It is a deeply fundamental human desire to make sense of the world around us. People with psoriasis often ask “What did I do to cause my psoriasis?” and believe that they could have prevented it had they eaten or lived differently. This self-blame is a totally normal reaction, but is counter-productive, and not really based on science.

You don’t control your genetic makeup or the inner workings of your immune system, and known psoriasis triggers like strep throats or skin injuries are simply features of life. After receiving a psoriasis diagnosis, it is better to focus forward on what treatments can help you feel better, and what lifestyle changes you can make to maximize your chances for the best possible outcome.

People with psoriasis can become fixated on which (probably imaginary) dietary triggers they can identify, and then avoid, to reduce their psoriasis flares, even as they miss doses of their treatments or don’t follow their treatment plan. But faithful compliance with your treatment plan is a far better strategy to reduce psoriasis symptoms than searching for something you are supposedly doing wrong.

That said, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity do appear, for some, to make psoriasis symptoms worse or to instigate psoriasis flares; so working on those issues can be helpful. Beyond that, basic healthful living, like getting enough sleep and exercise, are good ways to support your best option, which is to follow your treatment plan and follow up with your physician to try something else if the plan is not working.