Causes of psoriasis and risk factors that need to be avoided

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that recurs when the skin is exposed to a variety of causes. The hallmark of this skin disease is characterized by thick, dry, cracked and silvery scaly skin.

Sufferers will often feel itchy, sore, or hot like burning on the skin. So, what are the things that can cause psoriasis?

Causes of psoriasis

The main cause of psoriasis has not been determined. However, based on the National Psoriasis Foundation, scientific study evidence that exists to date links the appearance of psoriasis symptoms to genetic factors and impaired immune system response.

1. Genetic

Still from the National Psoriasis Foundation data, scientists believe that at least 10% of people in the world are born inheriting one or more genes that can cause psoriasis. However, only 2 - 3% of the population eventually live with the disease.

Genes play an important role in all physiological functions of the body. If there is a gene in your body that is abnormal or abnormally mutated, the entire work of the system and cells that are associated with that gene can be affected.

So, what genes make a person have the potential to experience psoriasis? Until now, researchers are still trying to find out exactly which genes cause psoriasis.

A study conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine found that mutations in the CARD14 gene can trigger the appearance of psoriasis vulgaris (plaque psoriasis). Another study by NPF Discovery in the UK found a gene mutation that is thought to cause pustular psoriasis.

2. Autoimmune

Psoriasis is a type of autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disease itself is a disruption in the function of the body's immune system, which in turn attacks and destroys healthy body cells. Supposedly, the immune system only responds to the attack of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

This disorder causes the T lymphocytes in white blood cells (leukocytes) to overreact, thus producing excessive amounts of cytokine chemicals. The production of this chemical triggers inflammation of the skin and other organs.

Chronic inflammation causes dilation of blood vessels, accumulation of white blood cells and rapid regeneration of keratinocytes, namely cells in the outermost layer of the skin.

In normal and healthy skin, the growth of new caratinocyte cells takes place in a matter of months. However, in the case of psoriasis, this skin cell regeneration process takes only 3-5 days.

As a result, the skin surface is thickened, red spots appear, and silvery skin scales are formed, which are the hallmarks of psoriasis.

Risk factors for triggering psoriasis

Researchers believe that if a person can have psoriasis, that person means that they have a combination of gene mutations that cause psoriasis and are exposed to specific external factors known as triggers.

The triggers for the appearance of this skin disease in each person can be different. One person may be so sensitive to exposure to certain factors that their psoriasis is prone to relapse, but other people may not be affected by these factors.

Symptoms of psoriasis in a person may be triggered more easily by exposure to other things. The following are some of the common psoriasis triggers risk factors.

1. Stress

In patients who have psoriasis, the stress they experience will worsen their condition. The reason is, in the body there are many nerve endings that are connected to the skin, so that the skin will also react when the central nervous system in the brain detects a danger due to stress.

This stress will trigger itching, pain, and swelling of the skin. In addition, stress also triggers the production of excessive sweating which can affect the symptoms you feel.

This has even been shown by a study in 2013 which proved that 68% of adult psoriasis patients tended to experience more severe symptoms after experiencing stress.

The condition of psoriasis itself is often a stressor for sufferers. Symptoms on the skin that appear can make a person feel insecure and embarrassed.

This is coupled with the pain which is sometimes unbearable and the treatment is costly. All this pressure also increases stress which then causes psoriasis to recur.

2. Infection

Yeast or bacterial infection can make psoriasis worse. In addition, certain infections such as strep throat or tonsillitis, thrush, and upper respiratory tract infections can be risk factors for causing psoriasis.

Psoriasis symptoms can also be a complication of HIV disease.

3. Trauma to the skin

Trauma to the skin such as scratches, bruises, burns, bumps, tattoos, and other skin conditions can cause psoriasis symptoms to recur at the wound site. This condition is referred to as the Koebner phenomenon.

Whether it is caused by sharp object scratches, sunburn, insect bites, or vaccinations, these wounds can trigger psoriasis symptoms.

4. Weather

Weather can actually be a factor affecting psoriasis. When the weather is sunny and warm, sunlight containing UV rays can help relieve psoriasis symptoms. Sunlight acts as an immunosuppressive which suppresses the work of the immune system so that it will slow down skin growth.

However, the symptoms of psoriasis can get worse when the weather cools. When the weather is cold, the drop in temperature will also make humidity decrease. As a result, the skin becomes drier which can cause symptoms such as hives.

So that this does not happen, use a skin moisturizing cream. If necessary, you can also turn onhumidifier or put live plants in the room to keep the air moist, especially in the bedroom.

5. Alcohol

A study found that people with psoriasis tend to drink more alcohol as an escape from their stress. However, instead of distracting your stress, alcohol will actually trigger more severe symptoms.

A number of other studies have also found that people with psoriasis who frequently consume alcoholic beverages (alcohol) show symptoms that recur more frequently and spread.

6. Smoking

Research reports that tobacco smoking causes psoriasis to recur and makes symptoms worse.

The more cigarettes you smoke, the more severe and widespread the psoriasis symptoms will be to other parts of the body (which usually only appear on the hands and feet). By quitting smoking, you can reduce the severity of psoriasis.

7. Medicines

Certain medications can both trigger psoriasis and cause symptoms to worsen. These drugs are as follows.

• Lithium: commonly used to treat problems related to mental states such as depression or bipolar disorder. Some of the types of psoriasis that are more susceptible to the effects of this drug are psoriasis vulgaris, pustular psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis.
  
• Antimalarial: drugs for malaria such as chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine, and quinacrine usually can cause symptoms after 2-3 weeks of use.
  
• ACE inhibitors: some ACE inhibitor class drugs are often used to help treat inflammation, but in some patients they can worsen symptoms, especially in people who have a direct genetic history of psoriasis.
• NSAIDs: a class of drugs that are useful for reducing pain, one of which is indomethacin (Indocin) which is often used for the treatment of arthritis.
  
• Betablockers: function as a lowering blood pressure, this drug can also aggravate psoriasis conditions, especially psoriasis vulgaris and psoriasis pustulosa. Usually, the effect does not occur after months of taking the drug.

If you are prescribed any of these medications, tell your doctor about your psoriasis. Consult with a dermatologist further about the possibility of changing prescription drugs or lowering the dose to prevent the risk of psoriasis recurrence more frequently during treatment.

8. Excess weight

Being overweight increases the risk of psoriasis as well as making symptoms worse. A research on JAMA Dermatology found a link between a low-calorie diet and a reduction in the spread of psoriasis.

People who are obese tend to get plaque in the folds of their skin, which can trap bacteria, sweat, and oil, causing irritation and itching, which can worsen psoriasis symptoms.

9. Hormonal changes

Psoriasis can appear in men and women at any age. However, the risk of psoriasis is most susceptible to occur during puberty, age 20-30s, and between the ages of 50-60 years (the age of menopausal women).

This is because hormonal changes during puberty and menopause can also trigger symptoms. Hormonal changes that cause psoriasis can not always be avoided, but psoriasis can usually improve during pregnancy and can reappear after childbirth.

Psoriasis cannot be cured. However, the causes and risks of psoriasis recurrence can be controlled by avoiding several environmental factors. The risk factors above can both trigger and worsen skin inflammation, so avoid it whenever possible.