Psoriasis

[Clickbait]

Sorry to interrupt. I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis when I was 24 so 6 years ago, for me it wasn’t an easy process. One day I just suddenly had a huge swollen painful knee, which eventually went down then throughout the year I’d have another bought. I saw a specialist eventually who told me at 24 I had growing pains…
I was laid up on the sofa one day feeling very sleepy for myself so my mum phoned the gp for a home visit. I was lucky as the doctor was only a few years older than me (sometimes the fresh out of medical school ones are more on it) and she said I saw on your notes you have psoriasis. I think you may have the above. And straight away I knew she was right as it’s so common. I was sent to a consultant again who confirmed it.

Thank you for your reply. So in your case it is something that flares up and you have visible swelling?

For me I have no swelling and the problem has been constant (with varying levels of pain and discomfort) for 4 years. I wasn’t examined by my GP but was sent for an X-ray which was inconclusive. I was told to self-refer for physio which ended up being a phone call with a physio who couldn’t confirm what it was (no shit Sherlock) and emailed me some exercises which “may not cure it but probably won’t do any harm”. At no point did anyone even lay a hand on me to try and diagnose a problem.

I paid for a private osteopath which didn’t make a huge amount of difference but was quite relaxing. He suggested I’d need an MRI to really see what was going on inside my knee - could be a Baker’s Cyst for example.

I compare that to my friend who had a niggle in her knee and within 6 months had been given: an X-ray, consultation with Consultant, steroid injection and fortnightly sessions with a physio.

For people with LTCs it is so much of a postcode lottery as to the treatment and attention you receive and that is vastly unfair. Looking forward to a reset when I move.

 

[chorizorice]

has anyone tried methotrexate injection or tablets? I’ve only just started considering it bc I have tried everything for the last seven years now and I’m sick of it affecting my mental health so much, would love to know if anyone has experience with it xx

 

[Scorpihoe]

I've had it since age 9. Stress and change of temperature ( hot and cold) seem to be my triggers. Elbows and huge patches on lower legs are my thing, they have had many periods of becoming weepy and unbearable with itching. I'm currently totally free of it for the first time in years. It's so strange to have clear elbows! No patches on my legs. Even my scalp is good. All I am doing is I take a monthly Doctor subscribed vitamin D capsule and I quit my miserable stressful job. I am careful not to shower daily or over-wet my skin and I have noticed that moisturising has never ever helped. I have just read those articles about dry treatment with great interest. Steroids have worked in the past but only very briefly. It's an absolute shit of a disease!

thank you for the tip! I currently take iron and vitamin B12 daily, but I will try the vitamin D

 

[Clickbait]

At least you've got an option if it gets worse. The doctor told me that this type of eczema is hard to diagnose and to treat. He was quite excited about it and showed me pictures from his text book.

How strange as when you look at it it’s clear that there is a bubble under the skin. I guess by the time someone has gone to the doctor it’s gone from the bubbles to the skin cracking and starting to peel. It looks so innocuous to begin with and then...

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

Oh sorry do you mean zerobase or eumovate? I think eumovate does but I’m not sure about zerobase (I really hope not).

I had some scalp itchiness and dryness, I used coal tar (specifically neutrogena t gel) and it helped

I meant eumovate. I’ve had it prescribed topically it’s very effective but you can’t use it in the summer and it’s a faff.

 

[Snippysnips]

I also felt like oats helped the skin in general with keeping it smooth like the none psoriasis parts, I wonder if anyone uses any balms or creams on the nose if it helps, my arms an legs have calmed a lot but around my nostrils still flares, it's worse when your in public an you feel itchy or feel a bit of skin an you need to try see to it without making it seem like your picking your nose, honestly the masks have been a god send for that, but if you use somthing, how helpful is it

 

[Tots]

It hasn’t helped at all. They’ve switched my over to injections as they think I might not be absorbing it orally due to another medical condition I have! They’ve had to move me down to 10mg to start with. I don’t have much hope to be honest with you!

The next step is Biologics which is kind of annoying since I’ve had no side effects taking MTX :-(

Oh no, that’s such a shame. I hope the injections help!

