Running may reduce your risks of psoriasis

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US found that women who spend about two hours a week running, or an equivalent type of aerobic exercise, a week have a 25 to 30 percent lower risk of psoriasis.

"Among the individual vigorous activities we evaluated, only running and performing aerobic exercise or calisthenics were associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis," the researchers wrote in the study, published this week in journal Archives of Dermatology. "Other vigorous activities, including jogging, playing tennis, swimming, and bicycling were not associated with psoriasis risk."

The 14-year study included data from 86,665 women who were part of the Nurses' Health Study II. At the start of the study in 1991, none of the women had psoriasis. While keeping tabs on the women's physical activity over the years, researchers found that 1,026 of them developed psoriasis.

"In addition to providing other health benefits, participation in vigorous exercise may represent a new preventive measure for women at high risk of developing psoriasis," the researchers added.

Prior research has already confirmed that being overweight and smoking can boost your chances for the chronic skin disease, which results in itchy, painful patches on your skin.

Another recent study also found that women who drank two or more beers weekly had a 72 percent greater chance of psoriasis than those who did not drink any alcohol.