Understanding the Relationship between Psoriasis and Stress

This article is a must read for those who want to develop a clear understanding of the relationship between stress and psoriasis. It is extremely important that you consider all critical aspects about such relationship in order for you to manage and control skin psoriasis. There is a direct correlation between this skin disorder and stress situations. There are specific stress factors that activate and exacerbate skin psoriasis. In fact, while stress can be the predicate of skin psoriasis, this skin condition can also be the trigger of heightened levels of stress. You have to explore the dynamics of such relationship in order to understand the nuances of your treatment options. Relationship between the Skin and Stress Situations Both our brain and our skin come from the same body tissue, which is referred in the medical field as neural ectoderm. The human skin, being a sense organ, is composed of a slew of nerve endings which are directly linked to the brain and the central nervous system. This complex network responds to various hormonal secretions of the endocrine system. The immunological processes that involve the T lymphocytes is also significant in the performance of a critical role in this elaborate system involving the skin, endocrine glands and central nervous system. The body response to stress factors is significantly defined by the processes that occur within this elaborate network. The effect of specific stress factors are triggered and relayed to the skin from the central nervous system and the brain through millions of minute blood vessels that are found in the largest human organ. Relationship Between Stress Situations and Skin Psoriasis Medical studies show that among all skin diseases, skin psoriasis is the skin disorder that is most responsive to stress factors. In fact, the incidence of the medical condition can trigger what is referred to in medical parlance as “reactive depression.” Under such situations, the patient may suffer from a more severe case of skin psoriasis. The specific response to stress varies from person to person, and the more common cases of skin psoriasis are characterized by fixation tendencies, uncontrollable outbursts, anxiety and depression. As earlier stated, aside from its prevailing link with the body’s immune system, you also have to take into account the far-reaching effects of stress factors on the nervous system as well as the endocrine system. The central nervous system relays neuropeptides to the human skin. These major groups of neuropeptides that play a major role in the skin response to stress factors are in turn responsible for the activation of several cytokines such as interleukins and leukotrienes.