Hey I didn't post much in the last forum, but I'm back. Since I was gone I've been in school took a health class and did a stand up essay on Psoriasis got an A+ booyah. But even after all the crazy knowledge I absorbed nothing new I didn't already know emerged.

I've been reading psoriasis.org and theres a lot of pretty good info there as well. I got lazy, and busy with school, and forgot to update my psoriasis blog I started a while back, but it has some interesting things on there if anyone feels like checking that out.

Maybe I'll start posting again?? Anyways I have returned to the forum because honestly the best psoriasis information is found on forums I've found.

Before I get started let me just point out, skin cancer is the very last thing I could give two shittake mushrooms and a fudgesicle about. I live in the Pacific Northwest of USA and it rains like crazy and we have probably 40-50 sunny days a year here. I noticed on not only my trip to Panama but also my trip to Honduras, that sunshine, and a crap ton of it is pretty much the only thing I can do to positively effect my psoriasis without any prescription. Everything I've tried behind counters does nothing for me.

Anyway, a gym just opened up literally a block from my house and part of the $20 membership is all the free tanning you could want, which is awesome since the only other time I ever tried tanning was 4 months ago and it was $36/month. Also all of their beds are brand new. Hooray! So basically I've been twice now and my forehead feels less tight which is a good indicator something could be happening but still too early to tell. I will continue once every other day untill visable improvement appears and will post pics if so.

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Hi I'm from Florida and new here. Looking to learn about this disease

Scratch

While I like the idea of "So Called Super Stars" publicising psoriasis. I just don't like it when at the end of the day in my opinion they are only interested in making even more money and getting more publicity from it.

It's comforting to read that a "Celebrity" (I use the word cautiously as today anyone can be a celebrity) has psoriasis and wants to share with the world. you start to follow it and then suddenly you realise you are getting sucked in.

We all know about the Golfer, the Model, and now K.K (No I'm not going to say her name because I don't have a clue who she is) do some research on her and you start of thinking good on ya for helping others, and oh poor you having psoriasis. then you find out she is promoting "Airbrush Legs Spray" by S.H of course there was no fee involved for putting that statement on her blog.

I do wish these "So Called Super Stars" would stop promoting themselves and actually do something for the cause. Roy Castle didn't show his bald head for publicity of his career or to make money he done it to show awareness of Cancer! he was a genuine celebrity with an interest in people.

I'm a celebrity with psoriasis get me out of this thread.

I don't know if there is such a thing as Full Moon Syndrome but it's something I have been wondering about for years. I have mentioned it to others before and often felt it was not taken seriously.

So I'm going to start this thread and see if anything comes of it. you are free to join in and I welcome your feedback negative or positive.

I have noticed over the years that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis gets worse for me around the Full Moon! yes I have researched and there is no conclusive proof that the Full Moon affects psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

The next full moon is 7 days away and I have noticed a bit of a flare up, and this morning my bones were locked up. I must explain that I am do my next injection of Stelara in two weeks and that could be part of it. But I do believe the Full Moon does have an affect on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis.

I'm going to keep an eye on this and will update as and when I notice something I think is caused by the Full Moon. If you have an opinion please share.

Thanks.

Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that competition for early-line use of Amgen/Pfizer’s Enbrel and Abbott’s Humira continues to intensify in the treatment of psoriasis. According to new analysis of U.S. patient-level claims data, while Enbrel remains the most commonly used biologic in the treatment of psoriasis, Humira continues to see sustained quarter-over-quarter uptake among recently treated psoriasis patients, while Enbrel’s patient share has experienced a decline.
“Although Humira was the last tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitor to be approved for psoriasis in the United States, it is quickly gaining market share,” said Decision Resources Analyst Iva Holder, Ph.D. “Humira is increasingly prescribed for patients requiring or preferring efficacy greater than that of Enbrel. Thus, its increasing patient share is largely due to patients’ and physicians’ growing preference for Humira.”

Humira has also made inroads in the psoriatic arthritis market, where it has secured an advantage over Janssen Biotech’s Remicade for earlier positioning in the psoriatic arthritis treatment algorithm, despite launching around the same time. Recent analysis finds that at all three lines of therapy, Remicade’s patient share trails that of both Enbrel and Humira.

“Remicade has superior efficacy in treating psoriatic lesions compared with other marketed TNF-alpha inhibitors,” said Decision Resources Analyst Dancella Fernandes, Ph.D., M.B.A. “Yet, its intravenous administration and perceived safety disadvantages have limited its uptake.”

