Hi, 

I thought i would do a quick introduction before i jump in with questions :-) 

I am 35 and have been suffering with serious psoriasis for about 18 months. 
I havent really had any issues in the past with this, only sometimes on my face and scalp if i was run down or stressed.  After a period of high stress a while back, i got it really bad all over my body, and i mean ALL OVER! 

My legs got it the worst, it was like burns on my legs.  I ended up going A&E as my feet and ankles had swollen up so bad i couldnt put shoes on. 

I was first put on Ciclosporin and now i am on Methotrexate.  Ciclosporin worked pretty well. I would say about 90% clear up.  Now i am on Methotrexate and i am not doing so well. 

So thought i should join a forum like this one where i can find out tips and tricks to living with my skin condition.  

Thanks
Jimish

I am glad I found this group to learn from others who are dealing with the same things I'm dealing with. I have had Psoriasis for 42 years, but have been fortunate to have had times of remission. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis when I was 31 - I remember sitting in the doctors office crying because I couldn't play with my 2 small children because the pain was blinding at times (oh man, if I bumped an inflammed joint - took my breath away for a minute - I remember even getting light-headed from the pain). Fast forward to 20 years later - kids moved out and are on their own, my husband and I are empty nesters - and we are loving it (don't tell our kids - we dearly love them, but it is nice to be in this chapter of our life).

I have taken Stelara for 2 1/2 years and had fantastic results, but it is no longer working on my skin - darn psoriasis is spreading on my scalp again - no where else though. But you know what? If this is my lot in life, I can deal with it - it could be something much, much worse! It could always be worse! 

I am at a fork in the road right now, my derm and rheum want me to start cosentyx, but I am having a lot of anxiety after reading possible side effects and justifying taking this new drug for a little scalp psoriasis. The arthritis is not bad right now - I can tell it's worsening some, but is it bad enough to take a new drug or should I just use the topical treatments on my scalp for now and pain relievers for the joint pain? I've got to make a decision. 

It's nice knowing there are kindred spirits here with a listening ear and an understanding of what I'm going through. Looking forward to getting to know you all. 

This study looked at neuropsychiatric comorbidity in adolescent psoriasis patients.

Quote:

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Background:
Psoriasis is a known risk factor for neuropsychiatric diseases among adults. Less is known about the impact on adolescents.

Objectives:
To investigate the association between psoriasis and neuropsychiatric comorbidity and social skills among adolescents.

Methods:
A population‐based cross‐sectional study between 1 January 1999 and 1 January 2014 was conducted. The study included 1746 and 1366 adolescents (aged 16 to 18) with mild and moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis, respectively. The psoriasis patients were diagnosed by a dermatologist. Neuropsychiatric diseases were diagnosed by a neurologist and a psychiatrist, as appropriate. Social skills were evaluated using psychosocial assessment. Patients with psoriasis were compared with 884 653 healthy controls by a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, country of origin, socioeconomic status, cognitive skills and body mass index. A subgroup evaluation was done for comorbidity that could only be evaluated for part of the recruitment years, using a univariate analysis.

Results:
Overall chronic headaches (8·1% vs. 3·4%), intermediate frequency migraine (4·8% vs. 1·6%), low‐frequency migraine and nonmigraine headaches (3·4% vs. 1·8%) were associated with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis only compared with healthy controls [adjusted odds ratios (OR) 1·9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·6–2·4; 2·3, 95% CI 1·8–3·0 and 1·5, 95% CI 1·1–2·1, respectively]. Anxiety disorders (2·1% vs. 0·8%) and impaired social adjustment skills (7·5% vs. 4·2%) were also associated with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis only compared with healthy controls [adjusted ORs 2·9, 95% CI 1·6–5·5 and 1·9, 95% CI 1·3–2·6 (of 466 vs. 265 023), respectively].

Conclusions:
Psoriasis among adolescents is associated with neuropsychiatric comorbidity and impaired adjustment skills, depending on disease severity.

Gundry claims that, of 800 people who followed his diet, after 6 months everybody was cured (forum rules won't let me post the link).
 
I have been following his protocol for 4 months now and still have psoriasis. The first 3 months, I may have unintentionally cheated when eating out, and ate rice, possibly too much fruit, and drank vodka. The past 3 weeks I have followed it down to a tee with no remarkable improvement and I am tempted to give it up.

