Vitamin D: Why is it so good for psoriasis?

Vitamin D helps prevent infections by acting as antioxidants to reduce free radical damage on cells. This helps repair damaged proteins during other immune responses causing less irritation. Thus, vitamin D is essential for psoriasis patients.

Benefits of Vitamin D in the treatment of psoriasis:

• Has antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties:

  It inhibits the growth of keratinocytes (cells that form skin cells). So, proper sunlight exposure is vital for psoriatic patients. It can help inhibit the overproduction of skin cells from the root cause. This is why many people use phototherapy instead of oral medications to treat psoriasis.

   

• Produces prostaglandins which are necessary for pain control:

  Vitamin D is converted into a hormone called calcitriol in the kidney and it also activates an enzyme that produces another active form of vitamin D, 1α-hydroxylase. This produces two prostaglandins, namely PGD2 and PGE2. These two chemicals suppress inflammation and are essential for the healing process. Hence, proper sunlight exposure can help reduce skin inflammation and pain due to sunburn.

   

• Inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels:

  IL-6 is a growth factor that binds to the receptor present on keratinocytes, leading to the proliferation of cells and psoriatic plaques. Vitamin D inhibits the secretion of IL-6 from keratinocytes when treated with calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D.

   

• Used as a complementary treatmen:

  As it has antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin D is ideal for skin diseases like psoriasis. It is important to get sun exposure, but this may not always be possible. If you stay indoors or wear sunscreen lotions daily, it can prevent the synthesis of vitamin D in the body. Hence, taking cod liver oil or multivitamins containing vitamin D can be beneficial whenever there is decreased exposure to sunlight outside.

   

How to use vitamin D for psoriasis?

Your doctor can recommend various ways to use vitamin D.

• Vitamin D supplements:

  It is advisable to take 800 IU of vitamin D daily if you have psoriasis. You can use a multivitamin supplementation that will help achieve the desired vitamin D levels in your blood. It also helps to increase the levels naturally, but it may not be as effective as taking supplements. Your doctor should adequately monitor the dosage.

   

• Vitamin D in your diet:

  It can also be used as an alternative treatment to overcome psoriasis. It is crucial to have a proper diet that includes oily fish, eggs, etc., because they are rich in vitamin D.

   

• Topical ointments:

  It is advisable to get regular exposure to sunlight. If you are unable to get it daily, you can apply ointments to enhance your body’s vitamin D levels. There is a possibility that these ointments may not reach the areas where psoriatic plaques occur. Hence, these may not help treat psoriasis completely.

   

• Sun exposure:

  15 minutes of sun exposure on the arms and legs twice every week is recommended for people with vitamin D deficiency or psoriasis. Avoid sun exposure during the peak hours (from noon to early afternoon). Wear sun-protective clothing, and do not forget to apply sunscreen lotion!

   

Pros and cons of taking vitamin D

Vitamin D is known to have an antiproliferative effect and is beneficial for psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, etc. Still, there are certain cons when you take vitamin D. It can cause skin dryness, leading to cracking or fissuring depending on the weather conditions.

Always consult a doctor before taking supplements because there are chances for vitamin D toxicity when you consume in high amounts.

If you are looking for a safe and natural way to control the symptoms of psoriasis, you can consider homeopathic treatment.