Do Hospitals treat Psoriasis?

ronan45

Having had Psoriasis now for nearly 16 years. I really am sick of it. It affects me showering and bathing as the scales are raw underneath and after showering etc the scales fall off with just raw sking underneath that leaks clear blood plasme making jeans etc a pain to wear. Scalp, back legs arms all affected (also crotch area OUCH . And the hair is missing where the redness is so i have spot balding etc. I wont bore you with the details
Have been too 4 doctors. A Skin Specialist, A herbalist. A dietician, And got the usual steroids creams powders etc etc. Is it just tough luck or should i go to the hospital? Do hospitals actually even deal with Psoriasis skin issues or are they going to look at me like "Whats this genius expect us to do for him?"
Any thoughts from anyone with this skin issue?

BostonB

I met someone once that was getting some form of "light" treatment in a hospital.

Phototherapy
• Phototherapy – PUVA/UVB for psoriasis and other skin conditions *(Consultant Dermatologist
referral needed)

http://www.bonsecoursireland.org/index.cfm/page/cork-physiotherapy

It was in the Dublin one I met the person.

cltt97

I also know someone who got this phototherapy, in James' hospital. He had it quite bad, and it completely disappeared. Think his GP referred him.

DonFred

Yeah having psoriasis is a nightmare!! Ive been to loads of dermotolgists and what stuck up doctors they are! Swore never again going to them and paying all that money in this recession. Yes hospitals do treatments but you could be waiting a while to get seen. I just use goat milk soap for my body and a shampoo bar from Lush also a moisturizer from lush and its helping. Stay away from white bread and tomatoes will also help (no pizza, italian dishes, ketchup etc.)

0lddog

DonFred wrote: »

Yeah having psoriasis is a nightmare!! Ive been to loads of dermotolgists and what stuck up doctors they are! ........................ Stay away from white bread and tomatoes will also help (no pizza, italian dishes, ketchup etc.)

Yeah! Theres a heap of stuff out there linking some forms of psoriasis with gluten intolerance.

Kristopherus

Op, ask the GP you get on best with to refer you to the top consultant as an inpatient. You may find that the Consultant may be working some od his time in a public hospital and some of the time in a private hospital. Unless you have private health insurance, a private hospital will be expensive. You will get just as good treatment in the public hospital, but the damn waiting list may be the decider. Good luck with it all.

Mountainsandh

I had the Uvb treatment a good few years ago, and it cleared all but one drop ! Unfortunately within a year or two, it was coming back. But at least I did get that stretch without it, and it took a while to come back to the point it is now, which is pretty bad.
So I'm on the waiting list again, but my GP agreed that at this stage it needed shock treatment, and promised to do his best in his referral to get me in asap (which will probably be within 3/4 months in my area).

The hospital treatment is brilliant, but pretty inconvenient if like me you are not close to the hospital, since you have to travel there 3 times a week at least. For me it means an hour drive there and another back, and so a lot of time off work just to get there for a few seconds exposure. Literally. Undress, step in to cabin, expose, step out, dress and go.

But yes, really worth it.

The other option, which I haven't tried yet, more because I wasn't bothered, is the methodextrate. I'm going to go for either one of them. Can't do steroids now anyway, since there is such a surface to cover the doses would simply be too unhealthy.

I'm sick of it too, on days when it is inflamed, I walk around in a haze of prickly pain. The slightest graze draws blood from my hands. Just want it gone, even if it comes back, need a break for a while.

Try a different GP, OP, and get them to refer you, and hang in there.

ronan45

Mountainsandh wrote: »

I had the Uvb treatment a good few years ago, and it cleared all but one drop ! Unfortunately within a year or two, it was coming back. But at least I did get that stretch without it, and it took a while to come back to the point it is now, which is pretty bad.
So I'm on the waiting list again, but my GP agreed that at this stage it needed shock treatment, and promised to do his best in his referral to get me in asap (which will probably be within 3/4 months in my area).

