• Recent psoriasis research indicates that vigorous exercise may help prevent psoriasis from developing and lead to a reduction in flares.
• Alcohol consumption appears to be higher in people with psoriasis compared to the general population. Alcohol is also considered a trigger for flares.
• People who have a history of smoking cigarettes have a higher risk for developing psoriasis than nonsmokers.

Psoriasis is not a new condition. In fact, it has been documented as far back as ancient Greece. However, researchers still don’t know as much about the disorder as they would like to. Scientists are aware of the fact that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that can be related to certain hereditary and environmental risk factors. Researchers also know that psoriasis symptoms can go into remission and then flare back up again, particularly when specific triggers occur.

To understand what might trigger your psoriasis flares — and what may help you treat the symptoms — it can be helpful to review the findings of recent studies on psoriasis. Understanding the latest research may help you find new solutions for keeping flares at bay.

The Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Psoriasis

The relationship between exercise and psoriasis can differ from one person to the next. One MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote, “I read a research paper within the past week that showed that exercise cuts down on inflammation.” Another member said, “I try to exercise every day outside. Stress is my biggest trigger.”

However, some members find that any exercise causes more pain. “I'm having trouble with my feet,” a MyPsoriasisTeam member said. “[They are] so cracked and sore that they bleed if I walk for any length of time.”

Researchers have found that exercise helps not only improve the symptoms of psoriasis, but may also prevent the condition from developing.

Add a comment below: Does exercise help your psoriasis?

A 2018 meta-analysis of 1,100 previous studies on this topic evaluated how vigorous exercise impacted the symptoms of psoriasis. The study authors found that “intense physical activity may lower the prevalence of psoriasis.” In addition, the authors noted that the positives of exercise went beyond the aerobic benefits. “Regular bouts of physical activity can improve psoriatic skin lesions due to the benefits of sunlight during outdoor exercises,” they wrote.

People with psoriasis may also find the reduction in inflammation that exercise prompts can help them avoid new flares. One 2012 study found that vigorous exercise can cut the risk for developing psoriasis in women by up to 30 percent. "Inflammation is associated with the risk of psoriasis, and people who exercise vigorously may have less inflammation in their bodies,” the lead author said.

How Alcohol Affects Psoriasis

Alcohol consumption is often believed to trigger psoriasis flares. “I would suggest staying away from all alcohol and taking vitamin D,” one MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote. Another said, “Bad skin day after drinking alcohol last night.”

The link between psoriasis and alcohol has been studied extensively. A 2021 study found “the contribution of alcohol to the development of psoriasis is unquestionable on every level.”

Add a comment below: Have you tried avoiding or reducing alcohol?

Researchers who investigated a link between psoriasis and alcohol in 2019 found that alcohol was among the triggers that can cause a psoriasis flare or worsen symptoms of the skin condition. Despite that fact, however, they noted that alcohol consumption is higher among people with psoriasis than in the general population.

The impact of alcohol on people with psoriasis can vary from one person to the next, and may depend on the amount consumed, a study of more than 1,200 people with psoriasis found. The researchers discovered a direct relationship between the amount of alcohol participants consumed and their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. The more alcohol a person drank, the larger their skin lesions. That study found the connection between alcohol and psoriasis symptoms was stronger in women. However, the association has also been found in men.

The Effects of Smoking on Psoriasis

The National Psoriasis Foundation has explored the relationship between lung health, psoriasis, and inflammation, and recommends that people quit smoking to improve their psoriasis outcomes. In fact, people who smoke cigarettes often report that their psoriasis symptoms can change when they drop the habit.

“Quit smoking a month ago — that’s been a game changer!” one MyPsoriasisTeam member said. “I had always heard smoking pronounced the effect of psoriasis on the body,” another member wrote.

Research studies confirm that smoking can worsen the symptoms of psoriasis, and cigarette use can lead to a higher chance of developing psoriasis in the first place. One 2020 study found that people who either currently smoke or who had smoked in the past were at a higher risk for developing psoriasis than nonsmokers.

Smoking may also impact how well psoriasis therapies work for some people. “Not only has smoking been associated with the onset of psoriasis, but it has also been linked with the severity of the disease and response to treatment,” the authors of one 2016 study found. The study authors suggested that dermatology specialists should develop communication strategies to help people with psoriasis change certain behaviors, such as smoking.

Talk To Others Who Understand

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