When have others given up or been cleared?

On a standard elimination diet, usually 4 days is recommended to detect if this is causing issues.

With psoriasis, do we think 4 days without worsening psoriasis is sufficient to conclude this is not a problem food?

Hi all,

Update from my January 2018 review. Yes the low dosage of FUME was still holding it at bay. I had agreed with the nurse as such a low dosage. It was probably doing nothing so felt it was time to come off it and may be restart when P started to raise its ugly head again. 

That was in January . Its now Mid April and still 99.5 % free small patch on knee.  Topics coping with this.

Has anyone else experienced this as 

Wish you all well.

Baz

Hi everyone,
i'm Yossi and i was diagnosed with psoriasis almost a year ago after two years with false diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis.
I live in Israel (Dead Sea yeah!) so my English isn't the best.
I'm still working with myself on how to deal with this disease, what treatment is the best for me. i strongly believe diet has a big impact on the skin so i'm trying to cut off sugar and gluten (not so successful for now ). 
Anyway, hope i can learn new things here and meet nice people.

Yossi.

Spain asks The European Medicines Agency (EMA) to look at dosing errors with methotrexate in the treatment of arthritis and psoriasis.

Quote:

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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a review of the risk of dosing errors with methotrexate medicines.

When used for inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and psoriasis, methotrexate is taken once a week whereas for some types of cancer, the dose is higher and the medicine is used more frequently. Mistakes have led to some patients incorrectly receiving a dose every day instead of every week. As a result, patients have received too much of the medicine, with serious consequences in some cases.

The risk of dosing errors with methotrexate has been recognised for many years and several measures are already in place in some EU countries to reduce this risk, including the use of visual reminders on the medicine packs. However, a recent assessment found that serious adverse events related to overdose, including fatalities, are still occurring. The Spanish medicines regulator, AEMPS, therefore asked EMA to further investigate the reasons why dosing errors continue to occur in order to identify measures to prevent them.

EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) will now examine the available evidence and recommend whether further measures are needed to minimise the risk of dosing errors. The PRAC will also take into account the work of bodies specialising in patient safety.

well just had my first injection of stelara. even had to inject myself, but all went well. now fingers crossed n hope for the best 

Hello everyone,

Very happy to have found this site. Frenchy from Quebec Canada

So, I have been using topical steroids (1%) for skin under my eyes for a week, stopped now. I wanted to use concealer on it, but noticed it would cause flakiness or skin cells to come off, get stuck to my skin and caught up in the concealer. Now, I have stopped the concealer, stopped the creams and been putting coconut oil and moisturizer on that part of my face, for the last 2 or 3 days.
Now, my question is... when i run my finger over it, I noticed that the skin feels ever so slightly more raised, rougher and dryer, oppose to the other side under my other eye where its softer, smoother etc. 


Can someone enlighten me as to what this may be? Is it psoriasis coming back (despite no burning or itching sensation). Is this how the skin heals? is it just dry left over skin because it's thinner? Will it return to it's normal smoothness so I can apply concealer again? 

I have also been using the steroid cream above my eyelid too, as I have problems there and I did the same test... not quite the same, but did notice it was a little rougher and dry in comparison. So perhaps it's normal?

Not being able to hide my dark circles causes huge grief.

Been using Stelera for a while now and Im prettig impressed with the results. However, my toenails are manky. Disgusting as it sounds, I end up picking at them and pulling bits of nail out. This results in my toes often being painful where its uncomfortable to wear shoes or even walk sometimes.
I was condidering having my toenails removed. Has anyone else done this. Will my toenails ever recover.
Has anyone any tips or suggestions.

I like to use a concealer under my eye's to hide the dark circles, now, as I have developed psoriasis there I was wondering if it was possible to use to hide the psoriasis too.

More from the perspective of making it worse. I only use the concealer and nothing else.

I went to the beach almost 3 weeks ago and woke up with a swollen-ish red eyelid the next day. I have had a little bit of psoriasis on that eye previously, but the next day I developed an extra fold and my eyelid was red.
I put on the 1% cream for a bit of time but it didn't do anything... if anything, it got worse. I used it on and off, then one night I put 1% ointment on and the next day it was like 60% better. 

