Psoriasis in children - ADHD link?

[zephyrcat]

Hi All,

I have a friend who's 9 year old Son has had various problems since birth, was tested for AS and has since been diagnosed with high end ADHD, and has been on medication for some time :(

Over the last couple of weeks he has developed red itchy patches and some white dry patches on him - particularly his scalp. The doctor told his Mum it was a fungal infection but has now said it is psoriasis.

The poor lad is extremely embarrassed and self concious about it so I told her I'd have a look into any natural remedies that may help, but am also wondering if there has been talk of a link between ADHD/medication/stress at all?

TIA :)

Do you know whether he has had a sore throat recently? The strep virus can cause certain types of psoriasis. They usually clear up spontaneously but in the meantime use a good mosturiser and ask for a prescription shampoo.

My dsd has severe psoriasis, stress does make it worse. Not so much an ADHD link but a general emotional link.

Dd has a rarer form of psoriasis, the triggers are wide-ranging, she definitely doesn't have ADHD though.

For the scalp psoriasis you can use the neutrogena shampoo for scalp psoriasis, the gp can prescribe it as it is expensive.
You can also have a steroid lotion for the scalp but it is fucking painful if the lesions are open/cracked.

Inscribed moisturisers will help but a steroid cream will work wonders generally.

Ask for the throat and ears to be checked, underlying strep can be treated and will help hugely. Dd had her tonsils out and this has made a huge difference.

My dd had an outbreak of psoriasis after a sore throat. Nothing we tried had much effect, especially on the scalp. We were at the point of considering light therapy when it quite suddenly cleared up. That was after more than a year though unfortunately.

Sorry I did type a big reply which seems to have vanished!

The doctor had advised that it may have been due to a strep infection but he hasn't had a sore throat at all. That said, he was diagnosed as having swine flu around Christmas.

He does struggle with the meds he is on making him tired, so I wonder if there would be a stress connection to that?

Thanks for ideas on things to help clear it up a bit - will definitely pass those on. Would an oatmeal bath be at all helpful?

for baths they need to think moisturising. strep tends to bring on guttate psoriasis which is lots of teeny tiny patches of psoriasis principly over the trunk (but can spread everywhere)
Some people advocate fish oils. Not helped me, but you never know.

Some medications do def make psoriasis worse, so worth watching out for that.