Psoriasis
Supplements studied for psoriasis.
Overview
Topical Vitamin D (10 studies)—such as calcipotriene or calcitriol—is the best-supported supplement approach for psoriasis, improving plaque symptoms and working well combined with corticosteroids. Oral vitamin D does not appear to help. Aloe (5 studies) in a 0.5% cream may reduce plaque redness and scaling better than placebo over four weeks.
Probiotics (1 study) are rated possibly effective, though evidence is limited. Other supplements including inositol and avocado-based creams have insufficient or mixed data. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Aloe | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Probiotics | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Whey Protein | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Melatonin | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Inositol | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Avocado | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Olive Oil | ★★★★★ | Low |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
8 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
AloeView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Using a cream with 0.5% aloe extract three times a day for four weeks can help clear psoriasis plaques and reduce redness, skin peeling, and swelling better than a placebo.
- Some research shows a stronger aloe cream may work better than a mild steroid cream, though both improve quality of life similarly.
- Aloe gel by itself doesn’t seem to help psoriasis symptoms.
Browse 5 studies·1 meta-analysis
MetaEffects of Aloe vera in adults with mucocutaneous problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis2020n=4,023
Meta-analysis of 23 mucocutaneous trials in 4023 adults found aloe lowered psoriasis PASI in some studies and may help wounds and mucositis, but overall pain scores did not differ from placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 4,023
RCTA double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a commercial Aloe vera gel in the treatment of slight to moderate psoriasis vulgaris2005n=41
In a 4-week double-blind RCT of 40 plaque psoriasis patients, commercial preserved Aloe vera gel was modest and performed worse than placebo on erythema, infiltration, and desquamation scores.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Population
- Patients with psoriasis
- Participants
- 41
Systematic reviewAloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness1999
Systematic review of 10 controlled trials suggested oral aloe may lower blood glucose and lipids, and topical aloe may help genital herpes and psoriasis, but overall evidence remained limited and inconclusive.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Diabetic patients
RCTManagement of psoriasis with Aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: a placebo-controlled, double-blind study1996n=60
16-week RCT in 60 psoriasis patients using 0.5% topical aloe cured 83.3% versus 6.6% on placebo, with significant plaque clearing and no adverse drug-related symptoms.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 16 weeks
- Dose
- 0.5%
- Population
- Patients with psoriasis
- Participants
- 60
- Ages
- 18–50
Aloe vera1988
Literature review concluded aloe has pharmacologic activity supporting wound and ulcer use in animals, but well-controlled clinical trials are still needed to confirm benefit in humans.
- Effect
- Benefit
Vitamin DView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Applying vitamin D creams or ointments such as calcitriol or calcipotriene to the skin helps improve plaque psoriasis symptoms and can be safely used long term.
- Using vitamin D creams together with corticosteroid creams like betamethasone works better than either alone and can reduce side effects from steroids.
- Though people with psoriasis often have low vitamin D levels in their blood, taking vitamin D pills or supplements does not seem to help prevent or improve psoriasis.
Browse 10 studies·6 meta-analyses
MetaEfficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation on psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis2023n=333
A meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (333 patients) found vitamin D supplementation did not significantly improve PASI, DLQI, or CRP in psoriasis versus control.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Psoriasis patients
- Participants
- 333
MetaPsoriasis and Vitamin D: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis2023n=173
A meta-analysis found psoriasis patients had lower 25(OH)D than controls; oral vitamin D supplementation did not significantly improve PASI scores in included RCTs.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 months
- Population
- Psoriasis patients
- Participants
- 173
RCTA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the effect of monthly vitamin D supplementation in mild psoriasis2018
A 12-month RCT in adults with psoriasis found monthly vitamin D3 100,000 IU did not significantly improve PASI, PGA, or quality-of-life scores versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 months
- Dose
- 100000 IU/day
- Population
- Adults
- Ages
- 50–84
ObservationalNo association between vitamin D intake and incident psoriasis among US women2014
A prospective cohort of 70,437 US women found dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake was not associated with incident psoriasis over ~14 years of follow-up.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 100 IU/day
- Population
- Women
- Ages
- 47–74
MetaCombination treatments for psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis2012
A systematic review and meta-analysis found combination topical treatments including vitamin D analogues more effective than monotherapy for mild-to-severe psoriasis.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Psoriasis patients
Systematic reviewTopical vitamin D analogues alone or in association with topical steroids for psoriasis: a systematic review2012
A systematic review found vitamin D analogues plus topical steroids more effective than vitamin D analogues alone for psoriasis treatment success.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
MetaMixed treatment comparison of a two-compound formulation (TCF) product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate with other topical treatments in psoriasis vulgaris2011
A mixed-treatment meta-analysis found calcipotriol-betamethasone combination superior to most topical agents for 4-week PASI improvement in plaque psoriasis.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Population
- Psoriasis patients
MetaTopical treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis2009n=21,448
A Cochrane meta-analysis of 21,448 patients found vitamin D analogues more effective than placebo for psoriasis; corticosteroids and combination therapies also effective.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Participants
- 21,448
MetaA two-compound product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate provides rapid, effective treatment of psoriasis vulgaris regardless of baseline disease severity2005n=1,534
A meta-analysis of 1,534 psoriasis patients found calcipotriol-betamethasone combination effective across mild, moderate, and severe disease over 4+ weeks.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Population
- Patients
- Participants
- 1,534
Psoriasis: current perspectives with an emphasis on treatment1999
A review found topical vitamin D analogues (calcipotriene) among first-line treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis, alongside corticosteroids and phototherapy.