The analysis is part of Decision Resources’ Treatment Algorithms series. Through examination of patient-level claims data, the Treatment Algorithms series provides exceptional insight into physicians’ prescribing trends and the factors that drive therapy choice, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease. The Treatment Algorithms series is updated quarterly.

Source: decisionresources.com

Heart attack patients with psoriasis are 26 per cent more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, or suffer from recurrent heart attacks or strokes, and are 18 per cent more likely to die from all causes than those without the inflammatory skin disease.

Researchers studied nearly 50,000 patients who had experienced their first heart attack between 2002 and 2006, following the 462 patients with psoriasis for an average of 19.5 months and the 48,935 controls for an average of 22 months.

They found that the patients with psoriasis had higher all-cause and specific death rates and say this indicates the need for a more aggressive approach to secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in this group of patients.

Key finding of the study included:

    The incidence rates per 1000 patient years for all-cause deaths were 16 per cent higher for those with psoriasis (138.3 versus 119.4) and the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.18 (18 per cent higher).
    The incidence rates per 1000 patient years for deaths for a composite of cardiovascular death, recurrent heart attacks or stroke were 24 per cent higher for those with psoriasis (185.6 versus 149.7) and the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.26 (26 per cent higher).
    Baseline measurements showed that patients with psoriasis had a higher rate of hospitalisation for stable and / or unstable angina (severe chest pain). They also showed that a higher percentage of patients with psoriasis were treated with statins and ACE inhibitors / angiotensin 2 receptor blockers.
    Patients with psoriasis who survived their first heart attack were more likely to receive statin therapy than those without psoriasis. However the presence of other health issues, and the differences in clinical management, did not explain the worsened prognosis in patients with psoriasis.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the prognosis in patients with psoriasis following a heart attack" says Dr Ahlehoff. "Our findings show that people with psoriasis demonstrated a significantly increased risk of recurring adverse cardiovascular events and a trend for increased all-cause deaths after a heart attack.

"Furthermore, the poor prognosis faced by psoriasis patients who have had a heart attack suggests the need for a more aggressive approach to secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in this group of patients."

Source: sciencedaily.com

Objective:
Vitamin D insufficiency appears to be a pandemic problem and is more common in inhabitants of high latitude compared to low latitude areas. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), its seasonal and geographic variation, and the possible association with demographics and disease activity.

Methods:
This study was conducted in a northern geographic area and in a subtropical region from March 2009 to August 2009. Most subjects were assessed in both winter and summer. Demographics, clinical data, skin phototype, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were determined. Multivariate linear and logistic mixed models were used to assess the relationship with serum 25(OH)D levels.

Results:
In total, 302 PsA patients were enrolled. Two hundred fifty-eight patients were evaluated during the winter, while 214 patients were evaluated during the summer. 25(OH)D levels in winter and summer were adequate (north: 41.3% winter and 41.4% summer, south: 42.1% winter and 35.1% summer), insufficient (north: 55.7% winter and 58.6% summer, south: 50.9% winter and 62.2% summer), and deficient (north: 3% winter and 0% summer, south: 7% winter and 2.7% summer) among patients. There was no association between 25(OH)D levels, geographic and seasonal interaction, race, employment status, and skin phototype or disease activity in both seasons. No association between disease activity in summer and vitamin D levels in winter could be found.

Conclusion:
A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among PsA patients was found. There was no seasonal variation in 25(OH)D levels among PsA patients in the southern and northern sites. No association could be established between disease activity and vitamin D level.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Creabilis raised €15 million (about $20 million) in a Series B round of fundraising led by Abbott Biotech Ventures. The funds will be used to support continuing development of the firm’s lead product CT327 to the end of Phase II trials, along with additional pipeline candidates.

CT327 is a topical TrkA kinase inhibitor which is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and proof-of-concept studies in pain. The candidate has been developed using Creabilis’s Low Systemic Exposure (LSE) platform for conjugating small molecules to low molecular weight polyoxyethylene. The firm claims the LSE technology results in products with high local and low systemic exposures, and optimizes drug molecules for topical routes of administration.

Creabilis’s pipeline includes a second, LSE-modified TrkA kinase inhibitor, CT340, which is preclinical development for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and also for other indications including inflammatory aritis and pain. The firm says it anticipates filing an IND application in 2012.

A second preclinical-stage candidate, CT637, is a PEGylated variant of HMGB-1 Box-A domain targeting Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which is in development for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.  Creabilis’s research-stage CT750 program is centred on the development of  LSE-modified local anaesthetics for the treatment of pain, which demonstrate low systemic exposure and thus reduced risk of cardiotoxicity.

