Psoriasis Advice

[Casmie]

Dh has had psoriasis for quite a few years now and more or less left it alone (mostly in his hair and around the hairline). Recently however, he's started using TGel shampoo and it's cleared up really well - except it's moved more onto his upper forehead.

Any ideas if there's a similar cream that's suitable for use on the face that uses the same basic principles as the shampoo? Or any other treatment that has worked well for other psoriasis sufferers?

Googling just seems to have brought up reams of various different treatments promising the world and then some with no real way of distinguishing the scams from the genuinely effective products.

[bids]

Could try Melaleuca's tea-tree shampoo and Renew cream with tea-tree oil in it.
Everyone I know who has used these products has loved them. No scam!
They have 60 day money back guarantee.
More info on small ads, healthy homes.

[Prufrock]

Just use the shampoo as a forehead wash?

[Casmie]

Tried that, Prufrock - doesn't appear to help, strangely.

Will have a look at that bids, ta.

[kid]

Both my sisters and my dad have psoriasis. They use Diprobase which moisturises the skin. It does help and you it doesn't thin the skin like steroid creams. My sister also drinks aloe vera juice. It tastes really horrible she says but it gets rid of the psoriasis. I think you could probably get them in tablet form.

[Casmie]

kid - can you get diprobase over the counter?

[happymerryberries]

I have a cousin with psoriasis. The sun helps her, a lot, as has refexology ( and I am the worlds greatest sceptic!). I think that it helps he to relieve stress

[Casmie]

hmb - the sun does seem to help, but obviously don't see enough of it to do a lot of good! I can't see dh going for the reflexology though, I tried most of last year to get him to make an appointment with a homeopath and while not vetoing it outright was most unenthusiastic.

He's always held that nothing works so it's not worth trying, but the TGel shampoo has made him think that it is possible now - which is why I believe I'll have more luck with some form of ointment/gel type remedy.

[Casmie]

Sorry - that's not very clear! What I meant was that he'll probably be more likely to try something he can "see" as directly correlating to the psoriasis rather than a general stress relief thing...

[kid]

Yes - diprobase is available over the counter. You get it in a giant squirty bottle (bit like a hand cleaner!)

[happymerryberries]

Reduction of stress seemed to be key to getting rid of my counsin's psoriasis, which was quite bad and very upsetting for her. The reflexology did that for her (reduced the stress that is) and the psoriasis went. Now granted, it could be a coincidence (I am cynical!) but she swears by it, and it has helped her in other ways too...she feels my happier now she is less stressed. She still tries to get a sunny holiday each year and that also helps to keep it a bay. I think that she also used Debonex (sp) on prescription as well.

[Twiglett]

Calendula cream seems slightly effective for DH .. although TBH it is trial and error and there are many many different 'snake oils' out there .. that we've probably tried

the trick is excessive moisturising

aloe vera juice did nothing for DH (neither did Kombucha)

if its bothering him he really should go to GP and get dovobet .. (yes its a steroid cream) but the trick is to get it in check then continue the excessive moisturising

there have been some trials saying that a gluten free diet helps .. if you want any advice on that one let me know

{{{{hugs}}}} for you G .. know what its like being the partner on this kind of thing

[Casmie]

That's worth knowing - thanks all

Actually Twiglett, it was your descriptions of your dh's psoriasis that got me persuading my dh to do something about it! Although my dh has it incredibly mildly in comparison, I'm concerned it could get worse unchecked.

To be fair, it doesn't seem to bother him day-to-day, so his tolerance threshhold for all the treatments is very low indeed.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

My dh has this as well around the hair line and he was prescribed a shampoo called Ketopine and Poly tar. He also uses Nizoral which you can buy from the chemist.
He finds he has to use them alternatly otherwise they have no effect on him.

[Hulababy]

I have really horrid psorasis of the scalp and use the TGel, but also a lotion from the GP. At the moment, due to stress, it is very bad again so I am using the lotion daily.

For the psorasis on my skin I have a creeam from the GP which is wonderful. Clears up my really bad patches in a week.

Will go and get the names of them...they';ve been the only thing to work for me recently, and I have had psorasis since y teens - so a good 15 years or so.

[Hulababy]

Got them...

For scalp: Dovonex Scalp Application
For skin: Dovobet Ointment

[Casmie]

Fantastic - thank you!

Seems like I'm kicking dh off to the GP again then stocking up on moisturising type stuff...

Thanks all

[SofiaAmes]

Dh has this too. I had the opportunity to quiz a very famous dermatologist (to the stars) about it in the usa (luckily didn't have to pay for the consult) and she said that basically t-gel and similar shampoos and the various creams that people have mentioned are about all you can do. She recommended switching periodically as that seems to help (they don't know why). She did say that it seems to flare up with the change in seasons and that there is no permanent cure.
Dh's gp prescribed dovonex and dovobet recently for dh and said that she went to seminar recently that said that's what works the best.

[miggy]

agree with reducing stress
diet does seem to have some influence, mines always better when i go on a diet-eat less dairy then, perhaps that?
Hemp oil-eaten-is supposed to help-good for you in other ways and easy and cheap (good oil-waitrose) so worth a try.
Light therapy-wouldnt want to have too often but really gets rid of it.
There was some stuff whose name I have forgotten-made from bananna skins, was supposed to be really good and did shampoos etc but I could never get hold of the shampoo.Name will bug me now!

[miggy]

Exorex-banana stuff!

[gingernut]

Dovobet is not recommended for use on the face unfortunately.

[colditzmum]

I know someone with psoriasis who goes on a sunbed ans it really helps her skin. She doesn't have to stay there long, it's called UV therapy and it's prescribed to her on the NHS!

[jabberwocky]

Had a friend with terrible psoriasis on his scalp. Jojoba was a great help applied at night.

[jabberwocky]

Also my brother has a mild case and finds that the UV therapy is helpful too.