Researchers studied 142 people in Thailand with psoriasis to understand how food choices affect their skin condition. Using advanced computer analysis, they found that certain foods—like salty snacks, processed meats, and alcohol—may make psoriasis worse. The study also discovered that weight management is really important for controlling psoriasis severity. Interestingly, some popular Thai dishes like Tom Yum Kung appeared to be better choices, while others like Pad Thai might trigger flare-ups if eaten too often. These findings suggest that people with psoriasis might benefit from paying attention to what they eat and working with doctors to create personalized meal plans.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether different foods and eating patterns make psoriasis (a skin condition causing red, itchy patches) better or worse in Thai patients
  • Who participated: 142 people in Thailand who have psoriasis, with information collected about their diet, weight, and how severe their skin condition was
  • Key finding: The computer models correctly predicted psoriasis severity more than 90% of the time. Foods high in salt, processed meats, alcohol, and red meat appeared most likely to worsen the condition, while weight management was the single most important factor
  • What it means for you: If you have psoriasis, reducing salty and processed foods, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight may help reduce flare-ups. However, this study was done in Thailand with Thai patients, so results may vary for other populations. Always talk to your doctor before making major diet changes

The Research Details

Researchers collected information from 142 Thai patients with psoriasis, including details about their diet, body weight, age, and how severe their skin condition was. They used advanced computer programs (called machine learning) to find patterns in the data—similar to how a smart computer learns to recognize faces in photos. The researchers tested 60 different computer models to see which one was best at predicting whether someone’s psoriasis would be mild or severe based on their eating habits and other factors.

To make sure their computer models worked well even with a smaller group of patients, they used special techniques to test the models multiple times with different combinations of data. This is like checking your homework answers multiple times to make sure they’re right. They also used a method called SHAP analysis to figure out which specific foods had the biggest impact on psoriasis severity.

This research approach is important because it helps doctors understand which foods might trigger psoriasis flare-ups in real patients. Instead of just looking at general patterns, the computer models can identify specific combinations of foods and personal factors that matter most. This means doctors could eventually give more personalized advice to each patient about what to eat.

The study was published in Scientific Reports, a well-respected scientific journal. The researchers used sophisticated computer methods and tested their models carefully to avoid false results. However, the study included only 142 patients from Thailand, which is a relatively small group. The findings are strongest for Thai populations and may not apply exactly the same way to people from other countries with different diets and genetics. The computer models performed very well (over 90% accuracy), which suggests the findings are reliable, but more research with larger groups would strengthen these conclusions.

What the Results Show

The computer models successfully predicted psoriasis severity with very high accuracy—correctly identifying whether someone had mild or severe psoriasis more than 90% of the time. This high accuracy suggests the researchers found real patterns between diet and psoriasis.

The most important factor overall was body weight (measured as BMI). People who maintained a healthier weight tended to have less severe psoriasis. This was a stronger predictor than any single food item, suggesting that overall weight management should be a priority for psoriasis patients.

Specific foods that appeared to make psoriasis worse included: high-sodium (salty) foods, processed meats, alcohol, red meat, fermented products, and dark-colored vegetables. When people ate less of these foods, their psoriasis tended to be less severe.

The study identified Tom Yum Kung (a popular Thai soup with shrimp) as a potentially better food choice for people with psoriasis. In contrast, other popular Thai dishes—Som Tum (papaya salad), Pad Thai (stir-fried noodles), Moo Kratha (grilled pork), and Khao Niao Mamuang (sticky rice with mango)—appeared to trigger or worsen psoriasis when eaten frequently. This suggests that not all traditional foods affect psoriasis equally, and portion control matters. The research also highlighted that dietary moderation is key—it’s not necessarily about avoiding foods completely, but eating them in reasonable amounts.

Previous research has suggested that diet affects psoriasis, but this study is one of the first to use advanced computer analysis to identify specific food patterns in a real patient population. Earlier studies often looked at single nutrients or foods in isolation, while this research examined how multiple foods work together. The findings about processed meats, alcohol, and salt align with what other researchers have found, which strengthens confidence in the results. However, the specific identification of Thai dishes as triggers or safe options is new and particularly relevant for Thai patients.

The study included only 142 patients, all from Thailand, so the results may not apply equally to people from other countries with different diets and genetics. The study was observational, meaning researchers looked at what people were already eating rather than randomly assigning them to eat different diets—so we can’t be completely certain that the foods caused the psoriasis changes rather than just being associated with them. The study relied on people’s memories of what they ate, which can be inaccurate. Additionally, many other factors affect psoriasis (stress, weather, genetics, medications) that weren’t fully explored in this research.

The Bottom Line

If you have psoriasis, consider reducing your intake of salty foods, processed meats, and alcohol (moderate to strong evidence from this study). Focus on maintaining a healthy weight, as this appears to be the most important dietary factor (strong evidence). Be mindful of portion sizes when eating traditional Thai dishes, especially Pad Thai and fried foods. Consider eating Tom Yum Kung more often as a potentially better option. These recommendations should be discussed with your doctor or a dietitian to create a plan that works for your specific situation (moderate confidence level due to small study size).

People with psoriasis in Thailand or those who eat Thai food regularly should pay special attention to these findings. The recommendations may also apply to people from other countries, but results could vary based on different genetics and food availability. People without psoriasis don’t need to follow these specific guidelines, though the general advice about reducing processed foods and maintaining healthy weight is good for everyone. If you’re considering major diet changes, especially if you take medications for psoriasis, talk to your doctor first.

You might notice improvements in psoriasis severity within 2-4 weeks of making dietary changes, though some people may take 6-8 weeks to see clear results. Weight loss, if needed, typically shows benefits over 2-3 months. Keep in mind that psoriasis can be unpredictable, and diet is just one factor—stress, weather, and other triggers also play a role.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Log daily food intake focusing on: (1) servings of processed meats, (2) alcoholic drinks consumed, (3) salty snacks eaten, and (4) current weight. Rate psoriasis severity daily on a scale of 1-10 to see if patterns emerge between what you eat and how your skin feels
  • Set a weekly goal to replace one high-trigger meal with a Tom Yum Kung-style dish. Use the app to plan meals that are lower in salt and processed ingredients. Track weight weekly and set a realistic weight loss goal if needed, with reminders to check progress
  • Create a 12-week tracking period where you log meals and psoriasis symptoms daily. Use the app’s analytics to identify your personal food triggers (which may differ from the study findings). Share monthly reports with your doctor to adjust your diet plan based on your individual response

This research suggests associations between diet and psoriasis severity but does not prove that specific foods cause psoriasis or that dietary changes will cure the condition. Psoriasis is a complex disease influenced by genetics, immune system function, stress, and many other factors beyond diet. This study was conducted in Thailand with Thai patients and may not apply equally to all populations. Before making significant dietary changes, especially if you take medications for psoriasis or other conditions, consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. Individual responses to dietary changes vary greatly, and what works for one person may not work for another.