Smoking may trigger psoriasis In psoriasis, skin cells multiply too rapidly, resulting in painful, itchy rashes. Although the exact cause of psoriasis is a mystery, a study from a team of American and Canadian researchers reveals a potential trigger of this condition: cigarette smoking. In an examination of data collected from the Nurses Health Study, researchers reported these results: - A smoker's risk of developing psoriasis is nearly 80 percent higher than that of people who have never smoked
- Risk of developing psoriasis is more than 35 percent higher among people who are former smokers, compared to those who never smoked (this risk remains elevated for as much as 20 years after quitting)
- Among smokers, those who smoke the most are at highest risk
- Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases risk, especially among children
Researchers predict that psoriasis treatments are probably more effective among nonsmokers compared to smokers. Psoriasis patients who have had no luck with conventional treatments may find an effective therapy in an extract of mahonia aquifolium (also known as the Oregon grape). In the December 1999 HSI Members Alert we featured an article about psoriasis and mahonia aquifolium, which is marketed under the brand name of M-Folia. Members can use their password to access that article from the Members Alert archives on our web site at hsibaltimore.com. TheHSI Members Alert is an excellent resource for cutting edge information about alternative healthcare. Learn how you can be among the first to find out about the latest groundbreaking advances that the mainstream media routinely ignores. Source:
"Smoking Gets Into Your Skin Too" Ivanhoe Newswire, 10/31/07, ivanhoe.com | 
