Hereditary condition: Those with a family history of psoriasis have an increased chance of having the disease.
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Injury to the skin: Injury to the skin has been associated with plaque psoriasis.
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Sunlight: A small minority find that strong sunlight aggravates their condition.
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– Streptococcal infections: Streptococcal sore throats may trigger guttate psoriasis, a type of psoriasis that looks like small red drops on the skin.
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– HIV: Psoriasis may worsen after an individual has been infected with HIV.
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Drugs: A number of medications have been shown to aggravate psoriasis.
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– Emotional stress: Many people note worsening of their psoriasis when emotionally stressed.
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– Smoking: Cigarette smokers have an increased risk of chronic plaque psoriasis because smoking may alter the immune system in such a way as to cause a flare of the condition.
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– Alcohol: Alcohol is considered a risk factor for psoriasis. Even a moderate intake of beer may trigger or worsen psoriasis.