Hello,

I am suffering of a mild psoriasis for a good whilw now. It's going to be my one year anniversary soon, and honestly I don't think i am up for celebration as I am completely fed up. Sometimes I am thinking of cutting my elbows and slammng it againts the wall. 

It began during my college study, i was stressed, i smoked a lot. I began to devellop a bronchitis, and ... Both of my elbows Began to itch. The two conditions combined with a great fatigue i couldn't sleep trought. It's also worthy to say that i was hospitalized for a "non specified psyschosis" for 6 months prior my return in college. This long period of prolonged stress may have triggered the P.

Since the beginning of my P on my elbows, i have noticed I have somehow probably suffered of it for many years but it wasn't a big concern as it wasnt flaring up furiously but rather would only itch a bit here and there on my scalp, or on my torso.

As of today the only part of my body that is still a concern is my left elbow. My right elbow is 98% clear. The left elbow is where lies my problems and concerns.

The problem is how thick, and how deep it is. Its like if I have wood in my elbow. I Think of it as the famous Hans Ruedi Giger's Alien creature. Imagine the tail of the creature, the shell, and the repetitivenes of the structure... It is as if tails are creping inside of my elbow. It is my analogy, as silly ostupid as it may sound. Another analogy is cat Claws. The "hook" shaped hardened skins interlocked, braided togheter. 

It is my impression that some P is "older" and thikier and looks like its a sort of root. It wasnt what i was expecting whn it first started to itch one year ago. I couldnt imagine i had studs of skin deep inside. I was upset however by the claws tips poking out. 

I became less and less hopeful as I understood that the elbow skin structure is complicated, that it couldnt be scratched away with my nails alone. Sort of like the tip of the iceberg, the deeper it goes the more complicated and hellish it is. No matter how desperate i am, i am not able to get the dead stuff (or semi dead..) skin studs out. 

A week ago I began to read about medical treatments. First, i got OTC ointment/cream at 1% cortisol. Does nothing but Sooth and relax my skin, a bit of improvement in comfort. But then I added another cream into the mix. Salicilyc acid, which is i think a weak equivalent of some precribed cream approved for pso in several countries. 

The mix of cortisol and salicilyc makes it easier to losen the thick skin. It's now possible for me to get rid of the thickiest skin that make my life impossible. But, this is a process. Sort of like dismantling a complicated puzzle.

But, this is where i am coming to you. I have read a lot, I am quite surprised on how some persons are resilient or patient. May be i am not going to get any relief from working on my elbow skin "mechanically" with a thin needle and my nails rather than waiting passively for some improvement with some cream. 

It is known that the condition is re-trigerred when the skin is damaged or tampered with. I've experiemented it. I am tring to be gentle with it when i am fighting no matter how F**king fed up I am.  

So is this a story that ressemble yours ? Where were you able to get rid of the bony skin with salicilyc acid ? Is this a good way to get my elbow back or this is just Unrealistic ?

I understand that it may seem unpraticable. That some P is stubborn, and that its not recommended to "Scratch it away", as it can worsen, or it could get infected. But may be you get the point. 

So that is all for now, go ahhead with your toughts. Please try to keep in mind that i am not stupid as I may sound And i am not encouraging anyone to do what i am doing. I hope i am clear, it isnt simple as it sound, i am doing what seem to be the bes thing in my own particular situation. If yours is simillar and you went by the same path then share your toughts.



Thanks for reading !
Mogwai

Hi mogwai and   to the club yes your story is not uncommon. But you are doing well if you have got the psoriasis to just one elbow now... it is frustrating when it won't reduce and the best advice I can give is to ask your doctor former some steroid ointment which should begin to work on the hard scales... in the meantime I would suggest you get a good quality coconut oil to rub in and get the skin well moisturised

I'm glad you found us and hope you can get rid of the scales on your elbow or at least are able to manage them better

Read through the health boards and keep asking questions was we are a friendly group of sufferers happy to share experiences .... and the prescribed treatments board is packed with information
Good luck
Jim

Hi jiml, thanks for the replie. I am going to get the coconut oil today if i can find it. It's quite important to get it moisturized and it looks like youre a big fan of coconuts. 

I want to add that i was diagnosed by a doctor but thats (only) a psychiatrist (whom also sugested the alien tails in my elbow could vanish with antipsychotic o.O)

I got a referral for a real dermatologist, its however a bit long to get an appointment. The cream i have in mind is called often called "Diprosalic". I am making my own gentle/weak version of diprosalic with neutrogena naturals salicilyc cream (1%) and hydrocortisol ointment (0,5%). Both OTC. Its lossening the skin structure, thats feels all wrapped up.