The hospital treatment is brilliant, but pretty inconvenient if like me you are not close to the hospital, since you have to travel there 3 times a week at least. For me it means an hour drive there and another back, and so a lot of time off work just to get there for a few seconds exposure. Literally. Undress, step in to cabin, expose, step out, dress and go.

But yes, really worth it.

The other option, which I haven't tried yet, more because I wasn't bothered, is the methodextrate. I'm going to go for either one of them. Can't do steroids now anyway, since there is such a surface to cover the doses would simply be too unhealthy.

I'm sick of it too, on days when it is inflamed, I walk around in a haze of prickly pain. The slightest graze draws blood from my hands. Just want it gone, even if it comes back, need a break for a while.

Try a different GP, OP, and get them to refer you, and hang in there.

Great to see the UVB is working for you, and Im sure it will go well. Ok well all you peeps above ill visit my gp today and get my bum in gear. Never heard of methodextrate. but ill amke some investigation. Ah its a nuisance Last time i wore shorts to a shopping centre people where like OMG it, So never again. Thanks for your input Mountainsand

ronan45

DonFred wrote: »

Yeah having psoriasis is a nightmare!! Ive been to loads of dermotolgists and what stuck up doctors they are! Swore never again going to them and paying all that money in this recession. Yes hospitals do treatments but you could be waiting a while to get seen. I just use goat milk soap for my body and a shampoo bar from Lush also a moisturizer from lush and its helping. Stay away from white bread and tomatoes will also help (no pizza, italian dishes, ketchup etc.)

Ill drop the breads and stuff also see what happens . feck i love dominoes. DAM YOU DOMINOESSSSSSSSSS
Cheers Don:)

tbh

ronan45 wrote: »

Ill drop the breads and stuff also see what happens . feck i love dominoes. DAM YOU DOMINOESSSSSSSSSS
Cheers Don:)

you can get dominos without tomato sauce - they give you a choice.

0lddog

Er, you will find the gluten mostly in the base rather than the tomato sauce.

Ronan45, You may have to foresake Dominos but (depending where you live) all may not be lost

http://www.coeliac.ie/webboards/viewtopic.php?t=4835


Also,

http://www.coeliac.ie/webboards/viewforum.php?f=12

and

http://www.coeliac.ie/webboards/viewforum.php?f=2

might help you test gluten free life

ronan45

0lddog wrote: »

Er, you will find the gluten mostly in the base rather than the tomato sauce.

Ronan45, You may have to foresake Dominos but (depending where you live) all may not be lost

http://www.coeliac.ie/webboards/viewtopic.php?t=4835


Also,

http://www.coeliac.ie/webboards/viewforum.php?f=12

and

http://www.coeliac.ie/webboards/viewforum.php?f=2

might help you test gluten free life

old dog ill forgo the pizza (in any event they stopped the 2 for tuesday so they can get stuffed) :cool:

cltt97

Don't know where I read it, but smoking apparently is also a big nono for psoriasis.
Gluten-free is a bit of a b**** to begin with, but one gets used to it, just always read the labels, it's tough to avoid because it is in so many things (including beer! and sausages!). It also takes considerable time before you will notice an effect, so don't expect to give it up for 2 weeks and expect miracles. We're talking months here....

rubadub

Mountainsandh wrote: »

I had the Uvb treatment a good few years ago, and it cleared all but one drop ! Unfortunately within a year or two, it was coming back.

This is totally expected, there is no cure so you have to keep up treatments. On almost every forum I have seen people will say UVB clears it and it comes back -and with good reason. I firmly believe along with diet the lack of vitamin D is a major cause of psoriasis, this is why it is far more prevalent in regions with low sunlight, like here. This is also why it flares up far more in winter months -less sunlight less vitamin D production.

I made my own UVB light and you can buy them online, so I can just treat myself at home as needed. I now only get flareups after very heavy drinking, treat my scalp and am OK after about 2 days. I have a blade 1.5-2 all over and it is not really noticeable anymore.

