Face Psoriasis

[BeyonceZ]

I have this and it's really doing a number on my self-confidence. I have always had clear skin until this appears.

It was misdiagnosed and mistreated by a GP as periorificial dermatitis. Four months into oral doxycycline, I asked to be referred to a dermatologist. I was given a steroid cream which cleared it up, and Tacrolimus as replacement.

However when I stopped the Tacrolimus, it's back in the same spots.

Any advice? Anyone else suffering from this?

I have had various skin complaints my whole life, especially eczema. It affected my face, neck, arms, and the rest of my body at times. Truly devastating.
If you truly want to be free of it, forget all the medications, the only way out is to overhaul and clean up your diet.

But my diet is mostly junk-free already. I don't eat grains, wheat, junk food, processed food, I have very little dairy (just splash for my coffee). I mainly eat meat/fish and vegetables.

No point really in avoiding allergens as it's autoimmune.

I have it too!

It's hormonal and stress-related with me. But mostly hormonal. It responds to steroid cream (from the doctor) - I have an ointment called dovobet which I can use on my forehead but not near my eyes/nose.

Also, the sun helps. Get 15 minutes in the sun (no SPF cream) per day - no makeup and push your hair back!

Dovabet has worked well for me too. As did exorex (although this stinks). Mine is also stress and hormone related. When is your next dermatologist appointment? Might be worth slowly coming off the steroids?

I've been off steroids for a month already. Only used it for 7 days as per instructions, then shifted to Tacrolimus. It worked great until I stopped it. Now the rashes are back in the same spots.

Do your rashes go back in the same spots too?

Hey BeyoncéZ sorry you're struggling with this. I've got psoriasis all over my body including on my face.

There will literally always be at least one person telling you that you need to cut out dairy, wheat or tomatoes but to be honest I've never found it makes a big difference (except for alcohol, unfortunately).

I really sympathise because I know how hard it is and how much it affects your self confidence. The only thing that makes a sustained difference to my face (and indeed all the rest of me too) is sunlight. As much as possible I go make up free and pull my hair back and I try to be outside every day, and especially without suncream for at least 30 minutes on sunny days.

Is your GP supportive? Can you ask to be referred back to the derm? You won't be able to keep up with the steroids on our face I don't think, the skin is too thin and sensitive. In the end what most doctors end up telling you is that psoriasis is a long term condition that you have to learn to live with and manage. Sometimes it's bad and sometimes it calms down. It's very difficult and I'm struggling a lot with accepting that myself just now.

Twunk

Is yours on the face only too?

Londonbum

I don't drink alcohol, and I've been gluten-free for years. Tomatoes, only rarely too.

The derma wants my cheek rash biopsied and I'm concerned because of the scar. However, maybe better to be sure that it really is psoriasis than something else.

Two GPs actually dismissed it as periorificial dermatitis until I specifically asked if I could be referred to the dermatologist because four months of oral antibiotics didn't do anything but gave me reflux.

People do forget about the emotional impact that it has on you. I have suffered since I was 18 and it is always in the same places. When it is clear you can faintly see where those patches are. My first trip to the dermatologist ended with me crying for hours but since then I have got it under control (less stressed and complete change in medication). I know it is likely to get worse at some point but no point in worrying about that now! You need to get back to the dermatologist to review and update your medication.

Chocolate for me sadly. Just have to have a whiff of it and I break out. Have had all treatments, heavy meds, light treatment etc etc But if I steer clear of chocolate and stress (Ines easier than the other!), I stay mostly clear. Bloody hate psoriasis.

Cut out the meat and see what that does. Processed meat like sausages and bacon and burgers are classed as carsonagenic alongside tobacco and plutonium and red meat like steak is classed as probably carsonagenic. There are also loads of chemicals used in the production lines to remove abscess and quiet often fecal matter is found on poultry and pork. I went vegan and it cleared my exczema, cured my asthma and as a diabetic my blood sugar levels are that of a "normal" person and if I was tested now for the first time I wouldn't be viewed as diabetic. Oh and nothing dies when you're vegan and you get all your protein from plants anyway, how else do the corpses get their protein?

Nelly5678

I'll try to cut out the meat. But I will still have fish and see if it improves or not.

Yes - pretty much. Face, ears, behind the ears and occasionally scalp. And the bit between my boobs for some reason. Anywhere the sun don't shine

It's not your diet! Eczema and psoriasis are not related. I do get annoyed with this - it's auto-immune. General healthy lifestyle is a good idea, randomly cutting out food is pointless, especially as your diet seems healthy enough. Stress and hormones are more likely triggers.

Psoriasis is auto-immune so diet changes won't impact on the psoriasis (they may help with other issues though). Have you discussed light treatment therapy with your Dr? I had it and it was really helpful for me.

Have you had your Vitamin D levels checked?

myrtleWilson

I was supposed to get light treatment but I was not able to do that.

ScrumDinger

Last time was last year and it was normal. I probably need a new check.

oh- thats a shame - was there a reason why (your misdiagnosis?) I'd push for light therapy if I were you - whereabouts in the country are you (assuming UK)

Not sure, but the derma told me GPs normally are so afraid of giving steroids because of side effects so probably that's why both GPs diagnosed it as periorificial dermatitis.

I'm in Australia.

Processed meat like sausages and bacon and burgers are classed as carsonagenic alongside tobacco and plutonium and red meat like steak is classed as probably carsonagenic

Who needs doctors when you can get this level of insight via Google?