Smoking and Psoriasis: Understanding the Risks and How to Reduce Them

With each puff of a cigarette, you know, you are sacrificing your health. We all know, the adverse effects of smoking on the lungs and cardiovascular health. But did you know, there is a direct link between smoking and psoriasis too? In this blog, I will be sharing the research-proven risks of psoriasis that you are willing to take with each puff of a cigarette. 

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition triggered by the immune system. It is often characterized by scales, plaques, red patches, dry cracked skin, thickened nails, swollen and stiff joints, or itchiness on the skin. Psoriasis not only causes physical inconvenience but also impacts one’s confidence and self-esteem.

Read on to know the impact of smoking on psoriasis, what research says, how smoking impacts, and if quitting help!

Also Read: Rising Incidence of Psoriasis in India: Understanding the Causes and Risk Factors

Smoking and Psoriasis – What Research Says

Extensive research on the link between Smoking and Psoriasis revealed that smoking not only increases the risk of developing psoriasis. But it also worsens the symptoms in psoriasis patients. Furthermore, smoking can also impact a patient’s response to treatment. Psoriasis patients who had ever smoked were less likely to show improvement after starting treatment.

Another Research report suggested that 95% of people with psoriasis were smokers at the onset of this disease. Several studies also cited that people who are heavy smokers or have been smoking for prolonged periods have a much higher risk of developing this disease.

The risk of psoriasis was highest among those who had smoked for 30 years or more! Another study also quoted that heavy smokers who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, had doubled the risk of having severe psoriasis.

A study, on prenatal and childhood exposure to smoking, found that early exposure can increase the risk of developing psoriasis later in life. Just being around smokers can also be a risk factor for psoriasis.

Smoking and Psoriasis – How are they linked?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease caused by the presence of certain genes. Smoking can activate these genes. Furthermore, smoking causes stress, and stress is a known trigger for psoriasis.

In addition to that, nicotine alters the immune system and this explains the link between psoriasis and smoking. Apart from nicotine, the ingredients in tobacco smoke cause oxidative damage which can worsen psoriasis.

Impact of smoking on psoriasis patients: Research

There is evidence that smoking can negatively impact psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes skin redness, scaling, and itching. Smoking has been found to increase the severity of psoriasis symptoms, as well as the risk of developing the condition.

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between smoking and psoriasis, including the harmful effects of nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco smoke on the skin and immune system, the suppression of vitamin D levels, and the activation of oxidative stress pathways.

Additionally, smoking can also make the treatment of psoriasis less effective and increase the risk of complications. Quitting smoking has been shown to improve psoriasis symptoms and may also reduce the risk of developing other health problems.

Therefore, it is recommended that people with psoriasis avoid smoking and consider quitting if they are smokers.

Can quitting help?

Smoking can cause permanent damage to the system. So, the question I get most often is ‘can quitting help?’

The answer is simple. Yes!

Quitting can decrease the risks of developing psoriasis. Those who haven’t smoked in the past 20 years had almost equivalent risks to those who had never smoked. Promising reports also show that quitting smoking may improve a patient’s responsiveness to psoriasis treatments.

If you are finding it difficult to quit at once then remember any amount that you reduce is a benefit. This can result in a reduction in severity, and the number of flares, and improve your response to treatment. So, take it steady and don’t feel shy to seek help! 

Takeaway!

Smoking is injurious to health – this disclaimer is imprinted in our brains and yet many fall prey to its addiction. It not only increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases or lung diseases or cancer, but it also has a grave impact on the immune system too, which is the wall that protects the body against all. 

Smoking increases the risk of developing psoriasis. It worsens the symptoms of psoriasis and adversely impacts the response to treatment. Thus, all in all, smoking is a bad decision for your health!

However, smoking isn’t the only preventable risk factor for psoriasis. Here are a few other factors that you can control:

• Obesity
• Alcohol consumption
• Stress
• Genetic History

Though, family history can’t be changed. But you can change it for future generations. Smoking changes the genetic programming of your system, thus risking not only you but also your future generations. 

Hence, it is my advice to all, to strive for a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy food, living stress-free, working out regularly, and avoiding passive or active smoking are small steps towards your good health.  

If you are suffering from psoriasis or have any questions regarding psoriasis then feel free to consult me. You can drop your queries in the comment box or write me a mail!

Also Read:

Living with psoriasis – It’s a lifelong journey!

Non-veg diet and psoriasis