Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin condition affecting approximately 2–3% of the global population. It is characterised by accelerated epidermal cell turnover — in healthy skin, the cell renewal cycle takes 28–30 days; in psoriasis, this compresses to 3–7 days — producing the characteristic build-up of cells that form raised, scaly plaques on the skin's surface. It is not contagious. It cannot be passed from person to person. And while it primarily manifests on the skin, psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory condition that can affect joints, cardiovascular health, and mental wellbeing. Understanding it clearly is the foundation of managing it effectively.
[warning:This article is for educational and informational purposes only. Psoriasis is a complex medical condition that requires diagnosis and ongoing management by a qualified dermatologist. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat psoriasis without medical guidance. If you suspect you have psoriasis or your existing condition is worsening, consult a healthcare professional promptly.]What Causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis arises from an interaction between genetic predisposition and immune system dysregulation. The immune component involves overactive T-lymphocytes that mistakenly recognise healthy skin cells as foreign, triggering the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23). These drive the accelerated cell division and inflammatory cascade that produces psoriatic plaques.
Genetic factors are significant: if one parent has psoriasis, the risk to a child is approximately 10–20%; if both parents are affected, that rises to around 50%. More than 60 genes have been associated with psoriasis susceptibility, with HLA-Cw6 identified as particularly relevant.
Genetic predisposition alone does not determine whether psoriasis develops. External triggers play a central role in initiating or exacerbating the condition:
- Infections — particularly streptococcal throat infections, which commonly trigger guttate psoriasis in children and young adults
- Psychological stress — one of the most consistently reported triggers and aggravating factors
- Skin trauma — scratches, burns, or insect bites can trigger new plaques at the injury site (the Koebner phenomenon)
- Certain medications — beta-blockers, lithium, antimalarials, and NSAIDs can provoke or worsen psoriasis
- Cold, dry weather — explains why many people with psoriasis notice improvement in summer and worsening in winter
- Alcohol and smoking — both significantly increase disease severity and reduce treatment response
- Metabolic factors — obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes are associated with more severe psoriasis
Types, Symptoms and Diagnosis
Psoriasis vulgaris (plaque psoriasis) accounts for approximately 80–90% of cases. It presents as well-demarcated, raised red plaques covered with silvery-white scales, most commonly on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. Other types include guttate psoriasis (small teardrop-shaped lesions, often post-infection), inverse (flexural) psoriasis in skin folds, pustular psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis — the most severe form, covering most of the body surface and requiring urgent hospitalisation.
Psoriatic nail disease (occurring in approximately 50% of patients) causes pitting, discolouration, thickening, and onycholysis of the nail plate. Psoriatic arthritis develops in around 30% of people with psoriasis, causing joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and potentially permanent joint damage if untreated. If you have psoriasis and develop joint symptoms, early rheumatological assessment is important.
Diagnosis is primarily clinical — an experienced dermatologist can usually diagnose psoriasis from examination alone, aided by characteristic signs including the Auspitz sign (pinpoint bleeding after scale removal). Skin biopsy, laboratory tests, or imaging are occasionally needed for confirmation or to exclude other conditions.
Medical Treatment: An Overview
This section provides a brief orientation to the medical treatment landscape. All treatment decisions should be made with a dermatologist.
Topical therapies (for mild-to-moderate disease) include corticosteroids, vitamin D3 analogues (calcipotriol), retinoids, calcineurin inhibitors, and salicylic acid preparations. They are effective when used correctly but require medical guidance on appropriate products, concentrations, application sites, and duration of use.
Phototherapy — particularly narrowband UVB — is a well-established and highly effective treatment for moderate psoriasis, requiring 2–3 sessions per week over several months under dermatological supervision.
Systemic medications (methotrexate, ciclosporin, acitretin, apremilast) are used for moderate-to-severe disease. All require monitoring and regular follow-up.
Biological therapies — monoclonal antibodies targeting TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23 — represent a major advance for patients with severe or treatment-resistant psoriasis, often achieving near-complete skin clearance. They require specialist prescription and monitoring.
Daily Skin Care: What Makes a Difference
Consistent daily skin care is one of the most impactful things a person with psoriasis can do outside of medical treatment. The key goals are maintaining skin barrier integrity, reducing dryness and scale, and minimising friction and irritation.
Emollients and moisturisers should be applied at least twice daily — heavier creams or ointments are preferable to light lotions for psoriasis. The best time to apply is immediately after bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp. Choose fragrance-free, dye-free formulations. Ingredients to look for include urea (for scale reduction), glycerin, omega fatty acids, ceramides, and shea butter. Dead Sea salt baths (2–3 times per week) are widely reported to provide relief from itch and scale.
For cleansing: use lukewarm rather than hot water, keep showers or baths short (10–15 minutes), and use gentle, sulphate-free cleansers or emollient bath products. Pat skin dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing. For scalp psoriasis, medicated shampoos containing tar, salicylic acid, or zinc pyrithione can be used between clinical treatments.