Source: genengnews.com

Research shows that most who have survived these harsh symptoms of skin itch, dryness, discolorations and even cracking engage in a multitude of treatments. Some good news is that nutrients found in the quail egg contribute greatly to the maintenance and prevention of skin allergies. Specifically, they aid in controlling allergic skin symptoms; healing skin damage from eczema and psoriasis; and minimizing the possibility of future allergic skin flair-ups.

Among the most prescribed methods for healing skin damaged from excessive dryness, peeling and cracking is to continually hydrate the skin. As a product well balanced in the essential fatty acids, quail eggs provide a natural remedy for cell moisture. What's more, its Vitamin B2 riboflavin makes it a natural remedy for repairing damaged tissue without having to consume the high cholesterol associated with the more popular meat, fish and chicken egg sources of Vitamin B2.

A key to reducing itchiness and unsightly skin rash from eczema and psoriasis is to minimize inflammation while detoxifying the body from residual acids. The latter requires foods that are high in alkaline-to-acid formation in order to minimize skin flair ups attributed to toxic residual acids stored in our bodies. Quail eggs are not only high in alkaline formation; they are available all year round. Other inflammation reducing remedies for instant itch relief include corticosteroid hormones, immune-suppressants and anti-itch antihistamines.

Perhaps no greater solution exists for avoiding skin flair-ups than to strengthen our immunity systems by rectifying Vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Research has identified enriched sources of Vitamin A as perhaps the most vital nutrient deficiency to replenish. In particular, products rich in Vitamin A retinol have been found to heal damaged epithelial tissue associated with eczema. Quail eggs are not only rich in Vitamin A, they are among the only sources of retinol that does not compromise your cholesterol levels.

Hello, not sure if this is the right place to post, but I had a question about skin care products with Irish Peat in them. I've heard they're meant to be good but as they are expensive I've not been able to try any. Wondered if anyone here has? Or, what moisturisers do people find help? I used cetraban which I didn't get on with, made me itch so now I've settled on Double Base for a while now which seems to not irritate my skin.

Thanks, JustJess x

Hello, just thought I'd share I've been using a shampoo from Boots, it's from a range called Naked. Think it's 97% natural ingredients and after a long search it's one that you can get on the high st. which doesn't seem to have sodium laurel sulphate in it. It hasn't helped clear my scalp but it has helped reduce the itching (been using it about a year now) and I don't need to use quite as much xamiol now so less scaling all over (still chronic round my hair line though). Just wanted to share.

I'd be interested to know what other people use for soap/shampoo and what experiences they've had.

Thanks, JustJess

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Hello everyone, I've just posted a looong post about my situation in the 'Please Help Me' section. When I'm not letting this plague ruin my life, I'm actually a nice person so looking forward to being part of this community and hoping I can learn from how other people do more than exist with this awful disease and hopefully, when I'm in a better place offer support to other people having a hard time with it! Thanks for reading.
JustJess x

Hi, hoping some people on here might be able to offer some words of advice or support.

Yes, I want to rip my skin off. Or burn it. All of it. I've had this plague for nearly 4 years now, I'm a woman in my mid 30's. it's everywhere and it just keeps getting worse. I've had both forms of light therapy - TLO1 and PUVA which were unresponsive, use dovobet all the time, and xamiol all the time. As best patches fade but never all of it. I was offered the next set of tablet treatment but I won't take it as it can cause cancer (which runs in the family any way) and infertility. I'm so at the end of my tether now with it, it has sytematically ruined my life in 4 short years and now I can feel a real depression coming over me having been made redundant earlier this year and recently separated from my husband. I'm getting to a very real mental state of thinking 'What is the point of it all, I can't live a normal life with this thing, it's never going to go away. I won't ever be able to have a normal relationship where I'm comfortable'.

I don't enjoy anything. I'm miserable all the time because of this. Every single day I wake up thinking what's the point even about very basic normal stuff, you know, 'What shall I wear today?' Who cares? There's no point. Wear the same as every other day. All I can wear is long trousers and long sleeved tops or jumpers (that have to be white due to scalp plague). Anything in contact with my skin is painful or itches like mad unless I moisturise top to toe every 2 hours. This plague is in every fold of skin so no matter how many times I wash or moisturise the skin splits, turns to a delightful paste and smells of rotting flesh (I am a very clean person but it does this anyway). I am a picture of femininity. Not.

I have to force myself to leave the house which causes so much anxiety I often talk myself out of it.

