Can Eating Too Much Sugar Harm Your Skin?

From everydayhealth.com

Some research suggests that the sweet stuff may speed aging and play a role in certain skin conditions, like psoriasis. Here’s what you need to know

At certain times of the year, candy is seemingly inescapable. If you’re after clear, healthy skin, what can you expect if you indulge?

Believe it or not, eating too much sugar may wreak havoc on your skin health, playing a role in the development or worsening of skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne. Going overboard on sugar could even cause signs of premature aging like fine lines and sagging. You may have heard it dubbed as having a “sugar face.” That’s on top of potentially increasing your risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes.

The CDC recommends limiting added sugar (which you can find on Nutrition Facts labels) to about 12 teaspoons per day. (The average adult consumes 17 teaspoons per day.)

This doesn’t apply to natural sources of sugar like fruit. Although fruit has been called nature’s candy, it also has fibre and other key nutrients that are associated with positive health outcomes. And there’s some evidence that eating fruit may help boost skin hydration, which can contribute to a complexion that glows.

So when it comes to added sugar, read on to learn more about how a sugar rush affects your skin — and what you can do about it. And don’t worry: You can still enjoy yourself a bit!

Your Skin Reflects What You Eat

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, according to MedlinePlus, so it’s no surprise that what you eat can be reflected outward. “Diet definitely plays a role in the health of the skin,” says S. Tyler Hollmig, MD, director of laser and cosmetic dermatology in the department of internal medicine at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Other factors, including smoking, sun exposure, and sleep, also affect skin health and signs of aging, says the American Academy of Dermatology.

Here are three ways that sugar impacts your skin health.

1. May Accelerate Signs of Aging

When it comes to aging, sugar has a distinct effect on skin through a process called glycation. “Glycation is a process by which sugar molecules bond to proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids. The result is what are called advanced glycation end products, which can harm collagen and elastin fibres in the skin,” Dr. Hollmig says. Glycation interferes with collagen repair, a process that’s vital to maintaining springy collagen fibres, explains research in Clinics in Dermatology. The result is potential accelerated skin aging. In addition, glycation may increase the formation of free radicals that damage skin. For someone with a high-sugar diet, this could promote fine lines and crepiness, says Hollmig. It may also lead to drooping — a research letter calls this “sugar sag.”

2. May Promote Acne

If you’ve noticed more breakouts during the holiday season (which kicks off with Halloween), check the sugar in your diet. “A high-sugar diet has been definitively linked to acne,” says Hollmig. A JAMA Dermatology study that looked at nearly 25,000 adults found that consumption of fatty and sugary foods was associated with a 54 percent increased risk of acne, while sugary drinks increased that risk by 18 percent. The authors point out that the high-fat and -sugar pattern falls in line with the modern Western diet. It may be that sugar triggers a rise in insulin, which increases inflammation, one factor that promotes the development of acne. Sugar may also increase certain growth factors that raise androgen levels, which are hormones that are associated with a greater amount of pore-clogging oil production.

3. May Worsen Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which skin cells grow especially fast, leading to plaques and scaling. It affects more than 7.5 million adults in the United States, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Animal research is beginning to illuminate the role that diet, including sugar, may play in the development of psoriasis. When mice were fed a diet high in sugar and fat, which is similar to a Western diet, they developed psoriasis-like inflammation in only four weeks, explains study co-author Samuel Hwang, MD, PhD, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis Health in Sacramento, California. Yes, this research is on mice, but Dr. Hwang believes that the results likely apply to humans, too. More studies are needed to prove that’s the case.

The mice study suggests that increased inflammation may boost one’s susceptibility to psoriasis and, in some, trigger visible changes in the skin in line with psoriasis symptoms, such as redness and plaque, Hwang says. People may also develop what’s called subclinical inflammation, for which there’s no visible skin redness or scaling but there is itching.

