I have had psoriasis for about 20 years. It was dormant for about 5 years, but since the birth of my son in January, it's been awful. My elbows and knees look bad.

I was also diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) a couple of years ago (sounds like I'm falling apart!), and wondered if anyone else out there may know if the two are related in any way? Both conditions seem to flare at the same time for me.

I was instructed to adopt a low-carb diet to control the symptoms of the PCOS. I finally have gotten off of my butt and started back on Atkins and have noticed a slight clearing of the psoriasis. But, after reading the other postings, I guess the consensus is that low carb diet does not effect psoriasis?

Brandi

Hi, I have just joined this community and have just started the Atkins diet. I also suffer from Psoriasis and will be interested to see if it effects it. Would be pleased to keep in touch to compare notes!!

Take Care
Karen

Hello Karen! I would like to stay in touch too. I have done the Adkins diet before (before my wedding) and it worked really well. I was able to lose 25 pounds. Plus, no PCOS symptoms. My psoriasis was under control then too. But, then life happened, and with all that stress, the weight, PCOS, and Psoriasis are all back in full force. I am trying to keep my willpower together and stick to 40 grams of carbs/day. My husband and I are moving into a new house in a couple of weeks and I plan to start running again then too. I'll let you know how the weight loss is going, and whether the psoriasis calms down a little too. Keep me posted on your progress!

Brandi

Blimey, this is a specialist thread!!

I have been eating LC for a while and annoyingly, even though all other symptoms are gone, and I feel very well and full of energy, my psoriasis has really flared up.

So what is that all about I wonder?? I am not using this as an excuse for stopping, as I do think this is a WOE which suits me totally. I'd love to know whether there is a connection.


Stay in touch, and let's see if any of us can find out

All the best

I have just started Atkins for the second time but when I stuck with the diet for about 3 months the last time my psoraisis cleared completely up. I didn't know it would affect it at the time but it was amazing. I think it may have to do with the wheat in so many products that aren't in low carb food.

Hi Brandi and Karen.....I'm new, today, in fact, and found this forum by doing a search in Google on Psoriasis.....I have been searching for the last couple years for what the health community says is "NO CURE for psoriasis"...In spite of that I still searched and have tried everything written on the subject....which gets expensive after a while... I'm on Atkins because it has the best foods and best weight loss of any other diet that I've tried plus feel so good on it...also its easy to fix dinner for my family using the same basic foods.....In my searching I found a book by a Dr. Pagano...in reading it he talks about lecithin for psoriasis...well I bought some and tried it and its only been about 4/5 days but I'm seeing a definite improvement.....a fading of all spots!!! I'm taking the granules ...2 T twice a day....I sure wish someone else would try it just to see if it truly works or what.... let me know if you do......

I've been LCing since the beginning of 2003 and for the past 2 months I've gotten the first psoriasis episode of my life. Since I have a very strong family history of psoriasis I have no idea whether something I'm eating has kicked it off or if it would have happened anyway, LC or not.

Is there enough interest in psoriasis to get our own specialty group under General Health section of this site?

yes I would be interested in a specialty group on psoriasis....(don't know why I had to get a disease so hard to spell)
I think it would be interesting to compare notes with someone who knows and understands the effects of this not so pretty skin disease......also to pass on a few links that might be helpful....Sally

At 31, I have started the Atkins diet. Is there anyone who can tell me if this is in any was effective or beneficial in clearing psoriasis?

Email me please!

Thanks!
Kristin Allen

From what I've read in Paganos book on healing psoriasis is NO STRAWBERRIES OR TOMATOES he also mentions the nightshade family of foods plus what I mentioned before ....LECITHIN granules
2 TBLS ...so far I'm seeing a steady but slow fading of skin condition...ate some strawberries the other day and developed new patches but the others were still faded...no more strawberries for me...tomatoes are the hardest...pizza, spaghetti etc all the goodies!!!keep in touch we have a good little group going....I haven't gotten on the scale ...decided to do it once a week to start....Sally

I have only found out for sure that i have psorasisrecently. I have been crying for days upon days.

BUT i have 'suffered' for about 3 years, trying to hope it was something else that can be cured, not the dreaded P word. I went from unblemished skin (NOT A SPOT) to being destroyed. I also gained a considerable amount of weight also.....

I had started the Atkins Diet 2 weeks ago, and i SEE A DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT all over esp. on my hands, it had gotten so bad i couldnt close my fingers....with LC i can..WAHOO!...and hoping it keeps on this way

I believe wholeheartedly that it is down to diet. LC seems to be the key for me!

I will also try Lecthin.....honestly i would try anything!!! Diet is the key!!!!

Anybody know if lecithin has any side effects? Is it still helping? How do you take it? Mixed with water?

Thanks for the advice on strawberries and tomatoes. Wish I'd read this thread before eating strawberries every day last week! My skin was a mess! :-)

I'd welcome any good links anyone has on diet and other factors affecting psoriasis.

Looks like we're getting a nice little group going on this thread. I think the forum moderators want to see more traffic on a topic before designating a whole group area to us, but this thread is great. Thanks, everybody.

I checked with my local chemist about the side effects and apparently there arent any (as such), but everyone is different of course and i would ask you to double check if you buy some, but there are no common side effects.........

Have tried it for about a 4 days now that and omega 3 oils and there is a great improvment...not in redness as such, but in the scaleing. and its only been 4 days!!!!

Hi Everyone..............I haven't checked in until tonight....was waiting to see how the lecithin would work...so far so good...I can't believe how well its going...slow..... but I saw results immediately ....well within a day anyway....not spots gone but fading...... my upper thighs were some of the newer areas to get hit and they are some pretty big ones...they are fading too. its been about 2 weeks since I started and it seems to be the newer spots are the first to fade...(can't wait for the scalp to get normal, but then it was the first place to get psoriasis) I am still following Dr.Paganos diet as well as Dr. Atkins..... But not doing the colonics or chiropractic (sp?)adjustments....just eating and avoiding recommended foods.....also taking fish oil, primrose oil, coral calcium and vitamins.........I started with lecithin granules 1 tablespoon...went to 2 Ts a day and then read that it was best to take three tablespoons 3 times a day until psoriasis is cleared up (by the way....I take the granules heaping on a large tablespoon followed by a glass of water) ......and then go on maintenance of one T. I have avoided strawberries, potatoes, eggplant, green peppers, like the plague.....I have lost about 5 lbs ....so feel like something is finally getting accomplished.Anyone else have anything to report?...love hearing from you all ...I will look up some sites to put on here next time....Sally

I read an article that said Psoriasis is common in PCOS patients. They have also come out with a new shot for psoriasis. 10 out of 12 patients cleared up with having once a week shot for 4 weeks. Cannot remember the name might want to ask your doc about it.