Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches that can be itchy and painful. While medications are important for treatment, research shows that what you eat can make a real difference in how your skin looks and feels.
In this article, we’ll explore which foods may help improve psoriasis and which ones might make it worse, all based on scientific studies.
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How Diet and Psoriasis Are Connected
People with psoriasis are more likely to have other health problems, especially those related to metabolism. Research shows that about 30% of people with psoriasis have metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and extra weight), compared to only about 22% of people without psoriasis (1).
Extra weight can actually cause psoriasis to develop. Studies using genetic data show that for every 1 point increase in BMI, the risk of developing psoriasis goes up by 9% (2).
Being overweight also makes psoriasis medications work less well. People with obesity who take biologic medications (like anti-TNF drugs) are less likely to see improvements compared to people at a healthy weight (3).
Foods That May Help Psoriasis
Let’s look at foods that research suggests may improve your psoriasis symptoms.
Fatty Fish
Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce psoriasis symptoms. In one study, people who took fish oil supplements for 8 weeks had less itching, redness, and scaling compared to those who took olive oil (4).
Eating oily fish regularly can also help. People who ate 170 grams (about 6 ounces) of oily fish daily saw improvements of 11-15% in their psoriasis (5).
Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin, which can help reduce psoriasis symptoms. In a study of 63 people with psoriasis, those who took curcumin supplements along with their regular treatments had better improvements than those who only used regular treatments. The supplement also lowered levels of inflammatory markers in their blood (6).
Probiotic Foods
Foods with beneficial bacteria may help psoriasis. In a 12-week study, about 67% of people who took probiotics saw major improvements in their psoriasis, compared to only 42% of those who took a placebo. People taking probiotics also had a lower chance of their psoriasis coming back after treatment ended (7).
Antioxidant-Rich Foods
People with psoriasis often have lower levels of certain antioxidants in their body. Studies show they have less vitamin E compared to people without psoriasis (8).
Foods high in antioxidants include:
- Colorful fruits and vegetables
- Nuts (especially almonds for vitamin E)
- Seeds
- Green tea
Seaweed and Marine Algae
Certain types of seaweed and algae may help with psoriasis. In one study, 23% of participants who took a seaweed extract supplement reported improvements in their skin (21).
Another study found that an algae rich in beta-carotene significantly improved psoriasis. People taking this supplement saw their psoriasis scores improve by 61% compared to 34% in the placebo group (22).
Foods That May Worsen Psoriasis
Some foods and drinks might make psoriasis worse or increase your risk of developing it.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting psoriasis and make existing psoriasis worse. Women who drink 2.3 or more alcoholic drinks per week have about 72% higher risk of developing psoriasis. Non-light beer seems to have the strongest link to psoriasis risk (9).
Foods That Increase Inflammation
People with psoriasis tend to eat more of certain foods that can increase inflammation. A study comparing 100 people with psoriasis to 100 without found that those with psoriasis ate more dairy products and soft drinks, but less olive oil, berries, fish, seafood, nuts, and eggs (10).
The same study found that eating more red meat, fatty cuts of meat, and instant noodles was linked to worse psoriasis, while eating more vegetables was linked to milder symptoms.
Gluten (For Some People)
People with psoriasis are about twice as likely to have celiac disease (a condition where gluten damages the intestines). Similarly, people with celiac disease are more likely to develop psoriasis (11).
If you have both conditions or are sensitive to gluten, avoiding gluten might help your psoriasis.
Diet Plans That Can Help
Several eating patterns have been studied for psoriasis. Here’s what the research shows:
Weight Loss Diets
Losing weight can significantly improve psoriasis. In a study of 303 overweight people with psoriasis, those who followed a weight loss diet and exercise plan for 20 weeks saw their psoriasis improve by 48%, while those who just got general advice only improved by 26% (12).
Weight loss is especially helpful if you’re taking biologic medications. In a study of 262 people taking biologics, those who followed a low-calorie diet lost about 13 kg (29 pounds) and saw 84% improvement in their psoriasis, compared to 69% improvement in those who didn’t diet (13).
Low-Calorie Diet with Omega-3s
Combining calorie reduction with omega-3 fatty acids may work even better. People who followed a low-calorie diet enriched with omega-3s for 6 months saw major improvements in their psoriasis severity, itching, and quality of life (14).
Ketogenic Diet
A ketogenic diet (very low in carbs, high in fat) may help reduce inflammation in psoriasis. In a small study comparing ketogenic and Mediterranean diets, the ketogenic diet reduced psoriasis severity scores and lowered several inflammatory markers in the blood, while the Mediterranean diet didn’t show these benefits (15).
How Food Affects Psoriasis Medications
When you eat can affect how well some psoriasis medications work:
Cyclosporin: Taking this medication before meals works much better than taking it after meals. People who took cyclosporin before eating saw 75% improvement in their psoriasis, while those who took it after meals only improved by 30% (16).
5-Methoxypsoralen: This medication used with light therapy must be taken with food. In a study, 5 out of 9 people had no detectable levels of the drug when they took it on an empty stomach, but all had good levels when taken with food (17).
Etretinate: This vitamin A-based medication absorbs much better with milk. A study found that taking etretinate with a pint of whole milk increased absorption by 260% compared to taking it with water (23).
Supplements That Help
Some supplements may help manage psoriasis:
Vitamin D
People with psoriasis often have low vitamin D levels. Studies show psoriasis patients have vitamin D levels averaging 21 ng/mL compared to 27 ng/mL in people without psoriasis (18). However, taking vitamin D pills hasn’t been proven to improve psoriasis symptoms in most studies.
Omega-3 Supplements
Omega-3 supplements can help reduce psoriasis severity. Studies show they can lower psoriasis scores and reduce scaling and redness, especially at higher doses (19).
Folate
If you take methotrexate for psoriasis, folate supplements are important. They can reduce liver-related side effects by about 36% (20).
The Bottom Line
While diet alone isn’t a cure for psoriasis, making smart food choices can help improve your symptoms and overall health. The most proven dietary approach is weight loss if you’re overweight – it helps psoriasis and makes medications work better.
Eating more omega-3 rich fish, adding anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, and including probiotic foods may help. At the same time, limiting alcohol and foods that increase inflammation could reduce flare-ups.
Remember to work with your healthcare team when making major diet changes, especially if you’re taking medications. They can help you create a plan that works best for your specific situation and ensures you’re getting all the nutrients you need while managing your psoriasis.