# Link between concrete and psoriasis **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149 "2013-05-12T14:27:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/1 "2013-05-12T14:27:33Z")
I am wondering if their might be a chemical in wet concrete that can set off psoriasis. I have know several brick layers and concrete workers with this problem including my older brother. I have a large family and none of the other have a history of this disease. I know their are a lot of people who have not handled concrete that have this but am suspecting their might be a chemical that might trigger it. In my brothers case he was close to 40 years old when he started doing concrete work and the disease followed soon after. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/2 "2013-05-12T18:14:00Z")
I’m not a doctor, but my understanding is that the causes of psoriasis aren’t completely understood. However, it’s more common in people with dry skin and frequent cuts, both of which would seem to describe bricklayers and construction workers without any need for a “chemicals” explanation. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/3 "2013-05-12T18:32:10Z")
Portland cement and lime are both skin irritants. I don’t know if that connects to psoriasis. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/4 "2013-05-12T18:56:45Z")
I thought I was on to something here, a little more research reveals the link has allready been established. It seems Doctors don’t usually dig into what could have origianaly triggered the disease. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/5 "2013-05-12T19:38:37Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It seems Doctors don’t usually dig into what could have origianaly triggered the disease. It’s not that they don’t want to know. They’ve tried, but like many fairly common skin conditions no conclusive answer has been forthcoming. I have dyshydrotic eczema, and it’s a similar situation. They have a sort of notion its connected with allergic response (it correlates with having lots of allergies in general), but they don’t know how or why. they think it might be particularly tied to nickel allergy, but its virtually impossible to eliminate ingested nickel, so… even having a semi-answer doesn’t help much. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/6 "2013-05-12T21:10:54Z")
[Psoriasis](http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/psoriasis-topic-overview) is an auto-immune disorder. There are multiple causes of outbreaks and mechanical irritation can be one. Read the link, it give good information into causes and treatments. While there is no cure it can often be controlled. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/7 "2013-05-12T23:30:01Z")
Has a doctor actually diagnosed their condition as psoriasis? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-concrete-and-psoriasis/658149/8 "2013-05-12T23:38:34Z")
Of the three folks I know very well they have not worked concrete in over 20 years and yes they have been diagnosed as Psoiriasis.