Psoriasis is an itchy and scaly skin disease that can affect all areas of the body. In addition to the skin, other organs of the body, such as joints, can also be affected. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can be inherited.
A distinction is made between an early type (type 1) and a late type (type 2). The early type breaks out before the age of 40, the late type after the age of 40. Psoriasis can also occur in childhood. Psoriasis occurs in relapses, which makes an acute relapse treatment necessary in addition to the basic treatment.
Causes of psoriasis
In 30-40% of those affected, a genetic predisposition is the reason for the development of the disease. In general, it is direct family members who also suffer from more or less pronounced psoriasis. If only one parent is affected by psoriasis, the probability that the child also suffers from this skin disease is about 10%.
If both parents suffer from the disease, the risk increases to 30%. In addition to the hereditary component, the skin type is also partly responsible for whether the disease breaks out in one parent and not in the other. Thus, lighter skin types are affected much more often than darker ones.
All these factors are favorable for the occurrence of psoriasis. In addition to these factors, there are also direct triggering factors that lead to the onset of the disease. These can be: Infections, especially streptococcus infections of the tonsils or ears in children and adults, intestinal diseases, HIV infections and infestation of the scalp with pathogens.
Among these pathogens, yeast fungi are the most important, which can lead to the outbreak of psoriasis. In addition to the infections, mechanical irritations can also contribute to the outbreak of psoriasis. Tattoos, severe and repeatedly provoked sunburn, severe itching, scratching and manipulation of skin areas that have just healed represent a significant risk for the outbreak of psoriasis.
In addition to certain medications and stress, smoking and being overweight can also contribute to an increased probability of developing psoriasis. Certain hormonal changes in the body can also contribute to the onset of psoriasis. Menopause, in particular, but also pregnancy should be mentioned in this context.
Psychological factors are also attributed to a strong triggering effect of psoriasis. Stressed and mentally weak persons are much more often affected by psoriasis than mentally balanced persons. Climatic influences are also blamed for the onset of psoriasis.
Very dry climates essentially have a rather calming effect on the skin, while warm and humid weather can promote psoriasis. Reactions to chemical substances can also lead to the development of psoriasis. These are mainly chemical substances that reach the skin in the form of shower gels or detergents and can thus lead to allergic irritation of the skin. Drugs that can lead to the outbreak of psoriasis are mainly so-called ACE inhibitors, which are used to treat high blood pressure, but also beta blockers or certain special anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin can lead to an outbreak of the annoying scaly skin disease.
