Psoriasis -- a skin condition consisting of reddish patches of dry, dead skin cells -- is a chronic disease that has flares and remissions. Treatment options include creams, oral medications, and phototherapy; success with each therapy varies with each patient. While no definitive link exists between diet and psoriasis, changing your diet may influence the severity of your condition.
Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is important if you have psoriasis because people with psoriasis may be at higher risk for other diseases like diabetes and heart disease, according to American Academy of Dermatology. A healthy diet of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can help you lower your risk. A healthy diet can also allow you to manage your weight; people who have psoriasis often have weight problems, and those who are overweight tend to have more severe symptoms. Eating a balanced diet may not directly affect your skin condition, but it can benefit your overall heath.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Another dietary change that may help you if you have psoriasis is the anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation plays a role in this skin condition, so lowering your intake of foods that may contribute to inflammation in the body may help improve your condition. An anti-inflammatory diet is similar to a balanced healthy diet with a few changes. You should avoid saturated and trans-fats, which are found in fried foods and baked goods. You should also avoid refined pastas and rice and focus on whole-grain pastas, breads, rice and cereals. Protein sources include poultry without skin, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products; red meats and full-fat dairy products can cause inflammation and should be eliminated from your anti-inflammatory diet.
Alcohol
If you have psoriasis, you should limit your intake of alcohol. Drinking alcohol may increase the risk of developing psoriasis, increase the severity of the condition and decrease the length of time between outbreaks of psoriasis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Alcohol may also decrease the success of medications that your doctor may prescribe for psoriasis.
Gluten-Free Diet
You may find that your psoriasis symptoms improve if you try a gluten-free diet. Gluten is found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. You can try official food allergy testing to see if you have a sensitivity to gluten or you could also eliminate gluten from your diet to see if there is an effect. A 2008 study published in the "Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology" by A. Damasiewicz-Bodzek and colleagues found that people with psoriasis had antibodies to wheat -- indicating a sensitivity to gluten. Switching to a gluten-free diet can be challenging because gluten can be found in numerous foods; you should look for the label "gluten-free" when purchasing products. Your dietitian can also help you create a gluten-free diet so that you can determine if this type of diet may help your skin condition.
References
- PacificaSkinWellness.com: Psoriasis
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Nutrition and Psoriatic Disease
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology; "Serologic Markers of Celiac Disease in Psoriatic Patients;" A. Damasiewicz-Bodzek and T. Wielkoszynski; 2008.
- American Academy of Dermatology: Are Lifestyle Choices Affecting Your Psoriasis?
- MayoClinic.com: Gluten-Free Diet
