Ode to Salt: Commentary on "Skin Sodium Accumulates in Psoriasis and Reflects Disease Severity".

"Skin Sodium Accumulates in Psoriasis and Reflects Disease Severity" (Maifeld et al., 2021) showed that skin sodium ion (Na) is increased in patients with a PASI > 5. Na concentration as well as its content were increased in these patients, supporting the proposed mechanism that increased Na concentrations enhance IL-17 expression from CD4 cells. These data initially were generated using a noninvasive technique, sodium (Na) magnetic resonance imaging, and then were verified using Na spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrometry in ashed-skin biopsies in humans and also using mouse models of psoriasis. These findings suggest a novel pathologic mechanism for psoriasis development and target for treatment.