Hwang points out that we rarely eat a high-sugar diet in isolation — it’s often accompanied by fat. (Sugar and fat are a mighty delicious duo.) Together, sugar and fat may negatively affect the gut microbiome by altering the population of healthy bacteria to cause the inflammation seen in psoriasis. But again, additional research is needed.

What is clear is what you can do about it. “When I see patients with psoriasis, I not only tell them about medications available but the lifestyle changes they can make, too,” says Hwang. Moving away from a Western diet toward more of a Mediterranean diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) may help reduce inflammation to improve your symptoms.

How to Reduce Sugar for Your Skin Health

As it stands now, there’s a lot more to understand about the connection between diet and skin health, notes a review. And changing your diet doesn’t exactly bring immediate results today. “Improvement in skin aging through diet should not be rushed,” the authors write. Poor diet takes a long time to contribute to skin aging — and dietary changes will take a long time to make a difference. You’re playing the long game here.

Still, “it’s hard to go wrong recommending a healthy, relatively low-sugar diet,” Hollmig says. That doesn’t mean eliminating sugar entirely. You can enjoy yourself by having sweet treats in moderation.

Also, some perspective is good. “A reasonably healthy diet is necessary but not totally sufficient for healthy skin,” he adds. In other words, along with curtailing your sugar consumption a bit (if you’re overdoing it now), don’t forget to sleep well, apply sunscreen every day, and develop a skin-care plan attuned to the needs of your complexion.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-skin/can-eating-too-much-sugar-harm-your-skin/ 

How to Avoid Psoriasis Triggers

From healthcentral.com

From weather to stress, here’s how to minimize or manage potential causes of PsO flare-ups

As if psoriasis wasn’t enough of an itch that’s hard to scratch, the real rub is how easily symptoms of the chronic skin disease can be triggered. Known as a flare, the recurrence of psoriasis symptoms can be unpredictable, since different people have different PsO triggers. The end result, though, is the same: A worsening of disease activity.

“When you get a flare, your psoriasis gets suddenly worse. You see an increase in the number of plaques, or if you have psoriatic arthritis you’ll have an increase in pain in the joints that are already affected or new joints can now be affected,” says Carmen Castilla, M.D., a dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York City.

Psoriasis is an autoinflammatory disease. That means your immune system is already revved up, causing increased inflammation throughout the body. “So when you have anything that triggers even more inflammation, like an infection or a stressful life event, it’s also likely to cause a psoriasis flare,” says Dr. Castilla.

The good news, according to Dr. Castilla, is that many patients are now on a biologic, a type of medication that treats systemic inflammation. “Biologics bring your immune system back to a more balanced state (homeostasis), so it’s less inflamed,” she says. “As a result, you get less flares.” Still, even one flare is too many. Here are some common psoriasis triggers, how you can best avoid them, and what to do if your trigger sets off a flare.

The Trigger: Not Enough Sunlight

An absence of enough sunlight tops the list of most common triggers of psoriasis, says Mark G. Lebwohl, M.D., the dean of clinical therapeutics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and a past chairman of the Psoriasis Task Force of the American Academy of Dermatology. “We see many more flares of psoriasis in the winter. It’s more common in high latitude areas where there is less sun, and less common in low level equatorial areas where there’s a lot of sun,” he notes.

Although we tend to think of UV rays as being harmful in terms of increasing the risk of skin cancer, they can also be helpful when it comes to reducing inflammation and slowing the production of skin cells, especially in the summer. "Then when you go into winter and you don’t have the anti-inflammatory component of the sun, your psoriasis can potentially get worse,” says Dr. Lebwohl. While not a sudden trigger, he adds, lack of sunlight can lead to a gradual worsening as the shorter days drag on.

What to Do

Most of us can’t take off for warm, sunny climates all winter long—but you can still get some light exposure: If your psoriasis increases, your doctor may suggest coming into the office for phototherapy treatment. This procedure mimics the sunlight, exposing the affected areas of skin to ultraviolet light, which can reduce inflammation and slow skin cell production. In addition to light therapy, “if the affected area is small, then we might just add a topical medication,” says Dr. Castilla.

