What Is the Connection Between
Smoking and Psoriasis?

In looking for the cause of psoriasis, several researchers studied the correlation between cigarette smoking and psoriasis. By comparing those without a smoking habit who had psoriasis with smokers who have been diagnosed with psoriasis, doctors hoped to determine if a link between these two factors.

The researchers in these studies about smoking and psoriasis tried to consider all of the confounding variables before arriving at conclusions. They looked at weight and found that even though more people with psoriasis are overweight than the general population, obesity does not cause psoriasis. It is more likely that the limitations that psoriasis places on individual lifestyles contributes to a weight problem.

Researchers also ruled out social class and other chronic illnesses when checking for the link between smoking and psoriasis. They found that psoriasis patients were more likely have a smoking habit than non-psoriasis patients. They also found that those with psoriasis who had a smoking habit consumed more alcohol.

With these factors considered, the final conclusion in these studies is that smoking does not give men a greater chance of developing psoriasis. Evidence in some studies did show that smoking might make women more susceptible to psoriasis. In one study, when females with psoriasis who were smoking at least twenty cigarettes a day were compared to control group, the risk for the smokers was 3.3.

These studies also found that although smoking is not a great risk factor for the development of psoriasis, the number of cigarettes smoked does increase the severity of the disease. The length of time psoriasis patients had been smoking did not show any effect on how severe their symptoms would be.

Again, one of these studies found that females with psoriasis who are heavy smokers were at least two times more likely to require hospitalization for their disease. Clearly, smoking is a bad choice for someone battling with psoriasis.

Researchers continue to study the puzzle of how smoking affects those dealing with psoriasis. At this point, it seems that the psoriasis is more of a factor in causing smoking that the other way around. This is significant, however, because the health risks and costs associated with smoking for an individual and society are extremely high.

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What does psoriasis look like? You can easily find out by searching Google images for photos of this skin disease. Is there a home treatment for psoriasis? How to get rid of psoriasis?

There is information on the internet about psoriasis topical treatment, psoriasis natural remedies and you will find a number ofarticles about psoriasis too.