What disgusts me is reading people on forums about people saying their dermatologists are not discussing UVB some saying they never even heard of UVB, no doubt trying to hold onto customers/patients as long as they can. And many of them not telling patients about home UVB so again possibly doing it just to hold onto a customer who must go to their office for treatment. Stress is also supposed to be a big factor and the convenience of home UVB is a big relief, especially for people with very bad cases who do not like to go out in public at all.

0lddog wrote: »

Er, you will find the gluten mostly in the base rather than the tomato sauce.The tomato sauce is probably more of a problem, it is in the nightshade family along with potatoes and peppers. These are noted by on popular book "healing psoriasis"

cltt97 wrote: »

Don't know where I read it, but smoking apparently is also a big nono for psoriasis.

tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Alcohol is the biggest problem for me, I drink baking soda with it to neutralise the acid and it works very well -this is said to be another factor and over acidic system, some think it is caused by "leaky gut syndrome", I think it is a combination of things.

micdug

OP. Answer is absolutely, usually as outpatient but sometimes inpatient. Psoriasis is a condition that ranges from the mild to the life threatening (yes, people have been killed by Psoriasis and complications based on it).

The PASI index is used by Consultants to rate your condition.

They then have a spectrum of treatments starting with various topical (creams/ointments) treatments for mild to UVB (light treatment in a hospital) a couple of times a week or pharmacutical (drugs) for moderate/severe to the biologics which are reserved for severe Psoriasis.

I am on the biologics at the moment (twice a week injection) and am completely free. I feel your pain and advise you to look for the best treatment. I am being treated publically in Vincents over the past number of years and can't say a bad thing about the various treatments being received. Go to your GP and ask for a referral to a Consultant dermatologist operating out of a public hospital.

My other advice is that some drugs will work better then others, some have worse side effects, and some are time limited because the side effects can be severe. Be patient.
As for all the other advice that "change your diet to cure!" these are mostly people with mild Psoriasis OR those that go into temporary remission and they just happened to change their diet at the same time - food has a small impact, alcohol and cigerettes have a greater impact but cutting them out will not usually eliminate psoriasis.

micdug

rubadub wrote: »

This is totally expected, there is no cure so you have to keep up treatments. On almost every forum I have seen people will say UVB clears it and it comes back -and with good reason. I firmly believe along with diet the lack of vitamin D is a major cause of psoriasis, this is why it is far more prevalent in regions with low sunlight, like here. This is also why it flares up far more in winter months -less sunlight less vitamin D production.

I made my own UVB light and you can buy them online, so I can just treat myself at home as needed. I now only get flareups after very heavy drinking, treat my scalp and am OK after about 2 days. I have a blade 1.5-2 all over and it is not really noticeable anymore.

What disgusts me is reading people on forums about people saying their dermatologists are not discussing UVB some saying they never even heard of UVB, no doubt trying to hold onto customers/patients as long as they can. And many of them not telling patients about home UVB so again possibly doing it just to hold onto a customer who must go to their office for treatment. Stress is also supposed to be a big factor and the convenience of home UVB is a big relief, especially for people with very bad cases who do not like to go out in public at all.

Er, you will find the gluten mostly in the base rather than the tomato sauce. The tomato sauce is probably more of a problem, it is in the nightshade family along with potatoes and peppers. These are noted by on popular book "healing psoriasis"

tobacco is also in the nightshade family. Alcohol is the biggest problem for me, I drink baking soda with it to neutralise the acid and it works very well -this is said to be another factor and over acidic system, some think it is caused by "leaky gut syndrome", I think it is a combination of things.

OP this is dangerous advice. I see that the poster is "mod" for diet which makes their advice to create a medical device all the more heinious. UVB treatment takes place in a controlled environment in hospital on medical grade machines operating by nurses supervised by doctors. On the other hand if you want melenoma (skin cancer) way to go.

I know of no medical dermatologist (a Dr) who would not know what UVB is so I presume you attended some self styled Gillian McKeith type. If it was a medical doctor who specialised in dermatology report them here but I simply refuse to believe that that is possible. If you attended a quack (your "leaky gut" condition!!!!) well, what do you expect?

