A Decade of Psoriasis Wisdom in 600 Words

Over the years I’ve collected advice from thousands of fellow psoriasis sufferers. While some trends come and go, there are always tips that stick – supplements, food, lotions, etc. While they might not work for everyone, they come up often enough that I think it’s fair to say there’s some consensus. Lately, I’ve wondered – what if I tried them all at once? What if for a few months I took every supplement, applied every lotion, ate every food recommended by the psoriasis collective? And in my opinion, the following suggestions do have some degree of “psoriatic consensus” because I’ve heard them recommended hundreds of times in my 10+ years on the forums.

Here they are, distilled down to the very best...

Supplemental advice

I’d start with a trip to my family doc to make sure I should take these vitamins all at once and that none of them would interact with each other or my medications (very important!). I’ve heard that glutamine and quercetin are good for fixing leaky gut, so I’d start with those. I’d also supplement with zinc, magnesium, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate. Finishing off, the trifecta of Omega-3 capsules, turmeric, and vitamin D, all three of which psoriasis peeps rave about.

Wisdom in food

Things I would drink include celery juice, kombucha, slippery elm bark tea, bone broth, and aloe vera juice. I’d be sure to take a probiotic every day and load my diet with tons of fermented food (like kimchi and sauerkraut). I’d eat lots of colorful fruits and veggies, especially those with lots of sulfur, but try to avoid nightshades. I’d also cut out gluten, dairy, sugar, and any kind of processed food. I may not eat all the time though, I’d try out intermittent fasting during the day and do water fasts once every few months. I may even pucker up and drink apple cider vinegar!

Psoriasis approved soaps/lotions

This is probably the densest category! So much to recommend for soaps/lotions. When showering, I’d use Black African Soap and make sure not to take showers that were too hot. For my scalp, I’d use shampoos that contain coal tar and menthol, but no sulfates. I may even try applying mixtures of coconut oil and baking soda, with a touch of tea tree oil. On days I didn’t feel like showering I’d take Epsom salt baths or oatmeal baths. All my lotions/potions would contain salicylic acid, neem oil, or indigo naturalis. I’d order some Sorion cream online along with Lush’s Dream Cream, and I’d get out the Vicks Vaporub for super itchy spots. Lastly, I’d save my banana peels and use them as compresses!

Exercise/relaxation and treatments

I’ve heard that exercise is good for psoriasis and that obesity and psoriasis are linked. I’d try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, mixing it up with cardio and weight training. I’d also use meditation and yoga to relax because stress can trigger flares. Dr. Pagano famously recommended regular chiropractic treatments, and I’d throw in some acupuncture for good measure.

A little more wisdom

To top it off, I’d order some moringa seed oil, oil of oregano, and CBD oil. I’d run a humidifier, especially in the wintertime. In the summer I’d try to get lots of sun (safely, of course!), and I’d probably crack my laptop and finally (begrudgingly) look into Aryuvedic medicine.

So there you have it! A decade of psoriasis wisdom distilled into 600 words. I’ve been thinking for a while that it would be a fun experiment to take a crack at everything, so who knows, maybe there is a part 2 to this!

Did I miss anything?