Causes of Psoriasis

110111 오주현

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune condition of the skin, which increases the cell growth in skin tissues leading to rapid accumulation of thick, scaly patches that are painful, tempestuously itchy, and inflamed. Though not every detail about psoriasis is understood, researchers have found that both genetic and environmental factors cause psoriasis. Knowing the causes for this condition would help deal with this condition realistically.

The major reason for psoriasis is an overreaction in the immune response. It is a case where healthy skin cells are attacked by immune cells and it tends to trigger an inflammatory reaction, which speeds up the process of developing new skin cells. Normally, skin cells grow within a month and then shed themselves, but in psoriasis, the process takes only a few days, which leads to the thickening of layers of skin and plaques on the skin.

Genetics is the primary determinant for psoriasis, as inheritance bases part of the diseases on genetics. Those who exhibit a family history of the disease are more predisposed to getting the disease themselves, thus forming the notion that inherited genes indeed play a role in the condition. More than 60 genetic variants have been associated with psoriasis, but not one of them has been sufficient to be the sole involvement in psoriasis.

Besides all these, the environment does also influence the onset and severity of psoriasis. Examples include infections (e.g., strep throat), physical trauma to the skin (e.g., bruises or sunburn), stress, and certain types of medications (e.g., beta-blockers and lithium) as some other triggers. In addition, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are also known to be at risk for developing or aggravating the symptomatology of psoriasis.