I'm 41 and have psoriatic arthritis. Is a root-cause approach to managing my psoriasis safe?
The question, asked by a man aged 45 to 59
I've had psoriasis for a few years and was later diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis as well. My skin flare-ups and joint pain seem to come and go together, and I'm wondering whether working on things like diet, gut health and other underlying factors can actually help. I don't want to replace treatment that I need for the arthritis, so I'd like to understand what a safe approach would look like and what I should discuss with a specialist.
Yes, a root cause approach is safe and helpful. However, it should be used alongside your arthritis treatment. It should not be a replacement for it.
Psoriatic arthritis is an immune condition that affects both skin and joints. This is why skin flares and joint pain appear together. These are both due to the same underlying inflammation. The inflammation can be due to:
Poor gut health, with an imbalance in the gut bacteria or a leaky gut, is common in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Some face inflammatory bowel conditions.
Excess weight, insulin resistance, and fatty liver can increase inflammation. Hence slowing down the treatment.
Stress and poor sleep.
Diet, and Alcohol
The arthritis medicine protects the joints. But these need to be addressed and worked on, which can help reduce flares and make your treatment work well for you.
Suggested Tests
- CRP and ESR
- Ultrasound of affected joints and tendons
- MRI of the sacroiliac joints
- CBC, liver function and kidney function
- Faecal calprotectin
- HbA1c, lipid profile,serum uric acid
- Ultrasound of the abdomen, to check for fatty liver
- Vitamin D
- Eye examination
How Clinic Living Plus Can Help
At CLP, we work alongside your rheumatologist. Your medicines are not replaced; what we work on is the layer that is often missed.
Our doctors take a close look at medicines and make a plan around it.
A proper diagnosis is made to identify the root cause considering inflammation, metabolism, gut health,fatty liver and vitamin D
A personalized and anti-inflammatory dietary program to support better gut health
A physiotherapist to help with simple joint movements and exercises.
Ozone, peptide therapies and IV nutrition provided for recovery. After coordinating with the rheumatologist.
Our mental wellness expert helps with managing stress, as it can trigger symptoms.
Most of our clients have experienced that treating the skin, gut, joints, and metabolism together makes the flares less frequent and manageable.
Lifestyle & Nutrition Tips
- Inclusive diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.
- If you are overweight, work on losing weight in a supervised way and consult with your doctor
- Don’t follow any restrictive diet or gut cleanses; always consult with your doctor first.
What to Do Next
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