A CAFFEINE addict blew £70,000 flying around the world trying to banish his psoriasis.
But the dad-of-two was shocked to discover a last-ditch attempt at curing his agonising skin condition by tweaking his diet was the answer.
Matt Naylor’s psoriasis, which he described as a ‘living hell’KennedyNews/LythamStAnnesNews
KennedyNews/LythamStAnnesNewsMatt, pictured with his wife Aleksandra, spent £70,000 trying to find a cure[/caption]
Matt Naylor had watched his flaky skin turn into painful scarring across his body since 2013.
The 41-year-old admitted he’d been too self-conscious to wear shorts for a decade and dreaded people staring at blood from his cuts seeping through his work shirts.
But Matt said it feels like “a miracle” has happened – having believed he would have the “punishing” condition for the rest of his life.
The IT business owner, from Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, said: “Having psoriasis was like a living hell.
“Between 2013 and 2023 I just ended up living with it like it was a disability, and that became my new normal.
“I’d stop using creams for a bit, then it would get worse so I’d start again.
“Every time it comes back it comes back worse. It’s like it’s punishing you for getting rid of it.
“The worst thing about it is that it would leave a trail of flakes behind me, and that’s quite embarrassing.
“The pain of it going into the corner of your eyes is absolutely horrendous.
“A couple of months ago I was in a meeting in a white shirt and I could see someone looking at my elbow and there was blood coming through the shirt.
“That made me feel depressed.”
Matt, who lives with his wife, Aleksandra Naylor, and children, Valentina, one, and Oscar, six, tried a number of costly treatments.
The businessman says he also gave private healthcare, light treatment, various tablets and diets a go too.
He jetted to Italy for an introduction to a spray treatment in 2020 after NHS-prescribed creams lost their effect, but that soon stopped working too.
He’s even flown to Dubai three times in 2018, 2019 and in April this year to swim in the United Arab Emirates city’s salty waters.
Matt said: “I’ve been to Dubai three times. The first time I went there it worked for a couple of months.
“The second time it worked moderately and the third time it didn’t work at all.
“I felt deflated because I thought I’d tried everything and thought it was something I’d have for the rest of my life.
“I spent about £70,000, but your health is everything so it felt it was absolutely worth that investment.”
‘Miracle’ cure
It was a colleague who suggested to Matt that he cut back on his coffee intake.
He said: “One day I was getting a coffee and a work colleague asked how many I have a day.
“He had to give it up because he had a bad stomach so I thought I’d see if it worked.
“I felt really sick at first. I had blinding headaches and I was sweating.
“But after about five or six days the withdrawal symptoms left me and so did my bad skin.”
Miraculously, Matt’s psoriasis symptoms started to fade away.
“My arms and legs were so much better,” he added.
“It wasn’t in my eyes anymore and my skin was really clear. It was like a miracle was happening.
“I felt like a new person. I felt happier.
“My sense of humour was at full force and everything was completely different.”
I felt like a new person.
Matt Naylor
Matt is now urging others to “try everything” as a cure could be simple and right under your nose.
He said: “I didn’t even think it could be coffee because people told me coffee was good for psoriasis. It’s strange.”
Caffeine may potentially help fight inflammation caused by psoriasis, which leads to flare-ups.
However, a 2018 study showed that the effect of coffee on psoriasis is dose-dependent.
Regular moderate consumption (up to three cups per day) alleviates symptoms and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
But more than four cups of coffee per day makes symptoms worse, the research suggested.
Matt said: “I was addicted to caffeine like a lot of people are.
“Anything is worth a try and I know it impacts people in different ways but I wish I’d have tried this 10 years ago.”
Matt is now excited to join his children in swimming pools as he couldn’t before because the chlorine would feel as if it was burning his cuts.
The seasider also hopes to don a pair of shorts to visit his town’s beach during the summer as he won’t have to hide his legs with trousers anymore.
Matt shared his journey through a Facebook post, writing: “Giving up caffeine was the worst experience ever.
“[I had] headaches from hell and [I was] shaking like a leaf.
“But after about five days the side effects went and so did the psoriasis.
“I’ve never ever felt so healthy and happy. I don’t think I will ever drink coffee again (which is heartbreaking as I love it).
“I recall on my post last year several other people who also suffered from psoriasis so I wanted to share my experience and for anyone suffering like I did to give this a try.”
KennedyNews/LythamStAnnesNewsMatt said his skin condition made him ‘feel depressed’[/caption]
He went to Dubai three times to swim in the salty sea to treat his skinKennedyNews/LythamStAnnesNews
Ditching coffee has been the surprising factor that has healed Matt’s skinKennedyNews/LythamStAnnesNews
What is psoriasis?
PSORIASIS is a skin condition that causes flaky patches and scales.
This can look different on different skin tones – anything from pink, red, white, silver, purple, brown or grey.
Most commonly, these skin patches appear on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but they can occur anywhere on the body.
Psoriasis affects around two in 100 people in the UK.
It affects men and women equally, and usually develops between the ages of 20 and 30, and 50 and 60 – though it can start at any age.
Some people experience only mild irritation, while others find it incredibly itchy and sore.
Psoriasis is a long-lasting disease that usually comes and goes in what is known as flare-ups.
There’s no cure, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.
This is often creams and ointments applied directly to the skin.
Later stage treatment can involve phototherapy or injected medicines.
If you are struggling with your psoriasis, speak to your GP.
Source: NHS