What can and cannot be done with psoriasis?

Answers to the question of what is allowed and what is not allowed with psoriasis should be grouped into "gastronomic" and other, not related to food products. Let's start with the former, since nutritional problems with this autoimmune disease are the subject of a great many studies and do not cease to interest patients with psoriasis.

We will try to provide only medically proven facts or the most substantiated opinions of specialists, confirmed by cases from their clinical practice.

What can and cannot be consumed with psoriasis?

Appearing on the skin, which is one of the body's immune barriers, psoriasis actually begins "inside" the immune system: when there is a malfunction in the T-cells (cytotoxic T-lymphocytes or T-killers), which protect the body from infections and trigger immune responses.

Another major immune barrier is the gastrointestinal tract. Both the skin and the intestines protect the body from potentially harmful substances. Certain foods have been found to be triggers for psoriasis, and by considering what is and isn’t allowed for psoriasis, the frequency and severity of flare-ups can be reduced in some cases.

Can you drink alcohol if you have psoriasis?

Alcohol is recognized as one of the strongest irritants in psoriasis, so the answer to the question - is it possible to drink alcohol with psoriasis - is definitely negative.

Among the reasons for the negative effect of ethanol on the skin condition in psoriasis, such versions as temporary dehydration of the body (including the skin) and dilation of blood vessels, leading to the infiltration of activated immune cells into the epidermis, are considered. And if we rely on the theory of the occurrence of psoriasis associated with the process of releasing the body from internal toxins through the skin under conditions of a violation of the acid-base balance of the body, then it is worth keeping in mind that any dose of any alcohol shifts the pH of the blood and all fluids to the acidic side. And the activation of T-cells occurs precisely when the pH decreases below 7.35-7.4.

Is coffee allowed if you have psoriasis?

Caffeine can trigger a variety of conditions in humans and in some cases leads to an increase in psoriasis lesions. The inflammatory response in the form of keratinocyte hyperproliferation is largely the result of the interaction of innate and acquired immunity. The exact mechanism by which coffee and caffeine influence this process is still being studied, and it is difficult to say how different levels of caffeine affect different people with psoriasis.

Many researchers believe that coffee increases the level of omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids in the body, worsening inflammation. In addition, coffee is a drink that acidifies the blood.

Almost half of patients experience significant improvement when they stop drinking coffee. It can be assumed that this is the result of stopping the intake of pyridine, which is toxic to the skin and central nervous system and is formed during the roasting of coffee beans from the alkaloid trigonelline.

Is milk allowed if you have psoriasis?

Foods that psoriasis patients are advised to avoid – along with red meat, processed foods and refined sugar – include milk and dairy products (sour cream, cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream). These products can lead to an increase in the manifestations of the disease.

Psoriasis is very fond of such an essential amino acid as tryptophan: when there is no tryptophan, the disease regresses.

The tryptophan content in milk is 16.7 mg% (in cottage cheese it is 3.8 times more, in hard cheeses – 14 times more). Melatonin, a hormone that activates the immune system, is synthesized from tryptophan, which in itself is harmful in autoimmune pathologies in cases of increased intake of this amino acid (with meat, fatty fish and dairy products). The results of the latest studies by the Laboratory of Dermatology at Rockefeller University (New York) indicate that tryptophan metabolism can to a certain extent change immune reactions with an increase in the activity of the enzyme L-kynurenine.

Also, with psoriasis, the natural regulation of fatty acid metabolism is disrupted. This concerns arachidonic acid, which is an omega-6 acid, contained in milk. Arachidonic acid is the "raw material" for the synthesis of many inflammation mediators, including prostaglandins.

So, it is better not to drink milk if you have psoriasis, or drink it occasionally and skim milk.

Is honey allowed for psoriasis?

The experts’ answer to the question of whether honey is allowed for psoriasis is a categorical “no,” and here’s why.

We have already talked about the importance of the acidity level of products used for this disease, so the average pH of honey is 3.9 (varies depending on the variety from 3.4 to 6.1).

People with psoriasis should not consume honey internally, but its external use can be a natural treatment option for rashes: trace amounts of pyruvic acid aldehyde (methylglyoxal), which has antibacterial and healing properties, have been found in honey.

In New Zealand, a balm made from honey, beeswax and extra virgin olive oil is used to treat psoriatic lesions and reduce skin irritation. Clinical trials of this product have shown positive results in more than 60% of patients examined.

Can you use pomegranate if you have psoriasis?

In terms of its effect on blood acidity, pomegranate is a neutral fruit, like apples, plums, pears or peaches. But you should only eat ripe pomegranates: the riper the fruit, the higher its alkalizing properties.

Pomegranate is a good source of zinc, which is essential for normal skin function. Zinc regulates the growth of basal cells, which develop into mature skin tissue and help heal damage. Zinc also helps activate superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant that protects the skin from damage. Polyphenols and ellagic acid in pomegranate are beneficial for the skin, as they have a sunscreen effect and protect the skin from damage by free radicals.

