Psoriasis: reducing inflammation and addressing root causes for healthier skin
Red, scaly patches are more than just a skin issue - they’re linked to immune and inflammatory imbalances. Functional medicine targets the causes, helping to soothe symptoms and promote lasting skin health.
The functional medicine approach to psoriasis
Looking for a natural treatment for psoriasis, or want to find out how to treat the condition naturally? This page covers:
At Melbourne Functional Medicine, we’ll work with you to identify the root cause of your psoriasis, so we can treat the real issue naturally and effectively, using our award winning approach to healthcare.
What is psoriasis?
Understanding your skin condition
Psoriasis is often thought of as a skin disease, but it is actually an autoimmune condition. It occurs when overactivity of the immune system causes skin cells to multiply rapidly, creating raised, thickened, dry, red patches.
The inflammation associated with psoriasis may cause psoriatic arthritis in some people, leading to painful and inflamed joints.
What is psoriasis?
Understanding your skin condition
Psoriasis is often thought of as a skin disease, but it is actually an autoimmune condition. It occurs when overactivity of the immune system causes skin cells to multiply rapidly, creating raised, thickened, dry, red patches.
The inflammation associated with psoriasis may cause psoriatic arthritis in some people, leading to painful and inflamed joints.
The problem isn’t just skin deep
Psoriasis is now understood to have strong links to gastrointestinal inflammation and dysbiosis of the microbiome. Causation is yet to be fully elucidated, yet studies have uncovered a relationship between psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
This is why our practitioners treat psoriasis with a holistic whole-of-body approach that offers a more permanent solution to your skin condition while treating its underlying cause.
Types of psoriasis
Psoriasis occurs when overactivity of the immune system causes a dysregulation of skin cell production. It is estimated that 1.6 million Australians are living with psoriasis, and the condition affects 125 million people globally. Psoriasis occurs in males and females equally, with peak onset between 16 and 22 years of age.
There are five variations of psoriasis, including:
Plaque Psoriasis: The most common type, affecting up to 80 percent of people with psoriasis. It causes red, scaly plaques that can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly on the scalp, face, knees and elbows, abdomen or lower back. Psoriasis can also present on fingernails and toenails, which is often mistaken as fungus.
Inverse Psoriasis: Inverse psoriasis affects one-quarter of people living with psoriasis, and may appear as inflamed red skin, that is smooth rather than scaly. It often affects skin folds like underarms and the genitals.
Guttate Psoriasis: Appears as small, round, red spots, affecting around eight percent of people with psoriasis.
Pustular Psoriasis: Occurs as white pustules surrounded by inflamed, red skin, in three percent of people with psoriasis.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis: A rare but potentially life-threatening variation of psoriasis causing intense redness, itching, pain, dehydration and shedding of large sheets of skin.
Topical treatments only mask the problem. Treat the cause instead
Causes and contributing factors of psoriasis
Patterns have been discovered among people with psoriasis experiencing intestinal permeability, altered immune homeostasis and an imbalance of short and medium chain fatty acid producing bacteria.
The overactivity of the immune system and T-cell stimulation is thought to be genetic, but there are also other influential factors like digestive imbalances, stress, environment and diet.
Those with an existing autoimmune condition are at greater risk of developing another autoimmune condition like psoriasis. Around 25% of people with an autoimmune condition tend to develop three or more autoimmune conditions, likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Guttate psoriasis, which presents as an abundance of small red scaly plaques on the trunk, often follows a streptococcal infection of the throat (strep throat).
Our skin health practitioner Rebecca Hughes can provide functional testing to determine the underlying cause and contributing factors of your psoriasis, to help tailor a psoriasis treatment plan for you.
Natural vs conventional psoriasis treatments
Aside from only providing a short-term solution that doesn’t treat the underlying cause of psoriasis, conventional medicine can cause undesirable side effects.
Current conventional treatment of psoriasis is most likely to include topical treatments and systemic drugs such as methotrexate, cyclosporin, acitretin and ultraviolet B phototherapy.
A report by leading Australian dermatology specialists states these therapies ‘help most people with severe psoriasis’, but toxicity limits the dose and duration of treatment.
The side effects of these drugs are many and varied. Methotrexate often causes nausea, vomiting and increased liver enzymes, acitretin carries many side effects including elevated liver enzymes and blood lipids, renal impairment and teratogenicity, and cyclosporin is associated with high blood pressure and kidney failure.
Six reports have been made to the Adverse Drug Reactions Committee of serious consequences resulting from the use of methotrexate, a chemotherapy and immune suppressant drug, and three of these patients died from complications of bone marrow suppression.
Methotrexate and acitretin, an oral retinoid, also have proven significant adverse effects on the foetus, so pregnancy must be postponed for several years after stopping treatment.
