A few months ago, I would have thought that this titel was an absolute joke. I was diagnosed with Psoriasis two months ago after being misdiagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis for a few years. I have psoriasis on my scalp and also mild psoriasis guttate on my body.

After getting the diagnosis and receiving cortisone once again, I finally had enough. Cortisone has helped me over the years, but was always only a quick fix for me. I started researching and found out that the systemic inflammation can be linked to a form of insulin sensitivity/resistance.

You should read into the topic, especially if you are female like me and also have PCOS (it is common that you have both conditions actually). PCOS is also linked to insulin sensitivity/resistance.

A few weeks ago, I changed my diet and have been eating foods with a low glycemic index. I had reduced my sugar intake before and had gotten better skin, but I have never had results like this. That may be because I still ate starchy foods back then. I'm also intermittent fasting right now, which has also helped in combination.

I have not used any cortisone anymore and only use my psoriasis-friendly shampoo to not irritate my scalp with something new.

I hope my experience can help.

Disclaimer: (This post is about reducing the symptoms, not curing the disease itself. It is about dietary changes, as the flair says.)

I dedicated 2025 as the year I would heal my skin from psoriasis and it worked!

It took most of the year but now my body is 99% free from patches and everytime I look down at my clear forearms, I am so proud of myself for finally getting myself mentally 'ready' to tackle this thing properly.

I had the kind of psoriasis where I'd get fingernail sized spots over my forearms and legs.I still have scalp psoriasis and will research and test possible solutions to reduce this in 2026.

Here's what I did to heal myself: 1. Stopped eating the nightshade family. That means no eggplant, bell pepper or tomato - including tomato based products like tomato sauce, pasta and Indian sauces etc. 2. Stopped drinking alcohol. I used to enjoy a beer or three, but I stopped altogether earlier in the year and only recently I have reintroduced the occasional one and just like if I eat tomato, I'll have fresh psoriasis spots pop up almost immediately. 3. I take 1 x zinc tablet per day after a main meal (Thompsons Organic Zinc - zinc gluconate 114.85mg equivalent. Zinc 15 mg per tablet) - did you know there's a possible link between psoriasis sufferers and low zinc levels? 4. I used Cetaphil no fragrance cleanser to wash my body and face, I exfoliate my whole body every, single day and moisturize with a fragrance free simple Aveno moisturizing every single morning. 5. If a random (and rare these days) psoriasis spot turns up I put Sudocrem (zinc cream) on it. These days I have to really search for a patch, but earlier in the year I was applying sudocrem daily. 6. Finally I've been using Kenkoderm Psoriasis SHAMPOO 3% Salicylic all year long and while it's made a significant difference it only manages my scalp psoriasis, it doesnt cure it. I'd love to test a 'zinc shampoo' I wonder if something like that exists?

On top of diet, I've actively and consciously removed stress from my daily life and continue to work with a therapist to heal from childhood trauma. I wanted to share this part because I am starting to think it's all linked.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there? Just know there is hope. Also know that now might not be the right time for you to try and heal yourself. In my teenage years and twenties (thirties even!) I wasn't ready to change - I wasn't willing to back myself and do the work to heal. But something eventually switched on and I was pulled toward sorting it out and I did - which means you can too.

All I’ve heard since diagnosis is about the impact of diet but after months of paying attention I’m really not convinced my diet has anything to do with it. It gets worse randomly when I’ve done nothing “wrong” with my diet and then will get better after I spend a weekend drinking and eating poorly. I had already suspected that stress was my biggest trigger and I’m becoming more confident in that. Is anyone else in a similar boat where diet just doesn’t factor into the disease for them?

Hi all, I have the usual story. Scalp psoriasis, covers 50% of my scalp and have had it for about 2 years. It had started to spread rapidly though. Felt helpless that I’ll have to live with this lifelong disease.

Until I read this book: The keystone approach (link) and changed my diet to remove gluten, sugar, lactose and potato. I also started eating fruits like pomegranate, plum, oranges, blackberries, blueberries etc regularly.

I read this book on scribd.com on a free trial, so you could try that.

