Pulled together some psoriasis Info that may be useful

[Muminabun]

There is so much out there re psoriasis. I was researching for DH who has had a flare up and thought it may be useful to put it all in one place if it is of any interest to others. I basically did a load of googling and read a load of threads on here, old and new. It seems that psoriasis is a bit of a major pain in the arse because so many people have it, it is incurable so just has to be managed and different things work for different people so it is a trial and error for sufferers and that can be very costly and time consuming and probably really disheartening of one person is completely cured after a concoction of boiled birch twigs or the like.

Psoriasis is an immune disorder which can be triggered by stress, certain foods and even the weather. About 3% of the population suffer from it. Approx. 50% affects the scalp. The majority have mild to moderate Psoriasis.
Mild treatments include Salicylic acid (pronounced sallycillic)
Coal Tar
Stronger treatments include: Antimicrobilas (used to treat yeast infections)
Calcipotriene - strong vitamin D
Calcipottriene plus betamethason, which is a vitamin D and steroid combination
Tazarotene - Vitamin A
UV light

Going on holiday and getting some sea and sun will also help a lot of people.

I have made a list of all the non prescription treatments i could find. MY DH has been cured in a day by using Udderly smooth chamois cream, anti chaffing (this is for cyclists). I bought this in the summer for chub rub and he put it on his face and it cleared up. Active ingredient seems to be a lot of Glycol.
He also used Philip Kingsley itchy flaky scalp shampoo and it seems to have cleared most after one wash.
He had previously tried
Body shop Ginger
Vosene and L'oreal shampoo and none worked for him but i know they have for others.
Other recommended stuff:
Lush Snake Oil
Nizoral
Capasal
T-Gel
Polytar Shampoo
Dovobet Gel
Betnovate scalp solution
L'occitane aromatherapy range of shampoos
Shampoos that are paraben and SLS free as these iritate some people
Rosemary oil shampoo
Lush soak and float shampoo bar
Oilatum intensive anti dandruff
Eucerin calming urea scalp treatment
betacap scalp lotion
Vitamin D cream
Dovonex
Sebamed Shampoo
Evening primrose oil
rosehip oil
Diprosalic
Moogoo shampoo
exorex
Keracare shampoo and glosser
Rugby sebex
MG217
Denorex
T Gel
DHS Sal Shampoo
Dove dermacare scalp
Sorion
Aveeno shampoo
E45 shampoo
M folia
Dead sea Magik shampoo
Alphosyl
Odylique

i really hope that some sufferers can get some use out of this list and if you have psoriasis i wish you the best of luck in finding an effective treatment and please add any that you think are useful that i haven't mentioned.

That's really helpful. Family friend suffered terribly but has been referred to a brilliant dermatologist who got her on to a drug trial Symptoms rated level 19/20 at beginning, now down to 1/20. Incredible & life changing improvement. The NHS has lists of ongoing research trials so its worth looking at the psoriasis ones and asking your gp to find out if the sufferer is a candidate for them.

Thank you so much for collating all that, OP.

I suffer with psoriasis on my hands and feet. At times, I've not been able to put my feet on the floor. I would say that I have it about 90% under control after seeing a dermatologist, but I am definitely looking for other things to try. I've been using coconut oil & yellow soft paraffin ointment, wrapping my feet in clingfilm and topping wit a pair of socks overnight. I need some daytime ideas so I'll be trying some of the things on your list with interest.

I suffer from Psoriasis. It’s on my scalp, back of my neck, under my arms, inside my elbows and in my groin. It’s miserable. I’ve taken steroids for so long that the GP has stopped prescribing them, I’m on Vitamin D cream but it barely keeps it under control. Diet doesn’t seem to impact it, sun makes it worse, as does swimming. I find it so depressing, it’s such a horrible condition.

It’s worth looking up topical steroid withdrawal for anyone who has been using them to manage psoriasis and/or eczema - not to frighten anyone, but it’s made me think twice about using steroids when/if I have another flare. (99.9% symptom free for 6 years- having found that the main trigger for me is washing powder).

I have a close relative who is absolutely smothered in Psoriasis and nothing seems to be working for him :( It's all over his face, arms, back, everywhere, and he gets nasty comments too.

Going on holiday and getting some sea and sun will also help a lot of people.

He's tried pretty much all the creams to no avail, but when he gets back from holidaying abroad, his Psoriasis is pretty much cleared up for a while. Too expensive to do often, though.

I feel for anyone who suffers from it. He's had a few people ask if it's contagious and looking at him like he's some walking disease, it's heartbreaking. I wish he could find something that works.

For really stubborn psoriasis it needs to be treated from the inside out. Topical creams can only do so much. A good dermatologist won't continually prescribe steroids. There are lots of options out there now, but it's a long game to get the good stuff as you have to go through creams and steroids to get prescribed something decent. My husband has suffered for nearly 20 years, but has been patch free since 2017 thanks to Methotrexate (spelling). He takes it in an injection, too many side effects from the tablets. Its been life changing for him, but was a very long road to get there.

