoriasis.

What sport to play?

Choosing a sport to play is not that difficult, just avoid contact sports, such as boxing or martial arts, as they may result in injuries or scratches on the skin. Swimming and all water sports are highly recommended, especially when practiced in the summer months and outdoors. The sun’s rays, in fact, bring benefit to psoriasis patients. If, on the other hand, swimming is done in a swimming pool, it is necessary to inquire about the amount of chlorine in the water and to rinse the body well after the activity so as not to develop chlorine irritation. It is important to use soothing agents and emollients to keep the skin soft and protected, while trying to use the utmost care both hygienically and cosmetically.

Improvements to coronary plaque with biologic therapy for psoriasis

18 February 20246 January 2024 by Renato Torlaschi

ILa biological therapy in patients with psoriasis severe is associated with significant improvements in coronary plaque characteristics, according to new research coordinated by Nehal N. Mehta, of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, USA, ad published in Cardiovascular Research, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.

The severe psoriasis is characterized by a high risk of myocardial infarction early and coronary artery disease rates similar to those of type 2 diabetes, and in affected patients, the extent of noncalcified plaque correlates significantly with both traditional cardiovascular risk factors and psoriasis severity.

Mehta and colleagues characterized coronary plaque before and after therapy in 121 individuals with moderate to severe psoriasis. Of these, 32 received topical treatment and 89 received biologic therapy, of three different types: anti-TNF, anti-IL12/23 or anti-IL17.

After one year of follow-up, in patients treated with biologic drugs, the U.S. researchers found a 5 percent reduction in total coronary plaque and also in non-calcified plaque, while in those who had undergone topical therapy there was no significant improvement. Indeed, in the latter subjects, coronary artery disease has progressed, and part of the fibrous component of the plaque has converted to fat-fibrous, signaling a lipid infiltration whose consequences are well known: the fibrous wall thins and may eventually rupture, increasing the risks of thrombus formation.

Patients treated with biological therapy also improved in terms of systemic inflammation, although the authors themselves recommend caution and urge larger, randomized studies.

However, optimism is also warranted because the result adds to that of previous research, in which biological therapy was seen to reduce the risk of a new cardiovascular event in subjects who had already had a myocardial infarction.

Do you suffer from psoriasis? Here are the foods that help

11 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with an immune base that causes characteristic reddened and flaking plaques to appear on the skin, especially on the elbows and knees, but also on the hands, arms, legs, trunk, face, and scalp. Sufferers, in addition to regularly using medication prescribed by the doctor and taking special care of the epidermis every day, can also obtain relief from symptoms through appropriate food choices. In particular, foods and drinks with anti-inflammatory activity should be preferred, while those that can promote the triggering of skin manifestations, starting with alcohol, should be avoided. Find out here which ones are .