Reviews
Cigarette smoking as environmental factor influencing psoriasis: a review of clinical, immunological and therapeutic data
G. Bortone1, L. Gargano2, G. Paolino3, V. Riccieri4, L. Ala5, A. Dattola6, G. Pellacani7, C. Cantisani8
- UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- Unit of Dermatology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
- UOC of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. carmen.cantisani@uniroma1.it
CER16
Reviews
Received: 03/07/2025
Accepted : 02/10/2025
In Press: 28/10/2025
Abstract
Psoriasis is a common chronic immune-mediated disease that affects millions of people worldwide and is characterised by scaly plaques on the skin. Although the true aetiology is complex, including genetic and environmental factors, cigarette smoking itself is known as a significant modifiable environmental variable and risk factor for the susceptibility and the severity of psoriasis. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that smoking, in addition to increasing the likelihood of suffering from the disease, also significantly aggravates its clinical course, therefore resulting in less effective treatments and the induction of systemic comorbidities. In this review, we critically consider, based on the most relevant epidemiological findings, the main molecular and immunological mechanisms by which smoking can impact psoriasis and elucidate the clinical consequences of smoking withdrawal as an essential aspect of the therapeutic approach to patients with psoriasis.
