Health Boards
Thu-20-07-2023, 16:48 PM
Hello,
Just found this forum, have had psoriasis for about ten years but never really looked for a forum before. But in the past few years its progressed to an intolerable point and ive been struggling.
Bit of background on me, 29 y/o male, live in Ontario, Canada. I consider myself very fit and healthy.
I has psoriasis start around the ears and nose at first. That was easily remedied with any lotion. I really first noticed persistent psoriasis on my elbows and then knees. Then my belly button as well. I had a few spots pop up here and there on torso and arms but just adjusted my diet to eat more healthy meals (not eating a cookie for breakfast) and was able to control it pretty well with just a little steroid cream and basic 80/20 kind of diet (eat healthy 80% of time, eat junky food 20% of time), and no restrictions. Sometimes it would flare and be extra flaky but some diet correction and salt baths would get it under control. Over the years a new spot would develop here and there, on my fore arms, shins, torso, the forearms and shins would come on as a result of damage to the skin (cuts) that despite my "healthy lifestyle" wouldn't go away. Admittedly I did smoke on and off and drink from time to time for many years and often eat anything i felt like but I was active and felt like anytime i could reel it in and control flares. It was annoying but i could deal with it and enjoy going to the beach and wearing shorts and t shirts.
In the past 2ish years my psoriasis kind of exploded. It basically covered my forearms, spots popped up all over the inside of my forearms, all over my upper arms, all over my stomach and lower back, my entire lower legs, not just on my shins but all over my calves, and my upper legs as well. Id often get flares and spots on my forehead and other spots on my face around my eyes. I had already quit smoking by this time but was drinking every week or two in the summer before this happened.
I am still not sure why it got so bad. I shortly there after decided I needed to completely revamp my diet. I was eating a pretty carb heavy diet before, oats or gluten free hot cereal with fruit, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, sweet potatoes, beats, beans, quinoa, rice. Only protein I was eating really was chicken or fish for dinner and paired with rice usually, or made into tacos with cheese and other goodies you'd eat with tacos. All sorts of things but always "healthy". Often having snacks/dessert too though. Chocolate, cookies, peanut m&m's. But I felt I needed to become more strict and get in more protein as well as I have always been very active and lean and muscular. I got diet guidance from the "REMOVED" mostly. I started eating eggs for breakfast with avocado, usually chicken for lunch with rice or potatoes, started eating beef after having pretty much avoided it for years, raw and unsalted nuts, yogurt, whey protein. I decided to give it some time to adjust. It didn't really accelerate my psoriasis but it kind of just stayed pretty bad and spots grew and grew. About a year ago I even went on a probiotic and did a few rounds of gut supplements for leaky gut. Not really any affect on the PSO.
I always felt tired and bogged down before. Since eating like this I feel stronger and more on it. I feel like a beast mostly. But my psoriasis isn't getting better. I still pretty much eat like this except now I eat oats again, less eggs, cut the yogurt, but always try to balance carbs, protein and fats with all my meals. Its the best I have felt physically. I always do coffee in the morning after water. For breakfast I do a big bowl of oats with some fruit, lunch is beef or chicken or sardines with rice usually (just switched from basmati to brown), dinner is chicken or beef with potatoes (did white and yellow potatoes for a long time, just switched to sweet potatoes), i get snacks in, usually fruit, or banana bread i make with oats, banana, eggs, coconut oil or butter, little maple syrup or dark chocolate.
1 - 3 months ago I've found a bit of healing happening. Spots cleared on my lower legs, forearms, face. And alot of spots became less flaky and scally. Stopped waking up to loads of skin in my bed. I was eating whey protein everyday and gluten by way of oats and loads of potatoes and nuts. But it seems to have gone back to being not great again. Think its cause I started having a few whiskeys on saturday nights watching ufc for too many weeks in a row. Still, ive stopped but over a month ago but still find it to be very irritated. I also stopped the whey and try to do gluten free oats. Ive also started eating more veggies as well.
I am just not sure where to go from here. Thinking of cutting the coffee and beef. Already have been upping the veggie intake. I definitely enjoy and need alot of protein though so i don't know what ill replace the beef with. I have a very very strong appetite. I eat loads of food. Im still super lean and muscular. I also hate leafy greens and veggies like brocolli. They tear up my stomach.
I am at a point where I question if diet even has much to do with this. There were plenty of times I went off the diet and ate lots of chips or processed chocolate or other "bad" things and my skin got lighter and less irritated. Obviously diet is a huge component but I just question worrying about little things like will tomatoes make it worse or will eating chips and salsa one day or eating one kind of nut or skin on chicken actually cause all of this on my skin? I know alot of people say beef is bad, but I just don't know I buy that. I certainly think the fat in beef isn't great but I eat lean beef. I obviously get a little fat but just don't know I believe that a few grams per say of beef fat in my body is causing this.
