The Ten Most Common Psoriasis Triggers

Psoriasis is an incredibly common skin condition that tends to relapse, making the skin break out in fresh, itchy, scaly plaques, and then to remit, clearing up, often on its own, with no discernible reason. The causes of psoriasis are only slowly being worked out by medical science professionals conducting research, but the triggers for psoriasis episodes, the events that set off a flare-up of the disease, are both identifiable and controllable. Here are nearly-universal triggers of psoriasis and what you can do about them.

1. Psychological stress.

Psoriasis is a medical condition that presents itself in toddlers and young children, and also in adults aged 60 and older. Psychological stress triggers the very first attack of psoriasis, one group of researchers found, in 44 percent of people who have been diagnosed with the disease. 

Mental stress triggers recurring attacks in 88% of people who have psoriasis. The reason that stress sets off psoriasis is that the skin is the body's first line of defense against the outside world.

Anything that triggers a fight-or-flight response in the brain, whether it is a change in the weather for the worse, a charging Doberman Pinscher or a bad day at work, can activate the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in the brain (both involved in emotional response) to send signals to the adrenal glands to release stress hormones. These hormones in turn amplify a similar effect in the skin itself to cause inflammation and rapid growth of protective skin tissue, which make the characteristic scaly, itchy, dry plaques of psoriasis appear. Avoid the stress, and you will like avoid aggravations of psoriasis.

What if you simply can't avoid the stresses in your life? Part of the mechanism of stress-induced psoriasis is a decreased production of lubricating, fatty lipids in the skin. Replacing these lipids with light skin creams will not stop psoriasis, but it will definitely reduce that nasty itching that represents one of the condition's worst symptoms.

2. Bacterial infections anywhere in the body.

Bacterial infections are another common trigger for episodes of psoriasis. Infections do not have to occur in the skin to cause a visible skin outbreak or even a round of psoriatic arthritis.

The body fights infection with the help of a group of white blood cells known as T-cells. A specialized kind of T-cell known as the helper-T cell regulates more aggressive white blood cells to keep the immune system from destroying healthy tissue. In psoriasis, one of the chemical processes regulated by these helper-T cells goes wrong and skin tissue is injured, only to be replaced by rapidly growing skin plaques.

Pharmaceutical intervention for an overactive immune system usually has the undesirable side effect of reducing the effectiveness of the immune system. Fortunately, there is another approach.

Most people who are living with psoriasis also have high levels of the yeast Candida in the nose, mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Reducing this Candida population also reduces the frequency of psoriasis flare-ups. How do you eliminate Candida? Reducing sugar consumption helps with this. Cutting down on sugar, and especially refined sugar, also helps to avoid "drying out" sensitive mucous membranes with douches, washes, and alcohol-based gargles.

3. Undetected injury to the skin.

Many people who have psoriasis notice that psoriasis flares up after they suffer a cut or a scrape. Even invisible damage to the skin, however, can cause an outbreak of psoriasis.

The genes that trigger the release of inflammatory hormones such as interleukin-1 and interleukin-8 occurs at a cellular level. Even a single injured cell is able to activate its genes for the production of the chemicals that send a distress signal to its neighbors. In patients who live with psoriasis, the skin overreacts and produces more new skin cells than are needed to keep the skin intact.

What kinds of things cause invisible injury to the skin? Rubbing alcohol and the alcohol typically found in perfumes and skin care products can trigger outbreaks of psoriasis. So can the use of abrasive soaps, such as Lava, or the application of allergenic essential oils — nearly everyone has a mild allergic reaction to the essential oils of citrus. Extremely gentle skin care is necessary for keeping psoriasis under control. Opt for hypoallergenic and medical skincare products if you have psoriasis.

4. Obesity.

People who are obese tend to suffer systemic inflammation, which aggravates skin conditions. The medical literature presents many studies that confirm that losing excess weight helps to make psoriasis drugs more effective. Just losing weight, however, usually is not the whole answer to keeping plaque psoriasis under control. It is necessary to lower levels of inflammation at the same time.

This means that any reducing diet needs not just to involve reduced calories, but reduced sugar intake as well. It is especially important to avoid consuming sugars and fats at the same time if you have psoriasis.

This also means that weight control for psoriasis relief cannot be accomplished through exercise alone. Working out may make you feel better and more energetic, but calorie counting is necessary to achieve the psoriasis relief you hope for.

5. Excessive consumption of alcohol.

Heavy drinking (more than 2 drinks of alcohol per day) is a significant risk factor for psoriasis flare-ups, and this is especially true for men. Eliminating alcohol, however, needs to be coupled with comprehensive detoxification programs that reduce stress on the liver.

Five Often-Overlooked Psoriasis Triggers

Stress, bacterial infection, cuts and scrapes, obesity, and excessive consumption of alcohol are well-known triggers for psoriasis. Controlling some lesser-known psoriasis triggers, however, may offer better, more comprehensive relief.

6. Depletion of ceramides in the skin.

Ceramides are the fat-like building blocks that make up 75 percent of human skin. When the skin becomes depleted of ceramides for any reason (such as the overuse of soaps or alcohol rubs, or any of dozens of metabolic factors), psoriasis can flare up.The use of skin care products that replace ceramides reduces the severity of psoriasis and helps existing psoriasis lesions heal faster.

It isn't strictly necessary to use a "psoriasis soap," although skin care products for people who have psoriasis usually do contain ceramides that will offer some relief.

7. Celiac disease.

Many people who suffer the gluten-sensitivity syndrome known as celiac disease also have moderate to severe psoriasis. Eliminating the consumption of wheat, oat, and rye products (not an easy thing to do in most Western diets) eliminates both celiac disease and psoriasis in these people.

It is important to understand in considering celiac disease and psoriasis, gluten sensitivity is usually an all-or-nothing proposition. Reducing consumption of grains that contain gluten will not help. For some people who have psoriasis, however, eliminating gluten-containing grains and gluten products from the diet brings fast and total relief without medication.

8. Marijuana use.

Pot smokers may be less concerned about psoriasis outbreaks, but marijuana itself may aggravate psoriasis symptoms. Marijuana activates endocannabinoid receptors in the brain that in turn activate the immune system in the skin. The problem is that in psoriasis sufferers who smoke marijuana, activating the immune system is not a good thing. 

Smoking pot on a daily basis sends signals to the skin to turn off sebum production. This dries out the skin, and increases itching. As dry skin peels and flakes, psoriasis activates a vigorous repair response, which creates silvery, itchy, scaly plaques.

9. Omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are the healthy fats found in fish and nuts. Unlike most other kinds of fats, omega-3's are used by the body to make the hormones that reduce inflammation.

Taking a balanced omega-3 supplement may reduce some of the symptoms of psoriasis, especially in the fingernails. However, there is no need to load up on omega-3 supplementation. A single capsule a day is usually enough to reduce psoriasis symptoms. Use omega-3 fatty acid supplements with caution or not at all if you have recently (in the last 3 months) had a heart attack or if you have congestive heart failure.

10. Dry air.

Constant exposure to dry air increases the number of mast cells in the skin. These cells contain histamine, the chemical that causes allergic reaction. As the skin dries out, the mast cells burst, spilling their inflammatory histamine into the fluids surrounding other, healthy skin cells.

If you live in a desert climate, it is usually helpful to run a humidifier in your home, and to use moisturizer when you go out. Just be sure your moisturizer really moistens your skin. Any moisturizer that contains alcohol (or other ingredients ending in -ol) as a first-named ingredient actually will dry out skin and make psoriasis worse.

The best natural treatments for psoriasis often involve avoiding products, rather than taking them. Eliminating these 10 triggers of psoriasis outbreaks from your life will almost always help you keep your skin clear for months rather than just weeks.