One medium pomegranate provides 1.1 mg of zinc – about 15% of the recommended daily intake. By the way, pomegranate oil added to cream quickly restores the elasticity of damaged skin areas.

Can you eat tomatoes if you have psoriasis?

Many doctors believe that nightshade vegetables – peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants – increase inflammation in psoriasis. They blame solanine, a toxic protective glycoside, contained in nightshades. However, this substance is found only in unripe tomatoes.

Today, the question of whether tomatoes are allowed for psoriasis remains relevant, although, according to dermatologists, nightshade vegetables have a negative effect on about 5% of patients with psoriasis. However, some people who have given up tomatoes and everything tomato-based, find it helpful. And all because solanine is a steroid alkaloid and can irritate the intestinal mucosa, increasing its permeability.

Another version that should be kept in mind is that carotenoids are to blame for everything: they increase the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, and the main carotenoid in tomatoes is the red pigment lycopene.

Can you eat beets if you have psoriasis?

The presence of ascorbic acid in beets, more than 0.4 mg% zinc and a moderately alkaline (pH 7.5-8) effect, obviously compensate for the presence of the amino acids histidine (discussed above) and the immune-stimulating arginine in this root vegetable.

In addition, its purple-crimson color is provided by the antioxidant pigment betacyanin, which helps remove toxins accumulated in the liver.

So no one objects to eating beets for psoriasis (of course, unless you personally have an allergy to it).

Can you eat radishes if you have psoriasis?

Radish is essentially a horseradish (Raphanus Sativus), only small... Radish contains such trace elements important for psoriasis as selenium and zinc, as well as almost all the B vitamins. But most of all this root vegetable contains ascorbic acid: 100 g of fresh radish provides 18% of the daily requirement of vitamin C.

Radish owes its pungent taste and smell to mustard oil (isothiocyanates), its glycosides (glucosinolates) and the enzyme myrosinase. How these substances affect psoriasis is unknown, but high concentrations of isothiocyanates reduce the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland (which leads to goiter) and can also harm the liver.

Western nutritionists believe that radishes can be eaten in small quantities if you have psoriasis.

Can you eat grapes if you have psoriasis?

Experts from the Swiss Psoriasis Foundation classify grapes as products that are acceptable for this pathology, since these berries alkalize the blood (pH> 8.5). Grapes contain selenium, which maintains skin elasticity and prevents it from becoming excessively dry.

Grape seed extract, as a natural histamine antagonist, has been shown to help control signs of allergic reactions. The extract also inhibits the release of prostaglandins, which generate inflammation.

In addition to grapes (preferably sweet green varieties), you can eat fresh apples, peaches, apricots, pears, most berries (including cherries and gooseberries), watermelons and melons, pineapple, mango, bananas (ripe).

Can you eat mushrooms if you have psoriasis?

No diet for psoriasis has included mushrooms in the "black list" of prohibited products. Perhaps, the almost neutral pH (7.0) of this product is taken into account.

Or perhaps the total composition of mushroom protein, which includes almost two dozen amino acids, including leucine and methionine.

It is also possible that mushrooms consumed in food can influence the hyperactivity of immune cells by blocking the process of formation of intercellular adhesion molecules. As a result, leukocytes providing immune protection do not so quickly get to the site of inflammation and produce cytokines.

In addition, mushrooms are rich in B vitamins, selenium, copper and zinc. They are also a good source of vitamin D (as D2) and dietary fiber.

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Can you eat seeds if you have psoriasis?

In some patients with psoriasis, the symptoms of this disease can be aggravated by seeds and nuts, since these are products that provoke allergies. In this case, seeds cannot be consumed with psoriasis, but this can only be determined empirically (that is, click on some seeds and monitor the condition of the skin). By the way, this is the most reliable way to determine those products that are not suitable for you.

The effect of omega-3 fatty acids – alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic – on the course of psoriasis has been studied for quite a long time, but the results of studies are ambiguous. In addition, clinical studies are needed, and not just a statement of individual cases.

On the one hand, alpha-linolenic acid, contained in sunflower and pumpkin seeds, can affect the immune system, reducing inflammation in psoriasis. On the other hand, it all comes down to tryptophan. Thus, sunflower seeds contain more than 145 mg% of this amino acid - 20% more than beef; in addition, they contain more than 630 mg% of histidine.

And in pumpkin seeds the tryptophan level is even higher – 240 mg%, which is 3.4 times more than in walnut kernels.

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Can you drink turmeric if you have psoriasis?

Apart from being used as a spice, turmeric is one of the most important ingredients in Ayurvedic medicines.

Therefore, doctors say that you can drink turmeric for psoriasis: a teaspoon daily (half a teaspoon of powder in the morning and closer to the evening), mixed with warm water. But you can add turmeric powder to juice.

