It has been over four years since I was first diagnosed with psoriasis.  I remember feeling pretty confused when the doctor told me, since I don’t think I had ever heard the word “psoriasis” before.  Since that fateful day, I have learned so much about this chronic skin condition.  I feel like if I would have had some people give me some tips and advice when I first got it, I would have had a giant head start on getting my psoriasis under control.  I decided I would try to help people out as much as I possibly could.

My first piece of advice, and this goes for the whole population, is to eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables.  Since psoriasis is a problem with the immune system, it makes sense to treat the problem as an internal issue.  Ever since I started eating a diet full of vegetables, fruits, beans, rice, and nuts, my skin has been glowing and I feel so much better overall.

Another strategy I use is to avoid or limit alcohol, spicy foods like cayenne pepper, and tomato-based products like pizza and marinara sauce.  All of those items seem to cause flareups with me  I don’t think I am the only one that happens to either – from reading the forums it seems tons of people with psoriasis have this same problem.

I also became aware that I was sensitive to gluten last year.  After reading up on it, it seems there might be a link between psoriasis and gluten sensitivity.  If you have psoriasis and are suffering from digestive issues or bloating, it may be worth cutting out gluten from your diet for a couple weeks and see if you notice any positive effects.

The most important thing to do with psoriasis is to keep a positive mind and healthy body.  I have been incorporating meditation and green tea into my life to feel more calm.  There are so many people out there with psoriasis – if you need someone to reach out to or turn to for guidance, they are not far away.  If you want to learn more about my struggle, check out battlingpsoriasis.com.