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Original poster

Childhood psoriasis?

31 replies

serin · 04/05/2008 20:56

Hi just wondered if anyone has any experience of this?

My DS was excluded from school yet again last week because of raised red patches on his face that have been variously diagnosed as eczema, ringworm and impetigo.

I have just googled psoriasis on the advice of my cousin who is also a sufferer and the description and photos are identical, red around the outside with scaly silvery bits in the middle of the plaques. It explains why all the medications he has been prescribed have never worked!

OP posts:
K999 · 04/05/2008 20:59

Your GP should have been able to spot this surely? DD1 was diagnosed with this a few months ago, got some cream and it has completely gone......it may come back so am keeping an eye on things...

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:09

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disorder ... yes your gp should be able to identify it, but GPs are not specialists

I don't think it's that usual to get it on your face, but certainly not impossible .. more likely in scalp, back, elbows

there are certainly treatments that can help .. exposure to sun is good too, as is steroidal cream and there are also systemic drugs should it be warranted

I wish you luck in getting to see a dermatologist .. they are like gold dust .. Dr Tony Chu (sp) has a particular interest in this and the London Free also has a psoriasis clinic

Original poster
serin · 04/05/2008 21:12

GP's have treated him for eczema, and impetigo, the classroom assistant at school was the one who 'diagnosed' ringworm!!!!!
Thanks for replying so quickly, do you mind me asking what the medication was called?

OP posts:
ComeOVeneer · 04/05/2008 21:14

Could be, bt it is unusual on the face (occasionally eyelids more commonly scalp). It is also much rarer in childhood. A lot of gps aren't terribly familar with psoriasis (despite many people having it - very mildly) and it is often misdiagnosed as other skin conditions. The royal free hospital in Hampstead (London) also has a very good team. Do ask for a referral to a dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis.

K999 · 04/05/2008 21:14

Fucidin....it is an antibiotic and steroid cream. It worked within 2 days and has not come back so far...

ComeOVeneer · 04/05/2008 21:16

Serin, systemic drugs will not be considered until other avenues are tried, and many will not be given to children. A lot of them are pretty heavy duty medication, when the creams etc have failed, or if psoriatic arthritis develops. Don't get alarmed, in most cases steroid creams etc keep it under control.

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:17

I meant the royal free, as CoV says, and not the london free

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:18

ringworm is perfectly circular and tends to be on arms

Original poster
serin · 04/05/2008 21:19

Thanks Twiglett, It all makes sense now a few months ago his whole back was covered in the most horrific red blotches which were so irritating for him that he couldn't even sleep, Gp prescribed Double Base (moisturiser).

Also I have read that there is a genetic link and aside from two of my cousins who have the condition his grandfather had what was then diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis, so severely that he was unable to move around at all much beyond the age of 50. He also had "eczema".

OP posts:
Sexonlegs · 04/05/2008 21:21

Serin, I had this from a very young age (less than a year old) and it still flares up when I am stressed.

Definitely needs to be confirmed as that first, but from your description sounds as though it is. How old is your ds?

Does sound unusual to be on his face - normally on limbs, scalp, eyelids.

I was prescribed Dovobet which as a steroid you can only use for a month iirc.

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:21

do you mean diprobase? that's just an emollient .. a steroid cream can be magically effective on psoriasis plaques

again if it's sunny get him out in it .. the sun is great for psoriasis

there is a genetic link with psoriasis you're right

Original poster
serin · 04/05/2008 21:27

K999, Sad about the Fucidin, he has been using that as GP prescribed it for the impetigo and it has made no difference whatsoever.

I'm not looking for heavy duty medication at all, recognition from the school that hes not contagious would be enough to be honest!

I will try and get him seen by a dermatologist, GP told DH that we are not at that stage yet, but if its meaning he is missing school then I think that should warrant attention.

We are outside of London, up in the North West.

OP posts:
Sexonlegs · 04/05/2008 21:27

Twiglett, sorry were you asking me if it was Diprobase? It is definitely Dovobet - I have just checked the medicine cabinet as you got me thinking.

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:29

sorry sexonlegs .. was talking to serin when she said she was given double base .. I wondered if that was diprobase

DH has had dovobet .. and another one that I can't remember but was close to dovobet but with something else added

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:30

I think the other one is Dovonex

Sexonlegs · 04/05/2008 21:30

Dovonex?? Had that too and that wasn't as good.

Sexonlegs · 04/05/2008 21:31

x-post!

I think the best cure is a stress free life! Yeah right!!

Original poster
serin · 04/05/2008 21:35

Twiglett, the cream is Double base it contains, Isoproyl Myristate and paraffin but I think it is just an emollient. It's in an enormous pump top bottle, enough to moisturise an elephant!

Does Fucidin contain steroids as well as anti-biotics?

Thanks for your help by the way.

OP posts:
K999 · 04/05/2008 21:36

Fucidin does contain steroids....I think it may have an 'h' after it iirc so it would read 'fucidin h'.......

Original poster
serin · 04/05/2008 21:38

Oh yes the stress free life Sexonlegs!!

He is six and has been in a frenzy for the last month planning his birthday party!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
serin · 04/05/2008 21:39

Thanks K999.

OP posts:
GentleOtter · 04/05/2008 21:44

I have had psoriasis since I was young and used to be prescibed Betnovate....the pigment in the psoratic bits never came back.
That emollient is crap and it can nip a bit.
After years of trying just about everything, I am having a big success with Oregon Grape.- It reduces the redness and takes the heat out of the inflamed parts.
here is the stuff I'm using

Sun and sea water help a lot too.

Sexonlegs · 04/05/2008 21:45

Poor chap

Serin, hope you get some answers and some help.

SOL x

Twiglett · 04/05/2008 21:53

Otter whilst I'm glad that product is working for you .. I don't understand how .. they contain the basis of soap, preservatives, oil and a bit of coal tar

GentleOtter · 04/05/2008 22:02

Maybe it is the coal tar but I know that there is some research now being done into the properties of Oregon Grape.
My son tried the shampoo and said it helped him so we are just trying alternatives just now but I am really pleased at the effect on my own skin with only the cream.
There are so many different types of psoriasis that a good dermatologist would be able to diagnose what type your son has and how best to manage it.
For me, the salycilic acid and coal tars were ok but the steroids or Vit A creams did not work.
Plus I was told by one doctor that it goes in a seven year cycle and can either vanish on it's own accord or flare up.
I wish there was more research into it.