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Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that manifests as inflammation and a variety of symptoms that affect the skin. With the most common form of psoriasis, called plaque psoriasis, a misdirected immune response speeds up the growth of skin cells, resulting in raised patches of skin that look like dry, red patches of skin covered in silvery scales. Called plaques, these patches can be itchy and painful.
People can develop psoriasis at any age, but most often the condition develops between the ages 15 and 35. While research has yet to identify a specific cause that triggers the onset of psoriasis, there are several risk factors that are known to contribute to the condition.
One of the most significant of these risk factors is genetics. Research has identified numerous genetic variants and mutations associated with psoriasis, and it is known that having a family member with psoriasis increases your risk of developing psoriasis, too.
However, genetics aren’t the only risk factor. The following slides show a few additional risk factors that have been associated with the development of psoriasis.
