Diet and Dermatology: What to Say When Your Patients Ask

As social media continues to shape patient perceptions of health, dermatology clinicians are fielding more questions than ever about the role of diet in skin disease. At the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) 2026 Annual Meeting, Rajani Katta, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, addressed how clinicians can respond to those questions with confidence and nuance.

"Our patients are constantly asking about it," Katta told HCPLive. "With influencers and a lot of social media, patients have a lot of questions about [whether they] need to be changing their diet for their skin condition. I wanted to equip clinicians with evidence-based information they can actually explain to their patients."

Her talk opened by dismantling 2 opposing myths that she says bracket most patient misconceptions. Myth 1: Diet has no relationship to dermatology. Myth 2: Diet is the cause of all dermatology problems. Navigating between those extremes, she argued, is where the real clinical work lives.

That tension is particularly evident in conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Parents of children with eczema often arrive convinced that diet is the primary driver, while patients with psoriasis may blame themselves for poor eating habits. Katta cautioned against both overcorrection and dismissal, framing dietary intervention as a potential adjunct rather than a root cause or cure.

Her session reviewed evidence across 8 skin conditions, including rosacea, acne, chronic urticaria, and psoriasis. In acne, she highlighted research linking high-glycemic diets to worsening disease, as well as specific supplements that can serve as triggers. Whey protein supplements, certain muscle-building products adulterated with undisclosed anabolic steroids, and high-dose vitamin B6 and B12 supplements were among those flagged. Iodine supplements also made the list.

"In the past I would never have asked a patient with acne, are you taking any supplements," she said. "But as supplements have become way more popular, it's really important to ask all our patients this."

For psoriasis, the discussion shifted toward comorbidity management. Patients with psoriasis carry elevated risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and Katta emphasized that dietary counseling in this population should address systemic risk alongside skin disease. She noted that emerging data on anti-inflammatory Mediterranean dietary patterns showed early promise for improving psoriasis itself, though she described the current research base as limited.2 She also pointed to growing interest in GLP-1 receptor agonists, which may benefit psoriasis severity indirectly through weight loss.3

Her core clinical pearl was a call for ownership. Rather than redirecting patients to nutritionists or primary care providers, she urged dermatology clinicians to learn the fundamentals and integrate dietary counseling into their own practice.

"I want us to be able to take ownership and learn the basics," she said, "so that you can either educate a patient on the triggers or potential helpers for their skin disease or refer to a provider who can."

References

1. Katta R. Integrative Medicine Track: Diet and Dermatology: What To Say When Your Patients Ask. Session presented at the 2026 SDPA Summer Dermatology Conference in Denver, Colorado, from June 10 – 14.

2. Perez-Bootello J, Berna-Rico E, Abbad-Jaime de Aragon C, et al. Mediterranean Diet and Patients With Psoriasis: The MEDIPSO Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2025;161(12):1215-1223. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.3410

3. Haran K, Johnson CE, Smith P, et al. Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Comorbidities: A Narrative Review. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2024;14:143-152. Published 2024 Nov 15. doi:10.2147/PTT.S485061