by A systemic disease, psoriasis involves inflammation all over the body but is limited to the skin
Your skin is scaly and inflamed, and there are patches of scaly, inflamed and red areas on your knees, elbows and scalp. After weeks of trying to treat it yourself with various over-the-counter ointments (hardly a good idea!), you see a dermatologist who looks at your skin and says, “You have psoriasis.”
You’ve seen all those TV commercials lately for plaque psoriasis, but it never occurred to you that it could be the cause of your problem, and you certainly never thought that it was something that people could get when they are older.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than 3% of the US adult population.
But, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are two peak incidences of the disease, and most cases occur between the ages of 20 and 30. However, the peak period for late-onset psoriasis is between the ages of 50 and 60. age, with most people developing it between 57-60. Women tend to develop it at a younger age than men.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than 3% of the US adult population. The immune system becomes overactive, causing an extremely rapid cycle of new skin cells being produced, dying and then accumulating on the surface of the skin.
This causes scaly, dry and cracked skin that itches and bleeds, and lesions are often found on the scalp, elbows, knees, trunk, palms and soles of the feet. Nails may be thick, pitted.
25-30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, usually about seven years after developing psoriasis.
Jessica Kaffenberger, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Director of the Division of Medical Dermatology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, says that “psoriasis is a systemic disease, where there is inflammation throughout the body but it is not only visible on the skin.”
She explains that 25-30% of people with the condition go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, usually around seven years after developing psoriasis itself, although a small percentage develop it before the skin types, and adds he added that “psoriatic arthritis is characterized by swelling in the back of the foot, heel pain, inflammation of the fingers and toes, and morning stiffness that subsides during the day.”
It is different from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease often associated with aging, often referred to as a “wear and tear” disorder.
Psoriasis symptoms sometimes go through cycles, flaring for several weeks or months, and then diminishing or even going into remission. Most cases are mild and can be managed with topical creams and ointments. However, more severe cases may require phototherapy or the administration of oral or biological medications.
The goals of treatment are inflammation, discoloration of lesions, and reduction of thickness and scaling. Results can be assessed by a change in the PASI (Psoriasis Severity Index), which is used to grade the severity of symptoms and to measure the patient’s response to treatment, and according to the BSA (body surface area), which estimate the percentage of each body region. affect
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, there are different types of psoriasis, with plaque psoriasis, marked by raised red patches of skin covered with silvery-white scales, being the most common. Many people with psoriasis have other serious conditions, including:
- Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high cholesterol levels
- Metabolic syndrome
- Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, social anxiety
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
A Dietary Approach to Managing Psoriasis
As psoriasis is highly correlated with cardiometabolic disorders, improving one’s diet (probably resulting in weight loss) will have a positive effect on existing conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease .
The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends eating an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and healthy unsaturated fats, which describe many of the components of the Mediterranean diet.
“A number of studies have been done over the years to determine the best foods or diet for managing psoriasis, as well as those that appear to be the most harmful. It has been found that most have a high sugar, which is known to increase inflammation. has a negative effect on psoriasis symptoms,” says Kaffenberger.
A diet that includes an excessive intake of simple sugars leads to dysbiosis (an imbalance of organisms normally present in the gut) with increased bacteria and inflammatory substances called cytokines.
Coffee, which contains polyphenols rich in antioxidants, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, suggesting that it may benefit psoriasis.
A 2017 study reported in the journal Dermatology and Therapy surveyed more than 1200 psoriasis patients who were members of the National Psoriasis Foundation and found that about 43% of respondents were not sure if diet affected their psoriasis .
Those who have checked for the influence of diet noted that their symptoms were worsened by sugar, alcohol, tomatoes, other night vegetables such as eggplant and pepper, gluten and dairy. Excessive alcohol intake is associated with the development of psoriasis, as well as increasing its severity.
Less commonly reported triggers included meat, processed foods, soda, bread, eggs and spicy foods. The study also asked patients if there were foods that seemed to improve their symptoms. 35.1% of individuals reported that dietary supplements reduced skin irritation, while others supported vegetables, fruits and fish.
Nutritional supplements that were helpful included vitamins (especially vitamin D), probiotics, fish oil/omega-3, and turmeric capsules. Fruits and vegetables provide many antioxidants (such as carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals), which are inversely correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of inflammation.
Some patients have reported favorable results following the Pagano, vegan, and Paleolithic diets, while others have recommended gluten-free, low-carbohydrate-high protein, Mediterranean, and vegetarian diets. The Pagano diet was created by chiropractor John Pagano, who authored the 2008 book “Healing Psoriasis” and believed that psoriasis was a manifestation of leaky gut syndrome, with the skin working overtime to release toxins.
Coffee, which contains polyphenols rich in antioxidants, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, suggesting that it may benefit psoriasis. However, according to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance, evidence for its benefits needs to be more consistent.
Some studies show that an increase in coffee intake is correlated with an increase in symptoms. In contrast, others show that coffee may increase the effectiveness of some drugs to treat psoriasis.
Research has suggested that its effect on psoriasis is dose-dependent, with moderate consumption (up to three cups per day) easing symptoms and reducing inflammation and higher caffeine intake having adverse effects.
Healthy Living and Psoriasis
“Because adipose tissue (fat) is a metabolically inflammatory substance, weight loss for those who are obese can be extremely helpful in reducing psoriatic symptoms, as well as reducing its frequent comorbidities. ” says Kaffenberger, who says that “intermittent fasting has been shown to reduce inflammation and increase inflammation, but many people find it difficult to stick to the diet.”
Now that you’re aware of the purported link between diet and psoriasis, you may want to make some modifications to increase your healthy eating habits (never a bad idea, whether you have the disorder or not.) These changes may include:
- Avoid highly processed foods, foods high in saturated fat or trans fats, and foods high in added sugar or refined carbohydrates
- Increase your consumption of plant-based and high-fibre foods such as vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and whole grains
- Eat lean protein and fatty fish, which are high in omega-3s; limit your red meat intake
- Consume healthy unsaturated fats such as extra virgin olive oil and vegetable oils and eat healthy fats such as avocado or dark chocolate
