Psoriasis is a long-lasting skin condition that causes inflammation and affects many people’s quality of life. A new review of research shows that treating psoriasis effectively means doing more than just using medicines. The study found that combining help from skin doctors, nutritionists, mental health counselors, and fitness experts—along with lifestyle changes like eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, managing stress, and sleeping better—can significantly reduce psoriasis symptoms and help people feel better overall. This whole-person approach addresses not just the skin problem, but also the emotional and physical health challenges that often come with psoriasis.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether combining different types of treatment and lifestyle changes—including diet, exercise, mental health support, and better sleep—can help people with psoriasis feel and look better
  • Who participated: This was a review of many existing studies about psoriasis, so it didn’t involve one specific group of people. Instead, researchers looked at what other scientists had already discovered about how lifestyle changes affect psoriasis
  • Key finding: Evidence suggests that when people with psoriasis make lifestyle changes (like eating anti-inflammatory foods, exercising regularly, managing stress, and improving sleep) and get help from a team of different health professionals, their skin symptoms improve and their overall quality of life gets better
  • What it means for you: If you have psoriasis, working with multiple health professionals and making lifestyle changes may help reduce your symptoms alongside your regular treatments. However, these changes work best as part of your overall treatment plan, not as replacements for medical care from your dermatologist

The Research Details

This study was a narrative review, which means researchers looked through thousands of scientific articles about psoriasis to find patterns and important information. They searched major medical databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science) for studies that discussed psoriasis in connection with diet, exercise, mental health, and teamwork between different types of doctors. Instead of doing their own experiment, they gathered and summarized what other researchers had already discovered.

The researchers focused on finding studies that looked at how lifestyle factors—like what people eat, how much they exercise, their stress levels, and their sleep—affect psoriasis. They also looked for evidence about how having a team of different health professionals (dermatologists, dietitians, psychologists, and physical therapists) working together might help patients better than having just one type of doctor.

This type of review is useful because it brings together information from many different studies to show the bigger picture. It helps doctors and patients understand how different parts of health are connected and how treating the whole person—not just the skin—might work better.

This research approach matters because psoriasis is complicated. It’s not just a skin problem—it’s connected to inflammation in the body, mental health challenges, sleep problems, and weight issues. By looking at all the research together, scientists can show how all these pieces fit together. This helps doctors understand that they need to work as a team to help patients, rather than each specialist working alone. It also shows patients that making lifestyle changes isn’t just about looking better; it can actually help their body fight the disease

This is a review article, which means it summarizes other people’s research rather than conducting a new experiment. The strength of this type of study depends on the quality of the studies it reviews. The researchers used well-respected medical databases and looked for studies across multiple areas (diet, exercise, mental health, and sleep), which is thorough. However, because this is a summary of existing research rather than a new study, the findings are only as strong as the individual studies they’re based on. Some of those studies may have been small or had limitations. The review doesn’t give us exact numbers about how much improvement people can expect, which is something to keep in mind

What the Results Show

The research shows that lifestyle changes can meaningfully reduce how severe psoriasis is and help people feel better overall. Specifically, managing weight, eating foods that fight inflammation (like foods with omega-3 fatty acids and lots of vegetables), doing regular exercise, reducing stress, and getting better sleep all appear to help reduce psoriasis symptoms.

The review also found that mental health problems and sleep issues are very common in people with psoriasis and that these problems can actually make the skin condition worse. When people address their mental health and sleep problems, their psoriasis often improves too. This suggests that treating psoriasis means treating the whole person, not just the skin.

Another important finding is that having different types of health professionals work together—dermatologists (skin doctors), dietitians (nutrition experts), psychologists (mental health counselors), and physical therapists (exercise specialists)—helps patients more than seeing just one type of doctor. When these professionals coordinate their care and share information, patients get better results and feel more supported.

The research suggests that this team-based approach not only improves skin symptoms but also helps people sleep better, feel less anxious and depressed, and manage their condition better on their own over time.

