psoriasis--- non valk

[henry 008]

ok, I trust that someone in my valk family knows of someone with this problem.
I have had it since 2008. pretty much in check with various medicines over the years with it kept below my knees. 3 mos. ago, it started to spread, jus like the medicine quit working. now its all over, itchy and painful. l'm hoping I can still ride cause sitting anywhere is becoming painful.

does anyone know of home remedies, diet, lotions, etc. that could help?

I just started another new pill today (soriatane) and this is the last oral medicine that's available for this condition. next is humaira, stelara, (injections) and they are outrageously expensive. I've tried Enbrel, it didn't work, and after 3mos. was taken off of it. my co-pay was $500 a month with it. the other 2 will be $984, and $1293 (respectively) per month! 

any suggestions will be deeply appreciated, as I will try just about anything!

TIA!

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I feel for you and don't know of a medicine but have you had your thyroid looked into seriously to see if it is causing the psoriasis. I only ask because Thyroid function is not really best diagnosed with blood work as I'm coming to learn and causes a bunch of issues for people. May not be the case for you but sometimes we are (that is Doctors) treating the symptoms rather then the cause. Worth looking into on the net. I do feel for you. 

[oZ]

I have had psoriasis since I was about 16. One benefit if you can call it that is it kept me out of Vietnam no way they were sending a kid with psoriasis.

When my psoriasis flared up in my 30s I went to a tanning saloon now called phototherapy by the medical community which worked miracles in clearing up the psoriasis as UV is probably one of he most effective treatments for psoriasis. The downside is this increases your chance of skin cancer in later years of life, I'm in my 60's and clear so far.

I have worked in the medical field for 40 years and my Pharmacists are not crazy about the medicines, but my niece who had full body psoriasis did get relief but has had better result with UV I believe.

The medications....BUT and there is always a but... Many possible side effects the biggest is lowering you immunity and increasing your chances of getting infections.

Well there you go, like all medical treatments including UV there is always a downside. Side note, I went to Florida a couple of years ago and spent time on the beach and water which really clear up my psoriasis.

Hope this helps.... oZ

[Moonshot_1]

I got it. Got it bad too. Tried all kinds of stuff then Enbril with limited success and switched to Humira a few months ago.

Spectacular results. Over 90% clear on the arms and 75% better on the legs and that might be due to some poor circulation issues. The skin is much smoother to the touch. But the stuff works good. It is an inject-able med and you can get it in the pen form which is what I use. Just click it and it sticks ya, automatically injects you, and over in a couple seconds virtually pain free.

If I were you I'd cut to the chase and visit the dermatologist and start the Humira program.

It is expensive but there are plans through the pharmaceutical company to cover much of the cost. Your dermatologist would know about these.

I'm 54 and have had this since my late 20's. Humira is the only stuff that really worked well so far.
Lotions and other remedies can relive the itchiness but won't really address the problem. A lot of the things I've tried in the past would work for a short time then it would be as if the psoriasis became resistant to it and it would come back even worse.

But so far with the Humira, the results have and continue to be remarkable. Usually the dry Iowa winter makes the psoriasis nearly unbearable but this winter it has been a hell of a relief.

[Oss]

one of the side effects of Embrel is Lymphoma

It is now printed on the label

It wasnt when my daughter started taking it

It gave relief................but at a terrible cost later

[old2soon]

I do not have it but my half sister on my Mothers side-R I P Sue-did. And I seem to remember a sun lamp used in her treatment at home. Again-if memory serves you can't cure it at best you can put it in check. I Truly hope you find a way to stay comfortable AND ride while you deal with this! Like others have said-get with a Good Dermatologist. RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

If you are a Veteran , VA pays for my humira. If not ,see if there are programs that will help. Some can cover the costs. I am on  humira for rheumatoid atrheritis.
  I have had good results.

                                            da prez 

[csj]

Have had psoriasis for 40 yrs., from the neck up. Just a PITA.

I have found that shampoos like head and shoulders have an
active ingredient called Pyrithione Zinc.

The stuff rips off the erupting skin, leaving the smooth skin
underneath.

Might work for you, check with your Doc first of course.

[crow]

Not something that gets a lot of research money thrown at.  Any way. Clobex topical spray 2x day, not really for the face. 
Betameth 0.25%/LCD 15%. Topical 2x day.  The latter has to be from a pharmacy that mixes or compounds.  It works wonders!

[Windrider]

I have had a mild problem with this since my late 20's.  Mainly scalp.  So I have used Pert Plus with Pyrithione zinc.  Worked until the last 3 years.  Now in my early 70's it's back and much worse - scalp is very bad, and face, arms, and legs are showing some small spots.  I worked in a medically related area for 34 years.   I don't recall hearing of a thyroid cause of this condition.  Would be interesting to look into that. It is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause that can wax and wane on it's own without explanation.  I understand, as noted by others, that it is not curable.

I have been experimenting with OTC shampoos with pyrithione zinc, silenium sulfate, coal tar, and coal  tar extract, and ketoconazole.  None seem to help much.  Coal tar seems to cause cancer in just about any animal you put it on but humans.

