Ted Danson Has Lived With Psoriasis for 50 Years—Here Are the Dermatologist-Approved Ways He Combats Chronic Inflammation

We can probably all agree Ted Danson has had a fruitful career of playing characters on the big screen. Whether it’s because of his early-career run in NBC series Cheers or his continued work on shows like Netflix’s upcoming A Classic Spy, it’s clear he’s played some important roles in his sect of the film industry. What may not have been very clear to his audience, however, is that he’s been living with a chronic immune system disorder since long before coming to fame.

What Danson has been dealing with since the age of 25 is called plaque psoriasis. It’s an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation especially of the skin, and it affects around two million Americans. “Your skin is so important,” Danson told EatingWell in our interview. “It’s like your presentation to the world. And to have to cope with it by standing up to make a joke about your presentation to the world, excuse it or hide it is difficult.” 

Sitting beside Danson was dermatologist Jennifer Soung, M.D., who said, “A lot of people will tell patients, ‘It’s just your skin. Why is it bothering you so much?’” Danson and Soung both made it clear that this type of question reflects a widespread misunderstanding of the effect skin conditions can have on patients’ lives. That’s why they both partnered with biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb for their SO Have You Found It? movement, aimed at empowering people to get help when dealing with plaque psoriasis. In our interview, Danson and Soung talked with us about the importance of seeking treatment for conditions like plaque psoriasis. They also shared some ways to lower inflammation and better manage the symptoms that can go along with it.

Danson started the interview explaining how lucky he felt in his situation. “I was blessed enough to find a dermatologist around the same time a new treatment came along that was very effective for me. I understand how uncomfortable, scary, embarrassing and sometimes debilitating plaque psoriasis can be. And I’m happy to say you don’t have to suffer with this alone. So please reach out to a dermatologist, the scientist who knows what they’re talking about, and you too could be helped like I was.”

Unfortunately, not everyone finds the right treatment plan as quickly as Danson. Soung told us, “I’ve researched psoriasis and worked with patients for over 15 years, and there are still patients who haven’t found the right treatment or tell me that they are still suffering from psoriasis.” So, for her, the “It” in SO Have You Found It? is “that moment of self discovery and empowerment from finding the right doctor and treatment, and even giving yourself permission to say that it’s hard to have a skin condition. While psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition of the skin, it can also affect other areas of the body in about 30% of patients, like the joints, which can change your lifestyle, social interactions and personal connections.”

It was at this point that Danson and Soung stressed the importance of a balanced diet, healthy weight management and a robust medical care team as crucial components to overall care. In terms of eating, Soung said, “Psoriasis patients are at higher risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, so a healthy diet is really important.”

When asked about the lifestyle changes he faced when diagnosed with psoriasis, Danson said, “They were too overwhelming. Back then, some treatments weren’t great for you and thinned your skin. This particular doctor I went to when I was 25 gave me a diet that was practically air and water. It was just impossible to stay on.” All in all, Danson claimed, “Trying to eat a less inflammatory diet is so important, because this is an inflammatory disease.” 

An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on healthy fats, ample produce, carbs and proteins. It encourages the intake of antioxidant-rich foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, and limits foods that are shown to increase inflammation like deep-fried foods, highly-processed foods and foods high in added sugar and saturated fat. If you’re living with symptoms of chronic inflammation, an anti-inflammatory eating pattern might be a good fit for you. And we agree with Soung that “diet is so hard to study, because it’s very individual for every person. It has to do with your social interactions, your cultural preferences and more. So there are many, many diets that may help reduce inflammation and psoriasis.”

When it comes to psoriasis specifically, Soung said, “It’s about having a healthy weight that can improve or lessen the severity of your psoriasis as part of a treatment plan. This includes your medication that helps with the inflammation as well.” Danson and Soung also mentioned some other important lifestyle factors to change for the betterment of your skin and overall health like reductions in alcohol consumption and smoking tobacco. These habits can cause potential flare-ups with skin-related autoimmune conditions, so limiting them as much as possible is optimal for feeling your best.

Danson agreed with Soung, when she closed the interview by saying, “It’s okay for it to be hard. But we know that the impact of psoriasis goes beyond the physical symptoms and can affect so many other things in your life. That’s the main message and takeaway. Our diet and healthy living habits are a complement to the treatment, for patients to empower themselves to say, ‘Hey, it’s okay to get treatment for my skin condition.’”

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.