The Trigger: Increased Stress

When you're stressed, levels of the hormone cortisol shoot up in your body. That increases inflammation, which in turn can trigger a psoriasis flare. “A lot of my patients will get their initial psoriasis outbreak after a stressful life event,” says Dr. Castilla. The research bears this out: One research review in the International Journal of Dermatology found that up to 88% of psoriasis patients report stress as a trigger.

What to Do

Embracing proven relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga are practices that can, if done routinely, manage your stress and therefore minimize triggers. A review of 60 studies, published in JAMA Dermatology, confirms that using stress-relieving practices like meditation and acupuncture significantly helped relieve psoriasis symptoms. Check out apps like Headspace and Calm to find in-the-moment stress relief.

Another good option is to work up a sweat: “A lot of my patients destress by doing cardio and/or strength exercises. Anything where you are active and your mind is focused on the activity in the moment will help you,” says Dr. Castilla. Plus, exercise appears to have its own therapeutic benefits when it comes to reducing psoriasis outbreaks, according to a recent review in Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy.

The Trigger: Smoking

If you smoke, you likely already have a list of reasons to quit. Here’s one more: Lighting up triggers psoriasis flares. There are a few possible mechanisms, including the role that nicotine can play in increasing inflammation in skin cells, as well as the cellular damage that can be caused by other toxic chemicals in tobacco, from ammonia to tar. A study published in the Archives of Dermatology found that people who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day had twice the risk of severe psoriasis. 

What to Do

We know that kicking the habit is not easy. The first step is to “cut yourself some slack and be realistic,” says Dr. Castilla. “If you stop and have a relapse it’s OK—you can try again.” In fact, according to one study of 1,277 participants, it takes an average of 30 (but who’s counting?) attempts before being able to successfully quit. “Some of my patients have found success by decreasing one cigarette each week,” says Dr. Castilla. You can also ask your doctor about prescription medications like Chantix, as well as patches and nicotine gums. Find more strategies from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to quit for good, including tips from other smokers.

The Trigger: Skin Injury

Sometimes a scrape, a cut from shaving, tattoos and piercings, even a sunburn or a bug bite can cause a flare that’s specific to the traumatized area where there was no psoriasis before. This is called the Koebner phenomenon, which occurs in up to 30% of people with psoriasis, and occurs when there is an eruption of the skin due to injury (even something as small as a scratch).

What to Do

If you're on a biologic, a skin injury is less likely to cause a flare. But if you’re not on the meds, or if you are and still develop a flare, the treatment is the same. “Unlike a more full-blown flare that can affect a large part of the body, this type of flare is small and specific to the injury. So we just treat the new spot with a topical medication,” says Dr. Castilla.

The Trigger: Bacterial Infection

Bacterial infections can be nasty for a number of reasons, among them that they can create a psoriasis flare-up. That’s especially true of strep throat, which is a known trigger of guttate psoriasis, a condition that affects about 8% of people with psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Bacterial infections further put the immune system on alert, which can cause more inflammation in your body. Other upper respiratory infections and tonsillitis are also known to precipitate guttate psoriasis, and it’s more common in children.

What to Do

“Sometimes when guttate psoriasis has been induced by a strep infection, when you treat the strep with antibiotics the guttate psoriasis goes away,” says Dr. Castilla. “If it doesn’t, then it depends on the amount of body surface area. If it’s a small body surface area (BSA) that’s between 3% and 5%, I’ll try topicals first. For a large BSA or for someone who doesn't want to do topicals, I’ll recommend phototherapy or a biologic,” says Dr. Castilla. Fortunately, some biologics are approved for kids as young as six years old.

