Recent studies have questioned the therapeutic value of coal tar versus ultraviolet (UV) radiation and their relative necessity in phototherapy for psoriasis. In this investigation, different aspects of tar phototherapy have been studied in single-blind bilateral paired comparison studies. The effects of 1% crude coal tar were compared with those of petrolatum in conjunction with erythemogenic and suberythemogenic doses of ultraviolet light (UVB) using a FS72 sunlamp tubed cabinet. Crude coal tar was clinically superior to petrolatum with suberythemogenic ultraviolet. With the erythemogenic UVB, petrolatum was equal in efficacy to crude coal tar. Suberythemogenic UVB was also used adjunctively to compare the effects of a 5% concentration of a tar extract in an oil base to 5% crude coal tar in petrolatum or the oil base without tar. The tar extract in oil plus suberythemogenic UVB produced significantly more rapid improvement than the oil base plus UVB. The direct bilateral comparison of equal concentrations of tar extract in oil base versus crude coal tar in petrolatum in a suberythemogenic UV photo regimen revealed no statistical differences between treatments. In a study comparing tar extract in oil and the oil base without ultraviolet radiation, the tar extract in oil side responded more rapidly. This demonstrates a direct effect of tar alone in therapy. We have also studied the effects of erythemogenic and suberythemogenic UVB with and without tar extract in oil in the hairless mouse epidermal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis suppression assay. It was found that erythemogenic dosages of UVB produced near maximal inhibition of DNA synthesis with or without coal tars. Suberythemogenic dosages of UVB produced submaximal suppression of DNA synthesis that was enhanced by adjunctive coal tar but not by vehicle, findings which are consistent with the above clinical results. These studies suggest that coal tars combined with suberythemogenic UVB therapy is a practical alternative (to more aggressive UVB therapy without coal tar) which reduces the UVB exposure to the patient. (J AM ACAD DERMATOL 8:781-789, 1983.)
stevejr wrote: » Hi, my first post here!! Just finished reading the whole thread. A REVELATION!....I knew other people had psoriasis, including my brother but the weird thing is I thought I was the only one in the world who REALLY had it. I know that sounds weird but that's how I felt. I'm 32 now and got it in my early 20's,didn't have a clue what it was at first.It started innocuously enough- small dry patches on my face and a few weird waxy-like lumps on my scalp. That was the extent of it for a year. Then I got promoted at work and left home, both happening within the space of a month. BANG I went from being a confident happy, outgoing person to a withdrawn shy nervous wreck. The reason, you may have guessed....f***ing Psoriasis. All over my face, scalp, chest, back and worst of all, ahem family jewels (to my enduring horror the Ex GF thought it must be an STD and freaked out, hence the... Ex part) Couldn't walk without discomfort. Tried 6 different doctors and heard everything from ecsema to allergies. Eventually it was my grandmother who suggested i had Psoriasis, she'd told my symptoms to her homeopath. I told Doc No.7 and surprise surprise he confirmed it. So i had a diagnosis finally, was delighted, assumed that for every disease there must be a cure, modern medicine being super-duper and all that with antibiotics for everything. Assumed the doc would give me a few tablets and life would return to normal ie; -Comb my hair without wincing -Look in a mirror without cringing -Go to the Barber's and not drread it -Get up in the morning and look in the mirror without worrying how my apperance had changed overnight -Not have to worry that everyone from family to colleagues to even my local shopkeeper was not freaked out by my appearance -have a full head of hair -have my confidence back I couldn't have been more wrong. 7 odd years later and virtually nothing has changed. I have been clear a few times since then but after my first relapse it has been very hard to enjoy the clear times knowing this awful affliction is just around the corner. As I've said I've just finished this thread and the comforting thing was the familiarity of reading post after post of what mirrored my own dismal experience. Lot's of pages of Deja-vu. I'll continue to read and use this great new(..to me) resource. Thanks
Download the MyPsoriasis iPhone App for free today from the iTunes Store. The MyPsoriasis iPhone application allows you to manage your psoriasis on the go on your iPhone or iPod touch. Features: Information on psoriasis and its treatments at your fingertips Advice on common flare up psoriasis triggers and minimizing flare ups Your psoriasis diary – Treatment reminders so you never forget to use your medication, catalogue flare ups and note appointments. Track how you’re managing your psoriasis – take and store photos of your rash and see how your treatment is working Useful videos on psoriasis and how to use prescribed treatments
Lainey_b01 wrote: » - Moogoo...yep it's the brand name http://www.moogoo.ie/ It's basically cow udder cream but adjusted for human!
eilo1 wrote: » I have it just on my scalp but it has been really bad for the last few weeks. Im waking up with it weeping and blood stained most mornings.
