Psoriasis

DonFred wrote: »

Right, Ive tried another bar of LUSH shampoo and never again Im finish with their stuff. My scalp feels like its on fire. Can anyone recommend me a SLS, Paraben etc free shampoo. Thanks

My daughter suffered with an awful scalp condition for years. Her head under her hair was covered in small, very itchy scabs which lifted off very easily leaving a raw patch behind. It wasn't diagnosed as psoriasis but as a non-specific dermatitis/dandruff problem and we went through all the cold tar and Nizoral type shampoos which never ever worked. I picked up a Head & Shoulders Intensive Treatment shampoo in Boots and after the first use her scabs disappeared completely. She doesn't use it all the time now, just when her scalp starts getting itchy and flaky. I don't know would it work for Psoriasis but it would be worth a try. The only place I could ever source it was in Boots and it seems to come only in the larger 400ml bottle.

http://www.headandshoulders.com/en-US/product/intensive-treatment-shampoo.jspx

rubadub wrote: »

Did he try UVB? cannot recommend it enough, my mate has worse psoriasis than me and was shocked when he saw me after 1 month of UVB.

Yeah, but like everything it only worked for a while then stopped!

michellie wrote: »

Yeah, but like everything it only worked for a while then stopped!

That sounds like he only tried it for a while, stopped and then it came back (which I would expect) -or did he in fact keep using it and found it stopped after a while even while using it?

Most people get UVB treatments in hospitals, they have to arrange sessions and go visit, which can be expensive and an inconvenience. The studies and articles I read would say home treatment is just as effective if not better -since there is no stress/hassle involved with having to go to the hospital.

Most forums I read had home users saying they treated themselves for several months, were "cured" and then just topped up now and again if they felt or saw a new flare up, it is not an absolute cure I don't think there ever will be one. For hospital goers I don't think it is as easy as just popping in for a quick single top up -they prescribe sessions and doctors treat it very seriously as it does cost a lot to implement -it could be cheaper for THEM to have you on creams (and the return business), home use is cheaper since you are not paying for a qualified professional to watch over you, all you need is a light, a timer, glasses and common sense.

I presume that I will have to continue using the light as I (and plenty others) think it is mainly down to a vitamin D deficiency, and once you take away the vitamin D (produced by the body after exposure to UVB) then you will get a reoccurrence of psoriasis. In my searches I found numerous anecdotes of people living in new sunnier countries who were cured just by more sun exposure. In this day & age people are petrified of the sun, you get sunblock in make up and everything. Some doctors would put down many autoimmune diseases and other conditions to the severe lack of vitamin D. The only way I could imagine me having a "cure" is living in a different country with sufficient sun exposure.

I found these articles on sunbathing and vitamin D.
http://www.healthresearchforum.org.uk/reports.html

The SunSafe Advice – Safe and Smart
1. Sunbathe safely without burning – every day if you can.
2.The middle of the day is a good time for sunbathing in the UK.
3. Start by sunbathing for 2-3 minutes each side. Gradually increase from
day to day.
4.Don’t use sun screen while sunbathing.
5. If feeling hot or uncomfortable expose a different area, cover up, move
into the shade – or use sun screen.
6.When abroad, where the sun is generally stronger, expose yourself for
shorter times until you find out how much is safe.
7. Children benefit from sun exposure, but need guidance.
8.A tan is natural and is generally associated with good health.

In those articles you will see that children in scotland are getting rickets due to lack of sun, and in other threads people said it is happening here too.

Many people and doctors also fear/caution against over exposure to UVB as a cause of skin cancer, however many reports say there is no real risk, in fact some say the increased benefit of the vitamin D could help prevent cancer. One risk of UVB is on male genitals. For this reason it is advised to only use it when needed, i.e. topups, also means you have to dedicate less time to it, not that it is difficult or anything, I just do it watching TV.

I treat myself once or twice a week now max, I also went several weeks with no light. I have had it since mid May and I think a usual prescribed hospital course is around 4-6months. I am a heavy drinker which causes flare ups, I expect if I was a moderate drinker I would not need nearly as many "topups". I still have coal tar shampoos and it is meant to make the skin more sensitive to UVB (in a good way), I must try using them again.

You can search for studies here
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=uvb+psoriasis&hl=en&btnG=Search&as_sdt=2001&as_sdtp=on

You cured it? You cant cure it, just control it! I must look up that magic cream though I got a tar-cream in america a few years back, found it really good for a while, but like everything else it stops working, It was called MG217.

And the UBV lights only worked for a while for my father and then stopped giving him the results. I havent tried it, as my Psoriasis is very mild,I just have 2 small patches on my knees, and behind my ears and inside my ears, Ive just changed to Dobovex now from Dobovet.

bravo wrote: »

Scalp - the shampoo I find works for me is Stieprox or Stiepox, not sure if you can get it over the counter, I have it on prescription.

