Psoriasis and Nutrition

It's all speculation but diary, foods high in fat, caffeine, alcohol, and processed flours/sugars can cause psoriasis to flare up.

Exerbe, how is your info backed up? I'm not being flip...I am an honest 75 year old woman.

Considering I have Crohn's disease, I've done tons of research and consulting with doctors. It is proven information that roughly 80% of your immune system is in your gut. Psorasis is an immune disorder. I have it too.. but I think it's part of Crohn's. Most of your list of things that cause flareups contain gluten, except vinegar and distilled alcohol.

All I'm saying is that just give it a try if it works, it works. If not, try something else or consult doctors/nutritionists.

I've never noticed mine being triggered by anything, but I seem to get it in a new place every two years, it lasts a year and then I get a year-long break.

It started on my scalp when I was 18. 19 was a break year. At 20 it went to my toe nails, and 21 was a break. At 22 it was its worst, horrifically bad on my heels to the point where I spent most of the year walking on my tiptoes, bleeding constantly and in agony putting on or taking off my shoes. I eventually found a cream that reduced the effects a little, and made it bearable until the end of the year. At 23, another rest, and this year it's been...one little finger nail. Just one. Best yet! That's recovered now, so I should be on a year's break now.

I don't personally have psoriasis but my cousin does and she has been told more than a few times that her diet is contributing to her condition. She eats poorly most of the time...not big on vegetables. So I would say if you have a dietary plan that could improve the health of your skin then stick to it...isn't it worth it? I have also read that the Candida diet is a good one to go on if you are suffering from psoriasis...restrictive diet but maybe worth a try. I did the 10 day candida sugar free detox and it really helped me with my cystic acne which is also a skin condition, but not necessarily auto-immune like psoriasis.

Hi all

I am 36 and have had psoriasis since 17, so over half my life. I have quite a few large scales on my body and legs, but the worst place is definitely on my scalp.
Over the years I have tried cutting out selective foods and seen minor improvements, but then work related stress causes it to flare back up again.
I have been told diet changes can take months to show any improvements and I don’t know if I could go without the 2 most likely offenders (sugar and gluten) for months.
However considering all the doctor prescribed lotions and potions haven’t lead to any great improvement, I am keen to share information and perhaps try a new approach.

I am interested in joining a Psoriasis & Nutrition friends group, if anyone sets one up.
J

I have psoriasis as well along with psoriatic arthritis, and mine usually flares up bad during times of stress and the winter when my skin is the driest.

I've had it since I was 15. Coincidently it flared up the worst Ive ever had within a few weeks of me taking up smoking. I think it made it comeout in me. and notice when I quit (yes still smoking) or cut back alot, it descreases along with excercise and eating healthy. I get nervous around winter time. As soon as the climate turns cold, I wonder what it will be this year. It began as very large circles all over my forearms and calves. After seeing a derm. It cleared up then came back on joints, ankle bones, knees, elbows, knuckles fingers. Most of it is gone now. One patch on two of my knuckles and 3 tiny little patches on fingers ( of course super visible place) :grumble:

Last winter though it went nuts, as soon as the cold weather hit was like I had chicken pox. I was covered even had little patches on my face which had never happened before. I cried for days. Finally went back to Dr. Told her to get rid of it. she gave 2 diff. steroid creams I'd never used to alternate...very slowely took them away. NOTHING will get these off my hands though..hmm same hand I smoke with :indifferent:

I think its in remission in most people who have it until they do one particular thing that makes it come out of hiding. or thats my theory at least, why they cant cure it. I have arthritis in my knees know too and pretty sure its coming in on my hands. Im only 32 - feels like its eating my knees alive.may be in all my leg why they ache all the time.

I'm glad to see so many ideas about psoriasis -- especially scalp psoriasis, which I've probably had since my teens or twenties. I say "probably" because in the beginning I didn't know what it was. I assumed it was from the buildup of hair products I've used over the years, since back then I was straightening my hair and the flareup was very small. Then in my thirties I went natural and cut my hair very short, and I had no flareup. I recently moved from Ohio to Louisiana and now the flareup is constant and it's on the back and sides of my head. My hair is shoulder-length, still natural and thick now and I'm 50. I'm thinking stress and hormonal changes as well as diet have a trigger effect on this flareup. The zinc shampoo and dandruff shampoo don't work--though the dandruff shampoo is nice and tingly. I use a topical ointment that is expensive and unfortunely doesn't work either. I'm using a natural product that has neem in it and it's alright, but it stinks so bad I don't use it much. So who knows how well it works.
I'm going to try eating natural whole foods gradually eliminating the processed ones. I think that will probably work the best. I have a brother with psoriasis on his scalp, and his legs. He also has gout (not sure if that's related to psoriatic arthritis, but I know gout is a form of arthritis). He's using a prescription and seems to be alright. His flareups are not as bad as they've been. I want to avoid medicine, so I'm trying some of the food suggestions I've read so far here. Thank you.