Bananas are full of good stuff! Whether you consume them in smoothies, banana bread, or just as they come, they’re packed full of useful nutrients and can be great additions to your diet.

What’s so good about bananas?

Bananas are rich in the following nutrients:

• Vitamin B6
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Fibre
• Vitamin C
• Natural sugars

This makes bananas a good choice as part of a balanced diet if you want to keep your energy levels up! Manganese is a particularly useful nutrient for people with skin issues, as it is associated with wound healing and collagen production, but vitamins B6 and C are also integral to keeping you fit and well.

Topical application

One of the reasons why bananas are associated with psoriasis is because of a folk remedy that suggests applying banana skin to psoriasis plaques. The idea is that you rub the inside of a banana peel on your skin, to make use of the salicylic acid and antioxidants it contains.

Unfortunately there’s no good evidence to suggest it works, just anecdotal, although the method has been approved by a dermatologist!

"You can use the inside of the banana skin to help remove the scale," says consultant dermatologist Dr Anthony Bewley. "It's really safe and effective, and it will help relieve the itching of mild psoriasis." (IrishNews.com)

Are there any problems with bananas?

Bananas are generally good for most people, although a little heavy on the sugar content, but of course everyone is different. Although banana allergies or intolerance is rare, it is still a possibility, and people with psoriasis may be more likely to suffer from allergies than the rest of the population.

There’s also the problem with histamine: perhaps surprisingly, the National Rosacea Society includes bananas on their list of Factors That May Trigger Rosacea Flare-Ups because it belongs to a group of foods that can trigger the release of histamine. While rosacea is a different condition than psoriasis, they are both inflammatory conditions, and histamine release is part of the picture of itchy, uncomfortable skin. More research is obviously needed on the subject!

Ultimately, it’s down to you and your skin whether bananas are helpful or not for your psoriasis! You can try using them topically, or adding them to your breakfast, but be aware that they’re not for everyone.

Recommended products for skin prone to psoriasis

Balmonds Skin Salvation
with hemp and beeswax

Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream
with shea butter and calendula

Balmonds Scalp Oil
with tea tree, nettle, borage & rosemary