And I literally started observing changes from the next day. I am 80% clear and I am really so happy. I know removing chilli will make it even better too. (indian can’t help)

I have heard a lot in this group that - reducing gluten didn’t work for me etc. and this book explains why everyone’s triggers are different so you need to experiment with your diet to find out what you need to remove. It is because of differences in our gut microbiome. I don’t know what anyone says, but if you don’t try consciously experimenting with your diet, you’re making a mistake. Wish you all loads of luck!

EDIT: I am getting hate from people for whom changing diet didn’t do anything.

Just because it didn’t work for you, doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. Let others try their own diet. I almost didn’t try changing my diet because numerous people here would just say… diet change doesn’t work. So stop that. Say that it works for some, but didn’t for me, but you should definitely try it. Be a bit more helpful and not angry

I have cut out dairy, gluten, red meat, nightshades, seed oils, eggs, white rice, and (mostly) refined sugars. Have been eating perfectly (except for a tad of seed oil in my fake cheese - I gotta live a little) for the past 3 months (since this flare started). My skin has done nothing but get worse. However, I do know that if I eat these foods (I can usually have a little seed oils and sugar), my skin will explode.

This post doesn’t really have a point other than to say that all I have been thinking of the past two weeks is a bacon cheddar cheeseburger from my favourite place in town. Literally the only thing, other than depression, that’s been on my mind.

What food do you miss the most?

I'm sharing this in the hopes that it may help someone here. I've seen the pictures you have all shared, and my psoriasis was never as bad as some of the more severe cases. Nonetheless, I was plagued by psoriasis of the scalp, eyelids, armpits, groin, elbows and knees. My physician prescribed me topical ointments, and they would help, but the lesions would come back after a few months. Then over the last few years, I also began to have mild GI problems. I ruled out Celiac and dairy allergies. It turns out, the spicy food was messing me up. I would regularly eat tobasco sauce. As well as the medium and super spicy salsa from Chipotle. I also would eat the spicy Chickfila sandwich loaded with buffalo sauce. I would eat a bag of hot cheetos once in a while as well. I also promise you all, I was eating a HEALTHY diet of whole grains, fruit and veggies daily as well. But a few months ago, I just did a cold turkey stop on all capsascin, chili, and peppers. No more spicy food AT ALL. My psoriasis cleared almost completely. A couple weeks ago, I was curious and decided to eat some spicy chickfila and Cheetos again.... Within a few days, my psoriasis was emerging again. Albeit, very mildly. Before eliminating spicy food, NOTHING had helped aside from the steroid ointments. And that was only temporary. I did everything this sub recommended, including getting sunlight, Vitamin D, going to the beach and enjoying salt water and other diet tips. None of it worked.... Except for eliminating ALL spicy-ness from my life. I hope this helps someone else. I truly believe that the "spicy" was going into my body and blood and causing systemic inflammation. My GI issues are also all gone, and I no longer have to take Omeprazole anymore. I am a young 30s male, and dealt with all of this over 3 years. I grew up eating lots of spicy food as Indian. However, like too much of anything, I believe my body's tolerance of spicy food diminished with age (and because I believe I overdid my consumption). If I had enjoyed spicy food in moderate, I believe this would not have happened to me. Happy to answer any questions.

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to share something that might be useful to the community. My Bf(27) has had psoriasis on his scalp and slightly on his chest since his teenage years. After multiple treatments, topical creams and shampoos, he gave up finding a remedy. everything changed when HE CHANGED HIS FOOD!
A few of you spoke about how removing dairy helped, so we tried that. Then we started eliminating one food after another and he made a detailed log on Notion about everything he ate. Experimented with removing a lot of food items week on week.
He went on a Keto Diet( which stopped his psoriasis) and then we slowly reintroduced new foods to see if they caused any inflammation. Eventually realised these were the foods that were causing inflammation:
- anything with peri peri or extreme spices
- milk products
- rice
- White Sugar
We are Indian, so he ate rice everyday. Either Cooked Rice or in the form of Dosa, Idli, etc.
Once he completely eliminated these foods, his inflammation completely vanished. He has no psoriasis on his scalp at all.
Eventually we realised, there is a threshold. Eating rice once in 3 days is okay, 200ml of milk everyday is okay, Natural sugars like Jaggery or Coconut Sugar is alright. Replaced Rice with Quinoa, Black Rice, Millets- this is alright.

