Psoriasis help

[LittlePeanut33]

Hi all,

DH has had quite bad Psoriasis for a load of years, they used to be confined to his lower legs in his teens but gradually have taken over a large part of his body. Hes seen Drs and Dermatologists on and off but never really stuck with any of the advice to help clear it up.

I will be the first to admit hes a bit lazy when it comes to trying to get them under control. Hes also extremely reluctant to try anything other than creams (which don't seem to work) due to the side effects of the tablets and injections.

Has anyone had any experience good or bad with other treatments? I'm currently expecting our first child and they are staring to really get him down and I just want to be able to help as much as I can, however its getting to the point of 'if you aren't going to help yourself, how am I supposed to help?'

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

I’m on injections and I barely have any patches now just a few small manageable ones. They usually try creams, then light treatment, then tablets and finally injections if the other treatments haven’t worked. I had 65% body coverage and have done all the treatments above.

If he is worried about tablets and injections then he really needs to persist with the creams and try light treatment.

It is difficult and unfortunately if you want it to improve you do need to work at it but I know it’s hard.

You could also look at the books by Dr Pagano which use diet to try to control psoriasis but you need to beware that it is very restrictive diet I.e. no tomato, potato, peppers or anything from nightshade family and combinations of food you can not eat together etc.

@hippopotas hes tried the creams and light treatment (which made a small difference but due to him having such fair skin they couldn't continue with it). He hasn't seen the dermatologist in over two years - just keeps getting creams from the GP which don't make much of a dent in it, plus he doeskin use them enough.

Did you find you got many side effects to the tablets or injections?

I found I had terrible side effects with the tablets but not so much with the injections but they do lower your immune system so you do pick Illnesses up easily.

GP will have to refer him to dermatology but if he hasn’t seen anyone in 2 years I suspect they will start at square one with the treatments. Good luck

My DH has had psoriasis for years and not had much luck with any of the many creams he's tried. However, just before Christmas he started using Enstilar which is a foam and it has made a huge difference to him. Has your DH tried that one?

@Hippopatas thanks, I'm just hoping hes more serious about trying to get help this time - he seems to be under the impression of, 'they are alreadty this bad, there is noway to get them under control'.

@byappointmentto he has used the foam, but as with other treatments he hasn't stuck at it - it did make a difference when he first used it but trying to get him to use it everynight is a task (can take up to an hour to do his whole body)

I feel his pain. The best thing I have found to control it is Enstilar, doctors are very reluctant to prescribe this because it is expensive. I found out about it via a psoriasis forum I am on and had to fight to get a prescription for it, I eventually got it.

I also find sunbeds give me relief but I then gets lots of questions from people asking where I have been on holiday!

It is a horrible condition.

Well he's an adult, if he's not willing to treat the psoriasis then he has to put up with it. The dermatologist isn't going to prescribe tablets or injections just because he can't be bothered to use a cream.

I have severe psoriasis and Enstilar foam keeps it under control mostly.

@firsttimemummyd He has used it, and will use it on his arms but finds he goes through a bottle of it within a few days.

It is absolutely horrible and I feel so sorry for anyone struggling with it, and I try to be as helpful and sympathetic as possible, but its hard when he doesn't seem to want to help himself. Trying to get him to make an appointment with the GP is as easy as a mission to the moon.

Child’s farm moisturiser is an absolute god send at any age for Psorasis. I love it and couldn’t be without.

Also a local business in Northern Ireland close to me has an amazing all over ‘baby balm’ - she will ship all over the UK. Check it out

www.queenbeenaturals.co.uk/baby.html#top

@7ardmore - Someone else mentioned the childs farm - I will buy some and try and get him to use it.

I am actually in Northern Ireland - I will def have a look at this. Thank you I just want him to try everything and anything to get them under control

Oh lucky enough, you may find it in your local mckeevers chemist :)

No advice I'm afraid but my dad was a hugh suffered all his adult life,then moved to Spain for 12 yrs and it all disappeared.

