psoriasis?

I used to suffer from psoriasis, over the years went from steroid creams which seem to work for the day and then it returns with vengeance.
Over the years I met with various doctors and dermatologists. I met one particular derm who was doing a tour in the UK and he was getting results at least from the before after photos.
I enquired further and met other people and in particular found someone who explained to me in simple terms what might be going on with my body.
He himself suffered with psoriasis, and recommended a full body detox, the process lasted about 3 weeks and I too had results. The spread reduced over the back and neck areas and was almost completely gone in that period.
I was placed and a diet and was asked to watch what I eat. I have learned over time what works for my body and what does not.
Cheese, dairy, spice, even fish are all triggers for me, and stress is a major player in this space too.

Regards
Bee

Have you had PUVA treatment?

My 4 years of guttate psoriasis ended after I stoped using any sulphates and switching to handmade soap. It has never come back for me. Sulphates are detergents that are ok for most people but are not good for people with sensitive skin. During my own research, I found a BBC documentary

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1DjRTHSCZK3h7V6dlxyHRdP/are-my-wash-products-damaging-my-skin

I have PSA and after trying various treatments I’m now on a monthly injection I give myself that is specifically for PSA called Cosentyx it has helped me a lot ….. yes I struggle daily but the pain is a lot less than it was and although I didn’t have bad skin psoriasis it has helped where I had it. I also find the steroid injection amazing where the tablets affected me badly mentally within days

Has anyone mentioned taking anti histamines to help with the itching? Or Vit D 2000?

My pharmacist said I could take two antihistamines a day when I was tearing myself to bits. It's calm at the moment but I always keep some in the medicine cupboard - I buy the cheaper Cetirizine, not supposed to make you drowsy.

I was interested to see someone had chilblains too - both my daughter and I get them, she has eczema. Do take great care, bathe and dry your feet and get the Snowfire stick and apply to every toe. I was up at 3 am with them one freezing winter morning and thought my toe was going to burst, so very swollen and only a holly bush would help with the itching. If the Snowfire stick doesn't work, smother them in Sudocrem and wear light socks.

I actually didn't know a couple of things mentioned here might be linked to my psoriasis (diagnosed 2011). Well fuck. Thank you people.

I am at once heartened and despairing but I might go as far as to go back to the (hugely disinterested) GP and ask some questions.

There are biological treatments such as Humira but they are hardcore, and you would need specifically medical advice.

I just want to hug you all.

Psoriasis is shit.

Looks shit. Feels like shit. It is shit.

I was wondering about the biological treatments they is for PA? Could a course of those get it all into remission!

OP I’m so glad oral steroids are working! I’ve had oral steroids for serious flare up but never long term, from what I know it’s not usual to be recommended to stay on oral steroids, but your derm will know more.
Oral/topical steroids are the only treatment that has worked for me which is scary given the amount of content on topical steroid withdrawal / steroid addiction around right now. I’ve spend hundreds on trying natural solutions, and not a single thing has given the relief and quality Pf life back that proper medical treatment has.

Do any PPs have advice on how you’ve treated psoriasis during pregnancy? Pregnancy triggered a huge flare, so currently only on topical steroids but it’s hard to find any reassurance online on safety in pregnancy.

Just want to chime in and say psoriasis is shit. I developed it in 2013, was misdiagnosed for bloody ages until I went privately, have tried everything (including hospital twice a week for light therapy) and have completely thrown in the towel. Absolutely nothing I can do about it.

It's especially hard when on holiday and getting sideways looks from people thinking ew.

You have my every sympathy.

Good luck to him. My husband is currently undergoing light therapy - it's been about 7 weeks now. There's been a slight improvement but nothing drastic yet and still getting new spots appearing on legs and back.

Sorry your DH is going through this. I had light therapy (the closest I'll ever come to being microwaved, hopefully) and found there were delayed effects, so my skin kept getting better even after they stopped the treatment. Maybe your DH will find the same.

Topping it up with natural sunlight also helped - although you won't find much if that at this time of year, if you're in the UK! My psoriasis is mild but usually gets better after I've sunbathed without sun cream in the summertime. Yes, it's advised against, I know, but it really does help...

