Psoriasis

[Hill1991]

I've had psoriasis since I was seven years old, never really affected my body apart from a bit on my face but it's always been really bad in my hair (which I've managed with shampoos and creams and ointments. But since I've had my son nearly 2years ago it's gotten extreme to the point I now have bald patches and it's really noticeable.

none off my usual go tos are working anymore it's really getting me down.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get it back under control?

My hair issues are mainly around my hairline, although I don't appear to be losing much. My go to for descaling there is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. Fortunately I don't seem to need much, as it's not the cheapest answer. I've been working my way through TK Maxx's shampoo stocks - at least until March - but nothing in shampoo or conditioner seems to make any difference. The only thing I have found I can't use is mousse, which makes me scale badly. But gel spray is fine. Hope you find something that helps, and I'll be watching for more suggestions with interest.

I used to use Aussie miracle moist shampoo and conditioner but now not even making a difference I will try the Elizabeth Arden cream as Its now on my hairline coming down to my face

Let's hope all is suffers can find something to keep it at bay

I used to use that Aussie shampoo, but it stopped working for me too. Wonder if they changed the formulation? I put some PawPaw ointment on earlier, so I'll let you know if that does anything. I'm getting scalier down the back of my neck at the moment, and I wondered if that would work too.

How are your vitamin levels? Mine always gets out of control when I'm low on Vitamin D. A friend has started using light therapy for hers and it's really helped so I'm considering trying it myself.

It doesn't sound like you've tried any medicated scalp applications? I use betnovate scalp application and a tar based shampoo. Have you spoken to your GP, you get all of these on prescription. I have it all over. If you are on Facebook there are loads of Facebook groups you can join.

Yes let me know how you get on with pawpaw not tried that one yet

Never had my vitamins levels checked, so will speak to the doctor about it when they phone me next week (obviously nothing can be done at the minute)

yes I've got a prescription for t/gel shampoo which they changed from polytar due to that not working and it's still not made a difference not got nothing for my body tho as I've only every really suffered with it in my scalp until now.

My dad has had the light therapy because he's also got it all over which worked until they stopped.

Thank you I never knew there was a FB group for it

Thank you for all your responses.

I have suffered terribly over the years, the last 6 months I have been taking a collagen supplement - liquid shot first thing in the morning (bovine collagen) and now my skin is so clear it’s been an unbelievable change after 20 years of flare ups and hair loss from the patches.
It took 3 weeks to start to see a difference also my hair is brilliant completely regrown.

The only thing that has ever worked for me is medication - methotrexate originally and now Humira. I'm not 100% clear but far far better than I was without it; I also had a nasty post-baby flare.

I have psoriasis too. I tend to get patches of it on my body and when I'm stressed they can flare up and get quite sore. When I was a child I also used to get it in my scalp quite badly and I had various medicated shampoo. I remember my mum also used to put coconut oil on it. She'd use a block of it and melt it down and then brush it on. I think it used to help a lot so it may be worthwhile trying.

Light therapy was brilliant but did nothing for my scalp because not enough light got to it.
The betnovate was brilliant when I first got it, it is steroid based. I have also been given sebco, it smells but it gets rid of the thick stuff.

Cod liver oil is worth trying, a one a day capsule. Has calmed mine down at times. Also, try cowash so just use a conditioner and don't shampoo. Palmer's olive oil cleansing conditioner great for this. Thankfully, my psoriasis has calmed down as I've got older. Good luck.

Just checking back in on the paw paw ointment. It's descaled a bit, but not more than any other moisturiser sadly. Hope you find something to help. TGel didn't do much for me either.

My doctor is ringing me next week as a check in, so going to mention it to her to see if she can either prescribe me something else or recommend anything, I used to see a dermatologist years ago which set me on the right plan which was working so they might sent me back to one again to see if there is anything different, will keep you updated to see what she says

That would be great. I'm always up for a new approach to the itchies! In case it has any relevance to your situation, I have other autoimmune diseases too, and reckon my body just doesn't like itself. I'm taking Vitamin D at the moment, and my scalp does seem a little less afire as a result.

