What to eat, what to test, and how to find your own triggers.
When I was first diagnosed with palmoplantar pustulosis, no doctor mentioned diet. Yet changing what I ate became one of the most important parts of my own recovery.
Published August 6, 2026 | Updated August 11, 2026
This page shares the dietary framework I followed, the foods I prioritised, the foods I temporarily removed, and practical ways to explore your own patterns without trying to change everything overnight.
Diet was one part of a much wider healing process.
I am not claiming that diet alone will cure PPP. My recovery also involved looking at gut health, stress, sleep, supplements, infections, and other possible triggers.
However, food gave me a practical place to begin. Gluten was my strongest individual dietary trigger. I also temporarily removed refined sugar, dairy, alcohol, and highly processed foods while I worked to calm my symptoms. I have written more about the exact changes I made in The Diet That Healed My Palmoplantar Pustulosis.
Food reactions are individual. The purpose of an elimination approach is not to create a permanently restrictive diet, but to help you notice patterns and make informed decisions about your own body.
Why food may matter when you live with PPP.
PPP is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition. Diet cannot explain every case, but food choices can influence nutritional intake, digestive health, energy, and the overall inflammatory load of a person's lifestyle.
Nutrient density
A varied diet can help provide protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants needed for normal immune function and skin repair.
Individual sensitivities
Some people notice repeatable changes after eating particular foods. A structured diary can help separate a genuine pattern from guesswork.
Everyday habits
Reducing heavily processed foods while eating more whole foods may support general health alongside appropriate medical care.
Foods I prioritised during my recovery.
Rather than focusing only on restriction, I built my meals around whole, nutrient-dense foods that I tolerated well.
Fatty fish, nuts, and seeds
- Salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and anchovies
- Flaxseeds and chia seeds
- Walnuts
Leafy greens and colourful vegetables
- Spinach, kale, rocket, and Swiss chard
- Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts
- Sweet potatoes, carrots, beetroot, courgette, cucumber, and celery
Fermented foods I tolerated
- Unpasteurised sauerkraut and kimchi
- Natural live yogurt and kefir after reintroduction
- Miso and kombucha in moderation
Flavour without relying on processed sauces
- Turmeric with black pepper
- Ginger and garlic
- Rosemary, oregano, and thyme
Lower-sugar fruit and berries
- Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
- Pomegranate and apples in moderation
- Avocado for fibre and healthy fats
Simple fats for cooking and dressings
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Coconut oil in moderation
- Raw nuts and seeds
Foods I removed or reduced while looking for patterns.
These were my personal starting points, not a universal list of foods that everyone with PPP must avoid.
Gluten
Gluten was my strongest dietary trigger. I removed wheat, rye, barley, spelt, beer, malt-based drinks, and products containing hidden gluten.
Refined sugar
I removed sweets, cakes, biscuits, fizzy drinks, fruit juice, flavoured yogurts, and refined carbohydrates during the initial phase. I have also written separately about my experience with sugar and palmoplantar pustulosis.
Dairy
Dairy was a moderate trigger for me. I removed it initially and later reintroduced it slowly to understand what quantities and types I tolerated.
Alcohol
I avoided alcohol completely during my recovery period while I focused on sleep, nutrition, stress, and digestive health.
Highly processed foods
I reduced ready meals, fast food, crisps, packaged snacks, and foods containing several refined ingredients and additives.
Cooking fats
I replaced sunflower, corn, and soybean oils and margarine with olive oil, avocado oil, and small amounts of coconut oil.
A practical way to explore food triggers.
Start with two or three priorities
Do not try to rebuild your entire diet in one day. Begin with the foods you most strongly suspect and keep the rest of your routine stable.
Keep a food and symptom diary
Record meals, symptoms, stress, sleep, medication, and flare-up changes. This can help you recognise repeatable patterns.
Prepare food before you need it
Keep simple meals and ingredients ready so that hunger does not repeatedly push you toward highly processed alternatives.
Focus on what you are adding
Build meals around vegetables, protein, healthy fats, herbs, and foods you enjoy, not only around a list of restrictions.
Explore diet, gut health, and possible triggers in more detail.
These articles expand on the parts of my own experience that are most closely connected to food, digestion, and the wider lifestyle changes I explored.
Compare six commonly discussed healing diets in one simple guide.
The free guide helps you compare food compatibility across six dietary approaches so that you can see where they overlap and where they differ.
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“Diet is not a magic cure for PPP. But it can be a practical tool for exploring your own triggers and supporting your wider health.”
Go beyond diet alone.
How to Treat Palmoplantar Pustulosis Naturally also explores supplements, stress, symptom relief, gut health, and the wider framework that helped Åsa reach remission.