Exercise reduces psoriasis risk
New research by scientists at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital highlights another medical condition improved by exercise: the skin affliction called psoriasis. In a study published online by the journal Archives of Dermatology, researchers found that vigorous activity reduced the risk of women developing psoriasis by as much as 25 or 30 percent, compared with the women in the study who exercised least. Psoriasis is a common condition afflicting 7.5 million Americans and 125 million people worldwide. It is noncontagious and is characterized by skin that is red and irritated and that in many cases develops flaky, silver-white patches. The condition not only can be itchy and painful, but can also cause the skin to crack and bleed. About one-fifth of cases involve psoriatic arthritis, a condition that can involve significant joint damage. Abrar Qureshi, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital...