Although psoriasis has been known for some time to be a hereditary illness, there has also been a great deal of research about finding the most common triggers of psoriasis outbreaks. Such efforts have led researchers to find a not-so-surprising connection between psoriasis outbreaks and consuming alcohol. Besides the commonly known health issues associated with alcohol, the fact that it has been linked to psoriasis would be added incentive to cut back or stop consuming it entirely.

While thus far the psoriasis alcohol connection has been mainly anecdotal, there are new research studies that help back up their findings. Some speculate that this connection is hereditary, much like the condition itself. Alcoholism has also been found to be a hereditary illness, so the same genetic predisposition towards one could make you more likely to contract or aggravate the other. This exact link however has not yet been proven, if it can indeed be boiled down to genetic chance.

The psoriasis-alcohol connection has been demonstrated in a variety of settings (including in my own life), particularly when consuming large amounts of alcohol at once.  If someone is predisposed to psoriatic outbreaks, binge drinking can make them more severe and frequent as well.  Many who have suffered from psoriasis find that when they quit drinking their outbreaks decrease in frequency and intensity.

In addition to the psoriasis-alcohol connection, there also seems to be a link between smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. The harm that smoking does to the immune system exacerbates psoriatic outbreaks and smoke can also irritate already sensitive skin. Putting an end to smoking and/or drinking is, of course, easier said than done but, for encouragement’s sake, many have already done so and there are a variety of helpful resources available in case you need a nudge in that direction. Even cutting back can greatly increase your overall health and, by extension, the state of your psoriasis.