The biggest cause of psoriasis isn't fully understood, but it's widely believed to be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers that lead to an immune system malfunction.
Here's a breakdown of the key contributing factors:
Immune System Dysfunction
Psoriasis is fundamentally an immune-mediated disease. This means that the immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells. Specifically:
- T cells, a type of white blood cell, become overactive.
- These overactive T cells trigger inflammation and accelerate skin cell growth.
Genetic Predisposition
Genetics plays a significant role in determining who is likely to develop psoriasis.
- While there isn't a single "psoriasis gene," multiple genes have been identified that increase susceptibility to the condition.
- Having a family history of psoriasis significantly increases your risk. However, not everyone with these genes will develop psoriasis, indicating that environmental factors are also crucial.
Environmental Triggers
Various environmental factors can trigger psoriasis in individuals who are genetically predisposed. These triggers vary from person to person, but common ones include:
- Infections: Strep throat, skin infections.
- Injury to the skin: Cuts, scrapes, bug bites, sunburn. This is known as the Koebner phenomenon.
- Stress: High levels of stress can exacerbate psoriasis.
- Certain medications: Lithium, beta-blockers, antimalarial drugs.
- Weather: Cold, dry weather can worsen psoriasis.
- Smoking: Tobacco use is linked to an increased risk of psoriasis and can make the condition more severe.
- Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can trigger psoriasis flare-ups.
It's Not Contagious!
It's important to emphasize that psoriasis is not contagious. You cannot "catch" it from someone who has the condition.
In summary, while the exact mechanism isn't entirely known, psoriasis arises from a complex interplay between a person's genes and their environment, ultimately leading to an immune system mistakenly attacking healthy skin.
