Psoriasis - anyones children suffer?

[Teabiscuit]

My 3 1/2 year old girl has just developed psoriasis - gutted as I have it too and know how horrible it can be to live with. We both have plague (also know as raindrop) psoriasis that pretty much comes out everywhere and anywhere (looks like we have chicken pox all the time). She currently has it allover her arms, half of her face and new ones are appearing on her back, stomach and down her legs. I am having a bad out break too and have it all over my back,stomach and some on my arms and legs. Just wondered if anyone has any alternative treatment options as the doc wanted to start her straight off on steroids (erm, I dont think so! Trying Polytar and epaderm cream for now. Just so gutted for her.

Thanks for any advice

My dd1 had an out break about three years ago but after hanging about for two years or so it spontaneously went in to remission and is now fine. She was 9 when it started (after a bad sore throat) We tried quite a few things - coal tar, hydocortisone, Dithrocream, Calcipotrel (sp?) and Dovobet. Nothing worked very muh at all apart from the dovobet which had some impact on the big patch on her leg. We were just considering light treatment when it all just faded away.
Light treatment is effective but it does very, very slightly raise their life time risk of skin cancer. No more than two weeks in the med though. We never holiday abroad so I was quite comfortable with that very, very slight risk. The only other thing I'd heard about was the immunosuppressants and the condition would have to have been about 50 times worse than it was before I would have considered that!

Hi Northernlurker,

Be prepared for your DD psoriasis to possibly resurface. I had my 1st outbreak at 13 and then clear for 5 years and then another attack, and so the cycle went on. Had it twice in the last year and this time its partically nasty. Seems to be getting worse and harder to treat as I get older. Thats why I refused the steroids for my DD as you can become resistant to treatments fairly quickly.....none of the stuff I used to use is working, including the steroids. We are due to go away soon so hopefully that will help my DD in the short term.

Yes I know I hope it won't though.

I've alsways had very severe psoriasis, from the age of three. Mine doesn't respond to very much, but cocois is good for the scalp (although it does stain everything yellow)and copious amounts of E45 just to moisturise. At the moment I'm on massive amounts of immuno-suppressants, but sadly, that's the only thing which has ever really made a difference. I think mine's unusual though, in that it is so unresponsive to treatment. You should look into the light-treatment though- it's much safer now than it was, and often effective.

And try lots of echinacea- it reduced mine for about six weeks (and then came back with a vengeance, but you may have more luck).

I could give dd1 echinacea....I wonder if that might reduce the liklihood of recurrance?

Thanks FlorenceDaphne - I havent heard of cocois or the possible benifit or echinacea so may try that and see.

Also read that certain things you eat can cause flare ups too.

I developed this randomly a year after giving birth and have had horrible trouble with it on my face.
I am taking urtica (nettles) and echinacea, both of which have slowed the plaque forming but not the dryness. They are different: the plaques are bigger and scales while the dryness is softer and smaller.
I had no luck with any creams/steriods etc so have relied on my own trial and error in the last 3 years. It is as good now as it has ever been. I also use face oil (almond or sesame) and tea tree oil if a plaque does form and leave a red patch. I don't use soap or water on the area - makes washing my face a precision exercise!
Echinacea has to be taken for about 3 months to have any effect I'm told. I've been on it for a year.

The only thing that has worked for my step dd is a medicine from the chinese medicine shop, I wouldn't normally touch any alternative with a bargepole but in desperation we tried it and it makes a huge difference. Not cure but down to a level where a 16 yr old can b confident in her looks.

I guess its guttate psoriasis you both have? I wonder, because you are both suffering an attack at the moment have either or both of you had a sore throat or impetigo? Guttate attacks are commonly associated with a strep infection. My dermatologist says that if you get severe guttate it is important to treat sore throats with antibiotics sooner rather than later to prevent an attack.

have you tried exorex lotion yetpsoriasis-help.org.uk/Psoriasis_Treatments/Non_Streroid_Based_Topical_Treatments/EXOREX_LOTION_(Pharmax).html i believe it can be used diluted on under 12 years old.