certain foods cause flare ups of P

[icunow]

I have had P for 45 years and it has come and gone (well, never gone) but as I grow older it seems to get worse. Since I was nine I'd had to learn to cope with this.

I have gone through too many embarrassments, severe depression, hiding out, becoming a great liar and a wonderful makeup artist. Then 7 years ago I said screw this. I have no life and I want one. So I have been looking and trying and fighting ever since. This is what I have come up with.

I truly believe a big part of P is caused by toxins in the body. Get rid of the toxins and your skin will clear up. The other part is stress. Anybody out there ever go into the hospital and is only on IV's or some bland watery jello type meal and wa-la your skin clears up? That's because your not putting bad stuff into your body. And I believe that certain foods trigger your body into flair ups. For instance, I can't eat green, red, or yellow peppers, any kind of onions, tomatoes or cheese and much more, and I absolutely love these foods. There are these crunchy cheese doodles that I just love and crave but whenever I eat them my skin goes way bad. I also am a strong believer in vitamins for without vitamins your body can't absorb or work with certain things like foods or stress.

Someone discribed to me this way about having psoriasis. Your body is a rain barrel. As long as the water level is low your skin is pretty good. The barrel starts to fill with rain water (toxic food into your body), and your skin may still be pretty good. It water gets near the top and you start breaking out. When the barrel overflows, that's when you have a full blown attack. Now to keep this barrel from overflowing, you have to release some of the water (the toxins, which is the bad food). You need to drink lots and lots of water (not soda's or milk) to wash your system out. And this means that you need a good bowel movement every day. Did you know that vitamin C is a natural laxative?

Keep a diary of the foods your eating and the condition of your skin, hour by hour if you have to. Be as specific as possible. You will see for yourself that certain foods trigger P. As far as medications I have cut out the steroid cremes. I never did find one that didn't burn my skin and make it worse. I use vaseline, constantly. Take warm, not hot, showers or soak in a tub, and don't dry off. Put on your moisturizer over your wet skin to hold the moisture in.

I also am a strong believer in vitamins for without vitamins your body can't absorb or work with certain things like foods or stress.

I do have a few questions. It it only heavy people that have P and do most of you accept this skin condition openingly? Or do you get embarrassed and hide it or do you hybernate in your home?

[PatriciaLea]

It's amazing to me you would ask, after having p for 45 years, if only heavy people have it! You must not read the information we get as members of the NPF. I encourage you to start doing some reading - even on the internet sites about psoriasis.

[MBowden]

:( I know that many people believe food has a connection to psoriasis, and in a way it may. The weight of a person has nothing to do with it. If you've had psoriasis for 45 years you should know more than you seem to. Virus', colds, flu's also cause p to flare. It is a well known FACT that p is connected to the immune system, a problem with t-cells. check out this site, it's a wealth of information. If you have something to add, put it here. Personally, I WON'T e-mail someone for info that they won't put here!

Marlene

[flora_petal]

I have found that tomatoes, in all forms make my P worse. Of course, I love tomatoes. I endulge myself a little, keeping watch to see if the p is getting worse. Flora

[tenorjas]

icunow,

You seem to have discovered on your own some of the principles that Dr. John O. A. Pagano talks about in his book, Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative. He specifically mentions tomatoes, peppers and dairy products as being taboo, as well as eggplant, potato, and, of course, more common sense things like red meat and junk food. But probably the most important part of his regimen is the proportions of permitted foods - lots of fresh vegetables, a good amount of fresh fruits, and only moderate amounts of permitted proteins and starches. These ratios make the body chemistry more alkaline, which I've been told by several sources is very important for eliminating toxins and clearing psoriasis.

Dr. Pagano claims that he has consistently cleared patients completely, who have followed his protocol to the letter. Following the regimen, however, takes a LOT of work, but i'd still say the book is definitely worth a read, and see how closely you think you can follow it.

And in answer to your last question - I've found that most people are polite enough not to comment on my appearance - I'm on a Masters swim team, and no one has said anything. I've come to believe that if people can't deal with my appearance, they're the ones with the problem.

I do, however, tend not to wear shorts when it's noticeable ;)

tenorjas