Causes of psoriasis
Research point to that the disease may result from a disorder in the immune system. The immune system makes white blood cells (WBC) that protect the body from infection. In psoriasis, the T cells (a type of white blood cell) unusually trigger inflammation in the skin. These T cells also cause skin cells to grow faster than regular and to pile up in raised patches on the outer face of the skin.
Certain factors may trigger psoriasis.
- Injury to the skin: Injury to the skin has been linked with plaque psoriasis. For example, a skin infection, skin inflammation, or even extreme scratching can trigger psoriasis.
- Sunlight: Most people usually consider sunlight to be helpful for their psoriasis. Though, a small marginal find that strong sunlight aggravates their symptoms. Bad sunburn may worsen psoriasis.
- Streptococcal infections: Some evidence proposes that streptococcal infections may cause a kind of plaque psoriasis. These bacterial infections have been shown to cause guttate psoriasis, a type of psoriasis that looks like minute red drops on the skin.
- HIV: Psoriasis characteristically gets worse after an individual has been infected with HIV. Though, psoriasis often becomes less active in higher HIV infection.
- Drugs: A number of medications have been shown to make worse psoriasis. Some examples are as follows:
- Lithium – Medication that may be used to take care of depression
- Beta-blockers – Drugs that may be used to treat hypertension
- Anti-malarials – Drugs used to treat malaria and symptoms caused by it
- NSAIDs – Drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen used to decrease inflammation
- Emotional stress: Many people see an increase in their psoriasis when emotional stress is augmented.
- Smoking: Cigarette smokers have an augmented risk of chronic plaque psoriasis.
- Alcohol: Alcohol is measured a risk factor for psoriasis, chiefly in young to middle aged males.
- Hormone changes: The harshness of psoriasis may fluctuate with hormonal changes. Disease incidence peaks during puberty and menopause. A pregnant woman’s symptoms are more probable to improve than worsen, if any changes occur at all. In contrast, symptoms are more possible to flare in the postpartum period, if any alter occur at all.