The £1-a-day pill that could banish debilitating psoriasis: Pantethine supplements help lower cholesterol… and now experts discover they could clear skin too

A supplement costing just £1 a day could make the painful, scaly patches caused by psoriasis virtually disappear, a study suggests.

Scientists found that pantethine, a compound derived from vitamin B5, suppressed immune cells responsible for driving the debilitating skin condition.

Patients who took two pills a day for three months alongside their usual medication saw significant improvements in the visible signs of psoriasis, as well as symptoms including itching and pain.

Remarkable before-and-after photographs show how angry red patches on patients’ elbows and torsos had almost completely cleared after 12 weeks of treatment.

Intriguingly, the greatest benefits appeared to be among patients who also had high cholesterol.

The Chinese researchers said their findings could pave the way for an inexpensive new treatment for the condition, which currently has no cure.

Psoriasis, which affects around one in 50 Britons, occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin, causing inflammation and a rapid build-up of skin cells that form thick, scaly patches.

Reality star Kim Kardashian famously suffers from the condition and has shared images of her flare-ups with her 344 million Instagram followers.

While a range of promising new treatments has emerged over the past decade, some can cause side effects including skin irritation, nausea and an increased vulnerability to infections.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, was conducted in two parts.

Initially, researchers treated mice with pantethine for six days.

Compared with animals that did not receive the supplement, the treated mice developed fewer psoriasis-like patches and showed reduced signs of inflammation.

The scientists, from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing, then tested the supplement on 24 patients over a period of 12 weeks.

All participants continued using a standard prescription ointment containing a steroid and a vitamin D-derived medicine.

But half were also given 600mg of pantethine twice a day.

By the end of the trial, patients taking the supplement had significantly lower scores on tests measuring the severity of their psoriasis, as well as visible improvements in their skin.

Pantethine is already widely sold to help lower cholesterol, but the researchers discovered that cholesterol also plays an important role in activating the immune cells responsible for psoriasis.

These cells, known as dendritic cells, help coordinate the body’s immune response. But when they become overactive, they can trigger the excessive inflammation that causes psoriasis plaques.

The researchers found that certain enzymes were depleting pantethine inside these cells, allowing cholesterol to build up and driving their overactivity.

Restoring pantethine levels appeared to interrupt this process, reducing cholesterol accumulation and calming the immune response.

Crucially, no significant side effects were reported by participants in the trial.

However, pantethine can sometimes cause diarrhoea, heartburn, itching and an upset stomach.

And while the findings are promising, the researchers cautioned that the trial involved only 24 people, meaning larger studies are needed to establish whether the supplement is effective and safe over longer periods.

It was also tested alongside conventional psoriasis medication, rather than as a replacement for it.

Commenting on the findings, study author Wei-Na Zhang said the results showed ‘encouraging therapeutic efficacy’ but should be considered preliminary evidence rather than definitive proof.

Pantethine is distinct from ordinary vitamin B5 supplements, which have not been shown to produce the same effect.

Current treatments for psoriasis include steroid creams, vitamin D ointments, moisturisers and coal tar preparations.

Patients with more severe psoriasis may also be offered ultraviolet light therapy or specialist-prescribed medicines that suppress parts of the immune system.

However, there are also several drug-free approaches that may help people manage their symptoms.

One of the best-supported is losing weight, particularly among people who are overweight or obese.

Excess body fat can increase inflammation throughout the body, worsening psoriasis, while studies suggest weight loss can reduce the severity of the condition.

Diet may also play a role. Some research suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, fish and olive oil, could help reduce symptoms, although the evidence remains limited.

Stress is another common trigger of flare-ups, meaning relaxation techniques, meditation and regular exercise may also be beneficial.

Quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol can help, while keeping the skin well moisturised can ease itching, dryness and scaling.

For people whose psoriasis cannot be controlled with creams alone, narrowband ultraviolet B light therapy is another option. This involves exposing affected skin to carefully controlled doses of ultraviolet light, usually under the supervision of a dermatologist.

However, experts warn against using sunbeds as an alternative because of the increased risk of skin cancer.

And while lifestyle changes can help keep psoriasis under control, they are not a substitute for prescribed treatment in people with more severe disease.