title: Alcohol as a risk factor for plaque-type psoriasis.
abstract: The association between alcohol and the development of plaque-type psoriasis is complex and confusing because many of the initial studies did not control for confounding factors such as tobacco use. This article presents a literature review of the epidemiologic, case-controlled, and clinical studies that examined the relationship between alcohol and plaque-type psoriasis. Early studies showed no correlation between alcohol consumption and plaque-type psoriasis. However, as researchers began to control for confounding factors, study results often illustrated a significant correlation between alcohol use and psoriasis. Some studies suggested a relative risk factor of 8.01, particularly in men. However, the studies did not document an increased risk for plaque-type psoriasis in women who drank alcohol. We recommend that clinicians discourage patients with psoriasis from consuming alcohol, especially during periods of disease exacerbation.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Francisco, Fresno, USA.
authors.forename: Shahrad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Behnam
authors.forename: Shahdad E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Behnam
authors.forename: John Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors