I need a fairy godmother...any takers?

[peaz]

Where do I start?!

I have psoriasis which is 'under control, meaning its not erupting on my body, although I have white patches everywhere. I'm probably the only one who was looking forward to the colder weather, so I could cover up, because I look like a giraffe. It's hideous.

The psoriasis on my scalp is a different matter. It's flaky and disgusting. I've spent £40 on Philip kingsley shampoo and I'm waiting for it to work its magic. But in the meantime I can't wear black tops or have my hair back as it shows off the psoriaisis on my hairline

My hair itself is awful. It's like one big ball of frizz. The conditioner I use is crap, as is the frizz ease stuff I apply. NOTHING works. But because of the psoriasis, I can't have my hair back, which is the only way to hide the frizz. My hairdresser told me not to brush my hair but it just looks awful, awful, AWFUL.

I am also going grey and I hate it. I've got dark brown hair so it's hugely noticeable. Can't dye it until the fucking psoriasis goes. Can you see a pattern?!

Now, my face. It's ok....if I wear a paper bag over it. Otherwise it's dull, spotty occasionally, red around the nose (due to fucking psoriaisis) and just horrid. I am using Botanics BB cream day to day and Bourjois foundation on evenings out. But neither have any staying power. I have dark rings under my eyes and the only thing that touches them is Benefits Boiing but I am down to a few scrapes of it and it is really pricey for me. I'm Asian/Indian so my skin is brown. Not really dark but not pale either. I tan well but when I'm not tanned I am dull. A beautitian told me my skin was loose and needed tightening and at the time I thought she was giving me the hard sell but now, well my skin is loose.

I suffer from chronic back pain so I can't exercise as much as I'd like to, but I can't shift my weight. I don't have the motivation to do so, despite yearning to look like me ten years ago, and wanting to be healthy and wanting my husband to fancy me. I have loads of lovely clothes in my wardrobe that i cannot squeeze into so i live in leggings right now. I also just cannot find the time. I work from home whilst looking after my two year old, and then by the time I put him and my 5 year old to bed I am shattered.

How do I give myself the kick up the arse to sort me out? Or, can you all line up and take it in turns to do it for me because I'm too fucking lazy to do it myself!

First off, stop beating yourself up. You need to be kind to yourself. The psoriasis and back pain are not your fault. Perhaps it might be worth a trip to the doctors (again possibly) and asking them if there's anything they can give you to treat it. My DP has it on his scalp and uses Alphosyl shampoo, it doesn't get rid of it entirely but it keeps it under control and he can now wear black again. You can buy it in Boots/similar stores.

Perhaps try a cream cleanser to take control your skin, the Vit E range from Superdrug is really good and gentle enough for sensitive skin. Look into getting a primer to go under your foundation to help it stay put longer, there are lots of different ones out there at variety of prices to suit any budget. I have a cheap Superdrug MUS primer that's unopened and I would gladly post it to you if you would like to try it.

I suffer from chronic pain in a different body part and I know how down it can make you. Have you looked into yoga? I have found, as long as I'm careful, that the stretches can help ease the muscle tension and whilst it doesn't relieve the pain as such, it gets me some exercise and as I said, helps reduce the muscle tension.

Set aside one night a week, after DC have gone to bed to do things fgor yourself like a long bath/shower, mouisterising body, nail painting etc. A little effort makes you more inclined to make more effort.

for you because you deserve them

I can only really give you my experience with the frizz & the weightloss

Only use sodium free products on your hair. It makes a real difference. I use Organix. It's available from boots/amazon/waitrose. It smells lovely. I've done the Brazillian home straightening treatment too but I'm not sure you can with psoriasis.

Weightloss wise I lost 2 stone on the 5:2. It worked for me as you're only 'dieting" two days out of 7. ( I didn't do any exercise but have an active job)

Can only offer my sympathy re the psoriasis, a friend of mine suffers from it too, but can't offer you any further advice.

Peaz, for you to start with as you deserve them.

I bang on about this a bit, but the LC bootcamp way of eating on the weight loss threads has been a revelation. You could hop on there, and ask if anyone has psoriasis, if its helped, and follow the lc - you won't be hungry! And I have lost 9 kg since January this year, without excerising or being miserable and hungry.

I have hair which likes to frizz and also frizz ease is useless on it and seems to attract dirt. I use argan oil now. Just put some on after washing it.

My back is agony unless I exercise. If I miss a day I can't move. I run a lot, but you could, with the dc, try lots of walking, yoga, callentics, or the shred to start which gets lots of support here, any Gilliam michels DVD seems to have great reports and they do work.

I meant, I started running as both dc are at school now, the weight loss was before...

Oh that bloody psoriasis.

