Psoriasis hell!!

[Steven32]

Hi guys , I'm Steven and I'm 32. I have had psoriasis since I was 16 and have never been able to get rid of it! Currently my knees, elbow and lower legs are badly affected. Does anyone know of any new research into treating this shitty condition? I'm

Currently using Duvobet steroid ointment and moisturisers. I hate topical steroids!!

[Zanamag]

Hi Steven, sorry you are having such a tough time, I don't have Psoriasis but my mother has suffered for years and she has it all over and I mean ALL over, she has had everything fro coal tar treatment (not sure if they still do that) to UVA, which did clear things up for almost a year but as always it comes back, it seems that after some time your body gets used to whatever treatment you use and becomes immune, this is what my mother found anyway. It would be worth having a chat with your GP and asking what other treatments are available. Do you have the arthritis as well or is it only your skin that is affected?

Hope things improve for you.

Regards Magz

[Steven32 in reply to Zanamag]

Thanks for the reply. My arthritis is localised to my sacroiliac joints and I get severe pain and can't walk properly when it flares up. My rheumatologist said it was most definitely linked to my skin disorder as they are both auto immune disorders. I have tried everything that your mum has tried. Psoriasis always comes back.

[Zanamag in reply to Steven32]

So have they offered you Methotrexate ? Mum has been on it for ages but there are very strict guidelines attached to it. She has also just been given an injection for the arthritis, so we are just waiting to see if it helps, she had a steroid injection before but this is something different not too sure of all the details of it. Auto immune disorders are a nuisance because they always come back, I have three and mum has three but the only one that is the same is the under-active thyroid. I don't have psoriasis but I have Lichen Planus also skin related. I hope there is something in my comment that you haven't had and you could ask about. I feel your pain. x

[KatieRubyRed]

Hi Steven sorry you sound so down. I too have Psoriasis I am going to the doctors to ask for Enstilar foam which I hear has had good results. As this is still a topical steroid you may want to ask for Light treatment which I usually get every year. It is good but as we know nothing but nothing is going to eradicate this cronic disease from us. I have also just purchased a Philips portable blue light using the "special " light needed it was expensive £250 but after 3 weeks of constant usage I can a big difference on my leg patches.

Good luck

[betterbeeman]

Hi Steven,

Sorry to hear you are having it rough with your condition.

It can be controlled but it can take a while to work out what regime is best for you.

Light therapy is an excellent starting place. It isn't easy as the treatment is in effect a controlled and increasing exposure to UV light. It can be like having bad sunburn for a few days after each session but it can be very effective and hold it off for months.

I suffer with chronic eczema and have a few friends with Psoriasis. We all have good and bad weeks. I can recommend having some mates around who understand, that alone can help.

Take a good look look at your stress levels too. In my case, stress is a major factor.

You might try eradicating all foods in the "nightshades" family. That means potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, chillis.

If you Google John Torode of Mastershef, he did this and for rid of his allergies completely and can now eat this foods.

Finally, if the itching is an issue a can recommend a bath with oats. Put a couple of handfuls of porridge oats on a tea towel and tie them in like a small sealed ball of oats. Run a bath and put the tea towel with oats in the water. The cloudy milky water that arises when you squeeze the oats somehow calms the skin. I was amazed at the effect and relief this gave me with eczema 70% of my body was flaring at times.

Methotrexate, as someone has mentioned, is very good but you will have to be careful and minimise alcohol intake if you are on it. It will take at least 6 weeks before you see Amy improvement and most likely 10

weeks but it can be taken for a long time provided you follow the rules.

Cyclosporin is another powerful drug which will stop it quickly in most cases but you can get kidney damage and can't stay on it for more than about a year. Of the two, Methotrexate is probably safer and most effective but you need some patience initially.

I wish you well.

[emcquaid]

Steven, ask you doctor to recommend STELARA (ustekinumab), 1 injection every 3 months. It is a biologic, targets proteins to block the reaction to cause your white blood cells to attack your skin. I use to be totally covered with psoriasis for most of my life, but have use it for 2 years and have been almost clear for most of them.

Good luck,

Eamonn

[Zanamag]

Steven the injection that emcquaid said is the one mum has started, she had the first one on Tuesday last week and all the red inflamed skin has gone already they said she probably wouldn't notice much change until she had the fifth one but that's one week and she says there is definitely a difference. She has them weekly though, maybe that's just to start things off then they maybe it will be longer periods between them, but she said already it's worth it. Hope this helps. 😊