Prevalence of Psoriasis and Perceived Association with Hormone Therapy in Transgender Adults

Hayley Braun; Elaine C Thompson; Qi Zhang; Vin Tangpricha; Michael Goodman; Howa Yeung

doi:10.1089/trgh.2021.0104

Prevalence of Psoriasis and Perceived Association with Hormone Therapy in Transgender Adults

Transgend Health. 2023 Jul 28;8(4):396-399. doi: 10.1089/trgh.2021.0104. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Hayley Braun¹, Elaine C Thompson¹, Qi Zhang², Vin Tangpricha³, Michael Goodman², Howa Yeung^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
² Department of Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
³ Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
⁴ Regional Telehealth Service, Veterans Affairs Southeast Network Veterans Integrated Service Network 7, Decatur, Georgia, USA.

PMID: 37525834
PMCID: PMC10387154 (available on 2024-07-28)
DOI: 10.1089/trgh.2021.0104

Abstract

Purpose: The role of hormone therapy (HT) in the etiology and progression of psoriasis in the transgender population is unclear.

Methods: The prevalence of psoriasis in transmasculine (TM) and transfeminine (TF) adults and perceived links between psoriasis and gender-affirming HT is examined using a cross-sectional survey of 696 transgender individuals.

Results: Ever diagnosis of psoriasis was reported by 17 TM persons (4.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.6-7.2) and 13 TF persons (3.7%; 95% CI: 1.7-5.7). Prevalence of current psoriasis in TM persons was 2.6% (95% CI: 0.9-4.3) and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.03-2.3) among TF persons. Notably, among participants who had ever had psoriasis, 17% perceived a link between their psoriasis and gender-affirming HT.

Conclusions: Prevalence of psoriasis among transgender persons resembled estimates in the general population. Potential associations between psoriasis and its severity with gender-affirming HT warrant further longitudinal research.

Keywords: dermatology; epidemiology; hormone therapy; psoriasis; transgender.