Psoriasis - What Increases Your Risk

What Increases Your Risk

Many doctors believe that psoriasis is inherited. White (Caucasian) people who carry a certain gene have a much greater risk of developing psoriasis.⁴ 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 worsens symptoms.
• Emotional or physical stress. Stress may cause psoriasis to appear suddenly or worsen symptoms (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 medications. Certain medications, including some cardiac medications (beta-blockers) or psychotropic medications (for example, lithium), have been found to worsen psoriasis symptoms.

Alcohol may also be a risk factor in young and middle-aged men, and severe psoriasis is sometimes seen in people who drink heavily. There does not appear to be a link between alcohol use and psoriasis in women.