Psoriasis

Hi everyone, I have scalp psoriasis which I have under control with Dovobet. I have patches of psoriasis on the inner corners of my eyelids that I cannot manage. I have tried all manner or moisturisers but nothing helps. Does anyone have any suggestions?

rubadub wrote: »

I have it in the same place the odd time and use dovonex, the steroid free OTC version of dovobet, I would never use steroid creams on my face. Dovonex does have warnings about usage on the face. I dilute it into vaseline or sudocrem and use it very sparingly. I also try to get out in the sun, it does wonders for it.

Dovonex has made my face red where applied, it makes the skin more photosensitive and I think it was effectively making it more prone to getting sunburn. I am not certain but it was redder when out in the sun, and did not go red other times I used it. The redness only lasted a day or so.

There is a prescription cream called silkis which is said to be suitable for the face.

Thanks for the suggestion. I used to use a steroid cream prescribed by my doctor but it only worked short term and I was never 100% comfortable using it. I’ll give the Dovonex a go. It’s driving me mad and it’s so itchy 😀

Grace Thoughtless Mortal wrote: »

Hey maybe someone could help
I’m 29, so still young. I have hypothyroidism (hashimotos) and psoriasis, (moderate nothing aggressive). About two years ago I started to get a pain in my knuckle of my right index finger. The dr had an X-ray done and concluded it was a sprain and would heal. It never did. It was the only thing for a good year. Last year my feet and ankles started playing up. Struggled to move my toes, soles of feet couldn’t have been more sensitive. My feet got so bad I couldn’t wear any kind of nice shoe, no heels no wedges nothing with a thin sole. Even slipping my foot into a heeled shoe would actually have me buckle at my knees from pain. Can’t stand on tip toes to reach anything. Some days I’m perfect but most days I’m not. It then went into my left elbow and I have lost strength lifting or pulling. Since feb the week of the snow it’s all my fingers on my right hand they’re extremely swollen they’re sore I can’t bend them I can’t close my hand, it hasn’t improved at all since then. Sometimes it’s not as bad as It could be but it’s always sore, sometimes even waking me up. In the past week it’s my knees my shoulders my hips and my back, feels like my lungs with short stabbing pains into my chest. I’ve been to drs and told it’s a) my thyroid b) lack of vit d c) rumathoid arthritis d) psoriasis arthritis. No real concern or treatment or indeed a conclusive diagnosis. All I know is I’m 29, can’t brush my hair can’t hold a knife to cut onions can’t grip steering wheel can’t lift or carry can’t turn off stubborn tap, sore all over and no answers. I’m waiting for an app with rumathology which I’m hoping will be quick, bloods done and inflammatory markers aren’t abnormal but esr is raised (42). Is this psoriasis? I can’t cope, what do I do

All that you're describing sounds very familiar shoesdayschild, and I'm really sorry you're in that bad place, I know it too well.
Only the rheumatologist can tell you what it is I guess.

Esr raised consistently over several blood tests would probably be more convincing for them. (My esr was between moderately elevated and the dangerous threshold _ >60 _ over repeated blood tests so I think they could have been in trouble disregarding it)

Maybe the Hashimoto is confusing things for them ?

Tell the rheumy how you feel, how you can't function, I wish you well and I hope you get to the bottom of it with the rheumy.
It's a shame sometimes in Ireland you really have to insist before you're taken seriously.

I wish I had put 2 and 2 and fought my corner like you when I was younger (I'm 45 and only recently diagnosed).

eeloe wrote: »

anyone have any idea how long on average you would be waiting for an appoinment with Professor Kirby in St.Vincents?

I'm having a severe out break the last couple of weeks, and i need to get this sorted ASAP, currently looking like 2.5 years public, or 4 months private down here in Waterford at the moment.

When I went to Professor Kirby it was a year public and 4 months private. That was close to 3 years ago so could be less now there’s someone in ardkeen

Just to update on my situation...

If you are going to a GP about your psoriasis or you are (even slightly) concerned about any kind of psoriatic arthritis issues then let me tell you straight that the majority of gp’s DO NOT know very much about the arthritis side of psoriasis, or they know minimum details and can easily dismiss you.

I went to my Gp with unusual back and neck pains and he tested me for a range of things including multiple myeloma cancer, as he said that I didn’t and wasn’t showing ‘signs’ of psoriatic arthritis (sausage fingers etc), that along with some other things (I’m a generally healthy 38 year old, don’t smoke, don’t drink much and otherwise healthy)

My crp was elevated and I quickly ended up in hospital the next day for further investigation as my back was getting worse and worse (all while I was awaiting blood tests from Gp still), upon admission at the hospital they suspected a fractured vertebrae after a quick X-ray which was possibly caused by osteoporosis from the years of using steroid creams (I never knew years of using steroid creams could thin your bones, which I found out), and also confirmed that it could still have been cancer.. thankfully I was private and they got straight to more testing.

