I have been extremely interested in the ways various food and drinks can affect psoriasis.  Alcohol seems to be one of the most talked-about things in the psoriasis community, so I thought I would share my story about the role alcohol has played with my psoriasis.  I will go through a couple common questions first, and then talk about how I have dealt with maintaining a social life while still trying to keep my skin clear.

Does Beer Cause Psoriasis?

No, beer does not cause psoriasis.  As a matter of fact, no one is sure what causes psoriasis yet.  There are many risk factors for psoriasis, mostly genetic, but no one knows what exactly it is caused by.  While beer is likely harmful to someone with psoriasis, it does not directly cause it.

What Effect Does Alcohol Have on Psoriasis?

I was in college in 2007 when I was first diagnosed with psoriasis.  My ears and scalp were really itchy and flaky, so I headed down to the health center to get the situation checked out.  I just thought I had dry skin from the changing weather.  Well, of course that was not the case, and my life was changed forever.  I continued my same lifestyle of going out at night about three times a week, drinking way too much alcohol in the process.  My skin gradually got worse and worse.  My scalp was incredibly dry and flaky, and I was getting red spots on my shoulders, back, and even my face.  I made a decision to change quite a bit – no more than four drinks when I went out, only going out two nights a week, and consuming a healthier diet.  It is possible to still have fun without getting absolutely loaded.

I decided to do some research and look into why my psoriasis was getting worse.  I quickly saw many different threads on various forums talking about the link between alcohol and psoriasis.  It also seems like psoriasis has more question marks that many of the other conditions/diseases out there.  Not many people know why certain things happen in people with psoriasis.  It makes sense that alcohol would be bad for psoriasis;  it is harmful to our health already, so it should be no surprise that is can affect every other area of our body.  Of course, every person’s reaction to something is going to be different, so what affects one person a lot might only affect the next person just a little bit.

In the years since I graduated from college, I try to only consume a few drinks when I go out.  Even then, my psoriasis still acts up a little bit, with my scalp much more flaky and more redness on my shoulders.  The more I drink, the worse my skin is.  I know that I need to limit my alcohol if I want my psoriasis to be better.  It is hard to make a decision not to drink when you are going out with your friends at night, because it makes you feel different and abnormal, but that is what needs to be done sometimes.

If you are serious about getting your skin more clear, I highly recommend avoiding alcohol.  Not only will it make your skin look more vibrant and pristine, but it will affect your health positively in other ways as well.  Psoriasis is a condition that needs to be healed within us, and watching what we put in our bodies is the best way to accelerate that process.  Your psoriasis can be improved – make the lifestyle changes needed to get you where you want to be!