​Dental health and diet may have an impact on the development and severity of psoriasis.

That’s according to a study by dermatologists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The study found psoriasis patients who rated their gum health as poor or very poor exhibited significantly more severe psoriasis symptoms than those with healthy gums. Conversely, patients who reported consuming fresh fruit at least once a day experienced milder psoriasis symptoms. The study was published in the Dermatology Online Journal.

Dr Benjamin Kaffenberger, a dermatologist at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, who led the study, said: ‘Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease so, although it often presents as red, scaly patches on the skin, we know that the causes and consequences are more than skin deep.’

Researchers created a specially designed lifestyle and diet questionnaire that was administered to 265 patients at Ohio State’s dermatology clinics. The study surveyed 100 patients with psoriasis and 165 without the disease. The study showed poor dental and oral health, in particular gum pain, was associated with those who had psoriasis.

The study also reinforced data from previous studies that found family history of psoriasis, smoking and obesity were significant predictors of psoriasis.

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