I then continued using it on and off for about 5 or so days and it was stagnant. 

Following this I had a big flare-up on my face.

I saw the dermo and she said continue using the 1% ointment until it gets better.

Now my problem is, I keep using it, but the extra fold is still there and theres a red line above my eyelid in the hollow of my eye that won''t go away. Luckily, it's not noticeably red unless I lift my eyebrows.

I am a bit worried.

Any help or ideas or experience?
Will my eye just naturally heal over time? I also am scared to use too much of the ointment for excess steroid use.

Hey!

I am a 23 year old from Australia. I have had psoriasis under my arms and on my hairline since 2015, but as of last week (25/3/18) I was officially diagnosed with psoriasis after a flare-up.
I have it on my hairline, behind my ears, scalp, on my eye lid and now under my eyes.

I am self conscious about it, despite it being relatively minor, I am doing well-ish to keep it under control with 1% corticosteroids. 

Outside of Psoriasis I am working for one of Australias biggest utilities in their innovation department and am studying a masters of entrepreneurship.

Hi all, 

So I had a day yesterday. I went to my rheumatology referral and the doctor literally said, "I don't treat psoriasis; I treat psoriatic arthritis, but you don't have that." However, she said the awful outbreak and heard me tell her I have limited time to see doctors due to my job. She was the University of Tennessee group, and she got me into a UT dermatology clinic that afternoon. They tried to draw blood that morning, but I was severely dehydrated because I had bottomed out the night before due to low sugar and my ex had to come stay the night with me to make sure I was ok. So they couldn't get any blood; they said the derm would get it. 

So i get to the dermatologist--he understands how severe this is--however, he said he couldn't start me on anything until the blood tests came back and made sure everything was OK. He did say he believed I needed a biologic treatment, and in order to get that, I needed to see him at his other practice. He tried to get me in Monday, but it's Wednesday. Derm nurse couldn't get blood and told me to go back to rheumatology to get it drawn. Drove back across town, begged and pleaded, told them I could not return Monday because of my job, and they called a nurse who got it the first stick and drew 8 vials. 

Not sure what they will put me on, but the dr also said he saw the severity of the situation and asked if I could make it downtown 3 days a week for light treatment... I'm assuming he meant UV, he said it was like a tanning bed... I told him no, I can't do that because of my job. 

they also told me the ER should never have put me on predisone because it can actually make psoriasis worse! I told them it didn't, it actually cleared it up. Then they gave me a scrip of topical steroid OINTMENT, not cream, to use until I start actual treatment. 

So.... knowing they are looking at the biologic route, depending on bloodwork, etc. ... can anyone tell me a little more about that? Is it oral, or injections? If you have taken biologics, how effective have they been? Are there multiple different biologics? Has anyone experienced more help with one versus the other? etc.

I appreciate any pointers... I told the dr thanks to the board here I knew about biologics and he said "Sounds like you have done your research," which I thought was funny since I actually don't know exactly what a biologic is or how it's taken! but... excellent derm. Am still shocked my PCP kept sending me to rheumatology then I got there and the rheumatologist was like, "I don't treat this." I think she saw I was on the verge of a breakdown, hence the same-day appt with a derm. 

thanks for all you guys advice and support....

Hello all,

My name is Adam Broomfield.

I've been suffering with psoriasis since 2008. I've had my fair share of treatments like most of you probably have.

The treatments I've tried so far are:

UV sessions
Dovobet
Revitol
Various moisturizers
Methotrexate

I'm currently on Acitretin. I've been on it for roughly 2 months now. There is no visual change at the moment. I have one more month on this treatment before I'm back to the dermatologist.

I'm looking forward to speaking with some of you people.


Many thanks,

Adam.

This study suggests using short term narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) can benefit the effect of Fumaric acid esters (FAE) in the treatment of psoriasis.

Quote:

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Background:
Fumaric acid esters (FAE) are safe and effective in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis but have a slow onset of action. A short‐term combination with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) may substantially accelerate the therapeutic response in the induction phase of treatment.

