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AIBU?

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Original poster

Help please- this really hurts.

59 replies

youaretheonethingonmymind · 12/12/2022 20:28

I have psoriasis- over the years I’ve tried all sorts of creams, barriers, ointments- everything over the counter. I’ve also tried all sorts of steroids and prescribed medications- I’ve been using enstiller recently which has been helping more than the others but not great either.

I’m really, really struggling with a stubborn patch behind my ear. It’s red, angry and painful and getting bigger. It’s only on one side, the other side is completely clear. I’ve been avoiding getting it wet and drying it if it does, and I’ve been avoiding getting it irritated in the cold weather. Nothing is helping it and it’s agony. Has anyone ever had psoriasis or eczema here and have any advice on dealing with it? The whole side of my head hurts because of it and I’m really struggling with it. I’m under dermatology and due a review appointment soon but can’t get booked in for a sooner appointment unfortunately.

I’ll post a photograph below

OP posts:
Original poster
youaretheonethingonmymind · 12/12/2022 20:32

This is it. It looks wet and infected but it’s not (I don’t think anyway!) as my psoriasis always looks like this and its been diagnosed and confirmed by a dermatologist. It’s so painful and spreading across the back of my ear and behind it and it hurts like hell! Just posting it here in case anyone has had psoriasis here and knows of any advice x

OP posts:
user1471518104 · 12/12/2022 20:33

Ask for methotrexate. It was a lifesaver for me. You need to take blood tests for it but I went from covered it in to normal in 6 weeks and maintain this for over 8 years

Valhalla17 · 12/12/2022 20:35

I don't know much about psoriasis OP, but if it's painful and spreading I would get to GP or urgent care as soon as you can. It looks incredibly raw and painful. Maybe try a cold compress to take some of the heat and pain out of it? Poor you.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable comes along to the thread shortly Flowers

Saz12 · 12/12/2022 20:38

My DH uses a sunbed when his gets unbearable. Obviously sun beds have a risk, but that looks so sore if you cover every other bit of skin it might be worth it.

Suseal · 12/12/2022 20:40

My DH has severe psoriasis, he uses the thick dovobet gel on small angry patches like this. Hope you get some relief soon.

Jody21 · 12/12/2022 20:42

My DH has break outs of psoriasis on his scalp and face every now and again. He tried a wide range of creams and treatments and found that the best for him was shampoo and moisturiser from the brand Moo Goo. If you haven't used it before it might be worth a try, it may ease it a bit. He also noticed that when he stopped eating bread the flare ups weren't as bad - could something you are eating be making it worse?

Lilgamesh2 · 12/12/2022 20:43

That looks so sore!

I'm on another thread about baby eczema and it seems there's a huge correlation with food for some people. Does it get worse if you eat certain foods? The usual suspects are dairy gluten and the other top allergens. Maybe try reducing sugar, caffeine and alcohol intake as they are inflammatory too? Sorry this may not be relevant to you but worth thinking about since you are clearly in pain. Hope it improves.

Zanatdy · 12/12/2022 20:45

You poor thing, that looks really sore, I’d get it seen. I have it on my scalp and occasionally behind ear but not as bad as that. I have a lotion I put into my hair and special shampoo which helps a little

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 12/12/2022 20:48

I have Betnalen for my scalp but your patch seems to be on skin.
Could you try a thick layer of Vaseline?

GreenLeavesRustling · 12/12/2022 20:51

Any really sore inflamed skin I use a bit of metanium. It’s like magic.

PopTartsAreLife · 12/12/2022 20:54

Ouch! I'd get that checked if you can get seen, looks angry. I have lotriderm cream for my scalp psoriasis which is the only thing that calms it, but if I can't get a prescription quickly enough then otc hc45 cream soothes it too. Also mine improves a lot when I'm doing keto/low carb so I'm guessing sugar doesn't do well for my skin, a particular food might be antagonising yours. Good luck.

BMW6 · 12/12/2022 20:54

I think you should see the nurse at your GP who deals with wounds and sores, looks very painful and could get infected.

Poor you, best of luck Flowers

Aquamarine1029 · 12/12/2022 20:55

My heart breaks for you, truly. I have eczema and I understand how painful and horrible patches like that are. You poor thing.

CarefreeMe · 12/12/2022 20:56

Ouch!

