Immune Mediated
- Researchers now believe that psoriasis is an immune-mediated condition. This means the condition is caused by faulty signals in the body’s immune system. It is believed that psoriasis develops when the immune system tells the body to over-react and accelerate the growth of skin cells.
- Psoriasis may also be a disorder of the immune system. The immune system includes a type of white blood cell, called a T cell, that normally helps protect the body against infection and disease. Scientists now think that psoriasis is related to an abnormal immune system that produces too many of the immune cells, called T cells, in the skin. These T cells trigger the inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction seen in people with psoriasis. This leads to inflammation and flaking of skin.
Factors that may trigger psoriasis include:
- Injury to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, bug bite, or a severe sunburn.
- Smoking.
- Cold weather.
- Certain medications, including lithium, which is prescribed for bipolar disorder, high blood pressure medications such as beta blockers, antimalarial drugs and iodides.
- Stress.
- Infections, such as strep throat or thrush.
- Heavy alcohol consumption.
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