It is Stieprox which contains Ciclopirox Olamine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclopirox
My mate gave me a little and it worked quite well for me, I thought it was a steroid but it is antifungal. It is prescription only and quite expensive.

bravo wrote: »

UV - tried this in waterford Hospital years ago - twice a week for four months - sit in a bath for 10 mins then into a UV cubicle for various periods (minutes) - then avoid any direct sunshine for a few hours as your skin is still sensitive to light. I was almost clear for about 4 months after this and then it started to reappear.

What was in the bath? just water? I know the tar is meant to make you more sensitive, it is also best to "descale" before the UVB. I got polytar emollient which is very strong and meant to be added to a bath. I have put it on neat for short times, I have heard talk of cancer risk with tar and heard many say it is a minimal risk (I cannot think of a single thing that has not had some cancer scare!;))
http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/polytar-emollient_1_9820.html

I would expect it to reappear, did you think of doing it again, or were you allowed? If I had it all over I would get my own big bed, I heard of guys using old sunbeds and getting the special bulbs, many selling psoriasis sunbeds just charge a fortune with no justification -really screwing people over.

michellie wrote: »

UBV lights only worked for a while for my father and then stopped giving him the results. I havent tried it, as my Psoriasis is very mild,I just have 2 small patches on my knees, and behind my ears and inside my ears, Ive just changed to Dobovex now from Dobovet.

Did he actually own a light? I have not heard of people having ongoing UVB in a hospital, so if he was in a hospital did he stop getting results before his prescribed course was even finished?

I have read many sites saying to avoid steroid creams like the plague, that if you have used them in the past the UVB will not be as effective and after treatment it is more likely to reappear sooner, and requiring more UVB "top ups". I am glad I have only used steroid creams very sparingly, I had dermovate left over as a kid which was for dermatitis on my feet, I only used it a few times and it worked. They seem to make a really big deal out of UVB like its a complete last resort, when I think it should be the first port of call and the steroid creams should be viewed as the last resort.

bravo wrote: »

after applying you can cover the area with that cellophane used for sealing food (can't think of its name), it helps it absord into the skin and prevents it rubbing off

I have used simple vegetable oil on my scalp, some sites say to avoid petroleum based oil like baby oil. I nick those meat plastic bags at the butchers counter which are a perfect size for my head! I leave it on overnight, and put an old t-shirt on the pillow incase it slips off a bit.

Hi Rubadub,
Used a mousse for the scalp as well and it worked, betamousse I think, but probably had a steroid in it.
The UV bath has a chemical in it which makes your skin more sensitive to light and helps descale before the UV chamber. Dr. said at the time the full course of the treatment would have been similar to two weeks in the sun. And it could be repeated but not immediately. That was years ago.
There were rumours some years ago that if you lived in Scandanavian countries and were diagnosed with psoriasis, your doctor could prescribe a sun holiday paid for by the state - not sure if it was true!

DonFred wrote: »

Ive seen this Head and Shoulders in Boots but normal Head and Shoulders made my scalp feel really tight and itchy. Im tempted to try this one though cause nothing is working at the moment.

My ex brought our boys home this evening and gave me a tub of neem cream that his cousin makes and markets (I'm being upfront about this) on the net. He met her for the first time in his life at a party a couple of weeks ago and was telling her about our daughter's acne, son's excema and my psoriasis and she told him about her product. She called in to him yesterday with a couple of pots of the stuff for the us to try out and lot of advice about diet etc (I hate the diet advice. Much easier to take a tablet.)

I was checking out her website and I thought of you because you asked for suggestions on a paraben free shampoo and according to her site none of the products contain paraben. If you want the link to the site, pm me and I'll pass it on. I can't guarantee what the stuff is like but will post here once we've all had a week or so on it and let you know if any miracles ensue.

bravo wrote: »

There were rumours some years ago that if you lived in Scandanavian countries and were diagnosed with psoriasis, your doctor could prescribe a sun holiday paid for by the state - not sure if it was true!

Very nice, I was sunbathing this year for the first time in my life!

The front headline of some newspaper today was about the risk of rickets due to lack of sun.

up for anything wrote: »

I had a single patch of psoriasis on my ankle about the size of of a STG £1 coin

I had a similar size one on my chest, looked sort of like a scar there since I was a child but not very bad at all. When my scalp psoriasis started this patch also started to get worse, it also went away with UVB treatment. I purposely do not treat it as much with the UVB unless it gets really bad, I actually use it as a sort of indicator for my scalp psoriasis -if I feel/see the chest getting bad I treat the scalp before it gets bad too.

seensensee wrote: »

Sent an email to the UVB comb people regarding suitability in treating facial psoriasis, I await their reply.