Topical Products for Psoriasis-Prone Skin at Medpak
We carry several topical products specifically formulated for psoriasis-prone, eczema-prone, and reactive skin:
[products:hermz-healpsorin-psoriasis-and-eczema-cream-50-ml, hermz-healpsorin-shampoo-for-psoriasis-500-ml, hermz-healpsorin-hair-conditioner-for-psoriasis-500-ml, cannaderm-atopos-cream-for-ad-and-psoriasis-75-g, mg12-dead-sea-salt-renewal-1-kg, najel-dead-sea-mud-300-g]Nutrition and Supplementation: What Evidence Supports
Diet cannot treat psoriasis, but nutritional factors meaningfully influence disease activity and general inflammatory load. The following have the strongest evidence base:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Marine omega-3s (EPA and DHA) have the most consistent research support among supplements for psoriasis. EPA competes with arachidonic acid in the inflammatory cascade, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Multiple clinical trials have found that omega-3 supplementation (typically 2–4 g EPA+DHA per day) reduces psoriasis severity, particularly itch intensity, erythema, and scale. The effect is not dramatic but is real and well-replicated. Our fish oil and omega-3 collection includes high-EPA options that are most relevant in this context.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D is directly involved in keratinocyte regulation and immune modulation — both central to psoriasis pathophysiology. People with psoriasis are significantly more likely to be vitamin D deficient than the general population, and deficiency correlates with increased disease severity. Supplementation to correct deficiency is a sensible baseline measure. The appropriate dose should be determined by blood testing; general population supplementation is typically 1,000–4,000 IU/day.
Probiotics and Gut Health
The gut-skin axis — the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and skin inflammation — is an active area of psoriasis research. Gut dysbiosis (disruption of the normal microbiome) is documented in psoriasis patients, and emerging clinical trial data suggests that certain probiotic strains may help modulate systemic inflammatory markers. While not a primary treatment, supporting gut health through diet and high-quality probiotics is a reasonable complementary measure. For additional digestive support options, explore our digestive system collection.
Curcumin
Curcumin — the primary active compound in turmeric — has documented NF-κB inhibitory activity, which is relevant because NF-κB drives many of the inflammatory pathways overactive in psoriasis. Several small clinical trials have found reductions in psoriasis severity scores with curcumin supplementation. Bioavailability is the key limitation: standard turmeric powder is poorly absorbed; phospholipid-bound or nanoparticle formulations (such as Solgar's liquid extract or formulas paired with piperine) are significantly better absorbed.
[products:nordic-naturals-ultimate-omega-lemon-flavour-60-softgels, now-foods-ultra-omega-3-500-epa-250-dha-90-softgels, now-foods-vitamin-d3-2000-iu-120-softgels, aliness-curcumin-3-plus-60-veg-capsules, now-foods-clinical-gi-probiotic-60-veg-capsules, aliness-probiobalance-forte-probiotics-prebiotics-30-veg-capsules]Lifestyle Factors with the Greatest Impact
Alongside medical treatment, several lifestyle modifications consistently show meaningful effects on psoriasis disease activity:
- Weight management — adipose tissue is metabolically active and pro-inflammatory; even modest weight loss in overweight individuals can meaningfully reduce psoriasis severity and improve treatment response
- Smoking cessation — smoking significantly worsens psoriasis and reduces response to treatment; this is one of the most impactful changes available to affected smokers
- Alcohol reduction — alcohol impairs treatment efficacy and is a direct trigger for many people; reduction or elimination is recommended
- Stress management — stress is one of the most reliably identified triggers; mindfulness, yoga, CBT, and regular physical exercise all have evidence for reducing stress-related psoriasis exacerbations
- Physical activity — 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3–4 days per week reduces inflammatory markers, supports weight management, and improves mood
- Sleep — 7–8 hours of quality sleep supports skin repair and immune regulation
Dietary Approach
A Mediterranean-style diet — rich in oily fish, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, and whole grains, and low in processed foods, red meat, and refined carbohydrates — is broadly anti-inflammatory and consistently associated with better outcomes in chronic inflammatory conditions including psoriasis. Specific foods with the strongest evidence for reducing inflammatory load include oily fish (for omega-3s), colourful vegetables and berries (for antioxidants), olive oil (for oleocanthal's COX-inhibiting activity), and fermented foods (for microbiome diversity).
Foods to limit: alcohol, ultra-processed foods, foods high in refined sugars, and — for individuals who notice a personal response — gluten, dairy, or citrus fruits. Food triggers are highly individual and worth tracking personally.
Psychological Wellbeing
Psoriasis significantly increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. These are not simply consequences of living with a visible condition — the same inflammatory pathways driving skin symptoms also affect brain function and mood. Many people find that psychological support — whether therapy, support groups, or mindfulness-based approaches — is as important as physical treatment in managing quality of life with psoriasis. If you are struggling with the psychological impact of psoriasis, seeking support is a legitimate and important part of managing the condition.
[note:All products at Medpak are shipped from within the EU, ensuring fast delivery and no customs complications for customers across Europe. Products mentioned in this article are complementary lifestyle supports — they do not constitute medical treatment for psoriasis. Always follow your dermatologist's guidance regarding medical treatment.]
