Can These 4 Supplements Help You Manage Psoriasis?
Skin ConditionsPsoriasis

Can These 4 Supplements Help You Manage Psoriasis?

Can These 4 Supplements Help You Manage Psoriasis?
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By
and Sarah Shelton
Updated on February 27, 2026
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Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness. Talk to a healthcare professional about whether a supplement is the right fit for your individual health and about any potential drug interactions or safety concerns.

A top challenge for those with psoriasis is the flares, erupting periodically as discolored, painful, or itchy patches of skin.

 While there isn’t a cure for this lifelong autoimmune disease, conventional medical treatments like creams, light therapy, injected drugs, and oral medications may help manage symptoms.

Some medications, such as retinoids, are made from vitamins.

 But can taking certain vitamins and supplements also benefit those with psoriasis?
Some research suggests so. But outcomes can vary, and your doctor should tailor your treatment plans specifically for you. A dermatologist can review your nutrition and blood levels for possible nutritional deficiencies (a common issue for those with psoriasis) and may recommend increasing certain vitamins or minerals through food or supplements. Keep in mind that studies indicate that supplements likely help best as adjunct (or complementary) therapies — treatments that pair with, but don’t replace, conventional medical care.

Always talk to your doctor about possible risks and drug interactions before adding new supplements to your daily routine or treatment plan. When you buy supplements, check the label for USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.com certifications to confirm the product has undergone third-party testing for quality and purity.

Here are four supplements that may benefit those with psoriasis:

1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D regulates skin cell growth and development and supports immune function, two factors involved in psoriasis, says Shoshana Marmon, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York.

Research has established that topical synthetic vitamin D variations (called analogues) are effective long-term treatments.

Though there are some potentially promising results indicating vitamin D supplements might decrease psoriasis symptoms, studies haven’t conclusively shown oral vitamin D supplements to be effective.

 “Clinical trial results have been disappointing, with many randomized controlled trials finding no significant effect,” Dr. Marmon says.
Not to mention, some successful trials used high doses of vitamin D, which can cause elevated levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) or urine (hypercalciuria).

 Citing these risks, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) jointly don’t recommend oral vitamin D, preferring topical products instead.

You may need a supplement if you have a vitamin D deficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which is more common in those with psoriasis.

Your doctor can recommend a suggested dose for you to minimize risks. Vitamin D can build up in your body, even from topical forms, so it’s important to consider all sources (including supplements and topical medications) to ensure you are in safe ranges.

 Vitamin D supplements may also interact with statins for high cholesterol, anticonvulsants, steroids, and blood pressure medications, among others.

2. Omega-3 and Fish Oil

Because psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, you may benefit from taking omega-3 fatty acids, which offer anti-inflammatory and skin barrier–enhancing properties. Two main types — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — are commonly found in fish oil supplements.

A moderate amount of evidence supports fish oil as a potentially beneficial add-on to standard therapies, according to Marmon and the PCRM.

 Some studies show significant benefits, but results haven’t been consistent across research. For example, a recent review of omega-3 supplements reported symptom improvements in 6 out of 10 studies it analyzed. In half of the studies showing possible benefits, omega-3 supplements were combined with other treatments.

The AAD and NPF’s guidelines say fish oil supplements can be useful for those with chronic plaque psoriasis, the most common form.

 It’s ideal to get omega-3s through foods like salmon and walnuts, though the AAD and NPF say supplementing can also be useful as a companion to your treatment plan.

Fish oil supplements are safe for most healthy people when taken as directed, explains Marmon, but they may come with side effects like fishy burps, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, or rash. She says possible medication interactions include blood thinners (such as warfarin), aspirin and related medications, and certain herbal supplements like garlic pills and ginkgo biloba. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should first talk to their doctor before taking an omega-3 supplement.

3. Turmeric

Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric. It offers anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties that may benefit skin conditions like psoriasis, possibly through mechanisms at the cellular level that inhibit the development of psoriatic plaque.

Similar to other supplements, there isn’t consistent evidence establishing curcumin’s benefits for psoriasis, partly because the disease is so complex.

 Additionally, much of the research has been on cells or animals, and large clinical trials are necessary to confirm results for humans.

The few available clinical studies suggest curcumin supplements may offer modest benefits to those with psoriasis. According to a recent review of the research, clinical trials indicated that curcumin supplements may improve psoriasis lesions (reducing thickened and scaly plaques, for example) in those with moderate to severe psoriasis when combined with other treatments.

Joint AAD and NPF guidelines reported that those with psoriasis may benefit from turmeric supplements, noting that curcumin controls some cell activity much like vitamin D analogs do. Curcumin’s effectiveness is limited by low bioavailability, which means the body doesn’t easily absorb it.

Curcumin supplements are safe for most healthy people.

 Side effects include nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, diarrhea, or constipation. High-dose products touting increased bioavailability may cause liver damage. Talk to your doctor first if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and to check for possible medication interactions.

4. Probiotics

Some recent studies suggest probiotic supplements may support psoriasis treatments as a complementary therapy alongside first-line medical treatments. These supplements purportedly contain living bacteria and yeasts that support skin health and help maintain a healthy gut.

Though more robust human trials are needed to better understand probiotics’ potential role in managing psoriasis, a meta-analysis from China reported that probiotics improved psoriasis better than a placebo as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Dermatology Life Quality Index, based on five small studies containing 286 participants.

It isn’t clear from this meta-analysis which types of probiotics were most effective, however. Probiotic supplements contain one or more strains of microbes, and of the five studies in the meta-analysis, only two used the same strain (Lactobacillus rhamnosus). The remaining three studies used combinations containing multiple strains.

Your healthcare provider can likely guide you to the best strain and product for you. Probiotics seem to be relatively safe and have few side effects, though there is a small risk of microbe contamination for those with a weaker immune system or who are on immunosuppressant drugs (another important reason to only buy supplements with a third-party certification).

The Takeaway

  • Research reports that those with psoriasis often have certain nutritional deficiencies and may benefit from integrating certain supplements with their medical treatment plan under the guidance of their doctor or dermatologist.
  • Some studies suggest that vitamin D, fish oil, curcumin, and probiotic supplements may help reduce psoriasis symptoms, such as lesions, but results are inconsistent and more research is needed.
  • Talk to your healthcare team about your nutrition and blood levels to see if you may benefit from taking a supplement and to check for possible risks or medication interactions.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
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  13. Berry D. Fish Oil for Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation. November 7, 2025.
  14. El Jbeily R et al. Review of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dietary Supplementation in Cutaneous Inflammatory Disorders. Journal of Integrative Dermatology. August 27, 2025.
  15. Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Capsules (OTC). Cleveland Clinic.
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  17. Chen D et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Dietary Supplements in the Adjunctive Treatment of Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. December 11, 2025.
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Justin Laube, MD

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Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.

He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.

He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.

Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.

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Sarah Garone is a licensed nutritionist, registered nutrition and dietetics technician, freelance health and wellness writer, and food blogger in Mesa, Arizona. She has written for The Washington Post, Healthline, Greatist, Verywell, and Eat This, Not That, among other outlets. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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