The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has an anti-inflammatory effect comparable to steroids. That is, curcumin inhibits the synthesis of inflammation mediators and reduces the inflammatory response of the skin associated with psoriasis. Turmeric also helps cleanse the liver of accumulated toxins.

Many foreign specialists and experts from the US National Institute of Health say that turmeric can be an effective treatment for psoriasis.

What can and cannot be done with psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a disease that requires certain adjustments and restrictions in lifestyle.

I wonder what answer patients expect to hear when they ask a doctor if they can smoke with psoriasis? Go back to the section on the harm of coffee with this disease and draw the right conclusion. In addition, keep in mind that tobacco belongs to the nightshade family of plants, which can provoke a deterioration in the skin condition, and the pH of tobacco is acidic (from 6.0 to 6.5). So if you have psoriasis, quit smoking!

Is it possible to go to a solarium if you have psoriasis?

Ultraviolet irradiation with the drug psoralen is used in dermatology to treat a few lesions that are resistant to topical therapy.

However, it is strongly discouraged to go to a solarium if you have psoriasis. According to research published in 2014 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vitamin D helps counteract the body's reaction to psoriasis. But too much of this vitamin can be dangerous. And intense UV radiation can contribute to this: under its influence, endogenous provitamin D (7-dehydrocholesterol) is transformed into cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), so in people suffering from psoriasis, too much sun exposure can cause an exacerbation. With this disease, doctors recommend staying in the sun for no more than a quarter of an hour a day.

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Is it possible to go to a bathhouse if you have psoriasis?

If psoriasis is not in the acute stage, visiting a bathhouse or sauna with this disease is not prohibited. However, no manipulations on damaged areas of the skin are allowed, for example, rubbing with a washcloth, whipping yourself with a broom in the steam room.

It is recommended to reduce the standard time of bath procedures by half. And after the bath, it is imperative to treat the affected areas of the skin with moisturizers.

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Is it possible to go to the pool if you have psoriasis?

This question is more of a theoretical nature, since people with such a diagnosis of spots on the body (not to mention psoriatic erythroderma) try not to put them on display...

However, you shouldn't swim in public pools for a completely different reason: the water in them is disinfected with chlorine, which can harm healthy skin, causing dryness and irritation. But swimming in a river or sea is useful for psoriasis.

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Is it possible to get a tattoo if you have psoriasis?

If you have psoriasis, tattoos, even on healthy areas of skin (as well as piercings), are strictly prohibited.

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Is it possible to dye your hair if you have psoriasis?

If psoriatic rashes are present on the scalp, dermatologists do not recommend dyeing hair, which can worsen the condition.

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Is it possible to do massage if you have psoriasis?

In principle, massage is not contraindicated for psoriasis, but a mandatory condition for its implementation is not to touch areas of skin with rashes. It is also better not to take risks during periods of exacerbation of the disease.

Can you get vaccinated if you have psoriasis?

It is not recommended to vaccinate children with this diagnosis (except for the oral polio vaccine), since any mechanical damage to the skin can provoke an increase in existing papules and plaques and the appearance of new ones.

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Is it possible to be a donor if you have psoriasis?

According to the rules established in transfusiology, psoriasis is included in the list of diseases that are an absolute contraindication to blood sampling.

Is it possible to play sports if you have psoriasis?

Most sports are contraindicated for patients with psoriasis, especially psoriatic arthritis. If joint damage has not yet occurred, you should not engage in sports with a high risk of injury (for example, boxing); you should also exclude long-term loads (football, basketball, track and field, sports aerobics, etc.). In addition, you should remember that increased sweating can negatively affect the condition of the skin, leading to increased skin itching.

Activity can be maintained by swimming, rowing, walking, cycling. Regular physical activity, according to leading experts, can stabilize the course of the disease. First of all, it is important for maintaining optimal body weight, since even with minor obesity, there is an increase in the level of interleukin-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokines (adiponectin and TNF-alpha), which play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

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Is it possible to give birth with psoriasis?

Psoriasis should not stop women from pursuing their dreams of becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby. Clinical experience shows that pregnancy gives some women (up to 60% of cases) a nine-month “respite” from breakouts: the increase in progesterone during pregnancy dampens the overactive immune response that causes psoriasis symptoms.

However, just as every pregnancy is different, psoriasis behaves differently, and 10-20% of pregnant women with psoriasis experience a worsening of their condition.

Is it possible to get disability benefits if you have psoriasis?

According to the “Instructions on the establishment of disability groups” (Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 561 dated September 5, 2011), it is possible to receive a referral for a medical and social examination (MSE) to determine disability due to psoriasis if the degree of the disease meets several criteria, in particular:

• - the disease is progressive and untreatable,
• - the patient was incapacitated for at least five months during the year (or was on sick leave for four months in a row),
• - the consequence of the disease is a decrease in the level of qualifications,
• - limited vital functions (ability to care for oneself).

You can get disability benefits for psoriasis only if you have psoriatic arthritis or psoriatic erythroderma with damage to a large area of the skin.

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