Objective:to evaluate the role of stress, tobacco, drugs, infections, allergies, heredity, alcohol, hormones and skin aggressions as trigger factors and the impact on quality of life in a sample of psoriasis patients.Methods:a transversal study performed in 90 patients affected by psoriasis between January and November 2012 at the “Nene Tereza” University Hospital, Tirane, Albania, based on two scored questionnaires.Results:more than 70 % of patients reported that stressful events caused a flare- up of their psoriasis (p< 0.05). More than 60% of males and 20% of females were smokers (p< 0.05). About 20% of our patients were taking one or more of the medications listed in the questionnaire (p> 0.05). About 20% of patients reported having had recurrent infections (p<0,05). About 80% of males patients consumed alcohol (p<0,05). More than 40% reported a relative with psoriasis. Statistical comparison of the group that reported skin aggressions with the group that did not revealed a significant difference (p<0,05). Only a few of them reported to have allergies (p>0,05). About 36% of females reported that hormonal changes (puberty and menopause) exacerbated their psoriasis (p<0,05). More than 40% of patients reported that psoriasis seriously affects their quality of life.Conclusion:stress, tobacco, infections, heredity, alcohol, hormonal changes and skin aggressions were confirmed as trigger factors for psoriasis in the present sample. Allergies and the investigated drugs seemed not to have any influence in flare-ups. We found that psoriasis had a serious impact in the quality of life in over of 40% of the patients interviewed.

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Background: Chronic infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, primary indication for liver transplantation. HCV can give extrahepatic clinical manifestations and simulate autoimmune, rheumatologic and dermatologic diseases. Case Report: Female patient, 34 y.o, lingering cutaneous eruption with itching and burning. Malar facial rash and papulo-squamous lesions on the back, chest and upper limbs.