 

[Captainmouse]

Series one episode one https://www.discoveryplus.co.uk/show/the-bad-skin-clinic

 

[Blairr]

I have it. And awaiting a diagnosis is psoriatic arthritis. I’m sick to death of it. I’m due to start a strong medication which should hopefully get rid.

also I’ve noticed a few of you mentioning it under breasts. Try Trimovate! It’s amazing for that area.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I’m back into using Egyptian magic cream to keep it at bay. It’s calmed it a lot.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

I did try them an I would just do 5mins but god the heat, I couldn't cope with it but they do say 5mins at least once a week is actually OK for it an can keep it under control

Did you do stand up ones? They don’t tend to get as hot. And if you go when the shops quiet the beds haven’t warmed up yet, I used to work in a tanning shop x

 

[Scorpihoe]

I don’t think meditation is for me either sadly. I try to keep busy.
Thankfully mines never been as bad since. My boyfriend lives in Dubai so maybe one day I’ll be rid of it!

My boyfriend is from Dubai too! We met in England because he came here for uni, but we are hoping to move back together soon Any warm country will do really!

 

[Scorpihoe]

I’ve tried this but mine is mostly facial and scalp psoriasis and I ended up with a raging ear infection from trying to wash the enstilar out my hair it’s meant to be amazing for the rest of the body though.




I’m 3 months into methotrexate and no change so far :-(

How are you finding it otherwise? My brother is on this for his eczema (his is more severe than mine)

 

[Scorpihoe]

This so the same as me. Was awful as a child but apart from the odd flare up I’ve been good lately.
I’m naughty and use sunbeds to clear it . Which obviously isn’t an option at the moment. Egyptian magic cream seems to keep it at bay a little.
yeah it really messes with my mental health
Bloody covid

I have Egyptian magic cream, the only thing that puts me off thick “Vaseline” kind of creams are they stick to everything and feel so greasy do you wear a cotton shirt over your creams or leave your eczema parts bare?

I read a tip that you should use creams and then wear a cotton shirt over the top and it helps keep the moisture in

Do sunbeds help? I’m already olive toned so don’t think that’s an option for me haha, but I’ve noticed heat and hot weather (on holiday) really seem to help me! *looks outside to rain and clouds in england*

 

[RandomUser12345]

Does anyone have a good alternative for t gel shampoo?

It was the only thing that worked for me and since they discontinued it , I've been struggling. I've tried nearly every alternative under the sun. Currently trying capasal as my pharmacist recommend but it has a lower coal tar percentage so don't think it's going to be as effective. Any help would be good though !

Otherwise will have to try and get something stronger prescribed from drs

 

[keytotruth]

Someone i know put this on Facebook and Instagram earlier

 

[Scorpihoe]

I was wondering if anyone could help. I’m trying to withdraw from steroid creams and never use them myself. But I’m just so confused on what is a steroid cream. I mostly use zerobase, is that a steroid cream?

I use eumovate too sometimes but I think that has steroid in? Is it best to switch to hydromol?

Thanks in advance xx

 

[Scorpihoe]

Whoever mentioned the oat bath…omg LIFECHANGER. I am in the bath now

I put some quakers oats in a thin cotton cloth and tied it to the tap and let hot water run through, then I untied it when the bath was full and let it sit around in the water. Omg the water feels amazing and it smells good too! And I’ve just been massaging the oat bag (lol) into my skin, on my eczema patches.

im gonna do this weekly now, it feels so good. Although I think I’m using the wrong oats lol

 

[chorizorice]

They will possibly want you to try all the lotions and potions first unless your GP has prescribed those already but there is a few that only the dermatologist have. If you’re lucky and they allow you to skip that I’d recommend cyclosporine over methotrexate. I had no results on MTX and I was on it for 6 month. Cyclosporine worked in days! But I stopped due to side effects (heartburn, joint pain, chest pain etc) so now I’m on the biologics waiting list.

oh shit, not nice side effects I’ll keep that in mind but happy it worked for you for a bit :/ hope you get biologics soon. Melts didn’t work at all for you? Do you mind me asking how severe your psoriasis is? thanks so much for your response xx

 

[Cupoftea83]

Hi, new to this, sorry if its been posted, I've had it since a baby, my arms, legs, scalp, nose etc haven't had flare ups recently but as a kid it was crazy bad to the point people would constantly ask if I had fallen an hurt myself, one day a elderly woman approched my mum an told her what would help, it was like one of those old wife tale things, we tried it an mines cleared up super well, didn't 100% go but at least for me it made a super huge difference, it was putting oats in a cloth an tying it round the tap like a little bag an letting the hot water flow through it that did it for me

Yes oats are amazing, this is what I buy from a lovely website along with goat milk soap it is fabulous at easing the itching and welt marks

Www.dragonflysoapsuds.co.uk this is where I get it all from even use it on my baby and eldest too. Also on etsy