Korean J Dermatol.  2004 Sep;42(9):1145-1151.

The Effect of Alcohol and Smoking on Psoriasis

• Kim KJ
• Lee HW
• Choi JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The interaction between genetic and environmental factors seems to play a role in the causes and exacerbation of psoriasis. Recently, several evidences have been reported that smoking and alcohol drinking have a detrimental effect on psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore smoking and alcohol drinking as risk factors or exacerbation factors on psoriasis in Korean psoriatic patients. METHODS: Data collected from 131 psoriatic patients and 130 control subjects were analyzed to determine whether there was any association between smoking/alcohol drinking and psoriasis. RESULTS: The proportion of psoriasis patients using tobacco and alcohol was much higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Smoking was more strongly associated with psoriasis among men and alcohol consumption among women. Drinkers tended to have more severe psoriatic lesions in PASI score analysis (p<0.05). Smokers also tended to have higher PASI score than nonsmokers, but there was no statistical difference. The linear correlation was observed between PASI score and each parameter, such as frequency and amount of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, there was a dose- dependent correlation between the quantity of smoking and the severity of psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Alcohol drinking and smoking seem to be the risk factors and exacerbating factors on psoriasis in a dose-dependent manner. The possibility that simple modification of lifestyle may reduce both the prevalence and severity of psoriasis.

Keyword

Psoriasis; Smoking; Alcohol

MeSH Terms

Alcohol Drinking
Drinking
Female
Humans
Life Style
Male
Prevalence
Psoriasis*
Risk Factors
Smoke*
Smoking*
Tobacco
Smoke