Dont give up and dont be fobbed off by doctors. You need a knowledgeable dermatologist x

@TheSheepofWallSt can I ask how you discovered that the washing powder was your trigger?

Head & Shoulders Clinically Proven contains selenium sulfide and works works brilliantly too.

I suffer from it too since birth and have managed it pretty well so far with Diprosalic ointment which I was prescribed in Spain where I lived before.

For scalp psoriasis which I've also always had and never managed to get under control having tried all types of coal tar shampoo and normal shampoo including head and shoulders, I since discovered Anti Flake from Philip B - expensive but managed to completely clear my scalp psoriasis up, once it got to that I only needed to use it once or twice a week to keep results.

I've also heard eliminating dairy has positive effect and of course handling your stress levels.

It is tough especially during flare ups, and the fact that it looks unsightly and people state just adds to the stress.

Great to see what others have tried and really helpful to read the list of products tried too!

I suffer quite badly with psoriasis and have tried a multitude of treatments over the years including methotrexate and steriods oral and topic. While trying to get pregnant in 2011 I was put on a tablet called Naltrexone 4.5mg. The term is Low Dose Naltrexone. This is a wonder drug from me with ZERO side effects. Its not used prescribed for the treatment of psoriasis the normal script amount is 50mg used to treat something totally unrelated to psoriasis. While I take this tablet my psoriasis totally clears. Just one a night before bed and its so much better than the DMARDS and Steroids.

I have a close relative who is absolutely smothered in Psoriasis and nothing seems to be working for him sad It's all over his face, arms, back, everywhere, and he gets nasty comments too.

Has your relative seen a dermatologist? There are some excellent treatments available now which someone suffering as severely as your relative should definitely be able to access, but only via a dermatologist.

He has, Natural, nothing has worked so far, though he is about to try a new treatment, I can't recall what but I don't think it's a cream? My fingers are crossed for him. He seriously has tried so many different creams, it's like they just fob him off with "try this" and when that doesn't work they try him on another cream. That's been happening for years, it's frustrating. He's really young too, and has arthritis, which I think is linked?

I get the feeling it's not being taken too seriously. If you could only see him, he's absolutely plastered in it, has been since school and he's early 20's now. He says it isn't too painful, but it looks so fucking sore :(

That's been happening for years, it's frustrating. He's really young too, and has arthritis, which I think is linked?

Anyone with psoriatic arthropathy (joint problems caused by psoriasis) needs to be referred to a rheumatologist straightaway, to be put on medication that can halt joint damage. Your relative should ask to be referred, if this hasn't already happened. If he is not happy with his usual GP, he should ask if there is a local GP with a specialist interest in dermatology, who can assist him in getting the best care by working with the hospital specialists.

Thanks @Muminabun for such a comprehensive list. Always good to see what has helped others, and hear about possible triggers. Has anyone found that sugar makes psoriasis worse?

This is really helpful thanks OP! I suffer badly with scalp psoriasis and this has been helpful

Not sugar when i did Veganuary my skin was noticeably better all round.

Im a long long time psoriasis sufferer (chronic severe, head to toe job) the medication these days is so life changing but you need a dermatologist for these.

Im on Stelara (biologics drug). Happy to answer any qus but it is the best thing ive tried (and ive tried many many many things) in the last 30 years

Penny there are life changing drugs available now, I know as they have changed my life. He needs to ask for a referral to a consultant dermatologist and if necessary rheumatologist and discuss options for effective treatments. If he is currently under a dermatologist who is not taking into consideration the impact of his disease on his life and exploring all the options he should get a second opinion.

Thankyou for all your replies and sorry to all those who are suffering with this. Just wanted to add that Nivea sensitive shave foam seems to be non aggravating for DH as well. It is interesting to read about the prescription treatments that seemed to have worked for people. It seems that if you have it mildly to moderately then you have a good chance of eventually finding your off the shelf cure but if you have a severe case it gets a bit more complicated.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I have scalp psoriasis. I get prescribed calcipotriol but the bottle never quite clears it (almost but never completely). Then it comes right back but worse. My scalp was about one quarter affected but since the last bout of steroids is now half covered. I don't want to ask for more so was considering the expensive Philip B shampoo. Does anyone know if you need to buy the conditioner too?

I've had bad psoriasis for 20 years. Suggest a very healthy diet, cut out all sugar and have as much fermented products in your diet (kefir, kombucha etc) and your skin will definitely improve.

Thank you OP, I am ON IT! I’ve started to lose hair at the side from the horrid lumpy bits so I needed this thread!

Interesting Pootle I saw a good dr recently (for the first time in 40
Years) who clocked my scalp psoriasis and suggested kefir etc. I might give it a go

Thanks Handsnotwands. Psoriasis can only be managed by dealing with internal problem. Creams and meds never work completely or forever.

@Pootle40 @Handsnotwands - my psoriasis is not very severe, but I have found its been much better since I started eating live yoghurt at least once a day.

But the biggest thing for me was switching to shampoo, conditioner and shower gel without SLS. My elbows - which have been sore for about 15 years - are now almost clear and it's only been a couple of months

Tangelo what is SLS please? My husband has awful psoriasis!