For many people, the five o-clock hour is the perfect time to leave work and head out with friends to unwind with an icy-cold glass of beer. However, new research has revealed that regular consumption of beer by women may increase their chances of developing the skin condition psoriasis.

Regular consumption, which was defined as having five beers per week, actually doubled the risk of psoriasis when compared to women who did not drink. The situation did not apply to non-alcoholic beer, wine, or other spirits.

To arrive at their findings, published in the Archives of Dermatology, researchers examined the records of more than 82,000 female nurses between 27 and 44 years of age, focusing on their drinking habits over a 14-year period (1991 to 2005).

What they found was that women who consumed 2.3 alcoholic drinks each week had an increase in the incidence of psoriasis by 72% when compared to women who did not drink. The consumption of five glasses of beer each week almost doubled (1.8 times) the risk, and when certain criteria were used, this risk increased to 2.3 times.

Because neither low- or non-alcoholic beer had the same effect, nor did wine or spirits, scientists theorize that the association with psoriasis may be tied to the presence of barely used in the fermentation process, which contains gluten, a known allergen. Previous studies have found that removing gluten from certain people's diet can lead to improvements in the skin condition.

Along these lines, it is possible that people with psoriasis actually have latent gluten sensitivity. In light of this, the authors of the study indicate that people who suffer from psoriasis might want to avoid regular consumption of beer.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the skin. It manifests itself as scaly red patches that frequently appear on the knees, elbows, and scalp, though it can occur anywhere on the body. It generally stems from our body's immune system sending out faulty signals that affect the growth of skin cells.

Psoriasis can affect both men and women and can occur at any age, though it is most commonly seen between the ages of 15 and 25 years. In this country, it has been estimated that nearly 2.1% of the adult population has some level of the condition, with upwards of 35% of that group having moderate to severe cases.

The exact cause of psoriasis is not known, though many people report a family history of the disease, suggesting both a genetic and environmental component.

While psoriasis is not life threatening, it can affect a person's quality of life. Treatment options generally fall into either/or topical treatments, light therapy, and medication.

If you suspect that you or someone you know has psoriasis, talk to you doctor. For more information, visit the website for the National Psoriasis Foundation.