That's interesting as they think I might have another autoimmune disease but can't test me for it as I would need to come off my current medication and it's not worth the risk. I'm the same with my body not liking itself. My last blood test did show I was anaemic aswell

Hey! I can get psoriasis really bad sometimes and honestly I no longer waste my time with the doctors because nothing they prescribed me personally helped in the slightest. Although I bought a huge box of coconut oil from eBay and it worked wonders! That plus sun exposure really felt miraculous. In the scalp is use coconut type treatments with your hair care products and maybe massage some in in the shower. Not too much as you want to avoid greasy looking hair I imagine. Coconut oil is also amazing for the skin and general health anyway so not much to lose from giving it a go!

@Hobbes2019 thank you I will be giving that a try anything is worth a shot at this point.

@CrepuscularCritter I spoke to my doctor she is going to refer me to the dermatologist at the hospital to look at different treatments but she told me to expect a couple off months wait before I'm going to be seen.

Dh has psoriasis. With his last big flare up he did see a dermatologist (who also had psoriasis).

They recommended 20-30 minutes daily outside from April-Sept in as few clothes as possible and a winter sun break in January/February!!

They did point out that that goes against skin cancer advice but said it was up to dh to weigh up the risks. They personally did it as for them the risk of skin cancer was outweighed by minimising the day to day living with psoriasis.

They also prescribed various lotions but the ‘homemade’ light therapy does appear to have made the biggest difference in preventing a flare up again. It helps that DH’s old job meant he had to visit Turkey regularly so he topped up his winter sun which he otherwise wouldn’t have got.

I changed from Aussie to treseme (the blue one) and although my head still itches slightly I don't have huge flakes or anything like I used to. If I take an anti histamine I don't even feel the itch, although I don't like to take them often as they make me tired.

Another plus point to switching is that I no longer need to use conditioner! Now I have written that I'm wondering if the conditioner was the problem

The only thing that works for my scalp psoriasis is the body shop ginger shampoo.

I've had psoriasis 30+ years, none of the scalp treatments on prescription worked, I took a reaction to anything with coal tar in it. I had a really bad flare up and had to wear my hair tied back constantly to stop the flakes falling everywhere. Someone suggested the ginger shampoo to me and it cleared it in two weeks.

The only time it's broke out since was when I was in Oz for 4 weeks and forgot to take the shampoo with me.

Just a shame I've never found anything to clear the rest of my psoriasis up.

@CrepuscularCritter spoke with my doctor today there isn't really anything else that she could recommend so sending me to see a dermatologist again to see if any other treatment may help. Have you found anything that works yet.

I am working my way through your recommendations giving each one at least 2 weeks use to hopefully try and find one that suits me.

Hill1991 So sorry that there aren't more options to try. It does sadly seem to be trial and error, and even then, there are occasional flares that arrive from nowhere. Sometimes for me it's a case of the nature of the itch; Tressemme makes me shed in teeny particles, so fairly unobtrusive yet annoying. I just headed to the shower, and I am currently using Bardou Volumising Shampoo. This was another TK Maxx find, and is pretty good for avoiding itch and scale. My doc will prescribe the standard psoriasis creams, but tbh, they don't help me much. The sun is due back later this week, so that's going to be a bonus.

Ask for an Alphosyl shampoo prescription. That's what I use and it's so so helpful.

I developed severe psoriasis a year ago, ciclosporin did the trick at clearing it but isn't a long term solution. Skilarence (?sp) was great but I had to stop for spinal operation and reluctant to go back on as increases infection risk, pandemic and all.
This sounds ridiculous but olive oil made a big difference when my scalp was really bad.
Part the hair and rub in to the scalp with a gentle lifting motion. You can leave it on overnight then brush through using a comb so that the plaques start to lift. Then a shampoo with Capasal worked a treat and helped the interminable itching.
Hope you get it under control soon, good luck with the dermatologist! They're often really good at multi system illnesses so if something else going on definitely mention to him/her because they know their stuff!