Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition, caused by an autoimmune response in the body. Keeping yourself in optimal health is key to managing symptoms. In this blog we look at the best vitamins and supplements to take for psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a condition that causes patches of raised, inflamed skin, often covered with silvery scales. It's caused when the immune system starts to attack the body, producing skin cells at a much quicker cycle than usual, which then build up on the surface of the skin.

Although there is no known cure for psoriasis, when managed effectively it can go into remission for long periods, leaving times when the skin is clear. 

But because psoriasis begins at the level of the immune system, it can affect the body on a much deeper level than just the skin. For that reason, it’s important to treat it at a deeper level, too. In general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, avoiding alcohol and not smoking can all be helpful factors. Some people also find that taking certain vitamins and supplements can help. But which is the most useful?

Scientific studies have shown that there may be a link between a vitamin D deficiency and psoriasis. The best way to find out if you are vitamin D deficient or not is to ask your doctor for a blood test. If you do have a deficiency, then taking an oral supplement is recommended.

While there’s some evidence to suggest that taking vitamin D orally may help to clear psoriasis on the skin, more research and mass clinical trials are needed to prove this.

Vitamin D is naturally occurring in sunlight and some psoriasis sufferers may wear clothes that minimise their exposure to sun rays because they’re conscious of their patches. Getting out in sunlight safely, building up in very small increments, may help to clear psoriasis patches. Speak to your doctor to understand the right amount of exposure for you, and be very careful not to burn.

Although there is no singular diet proven to help clear symptoms, an anti-inflammatory diet is widely believed to be beneficial for conditions like psoriasis which cause chronic inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet should be rich in berries, cherries, nuts, healthy fats and leafy green vegetables, and provide good sources of the essential fatty acids that depleted skin needs to regulate its natural cycle of repair and regeneration.

Because Balmonds products are so rich in essential fatty acids (as well as many other vitamins and nutrients) you could treat them as supplements in their own right! Applying EFA-rich hemp seed oil directly onto skin gets those good nutrients right where they're needed, and feeds the skin even more efficiently than taking omega oils either in your diet or as supplements.

As always with psoriasis, it’s a personal journey to understand what works for each individual. Understanding what triggers you, making improvements to your diet and wellbeing and including certain supplements can be a great start to a healthier, happier you.

Recommended products for skin prone to psoriasis:

Balmonds Scalp Oil
a blend of herb infused oils includes nettle, calendula, chickweed, tea tree, rosemary, hemp and borage seed oils to keep hair clean and healthy.

Balmonds Skin Salvation
our gently formulated emollient with natural ingredients locks in the moisture that dry patches desperately need.

Bath & Body Oil
an all-purpose natural body oil containing nutritious botanicals, including hemp, olive and chamomile.