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What causes psoriasis and neurodermatitis?

What causes psoriasis and neurodermatitis?

No definite causes of these diseases have been established. Nevertheless, both disorders have specific triggers that may induce development of the diseases.

Psoriasis causes and triggers

Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory skin disorder. It manifests in individuals that are genetically susceptible. The exact cause of it is unknown. It is thought that psoriasis occurs due to immune system misbalance. Because of this, keratinocytes start proliferating abnormally fast and this appears in terms of red scaly plaques.

Psoriasis is polyetiological disease. It means that several factors contribute to the development of the disease.

25 genes are identified which increase the risk of developing psoriasis. Approximately 10% of the population has these genes, but only 3% suffer from this skin disorder. One’s immune system needs a trigger that would start the disease.

Triggers that cause the first outbreak of psoriasis:

  • Weight. Obesity increases risk of developing inverse psoriasis.
  • Skin injury. Any skin damage can be a trigger, which provokes the development of this disease.
  • Stress. Immune system responds to stress and as a result can backfire like psoriasis.
  • Certain drugs not only induce the development of the disease, but they can also aggravate already existing condition. Examples of these drugs include lithium, anti-malarial drugs, and beta-blockers.
  • Smoking can also trigger the first onset of this skin disorder. It also aggravates already existing condition.
  • Genetic background. Risk of getting psoriasis increases up to 9 times if a blood relative suffers from this skin condition.
  • Hormonal fluctuations. It is noticed that psoriasis frequently manifests during puberty or in menopause.
  • Alcohol can trigger the onset of the disease. It also lessens the efficacy of treatment and aggravates whole treatment procedures.
  • Infections. Streptococci infections cause guttate psoriasis.
  • Cold environment.

Even when the trigger is gone, psoriasis usually continues. Subsequent psoriasis symptoms, frequency and severity of outbreaks do not depend on the causative agents.

What causes scalp psoriasis? Scalp psoriasis is caused by the same factors like any other psoriasis types – genetic susceptibility and environmental factors trigger the immune system to start increased proliferation of keratinocytes. One cannot get scalp psoriasis from another person. It is a popular and false myth that psoriasis is contagious. Because of this, hairdressers sometimes refuse to serve people with psoriasis. However, such behavior doesn’t have any underlying medicinal reason.

What causes plaque psoriasis? Plaque psoriasis causes are genetic, but the disease can be triggered by a viral or bacterial infection, as well as skin damage.

What causes inverse psoriasis? Inverse psoriasis causes are the same: genetic predisposition and specific triggers. All types of psoriasis follow the same developmental pattern.

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What causes neurodermatitis?

Neurodermatitis is a chronic skin disease that causes scratching and itching. Like psoriasis, the exact causes of neurodermatitis are unknown. Triggers that provoke acute onset of the disease include:

  • Stress
  • Insect bites. They damage the surface of the skin and provoke the onset of vicious cycle, consisting of itching and scratching.
  • Skin injuries
  • Tight clothing. It rubs against the skin and provokes micro injuries.
  • Anxiety