OTC cream for psoriasis?

[MorrisZapp]

I've had psoriasis all my life but gave up with prescription creams as I couldn't be bothered and also as I got older it got better anyway.

I now have the worst psoriasis I've had in many years, brought on by the cold weather and lack of sleep. I don't have time to get to GP, although obviously I will if it becomes necessary.

Has anybody had success treating it with non prescription cream? I'm using face oil and an emollient moisturiser at the moment, they ease the tightness but do not reduce the redness or flaking at all.

[nowitsenough]

I don't think there's anything you can get that will treat psoriasis over the counter, as they all require prescription. You could apply coconut oil or Salcura Zeoderm (you can buy it in boots), they will soothe it. Could it be something in your diet making it worse, like dairy, gluten, sugar, nightshade? Or is it stress related?

[ImBatDog]

my dad had psoriasis for years, he always liked the Norwegian formula cream.. its neutrogena who do it i think.

hang on, had a look before i posted.. he used this one.

www.neutrogena.co.uk/product/licensed-medicine/neutrogena-norwegian-formulasup%C2%AEsup-dermatological-cream

[PrettyPenguin]

I use something I got on prescription a while ago. I think it's called Dovonex. It's a gloopy lotion in a white and red bottle. It's calcipotriol but also has vitamin D in it. It's fab!

My best cure for psoriasis is sunshine and salt water (ie a holiday in the sun by the sea or with a salt water swimming pool. If I managed this each summer then my psoriasis cleared up for almost the entire year. I never really had the flaky red kind though. Mine isn't really visible to anyone else and it's only between my shoulder blades but I can feel it and it's immensely itchy!

[MorrisZapp]

Thanks for the replies! I have the dovonex now, I've used it before and it works. Lovely doc prescribed over the phone.

Unfortunately it's only available as an ointment which is greasy and unpleasant but hey ho.

It appears I have classic 'guttate psoriasis', which appears three weeks after an attack of tonsillitis. Bingo. So with luck, this awful flare up is a one off.

I've also got some dodgy Polytar from Singapore and a battalion of moisturisers and emollients. I look and feel disgusting but it shouldn't be for long.