Psoriasis question

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

I have recently developed Psoriasis. I put it down to the stresses of having a year from hell. My question is this: Can I exfoliate my skin as I would do normally in the shower or would this have a bad effect/make it worse/sore etc? I'm using Aqueous cream and wool fat soap, not shower gel etc atm. Oh and if the answer is 'don't', then can I exfoliate it where I notice the new patches(of dry skin)developing?
TIA.

[Inghouls2]

My dh has quite severe psoriasis. It's definitely stress related... I wouldn't exfoliate if I were you, as the condition is over production of skin cells. Have you tried any Aloe Vera products? Dh uses them occasionally and they seem to work.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

don't exfoliate! psoriasis is prone to Koebner's phenomenon where irritation, scratching extra can lead to more lesions.

If aqueous cream doesnt help keep it comfy there are similar products that may work better for you.

What kind of psoriasis do you have?

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

Hi, thanks for answering.

I think the GP called it something beginning with 'p' and the only one I've found that says p is pustular, but I don't have pussy lesions, so I don't know! One of the areas looks like a plaque, but the rest are both small and larger areas of sore, red and dry marks which itch and are a bit stingy and burning. Actually, they remind me of the jelly fish stings I got a few years ago.
The largest area started weeks ago as a dry patch which I ignored! but after several weeks they went red and itchy. Now they are spreading and I'm getting further dry patches in new places. It's all started to affect me and I'm feeling depressed, though there are many factors contributing to this.

Your help is gratefully received. Thank you!

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

Sorry, just to add that I haven't yet tried Aloe Vera. I have a plant, can I use it fresh and neat from the plant leaves?

[Octothechildherder]

dh has had this - has been coating himself in some kind of hydrocortisone for about 3 months and has now virtually gone - her was referred for light treatment too but not needed. Weird thing tbh.

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

I'm using hydrocortizone, but I'm not finding it helpful. Back to docs on Friday, so maybe he can give me something stronger.

[Octothechildherder]

Will find out name of cream - he has been rubbing it on day and night for months.

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

Thank you!

[Octothebaglady]

alphosyl hc

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Maybe it was guttate? It looks like someone splattered you with red paint. pustular would be quite surprising and I expect would be taken pretty seriously.

First thing is to find a good emollient that feels comfortable on your skin. Alternatives to aqueous cream are things like diprobase, e45, oilatum, aveeno (sme of those go in the bath) Emollients are the basis of your treatment.

Second, have you had any throat or skin infections recently? Strep in particular can trigger psoriasis, particularly guttate. My dermatolgist says its important that I do take antibiotics at the first hint of a bacterial infection. More and more gps are starting to follow that with me. (I've had almost life long severe psoriasis)

Remember not to scratch or pick at it. That will almost certainly prolong it or even worsen it.

If it continues to spread or doesnt improve with the above then there are plenty of next line treatments.

Coal tar derivatives are a bit smelly to use but effective.
Then for larger patches theres dovonex. Many people find that really really effective.
Take care with steroid creams. You musn't use them long term but they can be great for getting on top of an attack short term.
UV treatment is good, but can be hard to get.

I recommend getting a pre-payment certificate so that you can try different thiongs without worrying about how much it will cost you. If you haven't got a sympathetic gp and can't persuade them to treat you properly then ask for a dermatologist referral.

[alypaly]

what you need is a tar based cream or lotion to slow down the over production of cells....like Octo said,alphosyl but you only need Hc if there is inflammation.if it is your hair,you can use Tgel as this is tar based.
Also a product called lacticare(a pharmacist can order it) has a mild salicylic acid in it and i found this helps get rid of the excess cells

[somewhathorrified]

I've has psorisis for abouts 23yr, have tried all manner of things steroid creams/lotions, coaltar, vit e, all to varying degrees of success. The only thing I've found that actually got rid of it was vaseline applied as often as possible and scrape off the dead soggy skin left on. Sounds gross I know, but it got rid of it from behind my ears and hasn't come back for about a yr now.