The report also found psoriasis often recurs after stopping these therapies, and the rebound is usually more severe than before treatment, spreading to other areas of the body and erupting as new varieties of psoriasis.
Interestingly, the report makes no mention of gut health, microbiome or probiotics, and only two brief mentions of prioritising a low-glycaemic diet.
The Melbourne Functional Medicine approach
Personalised assessment and treatment of what’s causing your psoriasis
Our practitioner Rebecca first uses a range of functional testing like microbiome analysis, heavy metal testing, inflammatory markers, and vitamin and mineral levels to determine the underlying cause of your condition.
A psoriasis treatment plan will then be tailored just for you, which could include a combination of functional medicine approaches for psoriasis, including:
Restore healthy microbiome balance
Bacterial dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with chronic inflammatory skin disorders including psoriasis. Research has found probiotics have the potential to treat psoriasis and other skin disorders, by restoring beneficial bacteria in the microbiome.
An anti-inflammatory diet
Conventional treatments overlook the significant therapeutic potential of nutrition, and a food’s ability to have either a negative or beneficial impact on psoriasis. Inflammatory foods like refined carbohydrates, sugar, dairy, processed foods and artificial ingredients may have potential to worsen psoriasis. A Mediterranean diet has been shown to help reduce psoriasis symptoms, with foods high in healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, fish, nuts and avocados, as well as fresh, organic vegetables and fruits. Rebecca will work with you to help you eliminate any foods that may be aggravating inflammation, while ensuring you have a diet rich in essential nutrients.
Nutrient supplementation
Healthy skin requires a delicate balance of nutrients and minerals, which can become depleted as a result of deficiencies, reduced digestive function, stress, sun damage, age, and microbiome imbalances. Sometimes the foods we eat simply aren’t enough to obtain all of the nutrients we need. Rebecca can assess individual nutrient levels and provide supplements to reduce psoriasis symptoms, such as essential fatty acids, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin C, or gastric support to improve digestion and enzymatic activity.
Reducing toxin exposure
People with psoriasis are often very sensitive to fragrances, in everything from perfume and skincare to washing powder, room spray and cleaning products. Artificial fragrances are not only aggravating on the skin, but can cause toxic buildup in the liver and blood. Other environmental toxins that can potentially trigger psoriasis flares include cosmetics, alcohol, smoke, fumes, heavy metals, plastic and dust.
Reducing stress
Stress creates an inflammatory response in the body, which can cause and trigger a range of skin eruptions including hives and eczema. Studies have found stress is a trigger for both the onset and exacerbation of psoriasis and steps should be taken to reduce and manage stress levels. Your Melbourne Functional Medicine treatment protocol will include lifestyle and supplement support for healthy stress management.
Prioritising sleep
Research has found people with psoriasis experience poor sleep quality more often than those without the condition. This creates a frustrating cycle as sleep is critical for cellular repair and detoxification processes that support skin health, but the discomfort of psoriasis can make it difficult to sleep. If sleep is a concern for you, Rebecca can help you create a healthy sleep schedule, and have a more comfortable night’s rest.
Case study
See how our approach helps our patients achieve better health and richer lives.
Michaela came to us because she was suffering from psoriasis and it was having a significant impact on the way she was living her life. Being in her early 30’s, socialising was a big (and important) part of Michaela’s life. Going to music festivals was her outlet and most of her social interactions included drinking alcohol.
Read Michaela’s story by hitting the button below
Michaela’s story
Michaela, a woman in her early 30s, sought our help due to the significant impact psoriasis was having on her life. As someone who loved socialising, attending music festivals, and enjoying regular social interactions involving alcohol, Michaela was struggling to balance her lifestyle with her skin condition. Psoriasis had been a part of her life since her teenage years, and it was deeply affecting her quality of life.
Understanding the problem
Michaela’s awareness of her condition played a pivotal role in the investigation process. Over the years, she had identified key triggers for her psoriasis flare-ups, such as stress, alcohol, sun exposure, and salt. This was a great starting point for us, as it provided initial insights into potential lifestyle factors contributing to her condition.
Michaela’s symptoms indicated that multiple interconnected factors needed addressing. As part of our functional medicine approach, we prioritise deeply understanding a patient’s history and underlying health concerns. Michaela’s sensitivity to chemicals, personal care products, and alcohol – along with her notable reactions like sneezing in cleaning aisles and suffering from severe hangovers – raised red flags about her body’s detoxification capacity, particularly her liver and other elimination channels. This insight guided us to focus on enhancing her detoxification pathways, including targeted liver support, as well as focusing on other elimination channels like the gut and skin.