OP, a full list of qualified medical dermatologists is available here including the guy that treats me. Pick a public hospital doctor, make one private appointment with them (speeds up the process) and they will get you on the public list at the hospital which is free.

Mountainsandh

micdug wrote: »

As for all the other advice that "change your diet to cure!" these are mostly people with mild Psoriasis OR those that go into temporary remission and they just happened to change their diet at the same time - food has a small impact, alcohol and cigerettes have a greater impact but cutting them out will not usually eliminate psoriasis.

Yeah, I'd tend to agree with that. Well of course I flare up more when eating certain foods, but I don't "not flare up" provided I avoid such and such and such IYKWIM. My flare ups can come any time, regardless, and although I have tried eliminating various foods over the years in the hope of seeing a change, it has never worked to be honest.
Weight loss seems to have an effect on some, but I have seen many thin people with psoriasis. I have quit smoking (I was a heavy smoker, 30 a day minimum often more) : the first 2 weeks or so, I was pleasantly surprise to see inflammation go down on my hands, I think because the skin was not exposed to the direct smoke anymore... that didn't last at all, and my hands are now covered again, and inflammed practically all the time.

micdug

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Yeah, I'd tend to agree with that. Well of course I flare up more when eating certain foods, but I don't "not flare up" provided I avoid such and such and such IYKWIM. My flare ups can come any time, regardless, and although I have tried eliminating various foods over the years in the hope of seeing a change, it has never worked to be honest.
Weight loss seems to have an effect on some, but I have seen many thin people with psoriasis. I have quit smoking (I was a heavy smoker, 30 a day minimum often more) : the first 2 weeks or so, I was pleasantly surprise to see inflammation go down on my hands, I think because the skin was not exposed to the direct smoke anymore... that didn't last at all, and my hands are now covered again, and inflammed practically all the time.

Sure - lots of things may have an impact. Smoking certainly does have an effect and best give it up for all the other health implications. No single cure and not single permanent cure but a good consultant with an array of treatments will help.
Go get yourself to a GP and get him/her to give you a referral. It is medically treatable and you don't have to suffer. If it's on your hands its going to be regarded as severe enough as that will severely impact on your quality of life.

Sinead85

Have you tried the drug Humira? Its meant to be amazing.

Mountainsandh

micdug wrote: »

Go get yourself to a GP and get him/her to give you a referral. It is medically treatable and you don't have to suffer. If it's on your hands its going to be regarded as severe enough as that will severely impact on your quality of life.

Thanks, and yes, I got referred, only my appointment is not until the end of July, which is so silly as of course my situation is a lot worse now than it will be next July after a month long holiday in the sun... but I'm going to take pics and hope I have an understanding dermatologist. It's not just my hands, legs pretty bad too, scalp thankfully mild enough, ears destroyed, and a bit of a novelty for me, torso and back have now a great amount of drops of various sizes. Oh, and arms, probably more than 50 % covered for the right arm. I got sick of all the treatments and thought I'd leave off for a few years, just to try... obviously without success.
I now think I also have psoriatic arthritis and this is getting me down more so than the psoriasis even, I have pains everywhere, always had back neck and shoulder pains but never thought to make the connection, intermittently knee and heels... just never clicked it could be that, I didn't really know about it then. At the moment one finger in particular is pretty bad. So am thinking what now, wait another 6 months for appointment with a rhumatologist ? I feel I have to wait until my finger gets worse to have a tangible proof for my GP, who after blood tests I required to check it out declared there was nothing to point that way, which, if my understanding is right, would be perfectly normal when it comes to psoriatic arthritis (no evidence of rhumatism). He is a great GP though, and did take it on board when I showed him a nail at the right time. Because I'm probably mild enough arthritis wise, I feel I have to point at symptoms quickly while they're there, otherwise I'll have to wait until I'm 50 with deformed fingers to get a diagnosis and treatment. Ridiculous.