I have radically reduced mine (everywhere and like you longing for winter to cover with clothes) to a couple of patches on one elbow. I stopped drinking and smoking, cut out gluten and dairy and started walking everywhere.

And pretty much everyone I know said 'oh, I never knew you had it..'

Second argon oil for the scalp. Lots and lots of water, stay away from citrus fruit too.

And some of these, with my sympathy.

Thank you all for the lovely replies and sympathy!

Unfortunately Alphosyl has never worked for me. It seems to be my doctors goto product and each and every time it just has no effect. In fact, in 23 years of having psoriasis, nothing has worked although sometimes it has calmed a bit. But having kids has really brought it to its worse. Sun helps my skin (until year) but not the scalp. I don't smoke but yes, drink does exuberate things.

Thanks for the recommendation of primer. Onelittlelady, if you don't mind posting the primer, that would be great. I've not really tried one since my wedding day, and it worked then so of course a primer is a good idea,silly me!

I did try Pilates but I am currently doing a short evening course for work so I can't really dedicate another night for Pilates. I've been trying to do bits at home but of course it's much better with an expert. I'll probably restart once my course is over. I have found myself in a catch-22 situation... I need to exercise to help my pain and rebuild my muscle, and also to lose weight as it makes my back weak, causing my back pain etc....BUT it hurts to exercise. So definitely need to do the Pilates or swimming.

Right, I am definitely going to find some time for some pampering. Once a week is doable, I'm sure. I hate baths so I will treat myself to a long shower (normally unthinkable for me, with the two boys!), nails done, face mask, body scrub.

Any particular argon oil? I've seen loads of them around so if anyone has a preference it would be great.

Right, plan of action is to incorporate more walking into my day to day routine. Don't drive much unless I am in the office, but need to drive there so can't cut that out. Well try to do a lap of the park every other day. Then, when I've achieved a decent level of fitness and strength I can dust off my Shred DVD.

5:2 diet scares the crap put of me! Isn't that fasting for two days? How do I resist my toddlers left over fish fingers??!

Waddling over to the weight loss threads now to check out the bootcamp stuff.

I don't suffer psoriasis. But I do suffer rosacea (red almost purple face neck and chest kind with rosacea on scalp-who knew it could get there!).

I can only use Fairy non bio detergent and no softener. Anything else makes me redder and itchy.

I can't use soap and shampoo products with SLS or parabens or I am so red itchy and sore I need oral antihistamine and painkillers. And I look like a burns victim.

Worse still is that most paraben free products are made with phenoxylethanol. And yes again I am red red red and on fire.

So I cleanse face of make up with oil. Use rice bran oil. It's amazing for dirt and makeup removal.

I use hazelnut oil in hair after washing. It's high in protein and it makes my hair silky soft and manageable. Used to be stiff brittle birds best. Also helps scalp rosacea to the point it's currently invisible/fully controlled.

I use RMS beauty make up. It has none of the above ingredients or silicone which again is a bad reaction for me.

I use Earth Friendly baby shampoo and green baby conditioner. Or DR Bronner Castile soaps.

Not the same problem but I think it's worth a go for you.

And how about low carb diet? Been shown to help? Have a look at BIWIs bootcamping. I'm not on it myself but I've heard good things.

Oh and Jillian Michaels has done amazing things for me!!

Post DC I have had serious trouble with my SI joints (hip joints at the back) and diastisis recti. I'm more or less ok now. Had a lot of physio too

Oh you poor thing, I really know where you are coming from and have a .
I too have scalp psoriasis and have done for nearly 40 years. Its horrid, embarrassing, and stops you wearing so much (I have stopped any block colour at some points). Hats and central heating make it worse!
I have managed to vastly improve my psoriasis (as well as my back and joint pain - not sure if they are linked) by following a low carb diet for the last few moths. All that fat and oil has done wonders for my skin and must lubricate the joints as I'm off my daily painkillers! I did lose 2 stone last year on a low fat diet but I was in an awful way with my skin cracking and bleeding (esp my hands).
Also as a treatment I swear by this from Boots. It stops the itching and flaking better than any prescribed treatment I've had.
Exercise wise just do what you can and dont beat yourself up about it. The only exercise I could manage when I felt rough was swimming - which made my psoriasis horrendous! Now I cycle, walk and dance when I can .
Maybe go back to your GP and let them know how you are feeling. See if you can get a referral to a dermatologist who may be able to suggest other treatments.
Best of luck x

I don't mind posting it at all peaz PM me your address and I'll send it as soon as I'm next at the post office

I too have had psoriasis for over 40 years and it never goes completely.

Thanks Mumelie for recommending the Boots itchy scalp product, I'm going to order that now.

Alphosyl and other medicated shampoos and coal tar treatments don't work for me. My gp prescribed Betacap, but it doesn't help for long. I hate the fact that I can't wear dark clothes.