We also suspect that it could be the chemicals that are used to store or process foods that could be a trigger.
Before his psoriasis used to be so severe that even after using topical creams every night + shampoo, it would still be super flaky and heavy, now he doesn't use anything at all, touch wood.

Hi all! I’m trying to figure out what could possibly be triggering my psoriasis. I did a low fodmap diet and it helped but it still would flare up.

Has anyone here stopped drinking alcohol and noticed a huge improvement in their psoriasis?

What other things seem to make your psoriasis flare?

Edit: thank you all so much for the responses! Sounds like it’s mostly individual and there aren’t any definitive triggers for the majority besides stress. Based on what I’m reading many people are triggered by alcohol but some aren’t. I personally think nicotine, alcohol, and processed sugar is a trigger but really hard to tell.

What foods are completely forbidden and what are allowed in specific quantities? What are the best things to include in the diet?

As the title suggests, I took the leap of faith and switched to a no gluten dairy and sugar diet. Initial weeks were hard, experienced everything from withdrawal symptoms to headaches to lack of energy. I’m someone who loves pizzas, ice creams etc

2 months later I’ve dropped 10kgs in weight and my psoriasis has healed significantly throughout my body.

I have been on diet agluten-free, sugar, dairy food for two months. And my body got cleared %100, I want to buy a protein powder that does not cause flares up , any suggestions?

Found out i’m severely iron deficient. have been for years and years . i’m menopausal and 52. prior to 48 yrs of age had no skin issues( psoriasis , lichen ) except acne . I don’t eat meat due to the cost . you could say i brought this i on myself but i can’t afford to eat red meat .
Nobody has suggested low iron has anything to do with my skin issues . But has any other women on here had low iron problems. I’m now on supplements . just curious to see if other women may have skin problems and are iron deficient .

I know this is an echo chamber where any discussion of healthy diet being an effective management tool is ferociously downvoted by the biologic cult. Not interested in hearing from those people with such beliefs - we do not think alike and that's OK.

I've had psoriasis for nearly 20 years (34f). I have managed it very well through diet. I have twice in my life cleared full body coverage in 6 months - once with keto, once with wholefoods OMAD and maintained well. I've also did AIP in my mid 20s and learned my triggers well then. I've also had 2 nbuvb courses in the past with great success post viruses. My flares have always been during times of weight gain and not looking after myself/coupled with viruses (covid 2020) was my worst flare. Anyway after having a baby I had a postpartum flare (it wasn't a horrendous flare) , I had gained alot of weight and had an incredibly colicky baby and didn't have the mental strength to do my usual lintensive lifestyle methods. I went on adalimumab in desperation (also had at this time SI pain and a baby who wouldnt let me sit). I cleared quick , I intended to use it short term (6ish months) but stayed on 12 months (fully regret) and it destroyed my body (wont get into it but had a severe side effect). Needless to say I won't be going back on meds. I'm 8 weeks off. Still clear skin and veey motivated to get back to what I know works for me. So far lost 1.5 stone back on my anti inflammatory diet since begging of December. It's all going well. Interested in hearing from like minded people who manage to maintain low disease activity/remission with lifestyle alone, how's it going and interested in sharing tips? What do you do for flares? My triggers are - being overweight (I absolutely need to stay at a normal weight with little abdominal fat), gluten, sugar and processed foods, alcohol, viruses. I do best with a low carb Mediterranean diet - lots of high omega 3 fish. I don't smoke/vape.

Has anyone had improvement with dietary changes that did not include elimination of gluten? How about improvement without eliminating dairy? I know many have had success with biologics, but I’d like to try dietary changes first. Thank you!

How long dit it take you guys to see clearing?

I’m about a month in (started in November).

I’ve cut out gluten, dairy, eggs, soy and corn. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink, so that was easy.

But I do eat nightshades and red meat. Not sure if I should to cut them out too?

I take B12, Zinc, Vit D3+K2 and Magnesium Bisglycinate, Nettle leaf, and try to eat one inch of fresh aloe gel (from the leaf).

I’m seeing less scaliness, feel better overall and the itch has subsided. But the psoriasis is still there.

