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Original poster

Anyone seen a dermatologist (or similar)?

16 replies

Hulababy · 13/12/2004 09:42

My psorasis is reallt starting to bother me at the moment. My head itchs constantly and is sore, cracked and peeling. Under my arms sting all the time and are bright red - looks lovely if I want to wear a nice top or dress :( And my hands and feet are starting to stiffen up, which often means it may start on them too.

So far in past GPs have been rubbish t doing anything about this. Lotions and creams to date have not worked at all. I spend a fortune on perscriptions for no results. And I have tried almost every shampoo and cream in the shops, but no improvements.

I have been considering whether it might be worth going to see a dermatologist (or similar?), even if I have to pay for it myself - so long as not too expensive I guess.

Has anyone ever seen one, or similar?

Was it expensive?

Did it help cure/solve/improve your ailment?

Please, anyone - any advice would be great.

OP posts:
5goldendillydallys · 13/12/2004 09:45

I have seen a dermotologist in the past but used my private healthcare insurance so don't know the cost exactly but I think it was about £150. I received prescriptions (it was for my adult acne) and the creams worked a treat. The cost of the drugs was about £30.
I had to wait about two weeks for the consultation.
GP made the intial referral.

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 13/12/2004 09:50

Have you tried a gluten-free diet .. it works for some people

At the PAA conference there was an excellent dermatologist speaking .. Dr Tony Chu (unfortunately you can't even get on his waiting list for private patients)

There was another dermatologist there who runs a speciality clinic at the London Royal Free (I think) who have speciality nurses etc

Supposedly there are only 300 dermatologists in the whole of the UK Sad

good luck hulababy

Original poster
Hulababy · 13/12/2004 09:55

I'm in Sheffield BTW.

My SIL wondered if diet might be a trigger too. She's an Ausiie so used to dealing with lots of different health practioners privately there.

Would my GP have to refer me to someone then? Might try and get an appointment with GP next week then and really push it.

OP posts:
TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 13/12/2004 10:00

if you've never tried it, I'd give it a go .. but you have to be really strict with it .. luckily there's lots of products round that are gluten free and you can bake anything with the addition of xanthan gum to gluten-free flour

\link{http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14690336&dopt=Abstract\some research here}

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 13/12/2004 10:00

yes a GP would have to refer you .. but be careful cos some dermatologists can be quacks too Sad

5goldendillydallys · 13/12/2004 10:19

\link{http://www.bad.org.uk/about\try this}

mishmish · 13/12/2004 10:28

Dear hulababy, I've been seeing a consultant dermatologist for almost 10 years now. She and her team have been fantastic. You need to get a referral from your GP. I have not paid for my treatment but I don't know if you would have to pay for yours. A qualified dermatologist working within the NHS will not be a quack. Best of luck with finding some effective treatment.

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 13/12/2004 10:31

Sorry mish ... by 'quack' I meant some professional consultants (yes qualified and working for the NHS) are so full of themselves they don't stay up-to-date with new avenues of treatment or research . .. I am saying this in a very very experienced way I'm afraid and about a range of consultants not just dermatologists

If you look at BAD .. then look for consultants with a 'special interest' in psoriasis

GingerBells · 13/12/2004 10:43

Hula, as a fellow psoriasis sufferer, I sympathise. I have times where it drives me crazy too.
I used to see a dermatologist when I was a teenager, who was based in Wakefield - Dr Khan, but I haven't been to him for years.

I have tried all sorts over the years too. With varying degrees of success. It may be worth seeing someone to find out about the latest treatments if you haven't had any for a while.

My best treatment is 2 or 3 weeks in the sun, with lots of seawater bathing. When I went to Australia for 6 weeks my psoriasis cleared up completely. It should be on prescription Smile

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 13/12/2004 10:46

Oh I forgot .. but I don't know whether you do this as a matter of course

Dead Sea Salts (can get from Holland & Barrett) are great in a long, hot bath

... would love to take DH to the Dead Sea as the mud is supposed to be superb for both skin and joint conditions ... but have to wait till the area settles down Sad and kids are a bit older

5goldendillydallys · 13/12/2004 10:50

Completely unrelated, but I went to the Dead sea staying in Jordan and loved it..people were exceptionally friendly and am sure the kids would love it too.

Original poster
Hulababy · 13/12/2004 12:02

Cheers all. I do need to do something.

I will make appointment for GP next week. And I will ask about all of this stuff, including diet.

Will have to look into this gluten free diet thing though - never tried anything like that. You really think it could be diet related as well??? Might have to wait until after Christmas to get my head round that and things sorted.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 13/12/2004 18:03

BUMP for any further advice or experience of this.

OP posts:
slim22 · 13/12/2004 20:51

Hi,
I recommend Gingerbells' advice. If you can get 2 full weeks of sea, sun (and more even better!)you'll definitely see a major improvement.
My psoriasis just disapeared after a couple of weeks lying on a beach.
My cousin who has been suffering of a severe form of psoriasis since she was a young teenager has regular sessions of UV therapy (taning salons)by recomendation of her dermatologist.
As for trusting dermatologist..........well I was lucky to get an appointment with a TOP dermatologist in Paris a few years ago. He prescribed a lot of ointments (mainly cortisone based), but nothing really works.He admitted no one really knows much about psoriasis!
However, he also recommended taking evening primrose oil + starflower oil + vitamine E supplements. And I think they really work in improving the skin's resistance.TAke for at least 6 weeks 2 or 3 times a year.
And also moisturize EVERY DAY.
good luck

princessinapeartree · 13/12/2004 21:01

Hula,
GPs are really not the best people at skin complaints. To put it mildly. They just have so much to deal with that they haven't got time to stay up to date with the latest in dermatology. I really think that, especially with something tricky like psoriosis, it is worth going to see a good dermatologist. an initial consultation will cost you about £120 or so, but I think that is probably money well spent if it helps you, isn't it?
I just know that my dd and ds's ezcema was faffed around by various gps and really knocked on the head beautifully after one or two consults with a really good paed dermatologist.

sugaralmond · 14/12/2004 15:31

Hi Hula
Could be the gluten - my sis suffered with psoriasis which was put down to stress but she has recently been diagnosed as cealic (prob spelt wrong ) and now they are putting it down the gluten - worth a shot

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