What is the connection between skin health and cardiovascular risk in men?

Chronic skin inflammatory conditions, particularly psoriasis and severe acne, are independent cardiovascular risk factors: men with moderate-to-severe psoriasis have a 50–60% higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to men without psoriasis, driven by the shared inflammatory pathways (IL-17, TNF-α, IL-6) that drive both skin inflammation and arterial plaque formation (Mehta et al., JAMA, 2006).

For men with psoriasis, this is not merely a dermatological management question, it is a cardiovascular monitoring imperative. The inflammation driving your skin disease is simultaneously driving atherosclerotic plaque inflammation. Men with psoriasis should have annual cardiovascular risk assessment including hs-CRP, blood pressure, fasting lipids with ApoB, and waist circumference. The dermatologist managing your skin is not monitoring your coronary arteries. A cardiologist who is aware of the skin-cardiac inflammation link should.

Honesty Scale: Solid (1) for the psoriasis-cardiovascular risk association. It is one of the most replicated findings in dermatological epidemiology.

What to do: If you have moderate-to-severe psoriasis, ensure your cardiologist is aware of it. Request hs-CRP, blood pressure review, and ApoB at minimum at each annual assessment. Effective psoriasis treatment (including biologic therapy for severe disease) also reduces cardiovascular inflammatory markers, dermatological treatment is part of cardiovascular risk management in this context.

For the full picture, read The Skin Health Deep Dive