Traumatic to say the least... the stress of not knowing and waiting was worse than anything.

When everything came back it wasn’t cancer, it wasn’t osteoporosis and the fractured vertebrae was confirmed to be over 18 months old (could have happened many years ago) but after almost 2 weeks in hospital the head consultant confirmed in her opinion that it is
“psoriatic spondyloarthropathy”

I now have to wait until Early December to see a specialist where I am (privately), as his waiting list is that long, so currently on steroids with weekly weaning down etc, on cancellation list so hoping sooner, he’s the only guy I want to see as I’ve been recommended to him and I know my condition is long term and on going so for me I want the right care.

For anyone reading I advise this :
Your GP is only a gateway between you and a specialist, don’t take his/her word for anything as they are just not up to date on this kind of arthritis, say what you like but that’s a fact!
In my gp’s 35-40 years in practice (and I like my gp he’s s good guy) but I am the first case he has seen of my type, so this will tell you they only know the minimum facts about psoriasis.

If you use steroid creams constantly.. then stop! They thin the bones over the years and can cause osteoporosis, I found that information out as above, I think most of us know they’re not good anyway.

Get yourself a HLA-B27 blood test done (you can ask Gp about this) as psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, If you want to know why then read this -
https://www.healthline.com/health/hla-b27-antigen

Get your CRP levels checked (again blood test), this will show inflammation in the body.
If you suspect anything well then just go and ask about these tests, it will confirm or delete any concerns you have quickly and know if you need to investigate further (see rheumy) or not, don’t leave it too late as psa is a disabilitating disease but it can be stopped if and when treated early.

I’ll update more when I get to see my rheumatologist, if anyone is interested in my journey or if I can help you in any way then I am happy to post here.

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Hi Phil, yes in my case, I had to mention psoriatic arthritis to the GP, and ask if I could be referred to a rheumatologist.

Although in fairness the GPs themselves had mentioned a referral to the rheumy's some years previous, but as they hadn't explained any link between possible arthritic pains and psoriasis, and they hadn't even mentioned psoriatic arthritis, I didn't get how important it might be and let it fly.

I'm not sure how aware of psoriatic arthritis GPs are (mine, at least), and even when they are aware, I think it's just not something they think to mention and question patients about.

The GP did up to date blood tests, just so I'd have them for the rheumy, a letter obviously outlining ongoing and past concerns, and then it was all in the hands of rheumatologist.

I had to go private as the waiting list was just ridiculous for my area.

Thanks Moutainsandh and sorry for late response, somehow missed this.

I have since been to see GP, and he ran some blood tests for me including Rheumatoid arthritis and the inflammation marker test plus numerous other blood tests. My results all came back as "acceptable", my Rheumatoid arthritis test came back as "no evidence" of showing RA.

Having done a little more research on Psoriatic arthritis, it seems there is no blood test for it and that other types of arthritis have to be ruled to pin point PA. I have also read that normally PA would show swollen joints as well as the pain and also pitted nails (my nails are have been badly pitted in the past but not as bad now).

Anyway, after the GP visit, I started doing some research about getting back to health without drugs :eek: So, on the 26th May, I decided to drastically change my diet for 30 days to see if it made at difference and basically so far so good. My Psoriasis is slowly starting to improve, I had a few small patches that have started to clear up so very promising, my pain in my joints are not as bad (whatever is causing it) as they normally are. I have lost 3kgs in 2 weeks!! And, my BP has dropped so much that my GP has said I can come off the BP medication It has only been 2 weeks but showing great potential. My diet is revolving around potatoes!! I have cut out a lot of foods so it is very drastic measure but maybe worth it for better health, I will wait and see how it goes.

Thanks again.

Calmcookie84 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I have scalp psoriasis which I have under control with Dovobet. I have patches of psoriasis on the inner corners of my eyelids that I cannot manage. I have tried all manner or moisturisers but nothing helps. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Is Dovobet over the counter?

I have scalp psoriasis, at my crown and I found using Farm Gate baby's shampoo really, really helps it.

rubadub wrote: »

no, dovonex is OTC which is the steroid free version of dovobet.

You might be asked loads of questions when buying it.

Thanks, that shampoo I mentioned really has a grip on it now but if it flares up I'll take a look at it.

I had to go back to the dermatologist as the Humira stopped being effective and she is going to start me on Stelara. She seemed to think it's a good option for me.

Once I have my bloods done then I'm good to go.

Anyone on Stelara?

Double post, sorry

Phil1969 wrote: »

Eventually got my hands on some Enstilar, I have heard people have great success with this stuff so I will see how it goes.

Enstillar has the same ingredients as Dovobet. Never used it myself