Psorasis

[Rhubarb]

Just noticed that some MN's dh's have this. Wondered if I could share a few thoughts and opinions on it?

Are you very bored tonight dear?

VERY! Have you noticed?

I have it quite badly. Has your dh seen a dermatologist because there are lots of other treatments eg Methotrexate, Cyclosporin, PUVA and UV B treatment that he could try other than creams. The new drug is Infliximab (Remicade) and it's going to be reviewed by NICE during the next year. Fwiw, your dh probably does know all about his condition - it's just very difficult to deal with.

Best one we've come across is Dovonex. Have to keep on using it though!

The steriod based creams do work, such as Dovonex, but they are incredibly bad for your skin in the long run and his psorasis gets immune to them after a while. The drugs you can take for RA may be effective at combating psorasis but they are also very bad for the liver, so they are a last resort.
UVA treatment requires hospital appointments which is difficult for him as he works irregular hours.
He's tried Aloe Vera, Chinese Therapy, Acupuncture, every cream the dermatologist has suggested, etc. A new cream will come along that will make a difference for a couple of months, but after this it comes back worse than ever. ATM he is more covered than when I first met him 7 years ago. It is definitely getting much worse and I just wonder if he is going to become like the Singing Detective! Sounds silly but it is becoming a real fear of mine, that he'll have to be hospitalised and his body will be devored by this horrible thing!

Out of interest, does your dh get lots of sore throats? Infections can sometimes be an underlying cause. I had my tonsils out because of this and although I still have it, my psoriasis has improved no end.

By the way, I was the singing detective.

He does have a problem with his throat, the doc did say he had tonsilitis but I'm not convinced he has gotten rid of it. Do you think that might be worth a try?

YES, YES & YES. I had tonsillitis and regular low grade sore throats for years and throught it was making the psoriasis flare up. I had a sympathetic GP who gave me antibiotics to clear up the current infection and referred me to an ENT surgeon who had no problem doing the op as I had sore throats on a 6 weekly basis. I still have the psoriasis but it has significantly improved. Going back to the creams,they are okay if you only have mild psoriasis. If it gets really bad, though, you just can't manage it effectively because you would need a kind of total immersion.

I have suffered for about six years on my elbows and knees - I used tea tree and only have a little bit left on my elbows! Worth a try!

Is it Twiglett's Dh who is badly affected with Psoriatic arthritis specifically??

Where are you Twiglett? How bad is he? I sometimes think my DH leads such a miserable existence.. (although of course he has ME and the kids to make him happy.. er yeah that's what we do! ).. he is on SO much pain a lot of the time.. cooks us meals.. can't eat them himself.. will then eat something later and then throw it up because the pain is so bad. (This is a regular if not daily occurance..)

When I wasn't so knackered myself that I used to wake at night to find him out of bed, I used to find him on the living room floor crying with pain.. (These days I am flat out, DS2 allowing..)

BLOODY psoriatic arthritis.. (It has also totally changed our life plan as well.. and sometimes I resent that.. I know that makes me a selfish bitch tho)

SJ x

That's a worry we also have hanging over our heads. Can I just ask everyone too, they say psorasis is hereditory, yet dh nor his parents know of anyone in the family line who suffered it. His sister also has it, mildly and his brother has very mild spots. So does it run in your family and how likely is it that our children will get it?

Hi Rhubarb, my dh has psoriatic arthritis too, but fortunately the arthritic symptoms are relatively mild. He just needs Voltarol from time to time. I can truly empathise with everyone r.e the flakes and blood spots, they are the bane (sp?) of my life. I find it hard not to get cross with him about applying the sterid creams, he is useless at sticking to the routine of it, and always finds some excuse as to why not to.
What did really work for him was UV therapy, however they can't repeat this for a while due to the increased risk of developing melanomas.

There's no history of psoriasis in his family, but my MIL always claims that her sister had 'funny skin', whatever that means!

Dh's sister has some psoriasis but I don't know about anyone else in his family.

Metosyn is a 'glucosteroid', Rhubarb. Dh has been using it for about 20yrs and has had no skin thinning or any other effects. Luckily, he doesn't really get the scales nowadays.

Rhubarb, Dovonex doesn't contain a steroid (although Dovobet does). Sorry can't help with practicalities though.

