Top 5 Food Triggers for Psoriasis – And How to Reintroduce Them Safely

Psoriasis is a complex, immune‑mediated inflammatory skin condition. For many individuals, food triggers for psoriasis play an important role in symptom severity, flare frequency, and day‑to‑day skin inflammation. While it is often managed with topical treatments and systemic medications, many people notice that their symptoms fluctuate significantly with diet, gut health, stress, and environmental exposures.

At The Autoimmune Clinic, we approach psoriasis through a functional medicine lens. Rather than focusing solely on suppressing symptoms, we aim to understand what may be driving immune activation in each individual. Diet is not the sole cause of psoriasis, but for many people it can act as a powerful modulator of inflammation.

Here, we explore five of the most common food triggers for psoriasis and explain how to approach elimination and reintroduction in a structured, safe, and personalised way.

Gluten

Gluten is one of the most frequently reported food triggers for psoriasis, even in individuals who do not have coeliac disease.

Mechanisms include:

• Increased intestinal permeability, allowing inflammatory compounds to enter circulation

• Immune cross‑reactivity in genetically susceptible individuals

• Alterations to the gut microbiome that may promote inflammation

Some studies have shown improvement in psoriasis severity in people with elevated anti‑gliadin antibodies who follow a gluten‑free diet. Clinically, we often see that gluten removal can reduce overall inflamation, including those suffering with skin inflammation.

It is important to note that gluten is not problematic for everyone. Long‑term avoidance without a proper challenge can be unnecessarily restrictive.

Dairy

Dairy is another commonly reported food trigger for psoriasis and can be inflammatory for some individuals, particularly in the context of gut dysfunction, histamine intolerance, or hormonal imbalance.

Reasons dairy may exacerbate symptoms include:

• Casein and whey proteins acting as immune triggers

• Lactose contributing to gut dysbiosis or bloating

• Effects on insulin and IGF‑1 signalling, which may influence skin cell turnover

Fermented dairy such as yoghurt or kefir may be better tolerated for some, while others notice flares even with small amounts due to their histamine content.

Nightshades

Nightshades include tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, peppers, and chilli. For some individuals, nightshades act as food triggers for psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions. These foods contain compounds such as solanine and lectins, which may increase gut permeability or provoke immune responses in susceptible individuals.

Although evidence is mixed, clincally we commonly see nightshades as symptom triggers in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In practice, some people with psoriasis experience reduced joint pain, redness, and scaling when nightshades are removed.

Sensitivity is highly individual, and complete avoidance is not always necessary long term, but can be really beneficial in the short term.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a well‑established food trigger for psoriasis flares and increased disease severity.

It may worsen symptoms by:

• Increasing systemic inflammation

• Disrupting the gut barrier

• Impairing liver detoxification pathways

• Increasing histamine load

Even moderate intake can exacerbate symptoms in some individuals. Reducing or temporarily eliminating alcohol is often a key step during active flares.

Ultra‑Processed and High‑Sugar Foods

Ultra‑processed and high‑sugar foods are increasingly recognised as food triggers for psoriasis, as diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars can drive inflammation through multiple pathways.

These foods may:

• Promote insulin resistance

• Alter the gut microbiome

• Increase oxidative stress

• Exacerbate inflammatory cytokine production

A whole‑food, nutrient‑dense dietary pattern is consistently associated with better inflammatory control and overall skin health.

How to Eliminate and Challenge Foods to Identify Triggers for Psoriasis?

Identifying food triggers for psoriasis requires a structured and methodical approach rather than long-term blanket food avoidance.

Tip: When foods are removed for a period of time, it can also be helpful to actively support and heal the gut barrier, so that when foods are reintroduced, the gut is in a stronger position to tolerate them.

Strategies to support gut barrier function may include ensuring adequate protein intake, supporting microbial balance, addressing intestinal permeability, and reducing overall inflammatory load. This supportive phase is often overlooked but can make a significant difference to how well foods are tolerated during reintroduction.

It is also important to recognise that food triggers for psoriasis are not always driven by a single food in isolation. In many cases, it is the cumulative or combined effect of multiple food triggers that drives immune activation and inflammation. Removing only one food at a time may not be sufficient to see meaningful symptom improvement.

For this reason, a short-term elimination of several common food triggers for psoriasis at the same time can be clinically useful. Once symptoms have stabilised, foods can then be reintroduced in a structured and systematic way to identify individual tolerance.

Step 1: Structured Elimination

Remove suspected trigger foods for a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks. This allows enough time for inflammatory markers and skin turnover cycles to respond.

During this phase, focus on:

• Adequate protein intake

• Anti‑inflammatory fats such as olive oil and oily fish

• A wide variety of vegetables and fibre sources

• Supporting gut and liver health

Step 2: Stabilisation

Ensure symptoms are reasonably stable before attempting reintroduction. Reintroducing foods too early can make it difficult to interpret responses.

Step 3: Systematic Reintroduction

Reintroduce one food at a time, every 4 to 5 days. Start with a small portion and monitor skin, digestion, energy, mood, and joint symptoms.

Reactions may be immediate or delayed, so keeping a symptom diary is essential.

Step 4: Personalisation

Foods that trigger symptoms can be removed longer term, while tolerated foods can be confidently included. The goal is always the least restrictive diet that supports immune balance.

Why Personalised Nutrition Matters in Psoriasis

Food triggers for psoriasis are highly individual, which is why a personalised nutrition approach is essential.

Psoriasis is influenced by genetics, gut health, immune regulation, infections, stress, and environmental exposures. Two people with the same diagnosis may respond very differently to the same dietary changes.

At The Autoimmune Clinic, we use personalised nutrition plans informed by:

• Detailed medical history

• Symptom patterns

• Review of existing test results

• Functional testing where appropriate

• Immune, gut health and nervous system considerations

Rather than following generic elimination lists, our approach aims to help you understand your unique triggers while maintaining nutritional adequacy and quality of life.

Understanding and addressing food triggers for psoriasis can be a valuable part of a wider, root‑cause approach to managing this condition.

Diet is not a cure for psoriasis, but it can be a powerful tool for reducing inflammation, improving symptom control, and supporting long‑term skin health when used correctly.

If you are struggling with persistent flares or feel overwhelmed by conflicting dietary advice, working with a practitioner specialising in autoimmune disease can help bring clarity and structure to the process.

To learn more about our personalised nutrition programmes or to book a discovery call, visit our website for more information.

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