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Original poster

Any psoriasis sufferers out there?

45 replies

Stiller · 01/02/2007 17:16

I have fairly bad psoriasis on my scalp. I've got patches on my face and body too. It doesn't bother me too much on my body but the areas on my scalp (mainly around my hairline) and my face are really hide to cover up. Make up just makes the area dryer and I have to choose between a sore looking head or or a scaly scalp.

GP has prescribed Betnovate scalp application and Daktacort cream for my body. Neither seem to be working and I was told not to put either near my face.

I'm fed up with this now. I've had it for 10 years but it's so much worse now than it used to be. Any advice? I'm not actully 100% certain that it is psoriasis - my old GP said it could be and the new one has just taken my word for it that it is. I've looked at pictures online and it looks like it's psoriasis to me.

OP posts:
Earthymama · 01/02/2007 17:23

I have psoriasistic arthritis, it has been really bad for the last year. I've tried all the things you've mentioned to no avail.
What works for me is AlvaNatural Soothe It cream

website
Look on organic sites maybe you get some samples.
I hope you soon find something that works.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 17:25

Thanks for that Earthymama. I'll have a look now.

Anyone else?

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Catbabymummy · 01/02/2007 17:31

One of my friends has had poriasis for years. It flared up really badly last year after she had an annus horribilis, to the point when she saw her gp at the beginning of the year, it was covering 50% of her body, including her scalp, and itching like mad
She was referred to a dermotologist, she has been given a cream to use, but she has also been prescribed time on sunbeds at the hospital. UV therapy has helped her in the past, and I did enquire a week ago how she was getting on, and she is starting to see some improvement, although she has only had a couple of sessions so far. I would ask your GP about it, if you're struggling to find creams that work. When her psoriasis isn't so bad she does use sunbeds (which she pays for herself) to help keep it under control. It's only because it is so bad at the moment that she is being treated by the NHS.

Gingerbear · 01/02/2007 17:32

betnovate is pants for psoriasis.

Taylor Jackson's M Folia cream is what I use when my scalp gets really bad.

Order from here

Gingerbear · 01/02/2007 17:34

And ywo weeks in the sun plus swimming in sea water works wonders too.

Try and get a copy of Proriasis at your fingertips by Dr TimMitchell and Rebecca Penzer - lots of tips about diet and treatments and diagnosis of the different forms.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 17:39

Thanks for links (have book-marked ).

I noticed a definite improvement with the body and face psoriasis when I was using sunbeds a few years ago, but I'd rather use it as a last resort now that the crows feet are starting to show .

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nuttygirl · 01/02/2007 17:43

My dad gets this and my skin sometimes gets v dry although I don't get it per say. Have you tried using Aqueous cream cos that seemed to help his. He also avoids all soap products.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 17:45

I do use aqueous cream for dry hands, but it doesn't help much with the psoriasis - it does make it feel more comfortable for a while though.

OP posts:
Chloe55 · 01/02/2007 17:51

I used to use Hydrocortisone cream when mine flared up, it wasn't prescribed for that but seemed to work for me. I used to get it bad on my face and then it cleared up for some reason, don't think I did anything different.

I get it from time to time on my scalp but can generally keep it under control with The Body Shop Ginger Shampoo, not sure why this helps but it does.

I feel for you, it really is horrible when you get a bad flare up.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 17:54

I really need to have my hair dyed. Grey hairs are NOT attractive, but I'm worried about the reaction I might get from a hairdresser turning up like this (and I don't want to risk it at home)

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Chloe55 · 01/02/2007 18:16

TBH Stiller I would definitely wait until you have cleared the psoriosis up a bit first. When my scalp is bad and I dye my hair it really stings and makes it ten times worse. The hairdresser will have come across worse scalp conditions (I'm sure they probably hate greasy smelly hair much more than problem scalps)

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 18:19

I'm sure that's true Chloe but I had a humiliating experience a few years ago - it's put me off big time. I saw the hairdresser (through the mirror) indicate to the shampooist to 'give it a good wash'. Really upset me and I'm now paranoid. It doesn't help that my current h/d keeps saying it's exactly the same as dandruff. Maybe it is, but indulge me please - I'm paying good money for her time.

