Psoriasis Causes
Skin ConditionsPsoriasis

What Causes Psoriasis?

What Causes Psoriasis?
Everyday Health
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Updated on January 23, 2026
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Researchers continue to investigate why some people develop plaque psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that results in an overproduction of skin cells. These extra cells rapidly pile up on the skin’s surface, forming thick, itchy, dry, discolored patches called plaques.

But psoriasis isn’t simply a skin condition. It’s a systemic, inflammatory disease, meaning it affects the whole body.

There’s no cure for psoriasis, but an improved understanding of the causes of psoriasis is helping doctors better treat this chronic condition.

While it’s not clear what exactly causes psoriasis, several factors are thought to play a role.

Family History

Family history can predispose a person to developing psoriasis. Having a parent or another family member with psoriasis increases your risk of developing it yourself. More than 20 percent of psoriasis patients report having a family history.

“Genetics seems to play a large role — people with psoriasis often have a family history of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis,” says Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Ohio.

But the role of genes isn’t clear-cut. Some people who develop psoriasis don’t have genes that increase their risk, and some people with genes that are known to increase the risk of developing psoriasis never do.

The best explanation: Psoriasis is due to a certain “mix” of genes in combination with environmental triggers, some of which are still unknown.

Note that psoriasis can develop in people of any race or ethnicity.

 While individuals can have their first psoriasis symptoms at any age, there are two peaks: between age 20 and 30 and between 50 and 60, according to research.

Psoriasis is not contagious; it doesn’t spread through physical contact or exchange of bodily fluids.

In other words, a person can’t spread the disease through touch or saliva or during any kind of sexual contact.

Is That Rash Psoriasis, or Is It Something Else?

Dermatologist Andrew Alexis, MD, walks through some ways to identify psoriasis and differentiate it from other skin conditions.
Is That Rash Psoriasis, or Is It Something Else?

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Other Risk Factors

While anyone can develop psoriasis, research shows that the following factors raise the odds:

  • Obesity Being overweight or having obesity increases your risk of developing psoriasis.
  • Smoking Smoking tobacco increases your risk of developing psoriasis and can also increase the severity of the disease.
  • Celiac Disease People with celiac disease, who have an immune reaction to eating gluten, are at increased risk of developing psoriasis.
Psoriasis has been linked to heart disease and metabolic syndrome, so it’s important for people with psoriasis to follow up with their general practitioner.

Risk Factors for Psoriasis, hand with psoriasis center, surrounded by icons of symptoms including, family history, smoking, having celiac disease, overweight or obesity
These factors and others raise your risk of developing psoriasis.Everyday Health

Triggers for Psoriasis Flares

Although it’s not entirely clear why psoriasis develops in some people, a number of known triggers can cause the condition to flare. Different people may have different triggers, which can include:

  • Stress (one of the biggest triggers of psoriasis flares)
  • Tobacco
  • Excessive drinking
  • Infections, such as strep throat
  • Skin injury, such as sunburn or a cut
  • Dry and cold weather
  • Some medications, including prednisone, lithium, and hydroxychloroquine

Identifying your triggers can help you keep your psoriasis under control. A dermatologist can devise a treatment plan — often a combination of medication and lifestyle changes — that’s right for you.

Perspectives
portrait of a person
Shira
Dermatologist
“We can't, you know, cure it necessarily. But we can certainly manage it to the point where you wouldn't even notice that you still had it.”
Transcript Available

The Takeaway

  • Psoriasis can arise from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.
  • Triggers such as stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, infections, and skin injuries can lead to symptom flares.
  • While there’s no cure, medical treatments and lifestyle changes can help you manage symptoms.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Mrowietz U et al. Psoriasis as a Systemic Disease. Deutsches Arzteblatt Internationa. July 12, 2024.
  2. Patel HA et al. The Genetic Susceptibility to Psoriasis and the Relationship of Linked Genes to Our Treatment Options. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. August 1, 2023.
  3. Psoriasis: Causes. American Academy of Dermatology.
  4. Psoriasis. JAMA Dermatology. September 2017.
  5. Michalski P et al. A Crossroads Between Dietary Habits, Alcohol Consumption, and Smoking in the Clinical Course of Psoriasis: A Narrative Review. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology. October 2023.
  6. Teklu M et al. Psoriasis and Cardiometabolic Diseases: The Impact of Inflammation on Vascular Health. Psoriasis (Auckland). July 21, 2021.
  7. Psoriasis: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. December 17, 2025.
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Jane Yoo

Jane Yoo, MD, MPP

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Jane Yoo is an internationally recognized Korean American dual board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon practicing in New York City. She graduated with a bachelor of science in biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and obtained a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University.

Yoo completed her dermatology residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine followed by a Mohs Micrographic Surgery fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. She is the founder of the Clinical Research Center of New York and conducts clinical trials for numerous skincare, pharmaceutical, and energy-based device companies.

As a spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation, she is a staunch advocate for skin cancer prevention and lobbying for better sunscreen regulation in the United States. She's also an Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher and is currently training for the Sydney Marathon.

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She previously worked for the American Association of Medical Assistants for eight years, writing and editing the magazine, marketing materials, and the website. Cassata completed the editing certificate program at the University of Chicago.

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