I went through a very stressful time a few years ago and this is when my Psorasis started. I went to my GP put they told me it was just what i was going through. A year later it had got worst so, decided to go to see a chinese herbalist. He gave me a wash which i had to boil and make up myself and then wash with it twice a day. Smelt awful but i no longer have it! My life is still very stressful but the wash and a slight change to my diet (no coffee, red wine, smoking and cheese) has really helped and i no longer suffer. Hope this may help. x

The red marks that it can sometimes leave has also gone so, you would never no i had it. My husband just reminded me that he did a job for a company called 'LEO PHARMACUTICLES'they have a cream called 'DOVABET' which he said was used for this conditon and the results were outstanding again no red markings left. You could always ask your GP or call the company and ask for help.

While on this subject (sorry to hijack Rhubarb) can anyone please tell me what is the difference (appearance-wise, etc) between eczema and psoriasis?

I have patches of what I have always assumed was eczema on my elbows. However, lately I have been wondering if it is psoriasis.

It is very itchy, and when I scratch it, the skin flakes off and sometimes bleeds, and leaves kind of shinier skin underneath.

It responds to prescription steriod cream but not to anything else.

Here are some photos of eczema and psoriasis which might help frayedknot. There are several different forms of psoriasis pictured. It may be worth a trip to your GP to see if they can give you any advice (although presumably you have been in the past if you have prescription-only steroid cream).

I had a friend who had psoriasis on his scalp. He tried all sorts of things from the dermatologist and nothing helped. Finally used some shampoo from NuSkin, not sure which one, and also massaging in jojoba oil at night. the difference was amazing. In just a few weeks the patches had completed resolved. I haven't seen him in a while, so don't know about reoccurrence.

My brother has it on his elbows. He uses a tanning bed, not sure what else but it seems to be in check atm.

I'm sorry I missed this thread SJ .. yes its my DH who also has PsA .. but as you know it goes through phases and we're doing OK at the mo.

Re: methotrexate .. how long has he been taking it and is he still building up his dosage . I think it takes a long way to kick up .. DH gradually moved up from 2.5mg to 10mg a week and after about 6 months we noticed quite an improvement .. but it is so much Trial and Error that if it isn't working for your DH he needs to keep going back to Rheumy until he finds the right treatment

I wish they would prescribe the new biologics that seem to work fabulously for people in other countries .. drugs like Enbrel and Remicaide (enbrel has been approved in UK for use for PsA but because its so expensive .. well you know what happens with the NHS

Your DH sounds particularly bad .. does he have pain medication as well as the methotrexate?

as for getting annoyed at what the psoriasis leaves behind .. ooo yes m'lady I know exactly where you are coming from

Twig.. DH is on 20mg (8 tabs a week @ 2.5mg.each) of Methotrexate. Yes he has pain meds.. does he ever! There was a time when he LIVED on Coproxamol and took too many.. but now he has weaned himself right down as he never felt any better for it so thought he might as well be on less.. and in pain still!

He has been on the methotrexate for years now.. used to be on it with Sulphasalzine but when we moved to a new area they rehashed his meds a bit and took him off the sulph. (No more orange wee, lol!) He is also on Arcoxia (anti-inflammatory) and had been on and off amitriptylene (for back pain which may or may not be related to the the PA.. we think it is.. they think not).. because it makes him feel like a zombie.. which is the antidepressant part of it obviously.

He also takes Prednisilone (steroids)when having a bad flare up (we keep it in the cupboard) but I hate him taking that as he has a horrible short temper when on it and keeps roaring at us and slamming out of the house! (.. well not really.. more but you have to laugh don't you!!)

And he has cortisone injections when is dire pain in a certain area.. most recently elbows and ankles!! (Strange places for PA I thought..)

Shall I just shoot him???! )

SJ x

DH did sulfasalazine .. gave him dermatitis on top of the psoriasis so had to quit ... currently on Celebrex as NSAID

I remember reading somewhere that methotrexate in association with another drug could prove effective? (certainly sounds like his meds aren't optimum for him).. the bullet I imagine does at times seem a valid option )

dare I mention gluten free diet?

What's this about a gluten free diet? I haven't heard about this.