Preparing For Winter: How To Get Vitamin D For Psoriasis

Psoriasis causes irritating skin inflammations and there’s currently no cure for it. But while there’s no discovery yet to treat psoriasis, there are several methods to soothe the irritation and improve your skin condition. One of them is making sure your body has sufficient levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by poor diet, low absorption of nutrients, or lack of sunlight exposure. Some have medical conditions that make it hard for them to manufacture enough vitamin D needed by the body. The elderly and those with a high BMI were also found to have low levels of vitamin D.

Before getting down to the sources of vitamin D, we’ll briefly discuss first the link between vitamin D and psoriasis.

Vitamin D and Psoriasis

The body’s level of vitamin D and psoriasis flare-ups were found to be linked together

Vitamin D is known to be an essential component in building and strengthening bones. Its primary task is to help the body absorb calcium which is vital in the developing and nourishing of the bones. Vitamin D protects the body from developing osteoporosis and similar diseases that weaken the bones and make them brittle.

But there’s more to vitamin D than just these benefits. Research says that it has an indirect role in the pathogenesis or development of various skin problems, including psoriasis. Additionally, experts found that people with plaque psoriasis often have lower levels of vitamin D than what can be observed in those without skin conditions. These findings have made vitamin D an important part of helping people with skin conditions.

Vitamin D (and K) for Your Skin

Vitamin D has many health benefits for patients and will work well for treating a variety of chronic skin problems. Studies show that vitamin D deficiency affects skin health and the immune system which may contribute to the abnormal inflammatory response observed in psoriasis patients.

Research shows that vitamin D helps increase the binding of the peptide named cathelicidin to DNA. This bond has been observed to inhibit the inflammatory response of the body that results in triggering flare-ups. This is why treatments for skin conditions that are based on increasing vitamin D levels in the body are used by some doctors.

UVB light therapy, ointments, and creams can be used to help the body absorb more vitamin D. Vitamin D-rich topical treatments, often in the form of oils and ointments, are used by patients to relieve flare-ups from known skin conditions like psoriasis.

When looking for vitamin D supplements, you’ll find that many of them also have vitamin K nutrients included. Vitamins D and K are both fat-soluble vitamins that are interdependent with each other. Vitamin D promotes the production of vitamin K-dependent proteins, which in turn, require vitamin K for it to function properly.

Similar to vitamin D, vitamin K is an important component in the bone-building process. It’s also linked to keeping healthy skin and giving it a soft, smooth, moisturized, and younger-looking appearance. Vitamin K also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce discomfort caused by skin problems like psoriasis and eczema.

Together, vitamin D and K can be effective in managing psoriasis symptoms. So, when looking for supplements, make sure they contain vitamin D and K for best results. To avoid deficiencies, we listed several sources of vitamin D.

Sunlight – A Primary Source For Vitamin D

A few minutes under the sun is the best way to raise vitamin D levels in the body

One of the best and natural sources of vitamin D is sunlight. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because it is synthesized by the body when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet light (UV) B rays from the sun. The beneficial effects of morning sunlight exposure on psoriasis patients have been established for a long time. A few minutes under the sun might improve psoriasis and provide a soothing effect.

However, sunlight exposure during the winter can be a problem. In this case, it’s best to learn about alternative sources of vitamin D so you’ll be prepared for the winter season.

Alternative Sources For Vitamin D

Milk and cheese

Each 6 lbs glass contains between 150 – 30 milligrams of vitamin D based on weight and has a high percentage of fat. In case you’re allergic to cow’s milk, there are other milk products like soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk where you can get around the same amount of vitamin D.

Cheese is another source of vitamin D for your psoriasis. Whichever you choose, always check the package for information on how much vitamin D the product can give per serving.

Fish

Consuming fatty fish is enough to satisfy the required intake of vitamin D for your psoriasis.

A single, 3 oz slice of salmon is enough to meet two-thirds of your daily dietary supplement for vitamin D. Eel, mackerel, trout, and tuna are other rich sources of vitamin D to eat.

