Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the skin, but what many people don't know is that the condition may stem from problems in the gut--specifically leaky gut syndrome. If this is the cause of your psoriasis, changes in your diet can help clear up your skin and bring you relief from the flare-ups that bring on pain, itchiness, soreness, and the embarrassing scaly patches:

What Is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

People who have leaky gut syndrome have intestinal walls that are thin and permeable. This allows toxins, such as fats, acids, bacteria, and yeast, that would normally be eliminated through the digest tract to enter the bloodstream in large amounts.

This creates a massive toxic overload, allowing poisons to buildup in the body faster than they can be eliminated. The body attempts to eliminate this toxic overload through the sweat glands of the skin, which can result in psoriasis, and possibly other skin conditions, like eczema.

What Causes Leaky Gut? 

 A variety of lifestyle habits that can lead to leaky gut syndrome. Your diet plays a big role in the health of your digestive system. Ingesting certain medications and drinking caffeinated beverages as well as certain foods, like milk, wheat gluten, and sugar, can contribute to leaky gut. 

Chronic stress can also be a factor leading to leaky gut. Stress weakens your immune system, so your body is unable to fight off the bad guys, like viruses and bacteria, that lead to inflammation. 

An imbalance in the ratio of good to bad bacteria in the gut is another contributor. This is especially true of people who take antibiotics often, which kills bad bacteria, but also the good. 

What Can You Do?

Psoriasis treatments often include the use of topic creams that contain moisturizers, retinoids, or steroids. Oral medications that contain steroids or medications to suppress the immune system. The National Psoriasis Foundation has an informative page for psoriasis sufferers who would like to explore alternative treatments. 

There are certain steps you can take to cleanse the gut and keep it healthy.

• Drink 6 to 8, 8-ounce glasses of water to help cleanse your body on the inside
• Eat a serving or two of stewed fruits, like figs, raisins, apples or apricots to cleanse your bowels
• Exercise daily to stimulate the internal body structures, increase circulation, and open the pores
• Get plenty of rest and try meditation or other methods of combating stress
• Eat a high fiber diet

If you have chronic psoriasis and need help treating the condition, you can find a naturopathic physician to work with you and your family doctor to strive for total body health. Improving your diet, using mind body therapies, and herbal remedies may help you be healthier from the inside out. To learn more, contact a company like East Carolina Dermatology and Skin Surgery, PLLC.