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Chloe55 · 01/02/2007 18:23

Poor you, I'd have been mortified!! It can be very embarrassing because it can look a lot like dandruff I guess but the way I see it dandruff is dry skin flaking off, psoriasis can be very painful and scaby, not always just dry and flakey, the cheeky cow.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 18:30

Thanks Chloe. I never went back there again afterwards. I can handle the dandruff accusations because at least they are said to me.

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Glassofwine · 01/02/2007 18:35

My dd aged 7 has psoriasis on her scalp and we've tried various things prescribed by the gp, something called Cocois helped a lot, but strangely the best thing was something called Snake Oil from Lush. It comes in a solid bar, which you break off and it melt into your hand, rub into scalp - leave on a bit and over a couple of uses really has made a difference. She has been so bad her scalp has been a mass of open wounds and this was the only thing that didn't sting and did work.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 19:00

Thanks glassofwine. I'll pop into Lush next time I pass.

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itsallabitmuch · 01/02/2007 19:31

I find cocois very good for the scalp. It's a bit messy. It says on the tube to leave it on for an hour but I've always left it on all night. Neutrogena T-gel shampoo is also very good, though not effective enough if it's severe.

I also tried Betnovate and found it useless.

Btw, the dermatological part of medical training is only 3 weeks long, so it's not surprising that GPs are useless on this kind of thing. You can probably get better advice from webmd.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 19:44

I've tried T-gel shampoo but it left my hair so dry that I had to put loads of conditioner on and then re-wash every day - which aggrivated my scalp. Sorry to be thick but what is webmd?

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delllie · 01/02/2007 20:47

I have a horrible flaky scalp, drs not sure whether its psorasis or sebhoerric dermatitis but its still horrible all the same . All this started 12 months ago when I lost my dad so has been put down to stress. The only things that seem to have much effect are cocois ointment and Dermovate scalp solution but that is quite strong so you can't use it all the time.

My partner suffers from psorasis on his body, I used to moan like hell about all the flakes, but I compete with him now

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 20:49

Mine started after a period of stress as-well, although I'm not certain it's psoriasis. I know it gets worse when I'm particularly uptight about something.

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delllie · 01/02/2007 20:52

Just to say that most dandruff shampoos irritate the hell out of my scalp, including t-gel, aphosyl etc, the only one that I can really use is Elvive anti-dandruff intensive which seems to get rid of most of the flakes and is a bit kinder to my scalp.

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 20:54

Polytar was the worst for me!. My hair was like straw and my scalp was more flaky than ever. T-gel was better than that, I have to say.

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delllie · 01/02/2007 20:56

Do you lose many hairs with it? unfortunately I do, I used to have lovely thick hair, but when all this started I lost a lot of hair (again put down to the stress) a lot has grown back and is now respectable, but is nowhere near as lush as it used to be

star1976 · 01/02/2007 20:56

I suffer with psoriasis on my scalp and it drives me insane!!!!! It itches all the time. Bit of a standing joke between me and my partner, whenever I start itching he asked 'did you have a game when you were a kid called 'my dog has fleas?''. He suffers with psoriasis which looks worse than mine but his doesn't itch at all!

Have over the past 6 months started getting patches on arms & legs too which my doctor has blamed on stress and working too much.

I use Diprosalic for scalp (ointment not cream so not greast, partner uses it and works for him) and Fucibet on patches on arms.

Anybody ever get any itching in 'private' areas that they have put down to psoriasis ???? (Such a prude arn't I)

Original poster
Stiller · 01/02/2007 20:59

My hair is really thick but it looks crap compared to how it used to. That's probably partly due to going grey and not being able to dye it and look after it regularly, but I do have a thin patch above my left temple. I hate it!

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