Here is the instructions for the dermalight, like I said most are using the exact same philips bulb so directions would be very similar for most of the smaller handheld units. It does mention the face. I expect the company would be cautious and advise you to see your doctor.

http://beatpsoriasis.com/forms/dermalight80.pdf

Never operate without UV safety goggles! Your must wear the safety
goggles at all times.
Never look directly into the light with your eyes open. If treating your
face, keep eyes closes and goggles on at all times.

Many sites I read were saying to use sunscreen to block off the face (if unaffected), since it is already exposed to light there is more reason to use the UVB sparingly.

Steroid creams are often advised against for the face as the skin is so thin, I remember as a child with dermatitis on my feet being told to wash my hands and never touch my face after using dermovate.

http://www.psorinfo.com/Treating-%27difficult%27-sites.aspx?ID=84

Does facial skin flora make lesions more likely?

It is important to consider the role of pityrosporum (a form of yeast that causes seborrheic dermatitis) in relation to psoriasis and anti-mycotic treatment may be necessary. The best treatment for facial psoriasis remains narrow spectrum UVB therapy, conducted under close medical supervision as certain types of psoriasis may be photo-aggravated.
Maintenance therapy may include corticosteroids or vitamin D derivatives, although the latter are not always well tolerated on the face.
It is also important to keep the skin well moisturised to stop it drying out.
Lesions sometimes occur on the lips, a delicate area that often cracks.

That neem cream did nothing for my psoriasis - made it worse if anything. My daughter said it made her face too greasy to continue using it and my son wouldn't touch it because we'd both already stuck our fingers in the pot. It doesn't have a great smell to boot.

Hey guys,

I have had psoriasis for about 5 years now, particularly bad on the scalp. Nails are a bit fooked too!.

I managed to completely clear it once and it feels unreal when you do it and I reckon it is possible to keep it 100% clear but it takes a bit of dedication and work. Forget about creams, steroids, shampoos and dermatologists they might help you to control it in the short term but you aren't sorting out the root of the problem.

If you haven't read this book yet, I urge you to get a copy of it.
Pagano - Healing Psoriasis Natural Alternative

After reading it, you will understand completely what psoriasis is and it will make perfect sense what is happening with your body. Just check out the feedback on the book

Its basically all down to diet and lifestyle choices, it really is that simple. Read the book, follow the recommendations and your psoriasis will disappear. Don't get me wrong, its is difficult but it works 100%. I had mine completely clear, quit smoking, drinking, red meats, limited dairy,fried foods and started regular exercise for about 8 weeks and it just started dying off and let me tell you when you see it happen its an amazing feeling.

I went on holidays then for 6 weeks, ate crap foods, smoked like a trooper and drank like a fish and I was back at square one!. Im now back off the cigs and back on the diet and am on the road to recovery again. Like I said it really works, patience and dedication and you will beat it.

Anyways give the book a go, let me know how you get on!.

michellie wrote: »

..........................,I just have 2 small patches on my knees, and behind my ears and inside my ears,................

Has this

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001480.htm

been considered and eliminated as a possibility ?

Feelgood wrote: »

If you haven't read this book yet, I urge you to get a copy of it.
Pagano - Healing Psoriasis Natural Alternative

I got this and its an interesting read (still have to finish it). Far too restrictive a diet for myself but I try and follow it to some degree. He points out "nightshades" as being the worst, the main ones are tomatoes, potatoes, peppers (chilli & bell) and tobacco.

There was some nonsense in it, he also seemed to dismiss UVB and did not credit it where due -e.g. he says skin gets worse in winter due to drier air or something, while I now have absolutely no doubt that it coincides with less sunlight.

I like my acidic foods and beer, I have been drinking bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) mixed with water which does seem to help a lot. In the book he said some guy drank some and it instantly relived itching. After reading up about it there are lots of things baking soda seems to be benefical for.

The book is showing up as being in stock in blackrock library in dublin. You can order books for 50c to your local library. I got mine cheapest on bookdepository

The patch of psoriasis around my belly button is on fire. It is all red and inflamed. It's been bad the last few days and driving me bonkers with burning itchiness. Does anyone have any idea what cream I could get today that would cool it down.

I wouldn't mind but in the last week a patch of what I'm told is excema (not psoriasis) has erupted on my back and that is very itchy and burning as well. I didn't realise you could get both psoriasis and excema at the same time. I know I shouldn't scratch but just at this moment in time I wish I was an eight armed Indian goddess.

I've been using Lipikar the last few days but it's burning on contact. Any ideas for short term relief till I can see the doctor, please?

The woman Denise on this page was on TV3 this morning
http://www.underthespotlight.ie/theirstories.html

it might be on tomorrow online http://www.tv3.ie/ireland_am.php