I understand that one elbow is a piece of cake compared to a full blown flare up. It would be silly to complaint too much about it!

Hi Mogwai

The first experience I had of P was both my elbows. I was 18, I'd gone away to uni, it was stressful and my elbows got worse and worse.
The docs gave me stuff for other conditions, and all the time it got worse. I was also given coal tar stuff but it just made it worse. I couldn't bend my arms straight any more, it hurt a lot and kept me awake. In the end I got betnovate and was so grateful it worked (other cortisone creams hadn't).
I'm sorry to hear about your experience, it is really horrible and the worst thing is no one really appreciates how much it affects you, they think you have dry skin and they don't imagine how much thickened skin hurts.
I hope you get to see the derm, and try lots of treatments because you need your life back!

Good luck keep us posted!

Hi Turnedlight,

thank you for the betnovate suggestion. I am reading a bit more today and the "claws" i feel could be lichenification. I am not able to tell if thats a condition that is secondary to a psoriasis or another skin problem or if its lichen alone. Dermatologists can tell with a biopsy. Its quite rare, 0,34% of prevalence Amongst skin illness.

Hello Mogwai,

Welcome to psoriasisclub.

I myself don’t have anything on my elbows. The suggestion of using coconut oil is a very good one, there are very much positive messages on that on this forum.
Personally I would not try to touch the elbow, I think it might even enhance the replication speed of the cells on your elbow, so the effect of scratching may my opposite to what you want to achieve. At the same time I admit that it is extremely difficult to stay off, off it.
It requires a giant mind control over yourself.

Certainly a visit to a dermatologist is a very important step.
Corticosteroids may do their job for you, but remember you can only use them for a short period and after stopping of using it, it may come back again.

Did you already use some extra vitamin D ? It might be good to try, it won’t hurt you anyway.

I don't have any experience with salicylic acid. Don’t have a clue if it might work.

Cheers,
Caroline

Welcome Mogwai,

Trauma will make your psoriasis worse, so you need a strategy to stop you scratching. Maybe apply an emollient with tar and salicylic acid, then put a bandage over it.

Good luck!

Bill

Welcome Mogwai,

Sorry to hear about what you are going through and hope you can find something to help soon......

I am a relative newbie too but the help and support on this forum is brilliant, have a good look around and seek advice and vent your anger in here as you will find lots of supportive people to help.

Hope you get to see a dermatologist soon.....I know the wait is crazy, especially when you want answers and solutions right now!!  I appreciate how you must be feeling at the moment....

From experience I know stress and worry seem to make it worse (it certainly makes mine worse) but appreciate its a vicious circle, so try and be patient there are lots of treatments out there that will hopefully help you.....

Hope you are able to find something to help soon....

Wooleyb

Hi everyone, thanks for the replies,

To caroline, yes, scratching == lichenification, and thats my problem it seems as i probably induced a solid lichenification with my desperate scratching. The rash isnt itchy but as bill said trauma is what i want to avoid. The slightest cuts hardens and get harder. Altought this salicylic acid is dissolving the hardest parts i will try not to force things out.

Im having the worst bad dreams, its mainly about failling to go to school, and angry people. I am wondering why is it so bad that i feel guitly of having a poor health. It is a viscious circle. I am the kind of person that get anxious and depressed, and right now I am.

I am riding my recumbent bike, Its like flying, I like it. Im going far, i lock it and i go inside some restaurants. I try to treat myself. Its not a solution for P but its helping me to relax. I am doing it whenever I can.

Hi Mogwai,

I understand your feelings, It does not seen fair having a less health than others have. That can bring depressive thoughts. But I then look at many other people. Who are much worse than I am, in everybody's life there are problems, and then I feel again that I am a lucky person to only suffer from this.

You seem to be very young, being in college, and maybe that makes you more vulnerable for those kind of thoughts. If I were you I would certainly look for professional support in order to make yourself mentally stronger.
You also seem to recognise that you have to act on those feelings and you go biking !! Very good !
You have a what we call “Ligfiets”. I am from biking country the Netherlands, so am very enthusiastic about something like that !
When you have found out how to post images, you should post an image of it, I would like that very much.

Over here in the forum you can fully express how you feel and everyone will try to support you, to get in a better mental shape, because it is important that you feel the best you can.


Caroline