DIETARY recommendations for psoriasis on Instagram have been analyzed in a new study, which found that nearly all posts lack scientific credibility, with most advice coming from unqualified individuals.
Psoriasis, a chronic immune-mediated skin condition, has no definitive dietary treatment, yet many patients experiment with diet to manage symptoms. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional content analysis of 138 Instagram posts under the 12 most popular psoriasis hashtags, evaluating their quality using the DISCERN instrument, a tool designed to assess the reliability of health information. The results were alarming—99% of posts were classified as “poor” quality.
The most common dietary recommendations involved exclusion diets, with alcohol and dairy being the most frequently eliminated foods. Other trends included detox regimens, “clean eating,” increased protein intake, and gluten-free diets. However, none of the posts came from qualified nutrition professionals, and only 6.5% were created by healthcare professionals (HCPs). Instead, 29.7% of posts were from individuals with personal experience of psoriasis.
The study highlights the potential harm of dietary misinformation circulating on social media, as many individuals living with psoriasis may adopt restrictive or unproven dietary changes based on unreliable sources. Researchers emphasize the need for HCPs to be equipped to counter misinformation and provide evidence-based dietary guidance. They also call for further research into effective ways of supporting patients seeking nutritional advice for psoriasis management.
Reference: Cowan S et al. Diet and Psoriasis‐Related Information on Instagram: A Quality and Content Analysis of Posts Under Popular Psoriasis Hashtags. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Mar 4;38(2):e70034.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
