Key TakeawaysExposure to PM2.5and PM10significantly increases the risk of developing psoriasis.People with a genetic predisposition to psoriasis face more than four times the risk when exposed to high levels of air pollutants.Experts say those with a strong family history of psoriasis should consider living in areas with low pollution if that’s an accessible option.

Key Takeaways

Exposure to PM2.5and PM10significantly increases the risk of developing psoriasis.People with a genetic predisposition to psoriasis face more than four times the risk when exposed to high levels of air pollutants.Experts say those with a strong family history of psoriasis should consider living in areas with low pollution if that’s an accessible option.

Air pollutants can significantly increase the risk ofpsoriasis, according to a recent study published inJAMA Network Open.

The study analyzed data from the U.K. Biobank over a 12-year period, including 474,055 individuals who were psoriasis-free in the beginning. Researchers found that people exposed to air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and particulate matter (PM10) were at a higher risk of developing psoriasis.

People with a genetic susceptibility to psoriasis had more than four times the risk of developing the condition when exposed to high levels of PM2.5and PM10compared to those with low genetic susceptibility and low exposure. However, the genetic analysis was limited to only White Europeans, who made up 94% of the sample.

Kimball said it’s unclear why pollution triggers psoriasis, but it could be direct skin irritation or whole-body inflammation from lung exposure.

Psoriasis is anautoimmune diseasethat attacks healthy skin tissue. It causes skin cells to reproduce too rapidly, often resulting in thick, red, scaly patches that can be itchy and sometimes painful. Over 7 million U.S. adults live with psoriasis.

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Kimball said people with a strong family history of psoriasis might want to consider living in areas with lower pollution.

According to a2024 report from the American Lung Association, some of the most polluted areas include locations in California and Oregon, while Maine and Hawaii have the lowest levels of pollutants.

More accessible ways to reduce psoriasis risk include avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, as well as skin injuries from tattoos and piercings, saidAngela Moore, MD, an associate professor at Texas Christian University Burnett School of Medicine who has been a principal investigator on a wide range of clinical trials related to psoriasis treatment.

Medications likebeta-blockersandlithiumare also linked to a higher risk of psoriasis.

While the study was based in the United Kingdom, Moore said it’s applicable to U.S. psoriasis cases and the state of air pollution domestically.

In acommentary, physicians said data to support clinical recommendations are lacking despite accumulating evidence on the interactions between air pollutants and inflammatory skin disease.

“It is unclear whether topical moisturizers and treatments are likely to protect high-risk individuals or whether they may increase the penetration of air pollutants,” they wrote. “While it may seem intuitive to counsel patients to use protective clothing, there are little data to support the efficacy of such a recommendation.”

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What This Means For YouAir pollution is strongly linked to a higher risk of psoriasis, especially if you’re genetically predisposed to the condition.

What This Means For You

Air pollution is strongly linked to a higher risk of psoriasis, especially if you’re genetically predisposed to the condition.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wu J, Ma Y, Yang J, Tian Y.Exposure to air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and psoriasis risk in the uk.JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421665-e2421665. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21665Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, Gondo GC, Bell SJ, Griffiths CEM.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol.2021;157(8):940–946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007Balak DM, Hajdarbegovic E.Drug-induced psoriasis: clinical perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:87-94. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126727

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wu J, Ma Y, Yang J, Tian Y.Exposure to air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and psoriasis risk in the uk.JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421665-e2421665. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21665Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, Gondo GC, Bell SJ, Griffiths CEM.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol.2021;157(8):940–946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007Balak DM, Hajdarbegovic E.Drug-induced psoriasis: clinical perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:87-94. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126727

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Wu J, Ma Y, Yang J, Tian Y.Exposure to air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and psoriasis risk in the uk.JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421665-e2421665. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21665Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, Gondo GC, Bell SJ, Griffiths CEM.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol.2021;157(8):940–946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007Balak DM, Hajdarbegovic E.Drug-induced psoriasis: clinical perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:87-94. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126727

Wu J, Ma Y, Yang J, Tian Y.Exposure to air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and psoriasis risk in the uk.JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421665-e2421665. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21665

Armstrong AW, Mehta MD, Schupp CW, Gondo GC, Bell SJ, Griffiths CEM.Psoriasis prevalence in adults in the United States.JAMA Dermatol.2021;157(8):940–946. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.2007

Balak DM, Hajdarbegovic E.Drug-induced psoriasis: clinical perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:87-94. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126727

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