PSORIASIS:  A few changes to your diet can help

By Maureen Houston [maureenhouston@summertownclinic.co.uk]

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition, characterised by raised red patches covered in white silvery scales, usually occurring on the scalp, knees, elbows and torso. It is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s normal defence mechanism malfunctions, thus skin cell reproduction increases abnormally, forming thicker patches of skin and lesions. It is non-contagious, and may have a genetic component as one third of psoriasis sufferers have a family history of the condition.

Can the food you eat affect your psoriasis? Food intolerances appear to play a significant role in triggering flare-ups. Wheat may be the most common potential allergen, although many psoriasis sufferers improve on a completely gluten-free diet. Aside from wheat, there’s gluten in barley, rye, spelt, and some oats, so it may be helpful to eliminate all of these. There are many far more healthy alternatives, such as quinoa, puy lentils, and wild rice.

There are strong links between alcohol intake and psoriasis, particularly among men; and a recent study found that beer drinking in women doubled the risk of developing psoriasis compared with women drinking equivalent levels of other alcohol. Yeast is also a common allergen; and many other foods can cause intolerances, such as dairy, eggs, and nuts, exacerbating psoriasis symptoms. Of course intolerances vary from one person to another, and a food intolerance (IgG) blood test may help determine what is contributing to your symptoms.

Altering your diet and, particularly, changing the balance of your fatty acids, could reduce your gut inflammation. What is most helpful is increasing your intake of oily fish, such as mackerel, sardines, tuna, salmon, and herring. They are rich in omega-3 fish oils, which have an anti-inflammatory effect in the gut as well as helping to heal skin conditions. At the same time, eliminate omega-6 fats such as margarines, low-fat spreads, and unhealthy cooking oils. Eat more dark green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, swiss chard, cavolo nero, spinach and watercress, as well as brightly coloured vegetables such as peppers (red, yellow, green, orange), beetroot, aubergine, radish, avocado and tomato – aim for ten a day – to give you a wide range of beneficial minerals and vitamins. And don’t forget to drink eight glasses of water every day (preferably filtered or bottled) – it’s the best skin ‘conditioner’ as well as providing numerous other health benefits.

Nutritional supplements also offer tremendous help to psoriasis sufferers, and the following can enhance your dietary changes:

• Fish oils (in capsule or liquid)
• Serrapeptase
• Vitamins C, D and E
• Selenium
• Zinc

(Your nutritional therapist can guide you as to dosage, timing, and specific products)

Finally, get some sunshine.  Twenty to thirty minutes a day (without sunscreen) can make a noticeable improvement to psoriasis lesions in just a few weeks.

References:

G Michaëlsson et al (2000), Psoriasis patients with antibodies to gliadin can be improved by a gluten-free diet, British Journal of Dermatology, Vol 142(1), pp44–51
A A Qureshi et al (2010), Alcohol Intake and Risk of Incident Psoriasis in US Women: A Prospective Study, Archives of Dermatology. Published online August 16, 2010. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2010.204
K Poikolainen et al (1990), Alcohol intake: a risk factor for psoriasis in young and middle aged men? BMJ, Vol 300, pp780–3
SB Bittiner et al (1988), A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil in psoriasis, Lancet, Vol I, pp378–80
T J Love et al (2011), Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Psoriasis, Archives of Dermatology. Published online April 2011. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2010.370
K Kragballe (2006), Improvement of psoriasis by a topical vitamin D3 analogue (MC 903) in a double-blind study, British Journal of Dermatology, Vol 119, pp223–30
S Morimoto et al (1986), An open study of vitamin D3 treatment in psoriasis vulgaris. British Journal of Dermatology, Vol 115, pp421–9
P Holford (2011), Say No to Psoriasis, Special Report, published online 7 Jun 2011