Given Michaela’s awareness of the role food played in her condition, we explored her dietary habits. Initially, we suspected gluten intolerance and placed her on a gluten-free diet for a month. While some improvement was noted, it wasn’t enough. This pointed us toward the need for a more comprehensive food protocol to pinpoint specific inflammatory triggers.
After a month without significant improvement, we implemented a more structured approach through the Auto Immune Protocol (AIP), which is an intensive elimination diet used to identify food sensitivities, reduce inflammation, and calm immune responses. While AIP is rigorous, it’s highly effective in uncovering hidden food triggers.
Psoriasis is often linked to stress, and Michaela’s high-pressure job in a demanding industry seemed to contribute to her flare-ups. We recognised that managing her stress was a critical piece of the puzzle. In addition to the physical aspects of treatment, we worked with Michaela to implement stress-reduction strategies.
Implementing the solution
Michaela’s gluten-free diet was a good start, but the AIP protocol, though challenging, proved to be transformative. It involved eliminating common inflammatory foods like grains, dairy, and legumes to assess their impact on her skin. Over time, Michaela noticed a reduction in inflammation, though her psoriasis hadn’t fully resolved.
Through food inflammation testing, we discovered that foods like pumpkin and spinach were causing significant inflammatory responses. This was invaluable, as these foods weren’t typically suspected. With this new information, we refined her diet, removing these triggers and seeing further improvements in her skin.
We continued supporting Michaela’s liver with supplements and dietary changes aimed at enhancing detoxification. While her liver was a key area of focus, we also paid attention to her gut health, as the gut plays a critical role in inflammation and immune function.
Michaela’s job-related stress was a critical factor, so we worked on developing stress-reduction strategies tailored to her lifestyle. She incorporated daily journaling, gratitude practices, and meditation into her routine. Additionally, walking to work gave her “empty brain” time, helping her manage anxiety. With the support of her health coach, Michaela learned to identify her stress thresholds and created affirmations to manage moments of anxiety.
Achieving an incredible result
After several months of dedicated work, Michaela began to notice significant changes. During a particularly stressful period, she reported feeling less overwhelmed than she had in the past. She was able to navigate high-pressure situations with increased resilience, thanks to the new habits she had integrated into her daily routine.
By the 11-month mark, Michaela’s skin had greatly improved. Her psoriasis was under control, and she had developed a deep understanding of how food, stress, and detoxification were interconnected. She maintained her meditative practice, continued to eat foods that worked best for her body, and had mastered techniques for managing stress.
At the last check-in, Michaela’s psoriasis had virtually cleared up. She felt empowered with the knowledge and tools to maintain her skin health and prevent future flare-ups. More importantly, Michaela had cultivated a holistic approach to her well-being – one that went beyond just addressing psoriasis but encompassed her overall physical and mental health.
Michaela’s case exemplifies the power of a functional medicine approach in addressing chronic conditions like psoriasis, as well as the role of coaching to help embed healthy lifestyle practices that make a big impact on health. By focusing on root causes, identifying triggers, and supporting the body’s detoxification systems, we helped Michaela achieve lasting improvements. This case also highlights the importance of considering the interconnectedness of lifestyle, stress, and diet in treating chronic inflammatory conditions.
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Our unique model of care was designed with you in mind. Find out how, then book a call today
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Is psoriasis an autoimmune disease?
Yes, psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that occurs when overactivity of the immune system causes skin cells to multiply rapidly, creating raised, thickened, dry, red patches.
Can diet help with psoriasis?
Diet can play a significant role in improving psoriasis.
Inflammatory foods like refined carbohydrates, sugar, dairy, processed foods and artificial ingredients may have potential to worsen psoriasis, whereas an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet has been shown to help reduce psoriasis symptoms, with foods high in healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, fish, nuts and avocados, as well as fresh, organic vegetables and fruits.
How to cure psoriasis completely
Treating the underlying factors that cause Psoriasis to occur can lead to improvement or complete resolution of the condition. This approach involves a comprehensive assessment by a practitioner with a thorough understanding of the condition, including functional testing, nutrition and other natural interventions.
How do you know if you have psoriasis?
Psoriasis presents in five different ways and requires diagnosis by a GP or dermatologist.
The most common type is Plaque Psoriasis which creates red, scaly plaques that most commonly occur on the scalp, face, knees and elbows, abdomen or lower back. Inverse Psoriasis presents as inflamed, smooth rather than scaly red skin. Guttate Psoriasis appears as small, round, red spots.
Pustular Psoriasis occurs as white pustules surrounded by red inflamed skin.
Lastly, a rare and potentially life-threatening form Erythrodermic Psoriasis creates intense redness, pain, itching, dehydration and shedding of large sheets of skin.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Reach out to the team directly – we’ll be happy to assist.