Lifestyle
The way you approach your psoriasis diagnosis will make all the difference to your well being. Psoriasis can actually be a powerful motivator to finally get serious about your health. Let your diagnosis be the starting point of a journey to a new and better you.
Alcohol
Like smoking, alcohol abuse is more common in people with psoriasis than the general public. And, like smoking, there is no solid evidence to explain the correlation. It may be that increased alcohol intake can lead to psoriasis, or that having a chronic disease like psoriasis may lead people to increase their intake. It may even be a combination of those two explanations, with people developing psoriasis because of their alcohol abuse and then continuing to drink heavily as a way to cope with the condition.
Whatever the reason, people with psoriasis are more likely to abuse alcohol, and it may be contributing to their psoriasis, and even making it worse—among other potential physical and social consequences. For example, some medications for psoriasis can affect your liver, and you may be asked to cut out alcohol altogether. If this is the case, and you fear you will be unable to give up alcohol, have an honest conversation with your doctor about this.
Reduce your alcohol consumption
With the above issues in mind, it makes sense to consider greatly reducing your intake of alcohol if you have psoriasis, and even to try cutting it out of your life completely. Again, your doctor is an excellent resource for support and ideas to help you change your relationship to alcohol, so don’t be shy if you are ready to make that change—ask for help.
Smoking
Studies from the U.S. and around the world have shown that people with psoriasis are more likely to be smokers than the average population. Whether that’s because people take up the habit after developing the condition, or because it contributes to the development of psoriasis, is still not known. What is known is that if you do not smoke, you shouldn’t start. And if you do smoke, you should find a way to quit.
Of course, quitting is easier said than done. If you are a smoker with psoriasis, and you are having trouble quitting, be sure to talk to your doctor. There are many ways to approach quitting, and getting help to do it is a great idea.
Nutrition
Eating a well-balanced diet is important for anyone, but especially for someone with a chronic disease like psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It contributes to your overall health and may help you to manage your disease.
Though diet may not have a direct impact on your skin condition, it may actually help you to protect your joints from the damage of PsA, a type of arthritis that occurs in about one in three people with psoriasis.
Below are a few tips on eating better. Remember to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you make any major changes to your diet, as some foods and nutritional supplements may interact with your medication.
- Try to eat a wide variety of foods
- When making meals, prepare extra for later
- Do your best to eat regularly
- Keep food portions to a reasonable size
- Add colour to your diet with fruits and vegetables
- Consume only moderate amounts of sugar and salt
- Reduce your hydrogenated or trans fat and cholesterol intake
- Make an effort to plan your meals
- Consider a multivitamin to supplement your diet
Nutritional supplements
Nutritional supplements of any kind can change how medications work. Some people with medical problems should not take supplements at any time. Before taking supplements, check with your doctor and do not exceed the doses that are recommended on the product’s label.
Feed your joints: Did you know that cartilage—the hard, slippery stuff that protects the ends of bones—depends on joint movement to absorb nutrients and remove waste? Staying active “feeds” your joints and keeps them clean and healthy.
Special diets
Changing what you eat may give you a greater sense of control over your overall health, but no diet can “cure” or “ease” psoriasis or PsA. Most dietary claims have no scientific support, and studies have not found any diet that significantly improves these conditions.
But…
If you are overweight, losing 10 pounds (4.5 kg) can reduce joint stress on your knees by as much as 40 pounds (18 kg). Losing weight can help reduce folds of skin on your body where psoriasis can appear. Most doctors recommend a common-sense approach to eating to maintain a healthy weight.