Psoriasis is considered a chronic skin condition and presents as elevated, dry, scaly, itchy patches on the skin. The most common sites are the elbows, knees and other parts of the legs, the scalp, lower back, face, palms, and the soles of the feet. About one third of the diagnosed cases are genetic, although the first outbreak is frequently triggered by stress or physical injury. The condition is driven by the immune system – T cells, the white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and are responsible for creating scabs over wounds, become overactive and trigger other immune responses. These lead to inflammation and rapid turnover of skin cells.

The immature skin cells then rise to the surface and form the scaly patches.

A recent study, published in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, found that those who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes per day were at twice the risk of having more severe psoriasis than those who smoke 10 cigarettes or less, and that patients who smoke are more likely to have psoriasis.

Although no causal relationship was established, lead researcher Dr. Gerald G. Krueger, a professor of dermatology at the University of Utah School of Medicine stated that if one is not genetically predisposed to psoriasis, “one of the things that you can do to make sure that you get psoriasis is smoke."

So, if you’re a smoker and have psoriasis, you could consider quitting - psoriasis is uncomfortable enough without doing something to exacerbate it. You might also want to investigate theshielding lotions now being recommended for psoriasis treatment.