It's interesting to read that others find their PsA isn't confined to specific joints. When mine flares, there are some specific joints, but others flare in a more vague way too and it's hard to point at say for example exactly where the pain is in my hand. I don't get usually swelling.

It's probably not related, but does anyone else get insane chilblains too? I've currently got them on every toe the whole way down each toe and they are driving me a bit nuts with extra itching.

I utterly dread getting sore throats, instant huge flare.

@FuckFuckGo I've had that and on the soles of my feet too. It's mainly calmed down at the moment but it flares up and down a lot.

Does anyone get psoriasis on their hands? This is supposedly hand psoriasis which doesn’t seem to be the classic silvery plaques. I get flare-ups of something that looks very similar once a year/18 months on one hand, but I thought it was eczema. The last time it happened my palm and between fingers were raw and I lost all my cuticles on my right hand which affected my nails. Took ages and lots of topical steroids to clear up.

Thank you @Abraxan, that’s good to know. It’s interesting how erratic it is. I’ll just have to wait and see what the scans say. Hands and feet first, knees another time and presumably shoulder is going to be separate too. I haven’t noticed much swelling at the moment but the joints are hot to the the touch when they’re aching.

@danni0509 that looks so sore

Mine's like yours danni0509, I've also got it on my elbows, a bit on my upper arms and my stomach is a map of the world - according to my idiot of a doctor. I hope your sore throat goes quickly and this flare dies down.

I’ve had it 25 years. Only time it completely cleared is when i was pregnant (which will never be happening again 🤣) it also massively reduces when I’m on holiday in the sun.

I’ve had every potion and lotion under the sun. Every steroid.

Some of the best over the counter treatments I’ve found.

Capisal shampoo (Amazon)
vitamin e oil - rubbed in my skin after shower (Amazon)
retinol vitamins (My protein)

This is my last bad flare up. After I’d been ill with tonsillitis. Took months to get that under control. I had it everywhere. Including in my ears and up my nose and on my face 😳 every time I get ill it flares up like this. I dread getting a sore throat as this always follows.

Definitely affected by the cold wet weather here. My pain levels work like a barometer!
Consultant says that whilst there isn't really any definitive evidence for it to be affected by weather his anecdotal findings certainly points to it with his patients.

Mine started with my fingers.
The first major flare up was one knee.

Even now, several years later and in regular medication, it's still erratic. The medication is reducing the risk of permanent damage to my joints and I get less swelling, but I get pain regularly and stiffness.

Almost all of my joints are affected at different times: fingers, wrists, top of neck/shoulders, elbows, knees, angles and toes.

At the moment it's my hands and wrists causing me the most pain.

I never really expected it to be different joints and different times, with no real pattern. You hear people have arthritis in x joint. But for me it's never been consistent. My consultant said that PoA doesn't always present in the way other forms of arthritis does in this sense though.

My best natural aid is sun and warmth - I love being able to get a week or so if winter sun as I get a lovely period of relief in the middle of the cold winter here.

Methotrexate worked for me. And just being outside in the summer.

^ I mean OP’s first post

I feel bad, I’m sorry! I read your first post and winced remembering the burn. I tried all the medication too in my 20s, moved on to diet and it took me 10 years of reading and experimenting to eventually figure it out and change my life. I would love to do the same for a fellow sufferer. But I completely understand your frustration as you didn’t ask for that. Apologies.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that pain tends to be exacerbated with damp cold weather, which we’re having a lot of at the moment of course..

Ahh thank you, I haven’t been able to find an answer online so that’s really helpful. Sorry you’re in pain. I get tendon flares in my thumb and sometimes my hand, which I have at the moment… like a sharp pain when I grip something or put pressure on it. It made me think of my dad with his trigger thumb and carpel tunnel, which apparently can be caused by PsA. it’s rubbish.

This is absolutely one of my symptoms. I seem to remember that PsA is much more changeable like that than other forms of arthritis. I have a couple of joints that always hurt but otherwise, it's always a delight to wake up in the morning and discover what's going to hurt that day. I also find that different flares impact different bits of me - my current flare is more tendon related rather than joint related which hasn't happened before.