For about 2 years now, little by little ive cleaned up my diet and lifestyle and intuitively corrected and made changes to optimize my overall healthy but I haven't seen it translate to my psoriasis like I hoped. I don't let it get my down or depressed, maybe the odd day here and there I have that hopeless feeling but i pull myself out. Im pretty positive and motivated. I just don't understand this disease, still.
My plan is keep making adjustments. Like I said I feel its time to cut coffee and eat less beef, just to try. I switched out the potatoes for sweet potatoes and im adjusting to get more veggies. I see it as process of various trials. At this point ive had this so long that the way I see it my only way to beat the disease is to find the formula that works for me. Just cutting this one thing or adding this one supplement or following a basic protocol won't do it for me I don't think.
In addition to diet I know that stress is a factor, as they say, lol.
I certainly have stress in my life. Wife had a baby late last year, we also bought a house last year. Ever since she got pregnant life has changed and my responsibilities have grown. I love it, but it is alot, It was a big life change. That being said, it certainly could be a major factor for me. But I feel like my ability to manage stress is greater than ever. I don't suffer from or experience anxiety. I did very badly in my early 20's but figured that out. Though my psoriasis was easy to manage then even though i ate like crap, smoked, and experienced bad anxiety and depression at times. I feel more fit than ever, sleep better, eat better, have better emotional stability but the psoriasis persists.
Im covered in ugly red spots, often scaly and flaky. I feel embarrassed to take my shirt off around my family and enjoy the lake. I wouldn't want to go to the beach, one of my favorite things to do all my life. Ive always been a person who loves summer and being outside, wearing shorts and a tank top or being shirtless and enjoying the sun. I wear pants everyday though and often put a long sleeve on to go in public. I just seem to have psoriasis pretty badly but i have a healthier diet and lifestyle than most people I know. I know that comparing myself to other people won't do my any good and I just need to look at what I can do to change and what else I can try but its just a tough thing to deal with. I believe that this must be possible to heal naturally. I fear going on biologic drugs.
Anyways, thats alot so thanks to anyone who makes it through, lol. Psoriasis is a strange thing and its tough and noone I know really understands.
Edit by Fred: Mention of website removed.
Just found this forum, have had psoriasis for about ten years but never really looked for a forum before. But in the past few years its progressed to an intolerable point and ive been struggling.
Bit of background on me, 29 y/o male, live in Ontario, Canada. I consider myself very fit and healthy.
I has psoriasis start around the ears and nose at first. That was easily remedied with any lotion. I really first noticed persistent psoriasis on my elbows and then knees. Then my belly button as well. I had a few spots pop up here and there on torso and arms but just adjusted my diet to eat more healthy meals (not eating a cookie for breakfast) and was able to control it pretty well with just a little steroid cream and basic 80/20 kind of diet (eat healthy 80% of time, eat junky food 20% of time), and no restrictions. Sometimes it would flare and be extra flaky but some diet correction and salt baths would get it under control. Over the years a new spot would develop here and there, on my fore arms, shins, torso, the forearms and shins would come on as a result of damage to the skin (cuts) that despite my "healthy lifestyle" wouldn't go away. Admittedly I did smoke on and off and drink from time to time for many years and often eat anything i felt like but I was active and felt like anytime i could reel it in and control flares. It was annoying but i could deal with it and enjoy going to the beach and wearing shorts and t shirts.
In the past 2ish years my psoriasis kind of exploded. It basically covered my forearms, spots popped up all over the inside of my forearms, all over my upper arms, all over my stomach and lower back, my entire lower legs, not just on my shins but all over my calves, and my upper legs as well. Id often get flares and spots on my forehead and other spots on my face around my eyes. I had already quit smoking by this time but was drinking every week or two in the summer before this happened.
I am still not sure why it got so bad. I shortly there after decided I needed to completely revamp my diet. I was eating a pretty carb heavy diet before, oats or gluten free hot cereal with fruit, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, sweet potatoes, beats, beans, quinoa, rice. Only protein I was eating really was chicken or fish for dinner and paired with rice usually, or made into tacos with cheese and other goodies you'd eat with tacos. All sorts of things but always "healthy". Often having snacks/dessert too though. Chocolate, cookies, peanut m&m's. But I felt I needed to become more strict and get in more protein as well as I have always been very active and lean and muscular. I got diet guidance from the "REMOVED" mostly. I started eating eggs for breakfast with avocado, usually chicken for lunch with rice or potatoes, started eating beef after having pretty much avoided it for years, raw and unsalted nuts, yogurt, whey protein. I decided to give it some time to adjust. It didn't really accelerate my psoriasis but it kind of just stayed pretty bad and spots grew and grew. About a year ago I even went on a probiotic and did a few rounds of gut supplements for leaky gut. Not really any affect on the PSO.
