1. Barium, found in drinking water and industrial waste, may contribute to psoriasis development by disrupting potassium channel signaling.
2. Recent evidence highlights environmental pollutants, especially barium, as potential triggers for psoriasis.
3. Barium can enter the body through drinking water, air, and food, having potential adverse effects on immune function.
4. Therapeutic targeting of potassium channels, including Kv1.3 and KCa3.1, shows promise in reducing inflammation and PASI scores in preclinical and early clinical studies.
5. Longitudinal and mechanistic research is needed to confirm whether barium exposure plays a direct role in psoriasis pathogenesis.
6. The reviewed article was supported by funding from the NIH’s Intramural Research Program.

Source: Frontiers in Medicine