8 Healthy Diet Tips to Help Manage Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that causes a red, scaly rash, most commonly on the elbows, hands, lower back, knees, and scalp. “Because psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory disease, many patients seek alternative therapies and lifestyle modifications to supplement their treatments and help relieve symptoms,” says Paul Yamauchi, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at the Dermatology Institute & Skin Care Center in Santa Monica, California, and a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. This includes dietary changes.

Most diets yield mixed results for psoriasis, Dr. Yamauchi says. But certain foods and supplements have gotten more attention in studies, and it appears foods with systemic anti-inflammatory effects may have a higher chance of improving psoriasis symptoms.

Larger studies are needed, but findings from one study suggest that sticking to a Mediterranean diet may slow the progression of psoriasis. This heart-healthy diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts and legumes, olive oil, seafood, and whole grains and limits dairy, red meat, and sugary foods. You can follow a Mediterranean diet to help manage moderate-to-severe psoriasis, Yamauchi says.

Many people with psoriasis wonder whether dairy causes inflammation or if eliminating gluten would help them manage psoriasis symptoms. Gluten is a type of protein that’s found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. While gluten is largely found in breads and pastas, it’s also in processed meats and sauces, as well as other products.

According to Mayo Clinic, some people with psoriasis might be sensitive to gluten. If you believe gluten is a psoriasis trigger for you, following a gluten-free diet might improve your psoriasis symptoms. Talk to your doctor about tests for celiac disease, which is an immune system reaction to gluten.

In a dietary behavioral study, researchers found the most commonly reported food triggers for people with psoriasis were:

• Alcohol
• Dairy
• Gluten
• Sugar
• Tomatoes

In this same study, less common food triggers that worsened psoriasis symptoms included beer, bread, eggs, meat, processed foods, soda, spicy foods, and wine. To find out if these foods trigger your symptoms, try a psoriasis elimination diet.

Participants in the study reported improved psoriasis symptoms with a number of dietary approaches, including:

• Gluten free
• Low carbohydrate, high protein
• Mediterranean
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Paleo

Across all of these diets, 69 percent of the participants reported weight loss, which is supported by scientific evidence as a method to lessen psoriatic symptoms in people with obesity or overweight. Participants also used over-the-counter dietary supplements to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms of psoriasis, including:

Additionally, study participants found that the following helped improve psoriasis symptoms:

• Fish
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Water

If you’re considering trying a diet to manage psoriasis, it’s important to talk to your doctor (or dermatologist or rheumatologist) about which foods may trigger your symptoms and then avoid those foods. A licensed dietitian can work with you on a diet that helps you avoid triggers and stay healthy.

1. Consider Cutting Wheat or Gluten if You Have a Sensitivity

The link between psoriasis and gluten intolerance is not fully understood. According to a review, a gluten-free diet is recommended for people with psoriasis who also have a gluten sensitivity, but not for people with psoriasis who do not have sensitivity issues with this protein.

Research suggests that people who have celiac disease may be at increased risk for psoriasis; both are related to the immune system. For people who have both conditions, a gluten-free diet could lead to an improvement in psoriasis symptoms. But for everyone else, while some skin conditions are worsened by wheat, “Little scientific research supports a gluten-free diet for psoriasis,” Yamauchi says.

Some people with psoriasis also feel yeast plays a role in worsening their symptoms. While more research is needed to establish a link, it couldn’t hurt to eliminate yeast for a little while and see if it helps. Try using a food journal to track your diet, along with your psoriasis symptoms.

2. Try Eliminating Dairy

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, and many dairy foods are high in fat, which is associated with inflammation.

According to a review, high-fat diets may play a key role in the development and progression of psoriasis and other health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.

The review also noted that a typical “Western” diet, which is high in fat and sugar, may worsen psoriasis symptoms, compared with diets low in unhealthy saturated fats, such as a Mediterranean diet.

While there’s no definitive evidence that dairy makes psoriasis worse, some people with psoriasis reported that their symptoms improved when they went dairy free, according to the same review. If you suspect dairy might worsen psoriasis symptoms for you, try cutting out cow’s milk and cheeses, and opt for nondairy versions instead.

3. Avoid Fatty Red Meats

Like dairy, fatty red meats can cause inflammation. “While fatty red meats might not necessarily worsen psoriasis,” Yamauchi says, “a diet heavy in fatty red meats can promote heart disease, and people with psoriasis have a higher risk of heart and cardiovascular diseases.” On occasions when you want to eat beef, choose leaner cuts.

4. Eat Fish and Omega-3s

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids (essential fatty acids found in some fish and plant foods) help reduce inflammation. In addition, the American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish, such as albacore tuna, lake trout, mackerel, salmon, and herring, at least two times a week to protect against heart disease. Because people with psoriasis have a higher risk of heart disease, it makes sense to include foods rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3s, Yamauchi says.

A review found that supplementing with fish oil in addition to conventional psoriasis treatments may have beneficial effects on psoriasis and related conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. But it’s best to get the majority of your omega-3 fatty acids from foods.

5. Add in Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Good sources of antioxidants are fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. “Again, the benefit of eating these is not necessarily [only] for making psoriasis better,” Yamauchi says. “They are important for protecting against heart disease and cancer, which people with psoriasis are at higher risk for.”

6. Limit Alcohol

“A lot of my patients tell me if they consume too much alcohol, it makes the psoriasis worse,” Yamauchi says. Because some research indicates a connection, you may want to explore whether limiting alcohol consumption reduces flare-ups for you.

Science suggests alcohol dilates the blood vessels, giving white blood cells and other substances in the blood easier access to the skin. This can promote the inflammatory response that triggers psoriasis flares. Alcohol also dehydrates your body and can dry the skin, worsening psoriasis symptoms.

7. Put Vitamins A and D to Work for You

Fruits and vegetables that provide vitamin A help promote healthy skin. Good sources of vitamin A are cantaloupe, carrots, mangoes, and watermelon.

Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin because the body produces it through sun exposure, can also be helpful for treating psoriasis. You can get vitamin D from 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine daily or by using a topical treatment, Yamauchi says. Your diet can be another source of vitamin D: Fish, leafy green vegetables, and mushrooms are chock-full of this important nutrient.

8. Stick to a Healthy Diet for Psoriasis

One of the worst things you can do for psoriasis is follow a fad or extreme diet. A fad diet can rob your body of the nutrients it needs. “People with psoriasis hear of something that works for someone and want to try it, too,” Yamauchi says. “But if they follow extreme diets, it hurts, rather than benefits, them.” Talk to your doctor before making any changes. The best psoriasis diet contains healthy fats in moderation and is rich in fruits, vegetables, and — if you don’t have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity — whole grains.