Psoriasis

When Psoriasis Returns Uninvited

Red, scaly patches can be as mentally draining as they are physically, not to mention the feeling that people look at you differently, even if they don't say anything.

Perhaps you had it under control for years, and now – due to stress, weather, or for no apparent reason – it's returning more intensely than you expected.

What Science Says

• Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which skin cells regenerate up to 5–7 times faster than usual – in 3 to 5 days instead of the normal 28 days.
• Globally, over 43 million people live with it, and in the last three decades, the number of cases has increased by 86%.
• The prevalence is similar between men and women, but the onset and experience differ: women are diagnosed with the disease earlier on average (around 20–29 years of age) and report a significantly higher impact on quality of life and feeling of stigmatization, while men tend to have a more severe course according to clinical scores.
• The disease is always accompanied by impaired barrier function of the skin – increased water loss and decreased elasticity, even outside active lesions.

The Role of Nutrition

Psoriasis is not just a skin issue – it's a systemic inflammatory disease, and what you eat plays a real role.

Systematic reviews confirm that a Mediterranean diet (vegetables, fruits, olive oil, omega-3 fatty acids) is associated with an improvement in psoriasis severity, while alcohol, excessive sugar, and in more sensitive individuals, gluten, demonstrably worsen symptoms.

In overweight individuals, weight loss itself improves treatment response – obesity and psoriasis reinforce each other through pro-inflammatory mechanisms. This is not a substitute for dermatological treatment, but it is one of the few things you fully have in your own hands.

And It's Not Just About the Body

Canadian physician Gabor Maté, who has long focused on the connection between chronic stress and illness, ranks psoriasis among typical examples of what he calls "When the Body Says No" – that is, situations where long-suppressed stress and emotions find a way out through the body when they are not allowed to otherwise.

He does not claim that the psyche itself causes psoriasis, but that in chronic inflammatory diseases, stress demonstrably plays a role in triggering and worsening flare-ups – which is also confirmed by how often people with psoriasis describe the connection between stressful periods and new outbreaks.

A Word from the Founder
Ivana Petr, founder of Bohemian Cosmetics & certified nutritionist

"I've lived with psoriasis for over 12 years, and as a certified nutritionist, I can confirm from my own experience and from a professional perspective the same thing: no cream will solve what needs to be changed inside. Lifestyle adjustments – diet, sleep, stress management – are not a supplement to treatment; they are an equally important part of it.

But even if you get your diet and lifestyle in order, the question remains, what are you actually applying to your skin? This was precisely the problem I faced myself, and I couldn't find an answer that made sense to me, which is why Bohemian Balm was created. I didn't just want another cream for psoriasis; I wanted a formula without unnecessary substances that my skin would have to process additionally.

And it wasn't just about what was in the Balm, but also about what we put it in. Microplastics are a problem for everyone, but for someone with an autoimmune disease, where the body is already fighting itself, it seemed irresponsible to add another foreign substance to its burden. That's why Bohemian Balm is in a compostable biopolymer container, not plastic."

Why is conventional cosmetics often not enough?

Psoriasis belongs in the hands of a dermatologist – no cosmetic product can cure it or replace prescribed treatment. However, between flare-ups, the skin needs care that supports the barrier, not burdens it.

Classic body lotions with fragrances or harsh surfactants are precisely what a compromised barrier needs least.

Our Solution

We designed Bohemian Balm as a simple, anhydrous supplement between flare-ups, without preservatives and synthetic fragrances, just lipids from organic beef tallow, structurally similar to the skin's natural lipids.

They help strengthen the barrier without adding further irritating stimuli. It does not replace treatment or lifestyle adjustments, but it gives the skin a chance to rest between attacks.

Try Bohemian Balm at this link.

Bohemian Balm is not a medicinal product and does not replace medical care or treatment prescribed by a dermatologist.

Sources: Global Burden of Disease, psoriasis analysis 1990–2021; review of sex differences in psoriasis, PMC 2022 and Contemporary OB/GYN 2026; systematic review of nutritional recommendations in psoriasis, Clinical Nutrition 2025; Gabor Maté, When the Body Says No (2003).