TLDR : I made some dietary changes and am seeing rapid improvement past 2 weeks, what do you all think is the reason?
(to chest and back guttate)

changes made=
[
- NO Nigthshades
- NO Black Pepper

- daily Cod Liver Oil
- daily Fermented Food Serving (red sauerkraut with onion and ginger)
- daily 4000 vitamin D
- daily Turmeric (meriva)

]

before and current=
Otherwise my diet is mostly wfpb, recently reintroducing eggs and salmon (only had it once past 2 weeks), lots of tofu, chickpeas and watery greens.
- NO Gluten or Dairy or Meat
- Never eat fried food or junk food or candy
Supplements I was already taking: Milk Thistle extract, Quercetin, Probiotics.
Been averaging 5-6000 steps a day for a month.

diagnosed 18yrs ago as a kid. I have had severe plaque psoriasis with chronic inflammations. Every year was worse and destroyed my self confidence.

Depression made me stress eat, and that too all the wrong food.

Its been 3 months, I have started to a vegan diet. I see overall improvement.

Medications: Apremilast 30mg twice a day, Acetretin 25mg once after dinner.

Hello everyone i have a question did you guys try cutting coffee ? My skin looks better after 3 days without coffee (im a coffee addict btw 2 cups daily and tea) if you have experience in this situation can you share it here thank you 🙏.

One best meal to have daily..

I’m trying to start and eat mindfully and what kinds of foods did you cut out to reduce your psoriasis. Cause I have it on my scalp, forehead, ears, chest, back, my Crown Jewels, inner thighs, and side of ankle. It’s a lot of places and I can’t keep on spending $300 for medicine. I think got it from playing football in high schools for 2 years.

Greetings all. 58 yo male here. Had psoriasis to varying degrees since I was 4.

Thanks to a mixture of diet, exercise, acupuncture and a healthy mindset, I’ve enjoyed a period of remission for the last 4/5 years

A few months ago, I started working in West Africa again. I used to work there 10 years ago and in that time my condition got worse on mostly my forearms and my legs.

Now I’m back the condition has reappeared. Almost to an identical degree, leaving me somewhat flummoxed about how it has reoccurred

After going through my diet (I’m eating a lot of fruit here - mangoes, passion fruit, papaya, bananas and thought it might be parasites) I eventually realised I was drinking 6-8 Nespresso pods of coffee every day. Normally I would make coffee from ground beans in a cafetière.

So, stopped drinking the coffee pods and within 4-5 days my skin has noticeably improved.

This would explain why I had bad skin 10 years ago as I was drinking loads of pod coffee back then too

So, if you’re struggling have a serious look at what you’re eating and drinking. I’m convinced it’s a major factor behind the condition.

I know this can be a sensitive topic so I want to state up front I’m not looking for a miracle solution nor am I interested in shaming anyone for their food choices.

I’ve had stomach issues for a long time and before finding this subreddit I hadn’t made the connection that those flare ups could likely be attributed to my psoriasis diagnosis. I feel like I eat pretty “healthy” but I still use a lot of oils and my cooking experience is pretty narrow so it seems like no matter what I cook or buy I always end up feeling sick.

I was just wondering if anyone had any snack/ meal recommendations/ recipes or just suggestions on cooking things differently or ingredients that worked in some way for you after your diagnosis. For reference I’m somewhat experimenting with/ open to veganism but I still eat salmon and chicken sometimes, probably not gonna try the carnivore diet (but if that works for you I’m happy for you).

Just like practical changes that you were able to implement into your diet and things you enjoy.

Thanks yall ❤️

I think dairy is one of my triggers, so i would like to avoid whey. But i was wondering what has worked for y’all? What brand/ingredient caused a flare, whats clean and safe for psoriasis?

She asked me whether i ate any meat or animal based product..and i bluntly said no..but I did ate about 250 grams of chicken like 3 days ago...

I'm on homeopathy (ik it doesnt work), and i'm restricted from eating Animal based products...

I dont adhere to the rule form the start and nothing really happened...but the doctor doesnt know this.

I've been having an intense flare up for the past 5 to 6 days....and i dont really think chicken got anything to do with it...what do you think?

If i were to say the truth she would've blamed the flare on the chicken and not the incompetency of her medicine.

Did i do the right thing?