People I see don't 'get' what it's like and I often get a cursory and polite 'your skin's looking better' I usually nod and reply with a 'mmmmmm', but inside my head is screaming at them 'no, obviously it's not better. It's just as bad as last time I saw you so shut the fu*k up'. Or worse, for example if I hear people talking about how they have nothing to wear, in my head I want to scream at them 'try living a life knowing you will NEVER. EVER., be able to wear a skirt, or cropped trousers, or a vest, or a t-shirt EVER again or ever go to a special event or get dressed up and then see how limited your wardrobe looks. Just be grateful you self-centred and insensitive git'. (ok, that's probably more one for the girls).

I can't go on a night out with friends or family as it just throws up the question, what can I wear. Jeans and a cardigan like every other single day
of my life. I hate the school run, the other Mums just stare.

Think that's one of the worst things about this plague, people think it's something worse or something contagious and they stare. They never ask. Maybe it would be better if they did. On public transport it's a nightmare, I daren't hold onto a hand rail on an over crowded bus, people physically lean away from me as if they're going to catch it. And, after a hot day in an office, with every skin fold pasty and l'eau'd'rot in full effect, it's no joy getting on an even hotter bus packed to the rafters where you're inches away from people on all sides. I waited over an hour once for a bus that wasn't full (busses arrive every 8 minutes or so).

I know this is a genetic thing passed down through the family but I can't forgive the person who gave it to me. If they knew this ran in the family they shouldn't of had children. If I had known about it and that it was hereditory and that I would get it, I would not have had my daughter (really). I didn't get this plague until after she was born. If I have passed this on to her I'll never forgive myself either.

People say, 'you've just got to not let it affect you'. How? Please tell me. How do I do that when it is a constantly in my face taunting, 'look at the life you could of had!'
Another thing I get a lot is 'you've just got to get out in the world and take each day at a time' Again, HOW????? And my personal favourite 'there are people in the world with worse things that this'. True. Very true, but that doesn't mean my experience of this is any less real or valid.

If there's a knack to just accepting it? Please tell me. I'm just not one of those people who can just put two fingers up to the world and say 'this is me, if you don't like it, that's your problem'. I would love to know how people on here have come to terms with it. How do people live normal lives with this disease when it affects so many things on a day to day basis.

Here's a list of things I can't do now, some of which are day to day things and others are 'that would be a nice thing to do once in a while but I can't because of the plague' kind of things....
1. I can't take my daughter swimming. (breaks my heard because she always asks me if I'll be able to take her when my skin is better to which I have to say 'yes' because she's desperate for me to go with her even though I know it'll never be better enough to do it.
2. I will NEVER be able to wear a t-shirt or a vest out in public again.
3. I will NEVER be able to wear a skirt/dress/cropped trousers in public again.
4. I can no longer wear my hair in a ponytail due to it being so bad on my scalp.

These things alone are enough to fu*k your life up, imagine never being able to wear a t-shirt again in hot weather. I literally have anxiety leaving the house now and have to make sure I'm covering it all up with my boots, jeans, long sleeved t-shirt or jumper or cardignan which is most delightful in 30 degree heat.

5. It fu*king hurts. No matter how clean or how moisturised I keep it it hurts. Every. Single. Day. Sitting for more that 5 minutes, standing, walking, sleeping.
6. I can't sit in the garden. It's over looked. I used to be a really outdoorsy person, not anymore.
7. Can't go on holiday. Anywhere that might need skin exposure due to heat ot activity. Unless perhaps a secluded holiday if such a thing exists. I know I wouldn't enjoy it. The mere thought fills me with dread. Might as well stay at home and be secluded here. (cheaper). Unfortunately that means my daugher won't ever have a holiday which hardly seems fair. More guilt.
8. Can't play team sports - can't wear shorts or t-shirt.
9. Can't go to the gym - same as above.
10. Can't think, hey it's my birthday, lets get the girls together and go for a spa day or out for a meal.
11. Can't join in on friends hen do's or birthday days out as they usually involve the above.
12. Can't have a love life.
13. Can't get a hair cut. - Probably manage 2 a year after weeks of mental preparation and hours of crying beforehand. Same with the dentist or optician or seeing the Doctor, anything that involves someone being close to my head.
14. Answering the front door. It has to be a very VERY good day for me to answer the front door. Usually just sit very still and hope they go away.

These things might sound like materialistic things but they're really not, they're normal everyday things which you take for granted until you can't do them anymore.

Maybe I should just suck it up and get on with it like people tell me to but I just can't seem to get past this.

Before this, I was a happy, out-going, confident person and fun to be around. Really.

