Patients with psoriasis have a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to a new study from Taiwan.
Psoriasis is a genetic disease caused by environmental factors, scientists believe. Common symptoms include a reddish, scaly rash, with itching and flaking skin. It is not contagious. Psoriasis is caused by the autoimmune system attacking skin cells, and it cannot yet be completely cured.
Having analyzed data from over 270,000 patients with psoriasis, the Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan found that compared with the general population, psoriasis patients had a 1.16-fold increased risk of colorectal cancer, with women having a 1.41-fold increased risk. The findings have been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology….