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'Common' Psoriasis, what worked for you?

6 replies

MandyD · 30/04/2002 21:38

My dp has had the common (plaque) form of psoriasis for several months now. He's mainly got it all over 90% his scalp, some plaques coming up on his arms, legs and back also.

Any Mumsnetters suffer/suffered from this? Presently he's using peanut oil and coconut oil cream on alternate nights which were prescribed by the hospital dermatologist. Can anyone recommend anything to treat it?

OP posts:
Jaybee · 01/05/2002 14:06

My FIL suffers, when it is at it's worst he has to get a steroid cream from the doctor although he has recently discovered Palmers Cocoa Butter with added vitamins A, E & another - the only place we have found this is in tubes in Superdrug other places seem to have the one with Vitamin E only.

SueDonim · 01/05/2002 14:17

Several family members have psoriasis, including my DH. He uses a steriod cream when it's bad, although he suffers much less with it now. I think he used coal tar preparations too. My niece had appalling psoriasis and has had several courses of a light therapy (I think it's called PUVA) to clear it up. Foreign holidays in the sun also helped. She was covered in psoriasis, was deaf because her ears were filled with dry skin, her creases, such as her waistline would crack open and bleed etc. The best thing for her was becoming pregnant, as it completely cleared up then. Not really an option for your dp, though!!

Rhubarb · 01/05/2002 15:22

My dh has severe psoriasis on his back, arms, legs and scalp. He uses Dovenex which is ok but it never really clears it, just soothes it and makes it look less obvious. This is the one of the strongest creams you can get from the doctors, he also has their brand of shampoo. During the years he has tried Aloe Vera, Tar, Chinese Remedies, peanut and coconut oil, etc, etc. Nothing has cured it, it is an uncurable skin disease I'm afraid. He was offered UVB light treatment but the hospital only offered this during working hours and he cannot afford to take the time off every week for six months. But other people he knows says this 'cured' them for up to a year.

It is an awful disease, for their partners too. I have to change the bed sheets more often than I care to, it gets on furniture, chairs, in the bath, everywhere! And whenever I run my fingers through his hair it looks like a snowstorm! Then he wakes me up at night itching, he will itch until he bleeds, which means more sheet changing! Perhaps we should set up a support group for people and their partners with psoriasis as it is a depressing disease. He hates wearing t-shirts or shorts as people do stare and some ask him if he's been burnt or if it is catching. He won't go swimming anymore because other swimmers would avoid him and the pool attendents would have to confirm that it was not contagious.

So you have my every sympathy MandyD. Watching his diet might also help, cutting down on rich and spicy foods, tobacco, alcohol (all the things we like to eat, but which will inflame his psoriasis more). The worst thing is that it runs in the family (his sister and brother have it to lesser degrees) and I am really concerned that dd might get it, it must be awful for girls especially.

Sorry I can't help more.

Queenie · 03/05/2002 11:27

I have mild psoriasis which flared up in my mid 20's and is under control since I became pregnant and never returned to work. However, a friend of mine has had it more severely since her teens and has tried all sorts but found the UVB treatment worked - she now trys to get out in the sun as much as possible. It is now more common to hear people talk of psoriasis but when she first started work she wouldn't wear short sleeves or skirts as it was so bad. On one ocassion she was pulled aside by a manager and asked if she had ringworm! It is not curable but for her it seems to go in circles of bad flare ups and then nothing for a while and although she was pretty depressed about it when she was younger she hardly mentions it now - incidently she doesn't want children so can't suggest the pregnancy idea.

sueb · 05/10/2002 12:57

aspirin made into a paste and appied to the affected area works well!!

chanelno5 · 06/10/2002 09:17

So does aloe vera gel (from Holland and Barrett)

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