Evaluating a diet claim for psoriasis
Research has shown that psoriasis lesions go through periods of responsiveness and unresponsiveness to treatment. (This means that sometimes the mildest treatment, even a change in diet, will work to clear the skin. At another time, a potent treatment will fail to produce results.) It is difficult to know from short-term experience whether psoriasis clears due to the actual treatment or because it is ready to clear anyway.
Occasionally, psoriasis will clear with an initial treatment, no matter what treatment is used. In evaluating any new treatment, it is necessary to determine whether there is a placebo effect operating. A placebo effect occurs when a person believes the treatment will work. This is a common phenomenon in treating chronic disorders. One way to avoid the placebo effect is to stop using a medication when the psoriasis clears and then resume it when the psoriasis returns. If the treatment works again, the chances are good that it is effective.
Tips for evaluating claims
The following tips are provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you evaluate advertised claims for psoriasis cures and treatments:
- Watch out for wording that claims FDA approval.
- Look for key words. If the ad uses words such as "miracle," "miraculous," "cure" or "breakthrough," be skeptical about the product.
- Ask to see the product's label. By following the instructions on the label, a person should be able to realize the benefits claimed for the product. If the label instructions don’t explain how to achieve all the benefits, be suspicious.
- Insist on full identification. If the ad mentions a medical clinic or health-care professional, see that full names, addresses and phone numbers are included.
- Ask for proof that the product is listed with the FDA.
- Supplements are subject to ambiguous regulations, so buyer beware. Manufacturers are not supposed to claim that a dietary supplement cures or even helps psoriasis, under FDA rules. However, they can say that a product works on "dry, flaky skin" or make similar indirect references.
- Watch out for "cures" for serious disorders. Serious disorders normally cannot be treated with "cures" available through the mail.
- Be especially wary of claims that a product may be used for multiple health problems.
- Investigate any celebrity endorsement or "big name" testimonial for medical products.
- Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
For more detailed information, consult the FDA or the Federal Trade Commission. You can also call the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clearinghouse at 888.644.6226. The clearinghouse is a division of the National Institutes of Health mandated by Congress to research alternative medicine and disseminate information to the public.
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Updated October 2005
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