If you’re living with psoriasis, you may wonder how your diet affects your skin. One MyPsoriasisTeam member asked, “Does eating chicken trigger psoriasis?” Another responded, “I eat chicken, fish, and turkey, and I don’t think it is a trigger.” Chicken is not considered a psoriasis trigger, but it could affect flare-ups depending on how it’s prepared and other factors.

Here is what research says about whether eating chicken affects psoriasis. If you have questions about your specific condition or lifestyle, talk to a registered dietitian or dermatologist.

Psoriasis Triggers

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin symptoms like itchy scales and plaques. Like other autoimmune diseases, psoriasis is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Psoriasis flare-ups also can be triggered by a variety of factors.

Infections, skin injuries, and cold weather can worsen psoriasis symptoms. Smoking and consuming alcohol can also aggravate psoriasis. Even medications you take for other conditions may worsen your psoriasis symptoms. But one of the most common — and manageable — triggers is your diet.

Diet and Psoriasis

MyPsoriasisTeam members often share personal experiences with their dietary triggers. “Pork is a huge trigger for me,” wrote one member. Another added, “Lots of foods trigger psoriasis. One that surprised me was gluten. OMG, it’s in everything, including beer!”

While everyone’s triggers are different, research has identified some foods that may worsen symptoms of psoriasis by increasing inflammation in the body. Inflammation can lead to a flare-up in some people with psoriasis.

Common inflammatory foods to avoid include:

• Highly processed carbohydrates (like white bread, white rice, and pastries), which can cause blood sugar spikes
• Dairy products, which can be high in fat and lactose and can trigger digestive problems in some people
• Saturated fats and trans fats found in fried food, red meat, cheese, and fast food, which raise levels of “bad cholesterol” in the blood
• Gluten, found in most wheat and grains, which can trigger symptoms in some people. Psoriasis also appears to have a connection with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
• Alcohol, which strains the liver and triggers inflammation

One member reflected on how their diet may have contributed to their psoriasis worsening over time: “I think perhaps eating meat in moderation might be fine. I suspect the fact that I started eating fast food a lot in my 20s and 30s didn’t help me at all.”

One diet that seems to be helpful for people living with psoriasis is the Mediterranean diet. This diet emphasizes unprocessed foods that are packed with nutrients — whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, seeds, olive oil, seafood, and moderate amounts of poultry.

In general, an anti-inflammatory diet that’s low in processed foods and high in leafy greens, berries, nuts, citrus fruits, and fatty fish is beneficial to those living with inflammatory conditions like psoriasis. One MyPsoriasisTeam member said, “I follow the autoimmune diet. I basically eat organic meats, veggies, and low glycemic index fruits.”

Chicken and Psoriasis

Chicken is a low-saturated-fat source of lean protein. However, research does not classify it as a specifically anti-inflammatory or inflammatory food in relation to psoriasis.

The Anti-Inflammatory Nutrient in Chicken

Chicken contains an important nutrient that helps prevent inflammation in the body: vitamin B12. This vitamin helps remove toxic, inflammatory by-products from the body. It can reduce oxidative stress on cells and improve their immune response. People with psoriasis are more likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency. However, more research is needed to understand how vitamin B12 affects psoriasis symptoms.

That said, chicken contains only a small amount of vitamin B12 compared with other foods. Seafood — such as clams, salmon, trout, and canned tuna — is much richer in this nutrient. For those who don’t eat seafood, leafy greens, legumes, fortified breakfast cereals, soy milk, and dietary supplements (like fish oil) can provide sufficient amounts of vitamin B12.

While vitamin B12 may support immune health, nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and polyphenols — natural, health-promoting compounds found in plant foods — are more strongly linked to reducing inflammation.

The Potentially Inflammatory Compound in Chicken

Chicken contains a naturally occurring chemical called histamine. Histamine plays several roles in the body, including triggering allergic reactions. The body has four histamine receptors — one of which is known to be involved in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis. Researchers are still exploring the connection between histamine and psoriasis, and while early studies suggest there may be a link, findings so far have been mixed.

Compared to aged or fermented foods like hard cheeses, processed meats, or alcohol, chicken is not considered high in histamine. However, some people may still be sensitive to the histamine in chicken or other foods.

Some MyPsoriasisTeam members report that histamine-rich foods bother them. “The foods that are high in histamine are causing me the most problems!” one said. If you can relate, boiling chicken may help. Boiling chicken removes up to 20 percent of its natural histamine, while grilling actually increases its histamine levels.

However, although some people report histamine intolerance, there’s limited clinical evidence linking histamine-rich foods like chicken to psoriasis flares.

Cooking Style Matters

If chicken is a regular part of your diet, how you prepare it can make a big difference in how it affects your health. Cooking with butter, meat-derived cooking fats (like lard), or other oils used for frying and sauteing can increase your intake of saturated fats. These fats can raise your levels of low-density lipoproteins, or “bad cholesterol,” which can increase your risk of many long-term conditions.

To make chicken more psoriasis-friendly, you can replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats like olive oil or canola oil. You can also grill, roast, or boil chicken to reduce added fats.

Skin or No Skin?

Whether you eat the chicken skin makes a major difference in its nutritional value. Chicken with the skin on contains more saturated (unhealthy) fats and unsaturated (healthy) fats than chicken without skin. Keeping the skin on your chicken also adds around 30 percent more calories to your meal. Removing the skin can help lower both your saturated fat intake and total calories. This may be helpful for managing inflammation.

White or Dark Meat?

The difference between white meat (like breast) and dark meat (like thighs or drumsticks) goes beyond taste. Dark meat contains more myoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen and gives the meat its darker color. While dark meat contains more saturated fat than white meat, it also provides higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc. Given these differences, including both white and dark meat in your diet may offer nutritional benefits.

Track Your Symptoms

Chicken may be a healthy, anti-inflammatory food for some people with psoriasis — and a trigger for others. Try using a food journal or tracking app to record meals and psoriasis symptoms. If you suspect that chicken or other common foods in your diet are worsening your psoriasis, talk with a registered dietitian, rheumatologist, or dermatologist. They can help you create a personalized diet plan to better manage your symptoms and reduce future flare-ups.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyPsoriasisTeam, the social network for people with psoriasis and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with this skin condition.

How does eating chicken affect your psoriasis symptoms? Do you have any diet recommendations? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.