One prescription that worked briefly for me was Clobetasol Propionate, a topical solution for treating scalp psoriasis.  It's a steroid.  It can't be used for more than 2 weeks  --  so not much good for a chronic problem.  Clears the condition, but then it promptly returns when treatment is stopped.

Just an observation -- my barber says a lot of his customers are having flair ups of psoriasis this winter.

[cookiedough]

A lady at work has had it for well over 30 years now since high school.  She has to give herself daily shots I think in her stomach (I think? but not sure since she also has Krohns) otherwise it gets way out of control and she says once you get used to giving yourself a shot,  it is no big deal really.  I know she gets some kind of medical assistance since she cannot afford it, but don't know exactly what.  Her 2 kids also have major medical issues (daughter with psoriasis and rare bone disorder and boy with near weekly seizures) having to go to the various specialists every month or more.  Am sure they max out their deductibles and co-pays and insurance limits every year. 

Good luck and hope you get it taken care of and in check again.  I never knew anybody besides her who has it.  Seems to be a true hardship one must endure in their lives.  I asked her a long time ago why she never wears shorts and very rarely short sleeve shirts at work.  After seeing her elbows and knees being white from dry skin,  I can see why.  She even had her palms of her hands peeling off as well. 

[..]

NOT MY WORDS. DO YOUR OWN SEARCH / RESEARCH

Coconut Oil

 Coconut Oil has been found to be an excellent natural treatment for relieving psoriasis. A common recommendation is to take 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil each day. It can either be consumed directly from the spoon, or you can mix it into a fruit smoothie, sautee vegetables with it, or use it as a replacement for butter when eating pancakes. Another option is to apply coconut oil topically onto the affected area 3 times per day.
 

[Quicksilver]

I can't say it's psoriasis, but if it's a thickening of the scalp turning red and itchy like crazy with flakes then I've had it. Also spots on my arms with same characteristic. Used Selson Blue with selenium and head and shoulders, solution lasted a couple of days after washing hair. Brother visiting from west left a small bottle of shampoo, it works. Use it twice a month that's it, no symptoms. Called Nizoral, contains 2% Ketoconazole. Best solution I've found, can't say where he got it. Haven't run out yet, don't need much each time. I'll ask when I need to.

[Tundra]

Just a couple strokes of the keyboard found this...just throwing it out there, I know nothing about this.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtosFcCVepg
 As Dr. Pagano said, you can do a lot topically but if you don't cure your self inside you won't get rid of Psoriasis, no matter how much you try to cure your skin... Psoriasis is not a skin disease is a gut disease reflected in our skin

[henry 008]

thank you all for the responses!
ky dave, I had heard of thyroid problems could add to this problem. I asked the dr. and he did a blood test, and he said nothing significant came back. but I will look into this further.

oz, I had a tanning bed at homw for sometime, it helped some, but not enough.

moonshot, this will be my next course of action. humira or stelara, IF I run out of other options.

I'm not a vet, nor do I have it on my head (yet). so far its on myh abdomen, buttocks, and legs.

crow, I will definitely look into clobey spray.

Paul, I agree. I need to do my own research. its my body, my problem. thanks for the tip and the coconut oil suggestion.

tundra, what a wealth of information is out there. thanks for the u tube link. never thought of that. a lot of videos to weed thru to find ones that sound legit for me.

thanks again! hope to see you in the wind sometime.

[..]

Paul, I agree. I need to do my own research. its my body, my problem. thanks for the tip and the coconut oil suggestion.

Darn written words and no voice inflection.

I meant it in a friendly not hectoring way 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

thank you all for the responses!
ky dave, I had heard of thyroid problems could add to this problem. I asked the dr. and he did a blood test, and he said nothing significant came back. but I will look into this further.

Thyroid issues run all thru my family and when I had typical blood work show thyroid borderline my mom said if it's borderline in the blood work you have problems. Recommended a book with a more accurate indicator know as the barnes basil temperature test. I did the test and when went back to doc told him it shows hypothyroid. He discounted it but on my prodding did a t3 t4 and antibodies test. Came back positive and have my followup on Monday. We'll see if he sings a different tune now. I tell you all this only because I have read a lot and find it is severely under diagnosed. 

[justintyper]

ive had it in one form or another my whole life (i'm 41) but i had a major flair 2 years ago and went through all the prescriptions nothing worked well then i found an over the counter topical ointment called psoriasin (sp) i had spots all over my body and this was the only thing that worked reliably for me now ive got it down to a handful of areas in the winter mainly and summer time mainly knees and elbows. it's a coal tar salve so it doesnt smell real pretty but it has worked for me. 

[GareBear]

I've had it most my life.  I used enbrel many several years, it helped the arthritis but it never did more than keep the psoriasis  in check.  Had a flare last year, switched to humira with  great results.   I also use desoximethasone cream, which is pretty cheap and does pretty good.

I think stress is a big factor.  I noticed a change when i had less pressure at work.   Also noticed that a flare usually comes during particularly bad times. 

I've also heard that cutting out wheat and dairy help, but could never do that myself.