Driving Discovery, Creating Community This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of driving efforts to cure psoriatic disease and improve the lives of those affected. But we can’t do it without you! Learn how you can help our advocacy team shape the laws and policies that affect people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis – in your state and across the country. Help us raise funding to promote research into better treatments and a cure by joining Team NPF, where you can walk, run, cycle, play bingo or even create your own DIY event. Contact our Patient Navigation Center for free, personalized support for living a healthier life with psoriatic disease. And keep the National Psoriasis Foundation going strong by making a donation today! Together, we will find a cure. Treat your total self Is your treatment getting denied? Tips for better sleep with psoriatic disease Psoriasis Doesn't Hold ' Bachelor' Contender BackPreviousNext Getting the Right AmountResearch suggests that people with psoriasis may be deficient in vitamin D.
Indeed, dermatologists often treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with ultraviolet (UV) light, in part because it promotes vitamin D production.Nevertheless, getting your vitamin D from aggressive exposure to the sun is not a good idea for people with psoriasis, says Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, RN, MSN, of the Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation in Hingham, Massachusetts. “Psoriasis patients have an increased risk of melanoma [a form of skin cancer], because they tend to overexpose themselves to UV rays,” she explains. The good news is that there are many other options available for getting your daily dose of vitamin D.The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Institute of Medicine lowered the daily recommendation for vitamin D to 600 international units (IU) for most people between the ages of 1 and 70. Although you should address any vitamin deficiency, taking too much vitamin D can be toxic, Maguire-Eisen warns.The AAD recommends that you get your daily dose from foods that are naturally rich in or fortified with vitamin D, or from supplements.
Here are some safe ways to get what you need. Go FishingFattier fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, and eel are a tasty way to obtain vitamin D. You can get more than two-thirds of your daily 600 IU of vitamin D from one three-ounce portion of sockeye salmon. However, if you’re pregnant or nursing, be careful about how much fish you consume because of its mercury content. A bonus to fatty fish: You’ll be helping your heart as well as your psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, because fatty fish contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. It's in the CanFresh fish, especially wild caught fish, can be good for your psoriasis but bad for your wallet. But you can also get vitamin D from cheaper canned tuna or canned sardines, as well. Your best bet is canned light tuna, as it has about 150 IU for every four ounces and three times the vitamin D of canned albacore. Sardines offer a little more than 40 IU for every two that you eat. Since cans have a long shelf life, stock up when they’re on sale at the market.
Milk It for What It's WorthRemember your mom telling you to drink your milk? She must have known something, Maguire-Eisen says. An eight-ounce glass of milk provides 100 to 125 IU of vitamin D. It’s the same whether it’s non-fat, reduced-fat, or whole milk — so opt for the healthier low-fat or non-fat choices. If you’re allergic to cow’s milk, you can get your psoriasis therapy from milk alternatives such as soy milk, almond milk, or rice milk. Just read the label on the carton you’re buying, because the amount of vitamin D in an eight-ounce serving can vary. Juice It UpLook for brands of orange juice such as Florida Natural, Minute Maid, and Tropicana that have been fortified with vitamin D. If fortified, an eight-ounce glass should give you around 100 IU of vitamin D. Vitamin D dissolves in fat, not water, and this juice isn’t fatty, but research shows that the vitamin is absorbed effectively when it comes from drinking OJ. “It’s not too hard to get 600 IU daily if you’re drinking fortified milk and fortified orange juice,” notes Maguire-Eisen.
Eggs Over EasyAnother source of vitamin D can be eggs — if you eat the yolks. You'll get about 40 IU from eating an egg yolk. And eggs don't have to be just for breakfast — they can be part of lunch or dinner. Remember, though, that egg yolks are high in cholesterol. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans dropped the previous recommendation of limiting daily cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams, but stress that "individuals should eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible while consuming a healthy eating pattern."However, don't eat too many egg yolks, because they're high in cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends limiting daily cholesterol to 300 milligrams if you're healthy and 200 mg if you have cardiovascular disease. One egg contains about 210 mg of cholesterol. It's in the BowlFortified cereals are yet another good source of vitamin D for psoriasis relief. Your best bet is hot cereal. For example, a packet of Quaker Instant Oatmeal for Women will provide 154 IU.
You also can get vitamin D from fortified cold cereals — three-fourths of a cup of Raisin Bran has 68 IU, and a cup of Total cereal has 34 IU. Read the package labels to determine how much vitamin D you will get and what's considered a serving size. Supplement With DIf you don’t get enough vitamin D from the foods you eat, think about taking a vitamin D supplement. They’re available over-the-counter in two types of supplements: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 is recommended by most experts because it’s the more potent form and has a more stable shelf life. Also, vitamin D3 is the one you get from sunshine, so it’s thought of as the most natural. Just be sure not to turn a vitamin deficiency into an overdose. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can affect your blood pressure, cause muscle weakness, and lead to gastrointestinal problems. Get CreamedYet another way to get vitamin D is to apply Dovonex (calcipotriene), which is sold as a prescription ointment or cream.