I've had great luck with dietary changes (after many years of failures).
Here are foods I avoid:
1. liver, eggs, and meat fat. They are high in a substance caled arachidonic acid, which the white cells in our skin use to manufacture the chemicals that cause our skin cells to multiply too fast. While a little A.acid is vital for health, the modern diet contains way more than we need. I stay away from sausages, hot dogs, ribs, chicken with the skin on, bacon grease, and farm-raised salmon. This one change made a great difference in my skin.
2. - legumes (starchy beans (incl. soy), peas, and peanuts)
- whole wheat (which includes high fiber cereals)
- the inside of tomatoes.
These foods all contain lectins (a type of plant protein) that can attach to the gut walls of susceptible people and cause an inflammatory response.
3. Vegetable oils and margarines that are primarly safflower, soybean, cottonseed, or corn oil. These oils can be converted to arachidonic acid in the body. Instead I use light-tasting olive oil or canola oil for cooking.
4. Sugar, as much as reasonably possible. I cook and sweeten foods with Splenda as much as I can and eat sugar-free sweets, which are easily available in the U.S. Sugar is quickly digested and causes a rise in blood glucose, which in turn causes increased secretion of insulin from the pancreas. Insulin unfortunately promotes several inflammatory reactions in the body.
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These are the foods that I find help my skin:
1. foods high in antioxidants, which are mainly colorful fruits and vegetables. I also drink a cup of green tea, which is also high in antioxidants, particularly the matcha (powdered) type.
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These are supplements that seem to help my skin:
- vitamin D (I take 2000 IU/day)
- selenium (I take 100 mcg/day)
- magnesium (I get at least 400 mg/day mainly from a calcium/magnesium supplement)
- alpha lipoic acid (an antioxidant that the body makes naturally in small amts, I take 100 mg/day)
- for a while I was taking a capsule of fish oil and borage oil, which competitively inhibit the arachidonic acid conversion process, but I don't seem to need this any more.
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I learned about a year ago that, although most everyone has staph bacteria on their skin, people with psoriasis have a bigger problem with this. Apparently, staph is present in many p lesions, and particularly if we pick our scabs to the point where the skin is moist, we run the risk of getting staph bacteria inside our body, which causes an inflammatory reaction. Staph and strep have both been found to produce superantigen toxins in the body. To deal with this, I use an antibacterial soap when I shower, and if I don't shower on a given day, I apply an antibacterial hand lotion on my body.
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I have had a severe case of plaque p since the age of 10, and had a massive guttate outbreak caused by a breast CA chemo drug a few years ago. I decided it was time to do my best to find a healthy way to deal with my skin. As a physiologist, I was able to review the scientific literature related to p as well as other autoimmune disorders. And people like bjmac on the NPF board were helpful as well. I am now about 98% clear of my lesions, which is beyond my wildest dreams several years ago.
I do take one drug: When I am in a stressful situation (such as traveling or some minor crisis) I take a small dose (2.5 mg) of valium for a short period of time. This has been preventing the occasional flares caused by anxiety for the past 6 months.
I do feel that we are all somewhat unique in the particular dietary changes that help our skin. But these changes are very easy to make, and are worth a shot.
DottieD