Have you tried sudo crem?
I find it works miracles on most things.
Remember to take pain relief too.

Psorasis can be made worse by stress, diet, lack of sleep etc so are you looking after yourself in other ways too?

I would try and ring the gp tomorrow and explain how much pain you’re in.

I’m sorry it looks very sore.

QuestionableMouse · 12/12/2022 21:02

Try some numbing cream for now? It looks infected though so I'd try to get it seen by the practice nurse.

Facefortheradio · 12/12/2022 21:04

Bloody ouch. Strangely, I have psoriasis with one persistent patch behind one ear too. Mine is behind my lobe though.

I got some Nursem about a year ago and it's magic.

I've also had UVB treatment but that was when I was head to toe.

I hope you find something that works for you.

NamelessTemptress01 · 12/12/2022 21:10

get some hydrocolloid patches (from Amazon), they are great for healing sores/wounds as well as protecting, they come in different sizes so have a look at the different options, I really think they will help with that

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 12/12/2022 21:18

Psoriasis is an auto immune condition, it will never go away but can be held at bay with proper medical treatment. Biological such as methotrexate mentioned above do wonders.

You can use all the emollients and diet trick in the world but you have a v nasty flare up there and it needs treating.

I'd visit GP and get referral to dermatologist. Bear in mind a high percentage of people with Psoriasis end up with Psoriatic arthritis so you should always make sure you are treating it properly.

For now, a thick cream can give you some ease. Cerave do some nice ones.

Original poster
youaretheonethingonmymind · 12/12/2022 21:25

thanks for all the suggestions! The food idea is interesting- as far as I know i haven’t been eating much bread/sugar/foods that worsen psoriasis but I’ll keep a food diary and see if I can find a link or a trigger for a flare up!

its sort of a catch 22 between the GP and hospital. The GP are reluctant to see me because it’s a psoriasis thing which I’m under the hospital for, and this particular stubborn patch has been worsening for a few weeks now at least, so I suppose from their point of view it’s not a sudden infected wound, it’s just a psoriasis flare up. But on the other hand, I can’t get a sooner hospital appointment either because they’re so full and it’s not an emergency. It’s sort of right in the middle of both services!

OP posts:
BirmaBrite · 12/12/2022 21:33

Are you sure that isn't impetigo ?

CityKity · 12/12/2022 21:36

Huge sympathies OP - I have eczema and psoriasis, although my psoriasis patches are tiny compared to my eczema which is currently in a huge flare. It’s utterly miserable and I completely understand being caught between GP and hospital care, I always feel like I fall through this gap too.
All the moisturising in the world doesn’t help a flare up like this go away, and I get angrier and angrier when this is the only advice I get from my GP.

I totally echo @SnipSnipMrBurgess as you need to push for some proper treatment to stop profession and control this flare but I totally appreciate how hard that is.

panko · 12/12/2022 21:51

Would ibuprofen give you some relief from the pain? I used it when I had a flare up of my skin condition when I could feel my skin pulsing.

Eyerollforwardroll · 12/12/2022 21:55

I use cocois compound for the patches in my hair if you've not tried that before it may be worth a try.

For tonight though smother that patch in a good coating of sudocrem or bepanthan, I get similar patches although smaller under the crease of my ear lobe and find barrier type/nappy cream does help.

SapphireEyes88 · 12/12/2022 22:00

I have psoriasis and use rosehip oil (all steroids etc are agony) and then about 5 mins later a really thin layer of sudocrem on anything red/wet/angry. Coconut oil if you can't use sudocrem, as it's antibacterial.
Have they offered you light therapy or anything? Really helped my sister when she was 90% psoriasis

Original poster
youaretheonethingonmymind · 13/12/2022 20:58

Yeah I’m sure it’s definitely not impetigo. No I’ve never been offered light therapy but to be fair my psoriasis isn’t big or widespread, it’s only in very small patches (although those patches are usually really severe).

it’s spread further down my ear so I tried to get an appointment with the doctor today but unfortunately the practice is only seeing emergencies today and for the next few days due to staffing issues so I’ll need to wait until it reopens again properly. In the meantime I’ll keep using emollients to stop it cracking. It’s so bloody painful and weirdly I don’t have it on the other ear, it’s completely fine!

OP posts: