LIFESTYLE FACTORS AFFECTING PSORIASIS TREATMENT:

It is known that lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity may affect psoriasis severity. Furthermore, addressing risk factors might also contribute to better treatment responses to systemic medication. In a recent trial, overweight patients with psoriasis randomized to a hypocaloric diet achieved significant weight loss after 16 weeks and a higher mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index change compared with the group with a normal diet. The data from the Psocare study in Italy showed that patients with psoriasis with lower body mass index responded better to systemic therapy than obese patients. These results suggest that lifestyle changes could lead to a better control of psoriasis and also a better response to systemic antipsoriatic therapy.