Can PsO Make You More Likely to Get Sick?

Here’s a rundown of the associated health risks when living with psoriasis and some lifestyle changes that may help support your immune system.

Psoriasis (PsO) is an immune-mediated skin condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, causing inflammation and the rapid turnover of skin cells.

This results in thick, scaly plaques that may be itchy or painful. Some people also have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which is associated with whole-body inflammation.

While PsO itself is a result of immune system dysfunction, it’s not necessarily a sign of impaired immune function overall. It does seem that in people living with PsO and PsA, the immune system is triggered and activated as if fighting a harmful pathogen.

While it’s not entirely clear if living with PsO makes you sicker or weakens the immune system, there are some increased risks to be aware of.

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Increased risk of developing other conditions

People living with PsO have a higher risk of developing certain comorbidities, or other illnesses, which can affect your overall health. They include:

• arthritis
• depression
• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• cardiovascular diseases

People living with PsO may also have an increased chance of developing other autoimmune diseases or disease-causing systemic illnesses including:

• autoimmune bullous diseases
• vitiligo
• alopecia
• thyroiditis

The likelihood of getting an infection may also be influenced by your PsO.

The relationship between PsO and infections is bidirectional, meaning on one side, specific infections may trigger or flare PsO, and on the other side, PsO may be associated with more severe infections.

More research is needed to clarify this.

Effects of PsO treatment on your health

Medications for PsO may suppress the immune system in an effort to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms. But these medications are usually very targeted and don’t affect the overall function of the immune system.

A 2021 study (which looked at COVID-19 cases and PsO medications) found that people with PsO were more likely to get COVID-19 compared with the general population.

The research also showed data that TNF-alpha inhibitors (like Humira) may be associated with lower odds of contracting COVID-19, while ustekinumab (Stelara) and IL-17 inhibitors, like Cosentyx, may be associated with higher odds of contracting COVID-19.

Scientists are still looking into this connection.

Rituximab, which can be used to treat PsA, has also been shown to impair the immune system’s response to the COVID-19 vaccines, preventing the production of the protective antibodies as intended.

Although it’s not entirely clear if PsO makes you sicker, there are ways you can optimize your immune system when living with PsO.

Nutrition

Optimizing nutrition may be helpful in supporting your immune system when living with PsO.

Certain aspects of a traditional Western diet may disturb the gut’s microbiome, which can influence psoriatic inflammation and overall immune function.

The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends trying 2 diets to manage systemic inflammation and possibly improve skin plaques: a gluten-free diet and the Mediterranean diet.

Although there’s no proven diet for PsO, some people find that certain foods may trigger flare-ups or worsen their symptoms. Common trigger foods may include:

• saturated fatty acids
• simple sugars
• red meat
• alcohol

There are some supplements, vitamins, and minerals, that may help support your immune system. These include:

• vitamin D
• iron
• selenium
• zinc

As always, talk with your medical team before starting any supplements, and be sure to take them only as directed.

Regular exercise

Regular exercise could reduce the risk of chronic metabolic and cardiorespiratory diseases, partially by the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise.

This anti-inflammatory effect may also help manage PsO, in turn helping you stay healthier overall.

The practice of regular physical activity strengthens the immune system, which is also a benefit in preventing viral communicable diseases, like COVID-19.

Managing stress

The link between PsO and stress is complex. Stressful life events can cause PsO and PsO flares, while stress can also be a consequence of PsO and its flares.

Whichever way you look at it, it’s beneficial to your overall health to manage your stress in a healthy way.

You can do this by using a variety of techniques, including:

• deep breathing
• hypnosis
• biofeedback
• seeking professional therapy

Following up with your medical team

Regular medical attention — including office visits, labs, and taking medications as prescribed — is important for overall health, but more importantly to optimize your PsO management and overall immune function.

The bottom line

Although it’s not entirely clear if PsO makes you sicker, there are lifestyle changes you can take to optimize your health and support your immune system while living with PsO.