New Treatment for Psoriasis: Weight Loss?

Dramatic improvement in psoriasis was noted in two patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery was performed in two obese female patients with severe plaque psoriasis. In both cases, the patients reported an improvement in their psoriasis after surgery, with the second patients' body surface area involvement reducing to just 9%. Investigators theorized that chronic inflammation experienced by obese patients may explain the association between psoriasis and obesity. Weight loss may therefore play a role in treating psoriasis in overweight patients.