Psoriasis Causes & Risk Factors

What Are the Causes?

It is unclear what causes psoriasis. The disorder is believed to be an autoimmune condition that is influenced by a genetic predisposition. Some believe that psoriasis occurs when skin cells grow too much, too quickly. Others believe that symptoms occur when T cells, the cells that fight infections, move to the middle skin layer and release cells that cause inflammation.

It is impossible to predict whether an outbreak will occur. Stress tends to cause outbreaks, and most people begin to experience the condition before their mid-20s. If the patient has psoriasis, outbreaks will recur. Periods of extreme stress tend to cause lesions.

Medications such as lithium salts and beta blockers can also trigger instances of the disease. Smoking, diabetes, hairspray, face creams, and lotions, and alcohol can put you at greater risk of developing an outbreak. Dry skin tends to cause more outbreaks than oily or moisturized skin.

Who's at Risk?

People with a family history of psoriasis are most at risk. If your parents have psoriasis, you are likely to get it as well. Nothing is guaranteed, and you might not get it at all. There is no blood test or skin test to confirm or deny whether psoriasis is present in your system. No genetic screening test can tell you whether or not you'll start developing symptoms. The best that you can do is watch and wait.

If you've already begun to have outbreaks, it's important that you pay special attention to what's influencing the cause. Document whether you're eating certain foods, drinking alcohol, or experiencing stress. Determine whether certain environmental conditions cause your outbreaks to last longer. If you identify patterns, you might have a better idea of what's causing your outbreaks. Your psoriasis might even be seasonal or related to certain weather conditions.

Other risk factors include stress, medications, obesity, and medical history. Stress affects the immune system, so heightened stress levels can cause outbreaks to occur. When a person is overweight, the skin and folds have a larger surface area, creating more room for lesion growth. It is believed that smoking can cause the disease to develop. In any case, smokers tend to experience more severe outbreaks.