The Trigger: Certain Medications

The medication you take to help alleviate symptoms of psoriasis as well as other health conditions can occasionally backfire, especially when you first go off the drug. According to the US Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System from 2016 to 2021 (the latest report available), the medications that most commonly triggered psoriasis flares are:

• Dupilumab, a biologic for eczema

• Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

• Prednisone, a steroid for treating inflammation

• Tocilizumab, a biologic used to treat rheumatoid arthritis

Prednisone, a systemic steroid taken orally and prescribed for everything from poison ivy to back injuries to lung inflammation was the most commonly reported medication, according to the report. “Sometimes while you’re on [steroids] your psoriasis will actually improve, but when you lower the dosage in an effort to come off of it, it can trigger a full body flare,” explains Dr. Lebwohl. “This can even happen with people who only had a few plaques to start with.”

What to Do

When you are prescribed a new medication, remind your doctor about your psoriasis; you may be given an alternative drug that is less likely to trigger a flare-up. “For example, if a patient travels to an area where they need an antimalarial, we will avoid giving them hydroxychloroquine. We’ll give tetracycline instead, another drug that also prevents malaria,” says Dr. Lebwohl.

That does not mean you should not take a steroid, which has no alternative, if you need it, cautions Dr. Lebwohl: “Not everyone flares; it’s not something we can predict. If you need that steroid, you should take it and the psoriasis can be managed after. We can add a topical medication, for example.”

Bottom Line

Psoriasis flare-ups can be unpredictable, troubling, and painful—but you may be able to sidestep them or at least reduce their frequency by minimizing or avoiding some known triggers. Take action when you can and talk to your doctor about the best ways to handle potential triggers if they are unavoidable.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/psoriasis/psoriasis-triggers

Psoriasis: Manage your symptoms with these home remedies

From newsbytesapp.com

Psoriasis appears owing to a problem in one's immune system.It causes red, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin due to inflammation and can be too daunting to deal with.Thankfully, certain natural and home remedies can mitigate your symptoms and offer you relief.However, consult a doctor before using them. Also, these remedies are not a replacement for medical treatments.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has a rich amount of lauric acid that works well against psoriasis happening on the scalp.With its moisturizing properties, it removes dryness and eliminates scales or flakiness.All you have to do is, take a few drops of coconut oil and massage it deep into your scalp three to four times a week.Wash with a mild, hair-friendly shampoo.

Lavender oil 

Lavender oil is another fantastic home remedy for psoriasis as it is blessed with strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.Per a study published in 2015, this oil when diluted with coconut oil can keep your skin and scalp nourished, hydrated, and smooth. This keeps scaly formations at bay.Mix a few drops of lavender oil in one teaspoon of coconut oil and apply it.

Apple cider vinegar

National Psoriasis Foundation says that apple cider vinegar can offer respite from itching and irritation caused by psoriasis as it has natural antiseptic agents.The folks at this foundation suggest applying it "directly over the scalp several times a week" for better results.You can also dilute it in water and then apply it over the affected area.Once done, rinse with water.

Turmeric

Various studies have shown that turmeric can cut down on psoriasis formations.One of them included 34 participants who applied turmeric to the affected area for nine weeks and found a significant drop in their symptoms.In another study, 650 participants applied curcumin gel to their psoriasis lesions and found relief.Curcumin is an active component in turmeric and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe vera

If it is a skin-related condition, it's no surprise that aloe vera can help manage it.Loaded with soothing and anti-inflammatory compounds, it can reduce itchiness, redness, scaling, and flakiness on the scalp and skin, keeping psoriasis away.

For this to work, simply squeeze out some fresh gel for aloe vera leaves and apply it to the affected area twice a day.

https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/lifestyle/5-home-remedies-for-psoriasis/story 

Six Treatment Options for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

From healthline.com

A number of treatment options, from topical medications to immunosuppressants, are available to help relieve symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Your doctor can help you determine which treatment is best for you.

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Overview

Many people living with psoriasis also experience psoriatic arthritis. Although the conditions are closely linked, each has its own recommended first-line treatment.

New guidelinesTrusted Source recommend a “treat to target” approach. That means a treatment plan has more flexibility based on a person’s individual preferences. First, you and your doctor determine a specific goal and how to measure progress. Then your doctor works with you to select treatments.

Together with your doctor you may be able to choose a treatment that improves symptoms or stops progression of the disease.

