Diet and Psoriasis

I get psoriasis on my scalp and its defiantly not as bad since changing the way i eat! I'm still highly allergic to things that makes me break out n other forms of skin things.

I have also found that taking a Vit D supp has helped a lot too

I have had this for years. Currently residing on scalp and top of legs.

Finding for scalp using Head and Shoulders at least once a week is helping. Always head to avoid dairy and eat soy when possible. I don't eat a lot of dairy and not sure if affects me but its stress related for me.

Minute I get stressed head all itchy

Finding upping my water helped.

Also eating more cucumber as a snack helped me...........

Love to hear what helps/eases other people

I have eczema, but the only thing that helped after several doctors and going through lots of expensive steroid creams was changing my diet. I still get a flare up if I drink too much milk, half and half seems to be fine for me. I was allergic to milk as a baby so go figure. My hands would bubble and crack open and I had to wrap them up like a mummy just to work. A friend of mine at work has bad psoriasis and she says it helps to cut out the stress but is unwilling to change her diet. I have read soy, corn, milk, and wheat can all be triggers.

I used to get it a lot and was reading up about diet-related reasons (as it is an auto immune condition it makes sense diet could make a difference).

I read somewhere eggs could be a problem, not for me.

Then it was hot spices (cayenne, peri peri, etc), no effect on me (thankfully).

Then I cut onions (raw and cooked) and bingo, no more psoriasis. I've experimented with introducing them again but every time back comes the itchy scalp, hairline and flakiness.

Good luck to all finding your trigger(s).

Broad topic with tons of research. You could (and I have) spent weeks reading all of it. In short there is no magic pill. If there was big pharma would have already produced it and would be making billions.
So, back to food choices and psoriatic reactions. There are certain foods that certain people..... You get the point.
Psoriasis in simple terms, is caused by (excess) inflammation, an over reaction response. I have had considerable experience treating (myself). I have noticed a slight difference in outbreak, mostly new ones since I have overhauled my nutritional intake. I have experimented with various creams and shunned anything prescribed to me by a dermatologist as the cure appeared, at least to me, to be worse than the disease.
More specifically to dietary intake, there is plenty written about anti-inflammatory v. inflammatory foods. There is at least one website dedicated just to that. You might start there. Good luck, and as one other poster said, get your sunshine (light therapy).

I have had psoriasis for years on my knuckles, elbows, knees and calves. A few years ago I started taking a daily supplement of B Complex with C and Zinc and it has helped a lot but since cleaning up my diet it is better than it has ever been! I have 2 very small patches on one knuckle and a 1" patch on each elbow. That's it! Legs are completely clear.

Just one of the many "side benefits" of losing weight and eating smart IMO

My son has terrible Psoriasis and I have eczema. He applies Cerave lotion to his skin twice per day to keep it under control. He sees a dermatologist for awful flare ups. He drinks no soda, only water and almond milk. We try to eat healthy here but he is 21 and does what he likes.

Dairy, stress and hormones are triggers for him. Try the Cerave lotion. Be faithful with it and see if it helps.

I have had this NASTY issue for about 12 years. After my second baby (a year ago),it has gotten to be the worst it has ever been. I do notice cutting out gluten,wheat,potatoes,and most carbs,it has helped. SUGAR is a huge culprit and alcohol(my weakness). I recently have been snooping in Psoriasis forums and have found out taking Turmeric extract (make sure it has the piper in it),2 capsules,2-3x a day helps. I have only been doing this for a week but i notice a big difference. Also,i use a lot of coconut oil on my body and it works better than lotion. Lots of water is very helpful too! Since auto immune starts in the gut,be sure your BM's are regular and take a probiotic.

My husband has severe psoriasis. At times he would have about 70% of his back covered in plaques, with additional spots on his body. He also has psoriatic arthritis flare up at times. Steroid creams helped a bit. Methotrexate knocked the arthritis into remission, but he started to have some worrying side effects. Most people don't, and I don't think that it's a terribly expensive medication.

Early on, we tried a number of dietary changes, but there is no credible scientific evidence that autoimmune disorders can be treated with diet. He has always been at a healthy weight and is pretty active. While exercise was helpful for the arthritis, it didn't change the psoriasis. However, if it's outside activity, then the extra sun exposure can certainly help some people.

UV is extremely effective for many people, so the sunshine recommendation is good. If you have a family history of melanomal cancer (like my husband does), then you won't want to treat it with UV.

For the first time in a decade he is pretty much plaque free. He was put on one of the biologics and it's been like freaking magic. Within a month it was cleared up. It's also lowered the overall level of inflammation in his body, which is wonderful as chronic inflammation can cause major health issues in the long term.

I wish I had an easier answer, and I understand the emotional and physical toll that severe psoriasis can cause. Fingers crossed that you are able to get insurance and treatment for it.

Mine flares up with stress and alcohol (dang it!). I'm trying to cut out dairy now for another reason, but I'll be curious to see if it helps with this problem, too. Getting out in the sun helps a little, but honestly, the only thing that has worked for me is steroid cream. Aveeno helps maintain balance once it's gone.

I know this is an old thread, but was wondering if anyone had continued success treating their psoriasis through diet. I have had eczema for years but these new plaques on my trunk now point to psoriasis. Before starting a biologic that can affect my immune system, I wanted to try to clean up my diet. I had been eating a lot of sugar so that might have explained the exacerbation. I'm researching elsewhere too but was hopeful a fellow MFPer had been down this path.