The review found that anti-inflammatory eating patterns—diets that reduce swelling in the body—appear particularly helpful for psoriasis. These include Mediterranean-style diets and diets that limit processed foods and sugar. Regular physical activity helps both the skin condition and overall health, reducing inflammation throughout the body. Stress reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and counseling help because stress is known to trigger or worsen psoriasis. Better sleep quality is important because sleep helps the immune system work properly and reduces inflammation. The review also noted that weight management is important because extra weight increases inflammation in the body, which can make psoriasis worse

This review appears to be the first to bring together evidence from all these different areas (diet, exercise, mental health, and sleep) in one place for psoriasis treatment. Previous research has looked at each of these areas separately, but this review shows how they’re all connected. Earlier studies have confirmed that individual lifestyle changes help, but this review emphasizes that combining all of them with professional support from multiple types of doctors works better than doing any one thing alone. This represents a shift in thinking about psoriasis—from treating it as just a skin problem to treating it as a condition that affects the whole body and mind

This review has some important limitations to understand. First, it’s based on summarizing other studies rather than conducting a new experiment, so the quality depends on those other studies. Some of the research it reviews may have been small studies or may not have been perfectly designed. Second, the review doesn’t tell us exactly how much improvement people can expect or how long it takes to see results—it just says the changes ‘may’ help. Third, not all the studies reviewed were equally strong or rigorous. Fourth, most research on psoriasis has been done in developed countries, so these findings might not apply equally to everyone worldwide. Finally, the review doesn’t provide specific information about which combinations of treatments work best for different types of psoriasis or different people

The Bottom Line

If you have psoriasis, consider working with your dermatologist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that includes: (1) eating an anti-inflammatory diet with plenty of vegetables, fish, and whole grains while limiting processed foods; (2) exercising regularly (at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity); (3) managing stress through techniques like meditation or counseling; and (4) improving sleep habits. Try to work with a team that includes your skin doctor, a nutritionist, and possibly a mental health counselor. These recommendations have moderate confidence based on the research reviewed, meaning the evidence is fairly strong but not perfect. These lifestyle changes should work alongside your regular medical treatments, not instead of them

Anyone with psoriasis should pay attention to this research, especially people whose psoriasis is moderate to severe or who aren’t getting enough relief from medications alone. People with psoriasis who also struggle with anxiety, depression, or sleep problems should definitely consider this approach. People who are overweight or have poor eating habits may see particular benefits. However, this approach may be less relevant for people with very mild psoriasis that’s well-controlled with current treatments. People with other serious health conditions should talk to their doctor before making major lifestyle changes

Don’t expect overnight results. Most lifestyle changes take time to show benefits. You might notice some improvement in stress and sleep within a few weeks, but skin improvements typically take 8-12 weeks or longer to become noticeable. Some people see benefits faster, while others take longer. The key is consistency—sticking with these changes over months and years tends to produce the best results. If you’re not seeing improvement after 3 months, talk to your doctor about adjusting your approach

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track three specific metrics weekly: (1) psoriasis severity on a scale of 1-10, (2) number of days you exercised for at least 30 minutes, and (3) average sleep hours per night. Also note what you ate on days when your psoriasis was better or worse to identify food patterns
  • Start with one manageable change: commit to a 20-minute walk three times per week, or add one anti-inflammatory food (like salmon or leafy greens) to your meals daily, or establish a consistent bedtime 30 minutes earlier than usual. Once one change becomes a habit (usually 3-4 weeks), add another change. This gradual approach is more sustainable than trying to change everything at once
  • Use the app to create a simple dashboard showing your weekly psoriasis score, exercise frequency, sleep quality, and stress level. Look for patterns—do your symptoms improve when you exercise more or sleep better? Share this data with your healthcare team monthly to adjust your treatment plan. Set monthly goals that are specific and achievable (like ’exercise 12 days this month’ rather than ’exercise more’)

This review summarizes research about treating psoriasis with lifestyle changes and team-based care, but it is not medical advice. Psoriasis is a complex condition that requires professional medical care from a dermatologist. Lifestyle changes may help reduce symptoms but should not replace prescribed medications or treatments without your doctor’s approval. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet, exercise routine, or treatment plan. If you have psoriasis, work with your dermatologist to develop a personalized treatment approach that may include lifestyle modifications. The findings in this review represent what research suggests may help, but individual results vary. Some people may benefit more than others from these approaches.