From healthcentral.com
New research suggests that lack of skin plaques is not proof of disease inactivity with this condition
If you’re one of the 8 million-plus people in the U.S. with psoriasis, you likely know that systemic inflammation is at the root of your symptoms, including thick, scaly, often itchy patches of skin. Now, new research published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests that this inflammation may persist even after those visible symptoms are reduced with medication.
The findings of the observational study were shared following an assessment of 209 people with psoriasis across three international cohorts (Spain, the U.S., and Sweden). After stable biologic therapy, each participant had a score of 2 or less on the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), a tool used by dermatologists to assess the severity and extent of an individual’s psoriasis, measured by the skin’s appearance.
But as it turned out, visual clues only told part of the story.
Hidden But Still Flaring?
Despite significant improvement in their PASI score, researchers found that about a third of participants (36.3%) had residual inflammation, demonstrated by inflammatory markers in blood tests. This was linked to higher body mass index (BMI), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), increased baseline systemic inflammation, and greater adipose tissue (body tissue). In all three cohorts, women were more likely to have inflammation than men.
“Patients with psoriasis have a reduced life expectancy due to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,” according to lead investigator Álvaro González-Cantero, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, and Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid, Spain, who explained the study findings in a press release. “With the goal of better understanding this, we wanted to explore psoriasis as a systemic disease and its broader health implications.”
The research findings are particularly important, per Dr. González-Cantero, because they highlight that despite achieving good skin responses with biologics, a significant subset of patients—predominantly those with obesity (especially central obesity), higher baseline systemic and organ inflammation (as shown by PET/CT scans), increased subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, and markers of MASLD—continue to exhibit residual inflammation. There is a critical need to address the systemic inflammatory burden beyond skin symptoms in psoriasis, Dr. González-Cantero believes, in order to improve overall patient outcomes.
GettyImages/ArLawKa AungTun
The Full Body Connection
Pasadena, CA-based board-certified dermatologist William D. Shipman III, M.D., Ph.D., welcomes the research. “It reinforces what many of us who treat psoriasis every day have observed—that even when the skin looks clear, there can be lingering inflammation beneath the surface,” he says. “This persistent systemic inflammation can quietly contribute to conditions like cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. The study helps connect those dots with more clarity and could push both dermatology and primary care forward in treating psoriasis as a full-body disease, and not solely a dermatologic illness.”
Dr. Shipman believes that a broader understanding of psoriasis as a systemic inflammatory disease could transform patient care. “If primary care doctors, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and even mental health providers recognize psoriasis as more than skin deep, it could lead to earlier screening for comorbidities like heart disease and metabolic syndrome,” he says. “It might also reduce stigma. Psoriasis isn’t just a rash—it’s a reflection of immune dysregulation that can affect the whole body. When patients feel seen in that way, they’re often more engaged in their care.”
As a practicing dermatologist, Dr. Shipman says it’s notable how few psoriasis patients think about the bigger picture, including the broader health implications of their condition, such as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. “Honestly, most of my patients don’t come in thinking about heart disease or fatty liver,” he says. “They’re focused on the physical discomfort and visible appearance of their skin, which makes sense, because that’s what affects them day to day.” He adds that when he explains the connection between psoriasis and inflammation elsewhere in the body, many patients are surprised, and sometimes even a little alarmed: “That moment of awareness can be powerful.”
With Psoriasis, Knowledge Is Power
Dr. Shipman agrees with the researchers that continuous education is vital—and not just for patients but for healthcare providers, too. “Psoriasis education should be integrated into internal medicine training, cardiology, and even public health messaging,” he says. “On the dermatology side, we can do a better job of having those systemic risk conversations in the exam room. And at the policy level, insurers and healthcare systems should recognize that treating psoriasis with advanced therapies isn’t just about skin clearance—it’s a chance to reduce long-term inflammatory disease burden across the board.”
https://www.healthcentral.com/news/psoriasis/hidden-inflammation-may-persist-despite-clear-skin