Skin and joint inflammation

A June 2021 study by UC Davis Health said,

• "Earlier studies have shown that Western diet, characterized by its high sugar and fat content, can lead to significant skin inflammation and psoriasis flares," 

• "Despite having powerful anti-inflammatory drugs for the skin condition, our study indicates that simple changes in diet may also have significant effects on psoriasis."

• "There is a clear link between skin inflammation and changes in the gut microbiome due to food intake," 

• "The bacterial balance in the gut disrupted shortly after starting a Western diet, and worsened psoriatic skin and joint inflammation."

• "It was quite surprising that a simple diet modification of less sugar and fat may have significant effects on psoriasis,”

• "These findings reveal that patients with psoriatic skin and joint disease should consider changing to a healthier dietary pattern."

gut microbiota and inflammatory skin diseases

A May 2021 study by Hacettepe University and Usak University Training and Research Hospital said,

"Our research provides evidence the gut-skin axis is implicated in the progression of this chronic inflammatory skin disorder. While further evidence is required, our research suggests that dietary alteration and personalised probiotic supplementation might also be beneficial for Hidradenitis suppurativa patients, particularly since treatment options are limited for these individuals."

Psoriasis and the 5:2 diet

A May 2021 study by Ghent University, Belgium said,

"We had observed positive results in mice with gut inflammation and psoriasis, with inflammation in the gut driving cutaneous symptoms," 

"Through scientific curiosity and my own experience with fasting as a Muslim, I wanted to find out whether dietary intervention would have the same effects on human patients with psoriasis.”

"The effect of dietary interventions on skin health is a stimulating field of research in dermatology. The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence being undertaken to understand the relationship between the gut and skin, with some promising results for patients and the disease management of psoriasis." Said University Hospital of La Timone, Marseille.

Acanthosis Nigricans

This is quite a common presenting condition in our clinic, especially the ladies seeing our lady practitioner.

“Acanthosis nigricans is a medical sign characterised by brown-to-black, poorly defined, velvety hyperpigmentation of the skin. It is usually found in body folds,[1] such as the posterior and lateral folds of the neck, the armpits, groin, navel, forehead and other areas.

It is associated with endocrine dysfunction, especially insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia, as seen in diabetes mellitus. This activates the insulin-like growth factor receptors, which leads to proliferation of keratinocytes, fibroblasts and other cells in the skin. Activation of other growth factor receptors such as fibroblast growth factor receptors or epidermal growth factor receptor can also be responsible.[2]”. [source: Wikipedia]

The NHS UK website says,

“Although it's usually harmless, it's best to get any skin changes checked out. In rare cases, it can be a sign of something more serious, such as cancer. A GP can usually tell if it's acanthosis nigricans by looking at your skin. You may need some tests if they're not sure what's causing the patches.”

Image

Vandana Mehta Rai MD DNB, C Balachandran MD, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons