Risk factors and clinical features of pediatric psoriasis: A case-control study highlighting bathing habits and obesity Pediatrik sedef hastalığının risk faktörleri ve klinik özellikleri: Banyo alışkanlıkları ve obeziteyi vurgulayan bir olgu-kontrol çalışması

Creative Commons License

Mendi B. İ., Atak M. F., Kundakçı N., Farabi B.

Turkderm Turkish Archives of Dermatology and Venereology, cilt.60, sa.2, ss.53-59, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

Background and Design: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that significantly affects patients’ quality of life. The literature lacks sufficient case-control studies exploring the risk factors associated with pediatric psoriasis (PP). We aimed to evaluate the clinical features, epidemiological associations, risk factors, and treatment choices for PP in real-world clinical settings. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 130 children with psoriasis and 390 age- and sex-matched controls. The study evaluated the family history of psoriasis and/or cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; body mass index; waist circumference; arterial blood pressure; history of upper respiratory tract infection; stressful life events; use of scrubbing and exfoliating with a loofah sponge; smoking habits of parents; exposure to cow’s milk; and exclusive breastfeeding in all children. The PP group also noted the clinical features and treatment choices. Results: The mean age of psoriasis onset was 7.45±3.97 years, and the female-to-male ratio was 0.97. Plaque-type psoriasis (56.9%) was the most common subtype, and nail involvement was observed in 36.2% of patients. Among the PP group, 26.9% were overweight or obese, 28.5% had a family history of metabolic or cardiovascular disease in first-degree relatives, 35.4% had moderate-to-severe psoriasis, and 73.1% had only received topical therapy. Central obesity was observed in 31.2% of patients with available data. Being overweight or obese was significantly more prevalent in the PP group than in the control group (p=0.02). Scrubbing and exfoliating with a loofah sponge was associated with PP (p=0.02). Conclusion: Scrubbing and exfoliating with a loofah sponge and obesity may be important risk factors for PP. However, establishing this association definitively requires more comprehensive investigations that evaluate multiple variables, including skin barrier integrity, personal hygiene practices, genetic predisposition, nutritional status, and inflammatory markers.