I have tried a low carb diet before, but my skin didn't really improve.

I use organic coconut oil to moisturise the skin on my scalp, it stops the pain and cracking, but makes my hair very oily.

I hope some of the suggestions people have made work for you OP, and will be watching with interest.

Oh you poor thing, you haven't half been through the mill. If you are able to get hold of an ointment containing salycilic acid and paraffin it might help. My DP puts this on his white patches and it makes them skin coloured and less flaky. He gets his from a pharmacy under the name 'dairy skin cream' but it may be unique to his pharmacy.

I have frizzy hair and found phillip kingsley and frizzease actually made it worse. The only things have have worked for me are using a very heavy conditioner for dry/coloured hair (and not letting it touch the roots) and using a hair dryer and good quality straighteners every single time.

I second a pp's suggestion of Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred. It has worked for me, but is really hard work until you get into it. I'm also doing the 5:2, which really isn't as hard as it sounds once you get through the first week or two. It doesn't take much to get into the swing of 'ok, so I can't have x today so let's plan what feast I'm going to have tomorrow'.

Wishing you the very best of luck

Thank you for the replies! Some interesting comments- I've never heard of it before but it sounds like it might be good for the white patches. They aren't scaly or flaky, btw. Just white patches blended onto my skin, if that makes sense?

MrsFlorrick, that sounds awful. Poor you. I'm glad that you've found oil to help. I'm definitely going to try the hazelnut oil. Where do you get yours?

Mumelie, that product from Boots looks like its worth a try so I'm getting that today! Interesting that swimming effects psoriasis for you. That's not good as it was quite effective for my pain! I guess it makes sense with all the chemicals.

I don't think low carb is for me but I'm going to cut down on carbs, definitely. Today is a day of meal planning and exercise planning, and the diet starts next week!

Hi I had quite bad psoriasis for a long time and tried a lot of different things... I went to a Chinese dr who have me a cream and a load of v complicated looking directions for making a 'soup'. I never bothered making the soup as I was a bit lazy but the cream worked wonders - it honestly 100% disappeared! I get the odd very tiny patch on my elbows occasionally now but it isn't noticeable and this is about 3 years on.

I don't know the name of the cream - was in Chinese - but I fully recommend trying to find a proper Chinese dr and giving it a go. Good luck - psoriasis is horribly annoying !x

I've lost over a stone on the 5:2 diet (there's a whole section on here about it). I do 6:1 now as I don't really want to lose any more, but want to eat donuts 6 days a week... As long as it's a day when I'm really busy it's not too bad - and the spare fish fingers just have to go in the bin quick (that and making packed lunches are the hardest parts by far). I find if I can get through the school run, then I go to work for a few hours (no food there), then keep distracting myself until the school run etc.. In the holidays when I'm at home much more, and the kids are moaning about being hungry all day I can't manage it at all.

And DH swears by the E45 dry scalp shampoo. Really feel for you, hope you can find some solutions here xx

OP before you start 5:2, listen to hanginggardens, try just cutting out dairy and gluten for a couple of weeks, also start taking a good omega3 supplement. If you want to do yourself even more of a favour cut out sugar too. Make sure you include plenty of good fats in your diet, nuts, olive oil, avocado, salmon etc. See what happens. If it clears up (and it may even improve your back pain too) you can then, if you want, try reintroducing dairy to see if the psoriasis comes back....

I had psoriasis on 95% of body. I did a radical juice fast for 5weeks and it virtually disappeared. It's back post baby...and because my diets been dreadful for a year...I got cocky,you see :(

Thins that help...
Avoid nightshades
Fags, bevvy, caffeine
Stress
Wheat, processed meat.
Citrus fruit apart from lemon.

Eat
Oily fish
Take vitamin d
Ibuprofen for the inflammation.

Rub in shea butter, rub it on the plaques, several times a day...eventually it breaks up the P. it works. You can also use it on the scalp.

Avoid shower gel and anything containing laureth sulphate
I showered only every other day to keep moisture in skin.

I will pm you tomorrow. I have lots to tell you including a blog I have...but really tired right now.

Please could you link your blog Fergus? I'm sure lots of people will find it useful.

Am sure you have already tried this but have you seen dermatology re psoriasis ?

Can't add anything to the excellent advice....

Except for this:

I felt pretty rubbish about myself recently and a friend gave me a tip. Nails and eyebrows!! I now have shellac nails done once a month (which last about 3 weeks) and always have my eyebrows threaded. Makes such a difference! You feel a little but 'done' even when you're not!!

giraffeitch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/hot-and-bothered.html

Plenty gory pics of before...you'll have to take my word for it that this sorted me out though...I never put up pics! It's back again big time, so I. Probably going to start this up again.