Objectives:
To assess the synergistic effect of a 6‐week course of NB‐UVB phototherapy in addition to FAE in adults with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods:
In this randomized, assessor‐masked trial, patients with a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of ≥ 10 and a body surface area affected of ≥ 10 were randomized either to monotherapy with FAE (n = 16) or a combination of FAE with NB‐UVB (n = 14). The primary outcome parameter of the study was the mean PASI reduction after 6 weeks of treatment. In addition, the PASI 75 response (≥ 75% improvement from baseline PASI), the Psoriasis Log‐based Area and Severity Index (PLASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were assessed as secondary outcome measures.

Results:
In total, 30 patients (19 men, 11 women; median age 52 years, interquartile range 36–56) were analysed. The mean reduction in PASI after 6 weeks was significantly greater with the combination treatment than with FAE monotherapy (P = 0·016). This was paralleled by a much faster improvement in the DLQI in the combination group than in the FAE‐monotherapy group.

Conclusions:
Adding a 6‐week course of NB‐UVB to FAE both accelerates and augments the therapeutic response during the early phase of treatment and increases quality of life in patients with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis.

Hello everyone, I’m new at this so I might get it wrong so bear with me. I’ve been reading about the Methotrexate, I was given the leaflet yesterday by the derm, I hadn’t seen her before but I originally went to say I would start the Fumaric acid Easter’s, I think that’s spelt right . I came home and researched Methotrexate and I didn’t like the side effects it gave ie, stay out of sun, very little alcohol and also hair thinning or loss!, my hair isn’t very thick any way so I don’t want that added embassesment. Can anybody throw any more light on this please?.

Hello everyone.  I have had psoriasis for about 4 months now.  It was isolated to my eyelid for the first three months, but here lately it has appeared along my hairline, my chin and now my other eyelid is inflammed.  After doing some research I believe this popped up due to my getting a yeast infection from bathing in a bath tub.  I always take showers, but I thought I would give a shot at a "detox bath," and unfortunately for me the bath tub must have not been clean.  Right away I started having symptoms of a yeast infection.  I haven't had one for over 20 years, but when you get one, you know it immediately.  At the time I did not realize the correlation, but at some point after that, my eyelid starting flaring up.  I thought it was a reaction to make-up, but I hadn't made any cosmetic changes.  The skin started to peel off so then I started thinking it was something else, which led me to psoriasis.  

My research has led me to conclude that the yeast infection went "wild" (candida) compromised my gut, giving me leaky gut, allowed pathogens into my bloodstream, which were then emitted via my skin and caused psoriasis.  So therefore my goal is to kill the candida, heal my gut and hopefully the psoriasis will go away.

My plan will start with a 2-3 day bone broth cleanse.  To the broth I can add a combination of broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic and spices such as turmeric, rosemary, sea salt and black pepper.  The bone broth has amino acids which helps to heal the gut and also to help remove toxins built up in the digestive tract.  Dr. Pagano suggests colonics and/or enemas, which I am adverse to, so I will go with the food inducing cleanse instead.  

After the cleanse, I will then begin what amounts to a candida diet program.  I will also eliminate the nightshade family of foods which Dr. Pagano suggests are possible psoriasis triggers.  Nightshade foods include: white potatoes, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, tobacco, peppers (excluding black pepper), paprika and cayenne.  



Here is my food list (I will try to do organic when possible):

vegetables: artichokes, zucchini, asparagus, avocado, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, onions, garlic, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, kale, romaine lettuce, olives (no white vinegar)

meat: grass fed beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, sockeye salmon, lamb

nuts/seeds: almonds, flax seeds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds

grains: quinoa, millet, buckwheat, almond flour, coconut flour

herbs/spices: basil, black pepper, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, dill, ginger, nutmeg, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, sea salt

oils: extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, virgin coconut oil, grass fed butter

seasonings: lemon juice, raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, organic chicken bone broth

beverages: filtered water, unsweetened almond/coconut milk, peppermint tea, ginger tea, pau d'arco tea, licorice tea

sweeteners: stevia that does not have maltodexterin, dextrose or sugar alcohols.  Whole leaf stevia.  

dairy: unsweetened grass fed yogurt, unsweetened grass fed kefir.


I also plan on taking daily:  

Supplements:  fish oil, collagen, ashwagandha, probiotics

Vitamins: C, D, E, folic acid, biotin

Minerals: Zinc