Psoriasis Risk Factors

Anyone can develop psoriasis. However, lifetime risk of developing psoriasis is strongly associated with family history.

  • If no parent has psoriasis, the lifetime risk of developing the disease is 4%.
  • If one parent has the disease, the lifetime risk of developing psoriasis is 14 - 28%. The risk of developing psoriasis increases dramatically to 40 - 65% if both parents have psoriasis.
  • If one child in the family already has psoriasis, these risks increase to 24% if no parents have psoriasis, 51% if one parent has the disease, and 83% if both parents have psoriasis.

References for all data on this page are available in the Psoriasis Health Indicator Report.

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This program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $351,404, with 2 percentage funded by CDC/HHS and $14.3 million amount and 98 percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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