> After a couple of years on the diet I have had no change to my psoriasis except when I recently did a few self experiments under Dr supervision using topical anti-biotic creams and for a short time pills (under the theory, like ulcers, there may be bacterial inflammation aspect to the condition).

I’ve read a bit about the human microbiome and psoriasis. I think that there is some relation to gut flora. (See links below.) That is part of the reason why I cut out: sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, juice, soda, and other things that might modify the gut balance in a negative way. Basically I only buy whole foods, and I cook everything from scratch.

I do eat a lot of probiotic (homemade sauerkraut, pickles) and prebiotic foods (garlic, weeks, onions, bananas, etc.). I also make a large green salad the main meal once per day. Just about everything in my current experiment is high-fiber: vegetables, fruit, buckwheat groats, amaranth, etc.

> I am sure that fasting is responsible for many health improvements, so why not skin?

The last five day fast also improved my seborrheic dermatitis, even clearing up small bits.

Here are some links that I’ve found in my research:

Medical nutrition therapy as a potential complementary treatment for psoriasis–five case reports.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15387720/

Incidence of Candida in psoriasis–a study on the fungal flora of psoriatic patients.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11413927/

Influence of Fasting on Intestinal Permeability and Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/03009748209098111

Fasting, intestinal permeability, and rheumatoid arthritis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1862245

(Gut permeability and Lactobacillus reuteri) The effects of Lactobacillus strains and oat fiber on methotrexate- induced enterocolitis in rats
http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(96)00352-6/abstract

“Otherwise healthy and well-nourished patients with rheumatoid arthritis show significant clinical improvement from practising prolonged fasting for 7 to 10 days. The improvement is reversible and lost when eating is taken up again. Although of little therapeutic value, the anti-inflammatory effect of short-term fasting is of significant interest and better understanding of the mechanisms is desirable.”

I quoted the abstract on the last one, because my symptoms come back very quickly after I start eating again, and I don’t know why.

I have many more links, but they are buried in my browser tabs.

> If you are getting an improvement after 3 days then it may be related to the amount of glucose you have.

It’s possible, but I go into ketosis within 24 hours. I am still learning, so I don’t know exactly how it works.

> Are you on a vegan diet for health reasons or philosophical reasons? What about fats from cheese and milk? Where are you getting the bulk of your protein from?

I am vegan for health reasons.

From my research, it seems that 15% of calories from fat is ideal. I get that from things like: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocado, sesame seeds, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, etc.

I get protein from legumes, amaranth seeds, nuts, and other vegetable sources. Broccoli, for example has about 75% of the protein of beef, calorie for calorie.

I’m a little worried about those high-fat, low-carb diets. I don’t think that I do well with a lot of meat. Also, psoriasis increases chances of heart disease, and I have to be careful. I’ve had triglyceride problems, which I solved by going back to a vegetarian diet, which also improved the skin psoriasis.

Thanks for all the updates and tips!

Hi calr:

There is some belief in the fasting world that psoriasis may be caused by what is termed ‘gut leakage’. The theory is that the intestine is inflamed and ‘torn’, allowing bacteria to enter the body from the digestive track. The theory goes on to postulate that the bacteria wreck havoc with the body’s immune system, leading to psoriasis, among other auto immune ailments.

The fact that short term fasting (7 to 10 days) relieves the malady seems to support the theory, and the fact that it returns after eating is resumed would indicate that the ‘tear’ is not yet healed and the food and bacteria once again enter the body causing the psoriasis to return.

The possible answer is a fast long enough to allow the ‘tear’ to heal completely. It has been reported that fasts lasting several weeks, instead of several days,followed by a vegetarian diet sometimes ‘cures’ the psoriasis.

This is an interesting video that touches on fasting and psoriasis and may give you an additional avenue for your research. It contains a segment on ‘gut leakage’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOBa_hfbRE

Good Luck!

My reasoning behind getting rid of grain based foods is based on the fact that you said you experienced an improvement after fasting 3/5 days. So you are responding well when your body is flipping over to a ketotic state. Eating grains especially bread, rice etc will give you an insulin spike pretty much the same as eating sugar. It will bounce you right out of ketosis.

I have no evidence that this will work, just thought that it was worth trying.

I achieved 100% clear skin after 11 months of horribly disordered skin with a 7-day juice fast. Symptoms start to creep back after certain “trigger” foods, typically these are animal protein (especially dairy and egg) and anything high in fat. Periodic shorter fasts seem to keep symptoms at bay. Going gluten-free has helped too.

Hi All, I just want to ask if anyone ever tried using medical cannabis as an alternative meds? I have read many articles about medical marijuana and how it can help you in terms of chronic pain, bone injuries, eating disorder/anorexia, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, inflammation, even cancer and a lot more. Like this article about a marijuana strain from:http://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/gods-treat/ . Cbd and thc are also new to me and I don’t even smoke. If this is true I cant find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy. Any personal experience or testimonial would be highly appreciated. Thanks

I recently developed psoriasis on my legs. Everything the dermatologist threw at me did nothing. I did some research and came across dermalmd psoriasis serum. After the first application, my itch went away. I use it 2 times a day and am now seeing some healing.

My partner’s psoriasis cleared after he give up most meat. It may have been a coincidence but worth researching if you get desperate.

Hi P-Px

I too have been following a similar scheme to that you describe – but haven’t quite made it to a 4 day fast yet. This year I have been mostly fasting 5 days a week eating ~800 calories once a day at night – with a few 48hr fasts thrown in.

Whilst I have not cleared P with longer fasts, if I don’t drink for several weeks my P “holds” to a more reasonable state. I am planning a 4 day fast over Easter to see what impact that makes and am very interested in your experience.

My guess it is going to take a few longer fasts over several consecutive months to actually make a dent in the condition.

Kind Regards,
Philip

How are your results? I am starting 5:2 today hoping to heal. I have been whole food plant based no drugs with IF for one year and skin clearing very limited but I have reversed thyroid disease/hashi.

Everybody is different but simply put, fasting SAVED MY LIFE.

I had facial “dermatitis” (what the derm was saying) my particular symptoms were: first reddening then flaking/itching (an itch that was unimaginably horrible at times) finally the skin would just deteriorate into oozing/crusted lesions. They rescued me from the worst with a massive steroid shot but it started to come back in 5 days.

I was dying from inability to sleep (the itch). I fasted (AM green tea/lemonade PM tomato mixed into fresh squeezed beet+carrot) in 3 days all cracks healed over, in 5 no trace of the dead skin where the cracks were, I went 7 and all redness gone.

After a year of meticulous rotation diet I indenfied the foods that triggered the symptoms in order of worst to least: 1. Dairy 2. Gluten 3. Nuts 4. Red Meat 5. eggs 6. fish
Now this gets complicated because I lived on “vegan extreme” for years before I had this hit me, I had to start eating animal protein again for two reasons, to restore immunity when I was catching one cold after another and to heal a serious muscle/connective tissue injury. (I had to eat flesh to heal flesh). Now I carefully ration my exposure to fish/eggs/meat (I use a lot of vegan protein powder) but NO dairy or gluten. 3 soaked almonds in my smoothie is all the nuts I do. I live right on the edge of the symptoms coming back but when they do I immediately do a 24-hour (eat once a day) regime and that always seizes it up.

FASTING WORKS. It is criminal that the medical establishment suppresses this (drug company influence no doubt). Look up Dr. Valter Longo he has the research. Fasting “re-sets” your immunity so if you have “auto-immunity” it shuts down the “cytokine storm” at the root level. WAY BETTER THAN DRUGS and with no side-effects.