Psoriasis advice please?

[greyriver]

had few patched over 1 yr, but now getting worse on DH's scalp....red underneath with yellowish skin flakes on top. Have tried special shampoo & we rub olive oil in everyday (under instructions from h'dresser) but nothings working.... He also has the odd indentation and yellow crustiness uinder fingernails, been to doc and they took clippings, its not and infection of any kind...please does anyone have any advice or sugestions?

[ponygirl]

Hi Greyriver. My stepfather had psoriasis for years. I know there are lots of different kinds, but your dh's sounds similar to my sd's. The best treatments are going to be available through your gp, so keep going. I don't know where you are, but my sd was referred to Guy's and they were excellent. The thing that really helped was a treatment using UVA, though he had a lot of creams, lotions and shampoo as well. I hope you get it under control, as I know what a misery it can become for the sufferer and their family. HTH

[TrickorTwiglett]

when you rub in the olive oil is it warm and do you leave it on for an hour or so?

try changing your shampoo .. sometimes tar shampoos help sometimes really gentle baby shampoos do (DH head currently improved with Johnson's baby shampoo for some reason)

hold on to the fact that this is probably a flare and will die down

you have my sympathy

[greyriver]

thanks for your help

its cold olive oil, he rubs it in the morning (mainly to get rid of crustiness!) and then its on for the rest of the day, makes it sound groce like he's got oil slick hair - but he has grade 1 and all the oil does is disguise the flakes! I think i wil get him to try our dd's johnsons baby shampoo for a few weeks and if no improvement then cold tar...

nightmare, i am wondering if it could be some kind of food intolerance.....although this is a whole new realm i am looking into!

[cori]

I had psoriasis on my foot for a couple of years. All the creams in the world didnt help, Once it spread to my arms and legs I then tried acupuncture and aloe vera gel/cream and it worked really well and it hasnt returned.

Personally if its that bad, i dont think baby shampoo will touch it, go straight to Tgel/ col tar.

Actually I get a little bit psorasis/servere dandruff from time to time on scalp. I have ssomething called diprosalic solution that works well.

A dermetoligist told me that very little can be done for psorasis under fingernails.

I think another mumsnetter, Twigletts DH has chronic psorasis. Hopefully she will see this threadbe able to advise you.

[happymerryberries]

Sunlight realy helped my cousin, along with reflexology

[Hulababy]

I have had psorasis since my teens - so a good 15 yearsor so, which has steadily got worse. I have it worst on my scalp, but also get in on my legs, hands and side ofbody...and sadly in other areas to I have found that nothiung gets rid of it ompletely. Some creams have got rid of it from my bodt temporarily, but nothing I have tried - GPs and alternative - from my scalp at all. I hate it. It is sore and itchy, and it makes me look like I have horrendous dandruff.

I have recetly moved and when I go and register with the Gp I am going to try and push for a referral to a dermatologust AND a dietician.

Rather than looking for a cure I want to try and go for prevention in the first place.

[greyriver]

hi hulababy - my feelings go to you i know how DH suffers and he just has it on his scalp (and under finger nails i think....)...i am currently searching old threads looking for help...hopefully i will find something that may help him a little in the short term, although i too am looking into his diet now

[TrickorTwiglett]

if you're thinking of dietary treatment .. gluten free is supposed to be helpful for some sufferers (although the anecdotal evidence I am aware of relates to psoriatic arthritis sufferers and not just psoriasis)