- Population
- Psoriasis patients
ProbioticsView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Probiotics are possibly effective for Psoriasis.
Browse 1 study·1 meta-analysis
Systematic reviewThe efficacy and safety of probiotics in the adjuvant treatment of psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials2024
A meta-analysis of 7 psoriasis RCTs found probiotics lowered PASI scores (MD −3.09, p=0.01) and CRP versus placebo, with similar adverse event rates.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Patients with ≥75% reduction from baseline in PASI was higher in
- Ages
- 18+
AvocadoView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- We don’t know if using avocado oil by itself helps skin conditions.
- In people with psoriasis, a cream that combined avocado oil with vitamin B12 (called Regividerm) was tested for 12 weeks.
- It improved symptoms as much as a prescription cream (calcipotriol) but caused less skin irritation.
- Since the product contained both avocado oil and vitamin B12, it’s not clear whether the benefit came from the avocado, the vitamin B12, or the combination.
Browse 1 study
RCTVitamin B12 cream containing avocado oil in the therapy of plaque psoriasis2001n=13
An RCT of 13 plaque psoriasis patients found vitamin B12 plus avocado oil cream matched calcipotriol efficacy after 12 weeks with significantly better tolerability for long-term use.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Population
- Patients with psoriasis
- Participants
- 13
InositolView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Early studies suggest inositol may not be very effective for psoriasis.
- Taking it by mouth did not help most people, except for some benefit in those with psoriasis caused by lithium.
- Using inositol creams showed no better results than regular cream.
- A cream with inositol plus urea showed some improvement in mild psoriasis, but the study was small and not well controlled, so results are uncertain.
Browse 1 study
RCTThe effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial2004n=15
In 15 psoriasis patients on lithium, inositol supplementation improved psoriasis severity versus placebo in a randomized trial.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Psoriasis patients on lithium
- Participants
- 15
MelatoninView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- In a small study of adults with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, using a cream with melatonin (5%) twice daily for 8 weeks did not improve symptoms compared with a placebo cream.
- The study was very small, so results are not conclusive.
- Melatonin cream has not been shown to help with psoriasis.
Browse 1 study
RCTEfficacy and safety of topical rosuvastatin & melatonin vs. placebo in patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis: A preliminary randomized double-blinded clinical trial2024n=77
In mild-to-moderate psoriasis, topical rosuvastatin plus melatonin cream improved PASI scores versus placebo over the treatment period.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 77
- Ages
- ≥18
Whey ProteinView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It’s not clear whether whey protein helps with psoriasis.
- In a small study of people with stable psoriasis, taking a whey protein extract (Dermylex) 5 grams a day for 8 weeks slightly improved symptoms compared with a placebo.
Browse 1 study
RCTXP-828L in the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study2007n=42
In an RCT of 42 participants, 5 g/day, for 56 days, oral administration of 5 g/d XP-828L compared with a placebo significantly improved the PGA score of patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 56 days
- Dose
- 5 g/day
- Population
- Patients
- Participants
- 42
Olive OilView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Olive oil applied on the skin has only been tested when mixed with other ingredients, so it’s unclear how well olive oil alone helps psoriasis.
- Early research shows that a mixture of olive oil, honey, and beeswax used together with a steroid cream improved psoriasis compared to before treatment.
- More studies are needed to confirm the effect of olive oil by itself.
Browse 1 study
Controlled trialTopical application of natural honey, beeswax and olive oil mixture for atopic dermatitis or psoriasis: partially controlled, single-blinded study2003n=18
In 39 patients with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, a honey–beeswax–olive oil mixture improved symptoms in most cases and allowed corticosteroid dose reduction in several patients.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Patients with dermatitis
- Participants
- 18
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★68% | 10 | 6 | 48% |
| Aloe | ★★★★★72% | 5 | 1 | 24% |
| Avocado | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| Inositol | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| Melatonin | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| Olive Oil | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| Probiotics | ★★★★★64% | 1 | 1 | 5% |
| Whey Protein | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 5% |