Would burning the skin help? Would it come back? I'll consider anything. Honestly.

Sorry for being depressing. Someone help me, please. Any advice will be gratefully received.
JustJess

We all know how important it is to use plenty of Moisturiser. I mostly use Coconut Oil which I get from an ethnic shop in the city. a €4 pot lasts me about 3 months. I sometimes switch to a 50/50 mix of Olive and Peanut Oil. My dermatologist also gives me Dexeryl, I don't use it that often though.

So what do you use as a Moisturiser ?

Company names a fine but please don't post links as it's not good for the forum.

Thanks.

The FDA requires that all skincare companies list their ingredients in order of highest concentration first. Learn to read your lotion labels. Do your own research as well. Does your daily lotion contain these harmful ingredients?

Paraben
This is also known as Methylparaben, Propylparaben, IIsoparaben, Butylparaben. Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They have been linked to possible carcinogenicity, as well as an estrogenic effect from being exposed to the continued use of parabens as preservatives. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report "Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change?" reported that the parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. It is a known medical fact that estrogen stimulates breast cancer and anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the concentration of an oral dose. There have been no successful studies to show that repeated and prolonged use of paraben is safe. It is a low-cost synthetic preservative for which many large cosmetic brands have tried to fund study to prove that prolonged usage is safe; all studies failed. Parabens are used in many personal products as a preservative to extend the shelf life of products. These chemicals can be found in face and body moisturizers, body wash, and cleansers.

Petrochemicals
Almost all skin care products contain synthetic substances - petroleum (chemical) based. Studies have found that oral and topical application of petrochemicals in rodents resulted in anemia, kidney degeneration, and nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. Even more disturbing was that several animals died before the study ended! Are you shocked that people still use these chemicals on their body? Some synthetic colors, such as FD & C Blue No. 1, are suspected carcinogens. Behentrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydrosypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linoleamidepropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate are toxic ammonium compounds for which concentrations as low as 0.1%. In the past little, was known about the long term exposure to petrochemicals. However, today we know that many of the household cleaning products, home furnishings and our food supply is loaded with petrochemicals, and this is linked to the rise in cancer, along with other diseases. The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has not been proactive in removing these products from households in the United States. Read more about petrochemicals at The Ecology Centre.

Phthalates
A truly toxic skin care ingredient. Dibutylphthalate and diethylphthalate (DBP, DEP, also butyl ester) helps lotions absorb into skin. DEHP has been classified as a "probable human carcinogen" by the EPA. The Department of Health and Human Services has also classified DEHP as a potential carcinogen. L'Oreal is the only major cosmetic company to discontinue the use of this chemical in Europe only due to severe allergic reactions. L'Oreal in the United States, as well as many other cosmetic companies continue to sell and use this harmful chemical. We prefer a lotion that may take longer to absorb, rather than a lotion which absorbs rapidly while injecting cancer and killing our skin cells. Do not use it.

Cosmetic Fragrance
Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum or coal which degrade in the environment and cause skin irritations.
Cosmetic fragrance is made with cheap synthetic chemicals which replicate the natural aroma of products which already exist in nature. Companies use them because it is cheaper than using the natural scent.

Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate
Also known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). This is the second most concentrated ingredient in shampoos. READ YOUR LABELS - the FDA requires that label ingredients are listed in the order of highest concentrations - meaning that the highest level of ingredients are listed first. Take a look at your cleanser or shampoo and you will find SLS is second or third. Simply disgusting. It is used in concrete floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car wash detergents, and just about every soap and shampoo on the market. In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. According to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, Vol. 2, No. 7, l983, SLS is a mutagen. In sufficient amounts, it is capable of changing the information in genetic material found in cells. It has been used in studies to induce mutations in bacteria. It denatures protein, impairs proper structural formation of young eyes, creating permanent damage. SLS can damage the immune system. It can cause separation of skin layers and cause inflammation to the skin. If it interacts with other nitrogen bearing ingredients. Do your own research - there have been many studies done on these chemicals.

Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
It is chemically related to imidazolidinyl urea and is a formaldehyde releaser used as a preservative. It was International Agency for Research on Cancer to its highest toxic class, IARC 1 (known human carcinogen). Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which provides sufficient evidence that formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin.

It has been banned in Europe, after studies concluded that effects can result in: carcinogen, causes allergic reactions and contact dermatitis; headaches; irritates mucous membranes; damaging to eyes; linked to joint and chest pain; depression; headaches; fatigue; dizziness and immune dysfunction.

Source: madefromearth.com