1. Topical medications

Seventy to ninety percent of people with psoriasis experience itch associated with the condition, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriatic itch may feel like burning or biting on the skin.

Topical hydration, such as rich moisturizers and scale-softening lotions, may ease this symptom.

Some find greater relief from a topical steroid like hydrocortisone, calamine lotion, camphor, or benzocaine. Although these topicals may relieve your itch, they may also cause dryness.

If these aren’t working for your case, there are prescription options to treat psoriatic itch. These include antihistamines, steroids, capsaicin, and topical anaesthetics.

2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

For both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, NSAIDs are a common first-line treatment. Typically available over the counter, NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Your doctor may provide a prescription-strength NSAID if appropriate.

NSAIDs are anti-inflammatory medications. They reduce joint pain and swelling, therefore reducing symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Some people experience stomach irritation from NSAIDs. It’s important to take them with food. Other possible side effects of long-term use may include liver and kidney damage and heart problems.

3. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

DMARDs reduce immune system activity, which reduces inflammation. Unlike NSAIDs and topical medications, which treat symptoms of PsA, DMARDs stop the disease progression and, in some autoimmune conditions, rebalance the immune system. This treatment not only relieves pain but it should also slow joint damage.

This class of drugs can be nonbiologic or biologic. Nonbiologic DMARDs are widely prescribed. The most common is methotrexate. This medication reduces psoriasis symptoms and may help with PsA.

Methotrexate has several potential side effects, including:

• nausea
• vomiting
• lung inflammation
• low white blood cell count
• liver damage

Leflunomide and sulfasalazine are other nonbiologic DMARDs that may also work against psoriatic arthritis, although their effectiveness in people living with PsA has not yet been shown.

There are also biologic medications that are considered DMARDS, such as Humira and Remicade.

4. Biologics

Biologics are medications made from biological materials. They mimic normal immune system cells and products. They can be created using sources such as proteins, antibodies, and cells.

Enbrel, Cosentyx, and Humira are three biologics used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. These medications are highly targeted, which means they may have fewer side effects than other treatment options.

Since these drugs work by blocking a protein important to the immune system, they reduce immune function. This means you may have a higher risk of infections.

5. Immunosuppressants

PsA is the result of an overactive immune system and is considered an autoimmune disease. That’s why a class of immunosuppressant drugs may slow the disease by reducing inflammation and inhibiting the immune attack against your own cells.

Examples of immunosuppressants are azathioprine and cyclosporine. Both medications may ease the joint pain and swelling characteristic of PsA.

Each also has potential side effects. For cyclosporine, side effects can include nausea, vomiting, liver and kidney problems, and birth defects. Azathioprine may cause stomach irritation and rash.

Like biologics, these drugs work by blocking the immune system. This means you may have a higher risk of infections.

6. Alternative and complementary therapies

PsA and psoriasis are long-term conditions, so it’s common for people to seek alternative or complementary therapies to improve their physical and emotional well-being.

Stress often triggers psoriasis flares. Using mind-body techniques such as meditation, yoga, and tai chi may assist with overall health and potentially improve your symptoms.

Nutrition, diet, and exercise can also help keep PsA symptoms under control. Keeping a healthy weight reduces pressure on the joints and lowers systemic inflammation. In general, exercising releases feel-good endorphins, which may improve your overall mood.

Lastly, physical or occupational therapies are recommended for PsA patients to maintain joint health and improve their quality of life.

Takeaway

Your doctor can help determine the best treatment plan for you, based on your symptoms. Some people find it helpful to monitor their symptoms and treatments in a journal. Over time, you’ll discover what medications work well to manage your psoriasis and PsA.

https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriatic-arthritis/moderate-to-severe/know-rx-biologics/6-treatment-options?slot_pos=article_1&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=psoriasis&utm_content=2023-08-15&utm_term=s:hl_n:pso&apid=39239719&rvid=058431b717dcfa59c0cdd27cd0a9313769e8b3dd4ad59d88efd0ded7ddb4774e