Lainey_b01 wrote: » - Moogoo...yep it's the brand name http://www.moogoo.ie/
Blackglen Pharmacy (Contact: Morgan) Unit 1, Blackglen Village Centre, Simonsridge, Sandyford, Dublin 18 Ph: (01) 2921751 Fax: (01) 2921436 email: blackglenpharmacy@yahoo.com Web: www.blackglenpharmacy.ie
We have several moisturising creams in different sizes: - Moogoo Udder Cream (120ml) €10.10 - Moogoo Full Cream (75g) €13.70 - Moogoo Full Cream (250ml) €16.40 - Moogoo MSM Soothing Cream (75g) €15.70 - Moogoo MSM Soothing Cream (250ml) €21.18 These creams are in order of mild to strong depending on dryness/dermatitis etc. If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Moogoo have a specific scalp cream which is excellent for scalp psoriasis. The 75ml is €15.70 and the 250ml is €21.18. I would also suggest using their shampoo (€14.86 for 500ml) and the conditioner (€14.86 for 500ml). These products produce excellent results. One of the pharmacists here uses the products for the same condition and find them great.
The treatment was well tolerated by all the patients, with no adverse drug-related symptoms and no dropouts. By the end of the study, the Aloe vera extract cream had cured 25/30 patients (83.3%) compared to the placebo cure rate of 2/30 (6.6%) (P<0.001) resulting in significant clearing of the psoriatic plaques (328/396 (82.8%) vs placebo 28/366 (7.7%), P<0.001) and a decreased PASI score to a mean of 2.2. The findings of this study suggest that topically applied Aloe vera extract 0.5% in a hydrophilic cream is more effective than placebo, and has not shown toxic or any other objective side-effects. Therefore, the regimen can be considered a safe and alternative treatment to cure patients suffering from psoriasis.
Results Data on 40 patients were analysed. The score sum of erythema, infiltration and desquamation decreased in 72.5% of the Aloe vera-treated sites compared with 82.5% of the placebo-treated areas from week 0 to week 4, which was statistically significant in favour of the placebo treatment (P = 0.0197). Fifty-five per cent of the patients reported local side-effects, mainly drying up of the skin on test areas. Conclusions The effect of this commercial Aloe vera gel on stable plaque psoriasis was modest and not better than placebo. However, the high response rate of placebo indicated a possible effect of this in its own right, which would make the Aloe vera gel treatment appear less effective.
Erythema values were determined photometrically after 24 and 48 h. Results:A. vera gel (97.5%) significantly reduced UV-induced erythema after 48 h, being superior to 1% hydrocortisone in placebo gel. In contrast, 1% hydrocortisone in cream was more efficient than A. vera gel. Conclusions: In this study after 48 h the A. vera gel (97.5%) displayed some anti-inflammatory effects superior to those of 1% hydrocortisone in placebo gel. The A. vera gel tested here might be useful in the topical treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as UV-induced erythema.
Conclusion: Honey mixture appears useful in the management of dermatitis and psoriasis vulgaris.
LittleMissH wrote: » Hi all, I have had this scalp problem for I'd say over 10 years now. Always put it down to dry scalp and tried all the usual shampoos, Neutrogena T-Gel, Nizoral etc... So finally went to my doctor last week and he has prescribed Betamousse, anyone else tried this? I read most of the thread but didn't see anyone else mention it.. It seems there are so many different products out there and everyone is different as regards what works for them but its good to see there are many other people out there with this very annoying condition!!
bravo wrote: » Hi Littlemissh, I've used it and still have some in my "psoriasis armoury", and still use it from time to time. I also use Stieprox shampoo (prescribed) and between the two of them the scalp stays clear. I'm also using enbrel (as I was very severe) but i think the other two are controlling the scalp.
DonFred wrote: » Any tips or balms I can buy to help reduce the reddness of my psoriasis?
DonFred wrote: » Where do you get the Cocoa butter?
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