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Hormones and Psoriasis seem to be tightly connected. Psoriasis is characterized by an increased reproduction of the epidermal skin cells, which indicates the disorders of the Regulatory Endocrine System.
Endocrine System regulates the body organ's activity with the aid of the hormones. Hormones are produced in the endocrine glands. Endocrine System produces various hormones, for example Steroid hormones (i.e. Glucocorticoids - Cortisone, HydroCortisone, Corticosterone, Prednisolone; Sex Hormones etc.). Together with the Nervous System and the Immune System, Endocrine System regulates the growth and the development of an organism, sex differentiation, reproductive functions etc.
Is psoriasis connected with the endocrine glands disorders, in particular - the thyroid and adrenal glands disorders?
Thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that produces thyroid hormones to regulate the body's metabolism and growth. Deviations in the thyroid gland functions are found in many people with psoriasis (see Thyroid Psoriasis).
Adrenal gland is an endocrine gland that produces the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, glucocorticoids (i.e. cortisone), sex hormones and others. Adrenal gland regulates metabolism, sexual function, water balance, heart rate, blood pressure, and stress.
In the majority of the people who had psoriasis for a long time, there is revealed a reduction in the glucocorticoid function of the outer region of the adrenal gland - the adrenal cortex, i.e. the production of the Steroid hormones is disrupted.
In psoriasis treatment used are Topical Steroids which cause blood vessels in the epidermis to temporary constrict and thus to achieve an anti inflammatory effect with psoriasis. Topical Steroid hormones possess various side-effects.
There are known cases of the appearance and flare-ups of psoriasis in women at the time of menstruation. It is also known that psoriasis may disappear during pregnancy and reappear during breast feeding. The above clearly indicates the connection of hormonal changes with psoriasis.
However, a direct connection of any particular endocrine gland or hormone with psoriasis was not found. The presence of endocrine disorders in people with psoriasis does not allow asserting that these disorders are the direct cause for the appearance of psoriasis, because similar disorders are also observed with other illnesses.
Further research has to be conducted in order to understand better the connection of psoriasis with the disorders of the hormone production by the Regulatory Endocrine System.
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