There are many theories to explain what causes psoriasis and the outbreaks. Currently most doctors believe that there is an accelerated cell turnover rate. This turnover causes the immune system to begin focusing on destroying healthy skin cells instead of the bad invading microorganisms.

Your white blood cells (T cells) search for foreign substances called antigens while they circulate through your blood. When they find these antigens and begin attack mode in order to protect you from these viruses and bacteria attempting to enter your skin. But because of the turnover rate of skin cells, they begin attacking your own skin cells as if they were antigens and causing Psoriasis.

At this point the immune system is responding by sending or releasing cytokines, which are proteins that tell skin cells to reproduce at a faster rate. The release of cytokines also causes your body to release more T cells.

The T cells start their normal process of helping kill what they perceive to be harmful viruses or bacteria, but instead they are still killing some of your healthy cells which cause more cytokines.

The circle starts over and begins to be a never ending process. What results is a constant case of Psoriasis. Psoriasis is the build of the dead skin cells and your T cells (white blood cells) beginning to pile up on the surface of your skin. At this point, most people’s immune system cannot stop the cycle without help of a psoriasis treatment.