He has now moved back and the patches are slowly coming back.

My sympathies.

I've had psoriasis (plaque and guttate) fit around 35 years. My dd14 has had guttate since she was 6.

I know it's boring but consistency is key. The best tip I ever had was from a derm nurse who said not to be afraid of steroid creams and if you're using them, use enough of them. Correct use means no long term use. Also she said that 90% of the people she sees does not use nearly enough cream. She recommended slathering it on at least 3 x day.

I have very painful patches on my left foot and right ankle. I find thick emollient cream slathered and then tight fitting socks help to 'soak in' the cream. It means I'm restricted with fashion choices (ie no skirts during a flare up) but it works for me. It at least eventually eases the redness,itch and pain.

Light treatment worked well for dd - however she still needs to moisturise religiously. If you'd seen just how bad she was aged 6 (she actually made a nurse tear up while examining her) and she's now relatively clear, it would perhaps give your dh hope.

Unfortunately there's no help that can be given unless you commit to treatment.

Is your dh depressed about it? Has he spoken to Psoriasis Association? Mental health and psoriasis is an important part of care.

When I talk about 'slathering in cream' I mean non-steroid based emollient creams.

Honestly, I've never found that creams make a huge difference, at least in the long term but I went from 90% covered to in remission in about 12 weeks on injections. No side effects at all.

Another vote for Enstilar spray. It’s the ONLY thing that has ever worked for me.

Thanks guys! Quick question about the Enstilar, is it only to be used on the affected skin? DH is quite patchy, so its loads of smaller bits with healthy skin inbetween. Obviously extremely time consuming to put on just affect skin, but don't want to damage his other bits!

I have suffered for one 25 years.
After using creams and light treatment I decided to bite the bullet and try other medication.
Saw a consultant dermatologist. He said:
Psoriasis is not just a skin condition. No amount of creams is going to get rid of it. He would not recommend using Enstillar foam. He says you would be using far too much steroid treatment and when you stop it comes back with a vengeance.
NICE guidelines are creams, light treatment, then methrotexate pills then injections of biologics.
You have to go through this. The biologics cost about £2000 an injection.
I went on methotrexate for 6 months. I was wiped out the day after taking it and felt very nauseous. I could put up with that if it actually helped. The psoriasis did not get worse but nor better either.
After 6 months dermatologist took me off that. Now have an appointment to see about biologics.
It is a horrible condition and restricts your life. To PP who said he is an adult and should use the creams properly, I assume you have not had severe psoriasis.
Consultants dermatologists are perfectly aware that human nature means people get fed up with creams.
It is incurable.
OP tell your DH to get a referral to a dermatologist at a hospital psoriasis clinic. He does not have to start again. He has used creams and light and could now move on.

Moisturisers may make your skin feel less tight and irritated but no amount of moisturising will get rid of psoriasis. It is an auto immune condition.

My husband has had it for nearly 15 years and has patches pretty much covering his entire body, he is religious with his creams but nothing has ever worked.
He's tried light therapy which worked quite good but as soon as he stopped it came back but it's hard to fit the light therapy appointments around work.
Enstilar is quite good during a bad flare up but has never cleared up with it, just calmed it down a bit. He's just bit the bullet and agreed to try medication, he started on ciclosporin around 6 weeks ago and it has made a huge difference, he still has some but it is slowly disappearing.

I don't think homoeopathy is popular in the UK, but it has really helped DS who had severe scalp psoriasis.

namechanged85789 that’s good to know but does he feel ok on ciclosporin? If can have some bad side effects

I think DH will have to accept some form of medication to help. He has had periods were they have gotten under control but like a PP said, as soon as he stops using the steroid creams, they are back. I do not envy him at all, and will push him to see a dermatologist again.

So far he's been fine on them, he had to have blood tests to check his kidney function but his have been ok up to now. The difference it's made to his skin tho is brilliant, he's not as uncomfortable, sleeping better already so definitely worth it.