Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, inflammatory skin disease affecting 
approximately 2% of the population worldwide. Over the past decade, multiple 
studies have shown that not only is there an association between psoriasis and 
psoriatic arthritis, depression, and substance abuse, but psoriasis patients 
also have a higher incidence of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. In 
addition, and more concerning, young psoriatic patients particularly those with 
more severe disease are at an increased mortality risk even when controlling for 
these factors. The systemic inflammation in psoriasis generates elevation of 
C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a, 
IL-6, IL-17, IL-20, IL-22, and IL-23, which may contribute to the overall 
morbidity and mortality in these patients. Within this article we will discuss 
the associations between psoriasis and multiple systemic health problems.