I'm very sorry OP for derailing your thread here, glad I got that off my chest though . It's a tough condition to live with, and you're not alone when you're sick of it.

Mountainsandh

Mountainsandh wrote: »

I had the Uvb treatment a good few years ago, and it cleared all but one drop ! Unfortunately within a year or two, it was coming back. But at least I did get that stretch without it, and it took a while to come back to the point it is now, which is pretty bad.
So I'm on the waiting list again, but my GP agreed that at this stage it needed shock treatment, and promised to do his best in his referral to get me in asap (which will probably be within 3/4 months in my area).

The hospital treatment is brilliant, but pretty inconvenient if like me you are not close to the hospital, since you have to travel there 3 times a week at least. For me it means an hour drive there and another back, and so a lot of time off work just to get there for a few seconds exposure. Literally. Undress, step in to cabin, expose, step out, dress and go.

But yes, really worth it.

The other option, which I haven't tried yet, more because I wasn't bothered, is the methotrexate. I'm going to go for either one of them. Can't do steroids now anyway, since there is such a surface to cover the doses would simply be too unhealthy.

I'm sick of it too, on days when it is inflamed, I walk around in a haze of prickly pain. The slightest graze draws blood from my hands. Just want it gone, even if it comes back, need a break for a while.

Try a different GP, OP, and get them to refer you, and hang in there.

edit : had the name of that drug methotrexate wrong, probably still is wrong, it's something in those lines

micdug

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Thanks, and yes, I got referred, only my appointment is not until the end of July,

So pay 150 now for a private appointment (some private schemes cover part of the course) with a consultant that is in a public hospital. Ask him to put you on public treatment for light treatment which is nearly always public. I did this - have been publically treated after first appointment and never looked back. 150 is nothing compared to the reflief of having it taken

re you arthritis - they are all interlinked. If you have this you may prescibed a drug treatment. This may deal with both conditions - it did for me. Essentially arthritis is inflammation of joints caused by your immune system, so very simliar to psoriasis. Again, your consultant will diagnose this and refer you as necessary.

re Methatrexate - a drug that did not work for me but did get side effects. This is the issue with the treatments - what works for some will not work for another - no single one size fits all treatment. Also it does have an impact on your liver along with Ciclosporine so you may be restricted on the amount of time you can spend on it and regular checkups are required.

As a side I am on a biologic now - eterncept. Twice a week injection. It works really really well and has no side effects for me. It also does not attack the liver etc so fingers crossed I can stay on it, and at some stage they will tabletise it (current is a "pen" that has to be kept refridgerated which is a pain for travel!).

Sweenball

Has anyone ever succesfully used Chinese medicine/herbs to treat Psoriasis and/or fungal nail infection.

I suffer from both & and have had no luck with conventional medicines.

Cheers.

spanner101

Hi OP

spanner101

Hi OP

I was in the same position as you for about the same amount of time.
Went through all treatments out there until I got reffered to Dr. Gillian Murphy in Beaumount.
She has me on a course of Humira (injections) for the last year or so, and I can honestly say I have never looked back.

Completely free of psoriasis, blood test every three months to kepp an eye on things but that's it.
Ask your Dr. about it and the best of luck.

Cheers

gracielooks

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Thanks, and yes, I got referred, only my appointment is not until the end of July, which is so silly as of course my situation is a lot worse now than it will be next July after a month long holiday in the sun... but I'm going to take pics and hope I have an understanding dermatologist. It's not just my hands, legs pretty bad too, scalp thankfully mild enough, ears destroyed, and a bit of a novelty for me, torso and back have now a great amount of drops of various sizes. Oh, and arms, probably more than 50 % covered for the right arm. I got sick of all the treatments and thought I'd leave off for a few years, just to try... obviously without success.
I now think I also have psoriatic arthritis and this is getting me down more so than the psoriasis even, I have pains everywhere, always had back neck and shoulder pains but never thought to make the connection, intermittently knee and heels... just never clicked it could be that, I didn't really know about it then. At the moment one finger in particular is pretty bad. So am thinking what now, wait another 6 months for appointment with a rhumatologist ? I feel I have to wait until my finger gets worse to have a tangible proof for my GP, who after blood tests I required to check it out declared there was nothing to point that way, which, if my understanding is right, would be perfectly normal when it comes to psoriatic arthritis (no evidence of rhumatism). He is a great GP though, and did take it on board when I showed him a nail at the right time. Because I'm probably mild enough arthritis wise, I feel I have to point at symptoms quickly while they're there, otherwise I'll have to wait until I'm 50 with deformed fingers to get a diagnosis and treatment. Ridiculous.

