Managing Plaque Psoriasis? Your Diet May Provide Relief

Currently, there are about eight million Americans living with psoriasis; unfortunately, the number of cases is rising, according to The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. Experts believe the unhealthy American lifestyle combined with an increased awareness of psoriasis is leading to more diagnoses.

Psoriasis is a chronic, incurable disease in which immune system T-cells attack healthy skin cells. There are seven types of psoriasis with the most common being plaque psoriasis. This occurs when skin cells grow and shed abnormally fast causing the skin to develop inflamed, dry, scaly patches known as plaques. Plaques are primarily found on the knees, elbows, trunk, lower back and scalp. The pain, itchiness and discomfort associated with plaques can disrupt sleep, concentration and quality of life. Most psoriasis patients report that their condition is cyclical, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while. Most psoriasis cases have a genetic link, but flare-ups can be triggered by obesity, alcohol consumption, environmental issues, infections, skin damage such as severe burns and cuts, stress, tobacco use and certain medications.  

Presently, psoriasis treatments focus on slowing the speed at which skin cells grow and removing plaques. Typical treatments include creams and ointments, light therapy and oral or injectable medicine. The problem is many of these treatments have side effects and should be used intermittently, as opposed to continually, raising the risk for flare-ups. But good news may be on the horizon. Results from several studies may lead to the development of future medications which can be used in combination with current psoriasis therapies, allowing a lower dosage and longer duration of use. Other, more targeted medications may also be developed that are better at reducing inflammation and medications that help restore the function of anti-inflammatory cells.

A Healthy Lifestyle Helps Alleviate Psoriasis

Until newer treatments are available, adjust your lifestyle to help reduce inflammation. This includes:

• Weight control. Obesity and psoriasis share the same pathways for inflammation, and inflammation related to fat tissue impairs the immune system in psoriasis patients, increasing the risk of advancing the psoriasis, according to a study published in the journal Life.
• Regular exercise. Exercise is credited with lowering oxidative stress, which in turn can lower inflammation and the severity of psoriasis, according to a study published in the journal Medicine.
• No tobacco. Smoking promotes inflammation and inhibits anti-inflammatory proteins, affecting the onset of psoriasis and exacerbating it, according to a study published in the journal Psoriasis.
• Limited alcohol. Drinking alcohol with psoriasis tends to cause more severe inflammation, according to a study published in the journal Psoriasis.
• A healthy diet. Your diet doesn’t cause psoriasis, however, there is a link between certain foods that cause inflammation and aggravate psoriasis, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. In fact, a plant-rich, low saturated-fat diet is associated with easing psoriasis, according to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.    

Plant-Based Diet and Psoriasis

Researchers from King’s College London recruited 257 adults with psoriasis to complete the Asking People with Psoriasis about Lifestyle and Eating (APPLE) study, an open online survey. The survey questioned their adherence to the Mediterranean eating style, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and/or Healthy Plant-based Diet Index using a food frequency questionnaire. Researchers accounted for age, gender, smoking status, alcohol, energy intake and mental health to help keep the dietary analysis independent from the psoriasis severity analysis, which was assessed using a self-assessed, validated questionnaire. Researchers found participants who:

• Reported a very low adherence to the DASH diet index and the Healthy Plant-Based Diet Index were significantly more likely to report higher psoriasis severity.
• Consumed of a greater amount of red meat and processed red meat as part of following the DASH diet, reported more severe psoriasis regardless of their body mass index (BMI).
• Consumed more fruits, nuts and legumes reported less severe psoriasis, but this finding was not independent of BMI.

The study conducted by King’s College London was not the first study to find that a diet comprising whole, plant-based foods eased psoriasis. For example, Polish researchers found combining large amounts of fruits and vegetables and limiting alcohol, animal fats, red, simple sugar and highly processed foods helped lower inflammation, alleviating psoriasis, according to a study published in Nutrients. And a study conducted in the United Kingdom found the anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based diets helped patients with psoriatic arthritis, a form of psoriasis that affects the joints, according to a study published in American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

Your Next Steps

If you have psoriasis, discuss your lifestyle, particularly your diet, with your primary care physician. Your PCP can help guide you based on your health history and/or refer you to a dietician. Don’t have a primary care physician? Consider joining an MDVIP-affiliated practice. MDVIP-affiliated physicians have more time to help you in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Find a physician near you and begin your partnership in health »