[alypaly]

SWH have you tried just pure salicylic acid ointment 2% .its brilliant

[BitOfFun]

I've been on immunosupprssant tablets for mine- worked a treat. Have never been so miserable and unwell in my life though, so have stopped them and gone back to being spattered in red paint

[alypaly]

were you on methotrexate as it can make you feel crappy

[BitOfFun]

I was on cyclosporin. They wanted me to move onto methotrexate next, but I was so fed up that I said no and am taking a break.

[alypaly]

methotrexate and PUVA treatments are very successful

[BitOfFun]

It's sunbeds for me this weekend then

[alypaly]

it will help

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

Goodness! thank you for all the great advice! in a strange way, you've all made me feel very tearful as I cannot imagine having this for years and years. I've had it just weeks and feel really quite 'destroyed' by it...I realise how dramatic that sounds, but I'm guessing that I'm so down anyway that this has just stuck the cherry on the top. I'm so sorry for you all.
I do have and have had for more than 10 years ME, which is linked to the immune system and what with losing so many family and friends within such a short time(7 in 8 months), I suppose I've become very vulnerable in myself...

OYBK, no infections at all afaik, though I do have a foul taste a lot of the time(when I cough)which is linked with my sinuses so perhaps they are infected a bit?

They don't make coal tar soap these days do they? I love the smell of that! reminds me of my Grandad!

I have a small amount at my neck/hairline and behind my ears. I'm guessing I can't use hair colourant??

The larger but still patchy area on my shoulder is a bit like paint splatter, but most of the other bits are small and raised and are appearing every day. I'll see if I can take a photo of the shoulder and put it on my profile.

[itsmeolord]

DD age 9 has severe guttate psoriasis. Second everything that onebadkitten has said.

They do make coal tar soap and it is fab for dd's psoriasis.
Neutrogena do a coal tar based shampoo which is very effective as well, you can get it on prescription,it is about £7 a bottle.

Don't exfoliate, dd has koebners, it's awful. She gets patches even if she wears something that is a little too tight/rubs her skin. She cannot have plasters at all because of this too.

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

Thank you itsmelord(I love the name).
I have put a(bad)photo on my profile.

I have now got it on the bra line under my breasts is that because of pressure or rubbing?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

hair colourant has never bothered my scalp, other than some initial stinging. I don't think its on your scalp long enough to bother it and anything that helps you feel better about yourself.

Remember with some people, they do just get one bad flare up and then it rarely troubles them, this isn't necessarily it for the rest of your life. Could be well worth talking to your gp about possible sinus infection.

Out of curiousity, what are your main symptoms of your ME?

I forgot my biggest tip.

Once a week, have a nice bath, with nice aromatherapy oils and non-medicated shampoo. It really helps psychologically to remember that you are exactly the same as you were before this flared but with just rather annoying skin.

Don't be sad for those of us who have had this a while, it is what it is and though I might have a moan during a bad flare, it doesn't stop my life from carrying on and it doesn't occupy my day to day thoughts.. What my skin does is such a small part of me and there is so much of life to enjoy.

[SoloSparklyCatherineWheel]

You are so positive OYBK, I wish I was.

I don't do baths, though perhaps I'll take it up .

The ME for me is extreme fatigue, sore throat, headaches, painful limbs, no energy and very poor short term memory, lack of concentration and often, confusion.
I have many more symptoms, but tbh, I've lived with it for so long that I have to really think about what isn't normal.

[MadHairDay]

My nine year old dd also has it, it was v severe over the summer, more under control now. She has this scalp gel called Psorin, it's pretty strong stuff and can only be applied to the affected skin, if put on normal skin it burns it as paraffin based. she also has coal tar shampoo and dentonox cream, plus aqueous cream morning and night. It's horrible but does seem to have phases of coming and going, hopefully you'll get yours under control more soon.