I'm very sorry OP for derailing your thread here, glad I got that off my chest though . It's a tough condition to live with, and you're not alone when you're sick of it.

I just came across these posts, I get you Mountainsandh, completely - you live with this thing all your life and you get on with it everyday, but sometimes, just sometimes you need to vent! I'm happily mainly in remission now for years after UVB treatment in the old Hume Street hospital apart from smallish areas. Sunshine is the best for me, I marvel at how it disappears every time - like magic! Is psoriasis on finger nails a symptom of psoriatic arthritis?

Mountainsandh

Hi Gracielooks, I'm glad to say I'm doing a PUVA treatment atm, it is magical allright, although it's only kicking in now for me, I'm about midway through planned exposures.

Yes, as far as I know nail pitting and other nail problems can be a sign of psoriatic arthritis. My nails go sort of bulgy (like there's something making them bulge from under the nail bed), and then they start sort of coming off the nail bed. I'm very lucky they don't look too bad because everytime one is acting up I cut it very short, and after a while of looking a bit different they go back to normal.

JonathanAd

Yes, I have also heard that there is some kind of photo therapy, which is utilized in hospitals while curing psoriasis. In this ultraviolet light is given in a machine that looks similar to a cubical shower, containing fluorescent tubes. In this artificial ultraviolet B light will shine on your skin and this therapy will work in approximately 10 weeks and you will have to take it two to three times in a week. Ultraviolet B light comes naturally in sunlight as well.

ronan45

Hi All

I have to choose between Light treatment and Methothraxate tablets.

Not sure which to choose though

ronan45

Sinead85 wrote: »

Have you tried the drug Humira? Its meant to be amazing.

Hmm i Heard that also but I dont think Public Hospitals recommend it as its £££££££

catch me if you can

Hi Ronan I have it too on my arms. Its a horrible condition you are not alone.
I find if i use vaseline intensive care mioisturising cream every morning on my arms before work that they do be less scaly. also in the shower i wash my arms with normal vaseline. This helps too.
I know its very hard to get into a routine and find time to do this every day. But it helps.
I got annoyed over the years with steriods. The only one that worked for me was Dovobet but at 100 euros a tube i just couldnt afford it. maybe once a year if i have an occasion coming up i will treat myself to dovobet and get my arms looking normal. it comes back as soon as i stop using it tho and longterm steroid use is not good.
Hospitals can use light therapy but i never had any experience with this.
now i just moisturise my arms, they look crap but i have come to realise there is so so much more to life. a persons beauty is not in their skin. Im sat here today in work with my arms exposed and im past caring what other people think.
There was one instance in my life where I had a job interview in a clinic in blackrock (very famous clinic the rich and famous go there). I passed the interview and was on my first day work in the clinic. one of the nurses saw my arm and within ten minutes i was let go. I was told that patients might worry i could infect them. I was young at the time and i cried all the way home. my partner collected me and he was bulling with the clinic. It effecyed me badly but over the years i have come to realise there will always be ignorant people out there. rise above it. I wish you well.:)

Mountainsandh

Ronan, the light therapy is a bit of a pain because you have to attend twice a week (for the sake of only a few minutes exposure), but it is so well worth it.
I did the UVBs a few years ago without medication, but this time I have medication to make me photosensitive before the exposure, and it's exposure to UVAs. It's simple, and efficient, but I have to wear sunglasses all day on photosensitive/treatment days (I hate sunglasses, normally never wear them it drives me mad ), even inside, because fluorescent lights also emit UVAs. I also have to moisturise an awful lot, it helps in achieving better results. When you have psoriasis all over that moisturising routine is such a pain in the backside.