The good thing about fish is that it doesn’t have to be fresh to be beneficial. Canned tuna or sardines can supply you with a good amount of vitamin D.

Aside from being a good source of vitamin D for psoriasis, fish also contains omega-3 fatty acids that are known to ease pain and joint swelling caused by arthritic psoriasis.

Cereals

Fortified cereals give you access to your daily fill of vitamin D. Choosing a low-calorie variant can also help with your diet. Read the package label to see how much nutrients you can get per recommended serving size.

Combining cereals with milk will give you a boost of healthy vitamin D for your psoriasis.

Eggs

Egg yolks are rich in vitamin D. However, be careful in consuming too much because they’re also high in cholesterol.

Orange juice

A carton of orange juice is an excellent source of vitamins C and D. Look for fortified juices that contain numerous nutrients in one glass.

Vitamin D supplement

If you can’t access any of the above-mentioned sources, consider including vitamin D supplementation in your diet as an alternative.

People with psoriatic plaques often lack vitamin D. Taking vitamin D supplements can stimulate the immune system and improve its responsiveness.

Watch out for vitamin overload. Absorbing more vitamin D than recommended can impact your blood pressure, cause gastrointestinal problems, and introduce muscle weakness.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K and D are synergistic in providing health benefits. Vitamin D is for maintaining sufficient calcium levels in the blood. Vitamin K, on the other hand, promotes bone calcification while reducing calcium buildup in the tissues and blood vessels.

Vitamin K is found in soybeans, fish, dairy, chicken, beef liver, egg yolk, and butter. Green, leafy vegetables like kale and spinach are great sources of vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Light therapy

Light therapy or phototherapy is another way to get vitamin D for your psoriasis in case there’s not much sunlight. The process involves exposing the skin to UV light to start the same reaction that happens when you get natural sunlight. The psoriasis treatment is administered by a doctor in a clinic using a phototherapy unit.

Topical ointments and creams

A topical vitamin D cream for psoriasis is often used to counteract the appearance of plaques due to abnormal skin cell production. According to the NPF, creams that contain vitamin D3 in the form of calcipotriene calcitriol work best for skin problems. These components help soothe psoriasis symptoms by slowing the growth of plaques, thus making them thinner and less scaly.

Doctors recommend applying a thin layer of vitamin D cream for psoriasis once or twice a day. It can be combined with other topical psoriasis treatments, depending on how severe the condition is. Sometimes, creams can be combined with topical corticosteroids, depending on your situation. But if you have sensitive skin, a non-steroid topical cream for psoriasis like Medovie products is recommended.

What To Do During Psoriasis Flare-Ups?

Medovie products can help soothe skin irritation during psoriasis flare-ups

The low humidity and dry air during the winter season increase the chance of experiencing psoriasis flare-ups. Aside from stocking up on supplies rich in vitamin D, you should also have Medovie products in store for soothing skin irritation.

Medovie products are made of naturally sourced ingredients based on powerful TCM botanicals clinically researched to restore moisture on psoriasis-prone skin. Our patented 3HX™ formula can help improve the appearance, tone, and texture of the skin. The formula is present in all offered shampoos, lotions, creams, and capsules.

Our non-steroid topical cream for psoriasis is safe and gentle on sensitive skin, so you can readily use it to ease flare-ups. If you have scalp psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and other skin problems, give Medovie a try and see its effectiveness in keeping your skin healthy.

Coming Soon – Vitamin D in Medovie

We understand the importance and effects of vitamin D and K on psoriasis which is why we’ll be offering products with these nutrients soon. We’re continuously improving our products to help more people suffering from chronic skin problems. We see that this new, vitamin-rich supplement we’ll be releasing can further improve the benefits already offered by our 3HX™ formula.

Subscribe now to stay updated on our latest products and special offers. Be the first to get notifications once we release our vitamin D cream for psoriasis.