One crucial determinant of successfully avoiding any autoimmune disease is to know if you are at risk of catching it. The same applies to psoriasis, which is an autoimmune disease affecting the skin of the patient. For instance, different psoriasis factors contribute to the chances of a patient developing the condition. Thus, knowing about these psoriasis risk factors can help timely manage the conditions and a lookout for any warning signs at the onset of the condition. However, not everyone from the risk group ends up developing psoriasis.
A combination of psoriasis factors collectively results in the development of the disease. Therefore, the article will discuss the most common psoriasis risk factors, including:
- Stress
- Skin Injury
- Medications
- Infections
- Family History
- Obesity
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Race
Usually, psoriasis appears in red patches of inflamed skin that cause itchiness and whitish scales. Also, you may experience dryness and cracks in the skin leading to bleeding. Similarly, the nails may get pitted and thickened. so, the person who has psoriasis may have stiff joints and swollen ankles. The symptoms follow cycles, with periods of complete remission where no symptom is visible.
Stress
Stress is not a cause of psoriasis. However, if a person already has psoriasis, stress is a major psoriasis risk factor. It may lead to the worsening of the condition or a serious outbreak.
Skin Injury
If your skin is injured by insect bites, scrapes, bruises, or cuts, the chances of developing psoriasis increase immensely.
Medications
Certain medications are linked to the increased risks of developing psoriasis. People using lithium to treat psychological issues like bipolar disorder may experience worsened psoriasis conditions. Similarly, many people who consume antimalarials are at an increased risk of psoriasis flareups. Usually, the medication starts to show its signs within 2-3 weeks after the first dose. Furthermore, beta-blockers that are used for hypertension treatment can be a serious booster of psoriasis symptoms. In many cases, propranolol causes severe flareups Quinidine used in treating heart-related issues and indomethacin used for arthritis can also worsen psoriasis.
Infections
Catching a viral or bacterial infection puts you at the risk of developing psoriasis because these infections can affect your immune system. A person who has AIDS or taking therapy for cancer may develop psoriasis as a result of those conditions. Both children and adults who are prone to recurring infections are also vulnerable to psoriasis.
Family history
A person with a family history of parents who have psoriasis is also at a high risk of developing psoriasis. Up to half, the children of parents with psoriasis end up developing the condition themselves as well.
Obesity
Obesity is related to friction and sweating, which are serious triggers of inflammation and skin infections. So, these infections and inflammation can result in the development of psoriasis.
Tobacco
Using tobacco products regularly can increase the chances of psoriasis. In many cases, the risk of tobacco-related psoriasis is higher in women smokers than male smokers.
Alcohol
Consuming a lot of alcohol can be a serious psoriasis flare-up trigger. Many people consume alcohol products made from different types of yeast. This yeast consumption has been linked to psoriasis development. It can also cause a lot of skin dryness, increasing the chances of cracks and bleeding.
Conclusion
To conclude, knowing the different risk factors associated with psoriasis is important in its prevention. By avoiding the risk factors or treating them in time, you can avoid the flare-up of psoriasis. Let us know in the comments section if our article was helpful.
Read more about psoriasis
What are the main psoriasis causes and triggers?
How to take care of your skin to prevent psoriasis flare-ups?