Catch me if you can, that's an awful experience, shame on them. I'm in a very public job, and with my hands, arms and ears normally covered, there's no escaping people noticing, so really like you I just get to a stage where I just don't care. You'd be surprised though at the number of people whose sister or mother, or father get it on their elbow, or ankle, so yes they might look, but a lot of them would probably have an idea what it is.
But yes, an awful pain.

JonathanAd

ronan45 wrote: »

Hmm i Heard that also but I dont think Public Hospitals recommend it as its £££££££

Yes, it is and there are many side effects of using it and patient who are being treated by this are at serious risk of developing infections due to which they may need to hospitalized.

spanner101

As JonathanAd says there are a number of things to keep in mind if you do go for the Humira.

Full health check up done before starting which include;

Liver Scan
Chest X ray
Full blood test
TB test

All this is to ensure there are ni underlying conditions that could ause a probelm. The Humira surpress the Imune system slightly (over active imune system is a big cause of Psoriasia) to allow everything to get back to normal.

I have been on it nearly two years, and reducing down the doasge every month. BUT I do have a blood test every three months & scans every six months which include meeting with the Doctor.
In saying all that it might suit all, just my experience... One thing on the Methotrexate, this was a big problem for me as it did have an effect on my liver (all of which have cleared).

Thanks

Hippo

FWIW I was a chronic psoriasis sufferer from the time I was about 6 til my early thirties, and went through every available (at the time) course of treatment. A short course of acupuncture cured it completely within a fortnight, and it's never been back.

I would normally be a complete sceptic about non-conventional medical methods, but there was no arguing with this. I do remember that the first couple of sessions produced a mildly euphoric feeling, but my skin began clearing almost immediately. Very strange!

huskerdu

ronan45 wrote: »

Hmm i Heard that also but I dont think Public Hospitals recommend it as its £££££££

Not true.

I am attending a public consultant in St Vincents Hospital and I have been prescribed Simponi which is another brand of the same type of medication as Humira.

The annual cost is thousands, but I only pay the 120 a month.

It is not suitable for everyone, as has been mentioned by other posters and will only be prescribed by a consultant, you cant ask your GP for it.

huskerdu

The OPs post saddens me, but there are loads of people out there like you who are suffering from psoriasis and are not getting proper treatment.

If your Psoriasis is bad or if you have any suspicion that you are beginning to suffer from psoriatic arthritis, you need to insist that your GP refer you to a consultant. I am lucky that I live in Dublin and close to St. Vincents hospital where there is a very good department.

My advice to all psoriasis suffers is two fold

- See a consultant and talk about all the treatment options

- Lose weight, eat healthily, exercise lots.

Here is my experience.

1) A good consultant will never prescribe steroids. Psoriasis is a lifelong condition and steroids just mask it temporarily and ultimately ruin your skin

2) The treatment options pnce you are attending a consultant are

- UV treatment. UV Treatment is very good, but unconvenient. I had to attend for 20 minutes, 2 times a week for 10 weeks. The effect lasts for a year or two, maybe more for some people. You can only have UV treatment 10 times in your life because of the risk of skin cancer.

- Anthrolin. Again very effective, but inconvenient. I had this is the old skin hospital in Hume St years ago. 5 times a week, for 1 hour for 4 weeks.
It's a cream that is applied, which is dangerous to smooth skin, so is only applied by a nurse in hospital.

- Methotrexate. A drug which is taken once a week long term.
It is effective, but has side effects. It can give you a sick stomach, and it affects some peoples livers. You have to have blood tests for liver function and are advised to drink very little alcohol.

- Biologics ( Simponi, humira). Injections. Only prescribed in very bad cases, or in the case of arthritis. They suppress the immune system, so you are more at risk of getting sick. The best way to avoid this is to live a healthy life.