Illnesses & Conditions
Information on diseases and health concerns, including symptoms, treatment options, and prevention.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis
What Increases Your Risk
Many doctors believe that
psoriasis may be passed down from parents to their
children (inherited). White (Caucasian) people who carry a certain
gene have a much greater risk of developing
psoriasis.3 About one-third of people who have
psoriasis have one or more family members with the condition.1
Other factors that can contribute to the
development of psoriasis include:
Cold climates. Cold weather makes symptoms
worse.
Emotional or physical stress. Stress may cause psoriasis to
appear suddenly or make symptoms worse (although this has not been proven in
studies).
Infection. Infections such as
strep throat can cause psoriasis to appear suddenly,
especially in children.
Skin injuries. An injury to the skin can
cause psoriasis patches to form anywhere on the body, including the site of the
injury. This includes injuries to your nails or nearby skin while trimming your
nails.
Certain
medicines. Certain medicines, including some heart
medicines (beta-blockers) or medicines to treat mental illness
(for example, lithium), may make psoriasis symptoms worse.
Smoking.
Smoking may make you more likely to get psoriasis and make the symptoms more
severe. Smoking may also make your symptoms last longer.4, 5
Weight gain in women. A large study has shown that women who gain
weight throughout adult life are more likely to develop psoriasis.6
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