A link may exist between vitamin D and psoriasis. Some studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D can trigger the immune system. Increasing vitamin D levels may help reduce psoriasis symptoms.
Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is extremely important for maintaining and supporting the health of your bones, teeth, immune system, and other parts of your body, including your skin. Some scientists have found a link between vitamin D and some skin diseases, including psoriasis.
This article looks at the relationship between psoriasis and vitamin D, how to get more vitamin D, and whether taking extra doses of this vitamin can help psoriasis patients.
Vitamin D plays a role in many bodily functions. Research shows that this includes a variety of roles in the proper functioning of the skin, including involvement in inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.
Some evidence points to low vitamin D levels
However, other evidence suggests that low levels of vitamin D can trigger your immune system and cause you to develop conditions such as psoriasis. Vitamin D can also affect the skin’s keratinocytes, which are the most abundant cells in the outer layer of the skin. Low levels can cause these cells to proliferate further, leading to the development of thick, scaly plaques, a common symptom of psoriasis.
Although further research is needed to understand the relationship between vitamin D and psoriasis, low vitamin D levels may play a role in the development of psoriasis. Therefore, many treatments for psoriasis may include vitamin D or similar substances to treat and reduce symptoms.
Below are some ways people living with psoriasis can try to boost their vitamin D levels.
food
Excellent dietary source of vitamin D
A person’s diet can provide a safe source of vitamin D, and most people get enough vitamin D through a healthy diet and careful exposure to the sun’s UVB rays.
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) recommends the following daily intake of vitamin D:
sunlight
Exposure to sunlight allows your body to produce vitamin D. However, sunlight can damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. For this reason, sun exposure may not be a recommended treatment for everyone with psoriasis. People with psoriasis should seek advice from their doctor before increasing their sun exposure.
Similarly, tanning beds are not suitable for treating psoriasis.
Instead, your health care professional may suggest UVB treatment as an option.
UVB light therapy
Phototherapy, or phototherapy, is a treatment that uses ultraviolet light to slow the production of excess skin cells caused by psoriasis. Although there are different types of light therapy available, doctors most often use UVB light therapy to treat psoriasis.
UVB rays may help treat the condition by slowing the rapid growth of skin cells, reducing inflammation, and reducing itching.
Although this option uses UVB rays that trigger the production of vitamin D in the skin, it may be other factors rather than the additional vitamin D that improve psoriasis symptoms.
Click here to learn more about at-home phototherapy.
supplement
Vitamin D supplements are available at
Doctors recommend supplements for people who are at risk for deficiency diseases, such as people with dark skin, people who live in areas with limited sunlight, and people who are often indoors and therefore have limited sun exposure. I have something to recommend.
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), taking more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D per day can be harmful.
However, a 2022 case series suggests that oral vitamin D supplementation may lead to complete remission of psoriasis without side effects. This indicates that taking vitamin D3 in the range of 30,000 to 60,000 IU over 2 to 6 months, followed by a lower daily maintenance dose, may help manage psoriasis symptoms.
It’s important to note that the researchers closely monitored the participants in this study, checking their vitamin D and calcium levels regularly.
It adds that daily supervised oral supplements may be safely administered as an effective treatment for psoriasis in some people. However, further research is needed to determine the effectiveness, optimal dosage, and side effects of vitamin D for patients with psoriasis.
Currently, there are no specific recommendations for adults with psoriasis to take vitamin D supplements. People with psoriasis who are considering supplements should first consult their doctor.
medicine
Doctors may prescribe creams and other topical products containing synthetic vitamin D, known as analogs, to treat psoriasis symptoms. These vitamin D-like chemicals are usually safe options that can be continued long-term alongside other treatments. They often contain calcipotriene and calcitriol as active ingredients.
Several
People with psoriasis often have low vitamin D levels, but it’s unclear why.low vitamin D levels
- poor eating habits
- Conditions that limit fat absorption, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (vitamin D is fat-soluble and depends on the intestine’s ability to absorb dietary fat)
- lack of exposure to sunlight
- specific medical condition
In addition, you are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency if you:
- older
- high BMI
An infant who is being breastfed - dark skin
- Little exposure to the sun due to winter cloud cover, living indoors, and wearing full-body clothing
If you think your vitamin D levels may be low, your doctor can test using a blood test. If levels are low, patients may be advised to take oral supplements to increase levels.
by
- decreased appetite
- Polyuria
- arrhythmia
- High calcium levels in the blood increase the risk of kidney stones and cardiovascular disease.
We recommend consulting your doctor before making any changes to your diet or using any supplements. They can provide guidance and prevent side effects and interactions with other medications.
At this time, there is not much evidence to suggest that other vitamins or supplements may help reduce psoriasis symptoms.
However, oily fish is a good source of vitamin D, and some psoriasis patients believe that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help relieve their psoriasis. It has been suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation and may be helpful in inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis.
Currently, there are not enough long-term clinical trials to show whether these supplements are effective in treating psoriasis.
Below are frequently asked questions about vitamin D and psoriasis.
Can vitamin D supplements help psoriasis?
A 2022 case series suggests that oral vitamin D supplementation may result in complete remission of psoriasis without adverse events.
However, further research is needed on this topic.
What creams contain vitamin D for psoriasis?
Calcipotriene, also known as calcipotriol, is a synthetic vitamin D that is available as a cream. This is often done as a treatment for psoriasis.
Is 30,000 IU of vitamin D safe?
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), taking more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D per day can be harmful.
However, a series of cases in 2022 showed that taking 750 to 1500 micrograms (30,000 to 60,000 IU) of vitamin D3 over 2 to 6 months, followed by a lower daily maintenance dose, could help some people. It has been suggested that it may be able to manage the symptoms of psoriasis.
People with psoriasis who are considering supplements should first consult their doctor.
Some evidence suggests a possible link between vitamin D and psoriasis. Research shows that vitamin D can affect inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, and people with this condition often have low vitamin D levels. Many treatment options for psoriasis use vitamin D analogs or help provide the body with sufficient levels of vitamin D, such as phototherapy. .
However, scientists still don’t understand how the two interact, and more research is needed to determine whether increasing vitamin D levels is beneficial. Before making lifestyle changes to increase vitamin D, we recommend talking to your doctor about possible options.