I always felt tired and bogged down before. Since eating like this I feel stronger and more on it. I feel like a beast mostly. But my psoriasis isn't getting better. I still pretty much eat like this except now I eat oats again, less eggs, cut the yogurt, but always try to balance carbs, protein and fats with all my meals. Its the best I have felt physically. I always do coffee in the morning after water. For breakfast I do a big bowl of oats with some fruit, lunch is beef or chicken or sardines with rice usually (just switched from basmati to brown), dinner is chicken or beef with potatoes (did white and yellow potatoes for a long time, just switched to sweet potatoes), i get snacks in, usually fruit, or banana bread i make with oats, banana, eggs, coconut oil or butter, little maple syrup or dark chocolate.
1 - 3 months ago I've found a bit of healing happening. Spots cleared on my lower legs, forearms, face. And alot of spots became less flaky and scally. Stopped waking up to loads of skin in my bed. I was eating whey protein everyday and gluten by way of oats and loads of potatoes and nuts. But it seems to have gone back to being not great again. Think its cause I started having a few whiskeys on saturday nights watching ufc for too many weeks in a row. Still, ive stopped but over a month ago but still find it to be very irritated. I also stopped the whey and try to do gluten free oats. Ive also started eating more veggies as well.
I am just not sure where to go from here. Thinking of cutting the coffee and beef. Already have been upping the veggie intake. I definitely enjoy and need alot of protein though so i don't know what ill replace the beef with. I have a very very strong appetite. I eat loads of food. Im still super lean and muscular. I also hate leafy greens and veggies like brocolli. They tear up my stomach.
I am at a point where I question if diet even has much to do with this. There were plenty of times I went off the diet and ate lots of chips or processed chocolate or other "bad" things and my skin got lighter and less irritated. Obviously diet is a huge component but I just question worrying about little things like will tomatoes make it worse or will eating chips and salsa one day or eating one kind of nut or skin on chicken actually cause all of this on my skin? I know alot of people say beef is bad, but I just don't know I buy that. I certainly think the fat in beef isn't great but I eat lean beef. I obviously get a little fat but just don't know I believe that a few grams per say of beef fat in my body is causing this.
For about 2 years now, little by little ive cleaned up my diet and lifestyle and intuitively corrected and made changes to optimize my overall healthy but I haven't seen it translate to my psoriasis like I hoped. I don't let it get my down or depressed, maybe the odd day here and there I have that hopeless feeling but i pull myself out. Im pretty positive and motivated. I just don't understand this disease, still.
My plan is keep making adjustments. Like I said I feel its time to cut coffee and eat less beef, just to try. I switched out the potatoes for sweet potatoes and im adjusting to get more veggies. I see it as process of various trials. At this point ive had this so long that the way I see it my only way to beat the disease is to find the formula that works for me. Just cutting this one thing or adding this one supplement or following a basic protocol won't do it for me I don't think.
In addition to diet I know that stress is a factor, as they say, lol.
I certainly have stress in my life. Wife had a baby late last year, we also bought a house last year. Ever since she got pregnant life has changed and my responsibilities have grown. I love it, but it is alot, It was a big life change. That being said, it certainly could be a major factor for me. But I feel like my ability to manage stress is greater than ever. I don't suffer from or experience anxiety. I did very badly in my early 20's but figured that out. Though my psoriasis was easy to manage then even though i ate like crap, smoked, and experienced bad anxiety and depression at times. I feel more fit than ever, sleep better, eat better, have better emotional stability but the psoriasis persists.
Im covered in ugly red spots, often scaly and flaky. I feel embarrassed to take my shirt off around my family and enjoy the lake. I wouldn't want to go to the beach, one of my favorite things to do all my life. Ive always been a person who loves summer and being outside, wearing shorts and a tank top or being shirtless and enjoying the sun. I wear pants everyday though and often put a long sleeve on to go in public. I just seem to have psoriasis pretty badly but i have a healthier diet and lifestyle than most people I know. I know that comparing myself to other people won't do my any good and I just need to look at what I can do to change and what else I can try but its just a tough thing to deal with. I believe that this must be possible to heal naturally. I fear going on biologic drugs.
Anyways, thats alot so thanks to anyone who makes it through, lol. Psoriasis is a strange thing and its tough and noone I know really understands.
Edit by Fred: Mention of website removed.
to Psoriasis Club. 
), some natural, some no treatment at all, some humour.