Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects 1% to 3% of the general population, though some experts estimate that anywhere from 0.4% to 2.3% of adults have the condition but do not report it. While it is not life threatening, it can lead to a rash that is uncomfortable and unsightly, and can affect a person's quality of life.

In fact, a new study has determined that people with psoriasis may have an increased risk for emotional problems that include depression, anxiety, and even suicide. The findings, published in the Archives of Dermatology, support conventional wisdom that indicates a link between psoriasis and mental health, though there are few studies that have actually evaluated the connection.

In order to further investigate this relationship, doctors examined medical records of over 900,000 patients who were divided into three groups. One group suffered from mild psoriasis (146,042), the second group suffered from severe psoriasis (3,956), and the third group did not have any psoriasis (766,950).

Within these groups, patients were subdivided according to whether they had new-onset depression, anxiety, or suicidality. For every 1000 patients with mild or severe psoriasis, 25.9 were diagnosed with depression, 20.9 with anxiety, and 0.9 with suicidality. In broad terms, the data indicates that among people suffering from psoriasis in the study, an estimated 10,400 cases of depression, 7,100 cases of anxiety, and 350 cases of suicidality are linked to psoriasis each year.

The significance of the findings lies in the fact that the emotional consequences of the skin condition can be profound yet, in many instances, treatable through the proper forms of intervention. These include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that can lead to itchy or sore areas of skin, often resulting in red, scaly patches. The regions of the body that are most affected include the elbows, knees, scalp, face, and feet, though it can occur on most any part of the body.

Psoriasis is linked to our immune systems and a process called cell turnover. Under normal circumstances, new skin cells develop deep below the surface and slowly rise to the surface to form the skin, a process that can take a month. With psoriasis, this migration occurs too quickly, often within days, resulting in the skin condition.

Certain situations can aggravate psoriasis, including infections, certain medications, and stress. It usually occurs in adults, and often runs in families. Treatment includes creams, drugs, and light therapy.

If you suspect you might have psoriasis, speak with your doctor about your options. For more information, visit the homepage of the National Psoriasis Foundation.