Hi..my name is Mary from New York. Have had psoriasis since 1980 but it got better as I got older. 2 months ago I had a horrible flare up and have eczema as well. I’m 68 and can’t believe this! Dr. gave me creams,etc. My hands cleared up with the steroid cream but had to stop for 2 weeks and it is back. Can start again this week. It’s the itch that’s driving me nuts. Any suggestions? Thanks everyone.

Hello Mary  to Psoriasis Club.

Yes the dreaded itch.  It's not easy, but you have to try and stop scratching it. I find Coconut Oil can help, but some say it doesn't.

Unfortunately the creams are never going to keep it away, so it may be worth you having a read of these threads:

Oral Treatments For Psoriasis

Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

But do have a good look around and don't hesitate to start other threads with specific questions, you will find a friendly bunch of people here always willing to share.

Regards.

Fred.

Hi Mary and a very warm welcome to our club.  

Granted its one none of us want to belong to but over the years I have come to make some very important friends on here. The level if information available on here is second to non and there is generally some one that will have had first hand experience of some quirk of this wretched disease.

So to your hands as Fred has said creams are never going to cut it for long and using a steroid based cream can actually do more damage than good over time - it thins your skin quite badly and our skins don't cope with thinning as we age. Like Fred I would suggest using a moisturiser several times a day. Try different ones. Fred and a few others like Coconut oil. I don't mind it but find it difficult to apply in the morning as I get up in the dark so I don't wake Mrs John. My preference is to use Cetraben in the morning because it seems to last longer and isn't too greasy or claggy. For the evening I use Dermol. This soaks into the skin better so you don't cling to your bed sheets - there is nothing worse. I did try E45 but that stuff just feels like battery acid when i apply it its stings to high heaven.

If you have had a definitive diagnosis of Psoriasis then my advice would be to get your Doctor to refer you to a dermatologist. They have a much bigger arsenal of treatments available to them to help you manage your Psoriasis.

Feel free to wander around the site. We do have a very active 'Off Topic' section if you want to let your hair down. Most of us are European/UK based but we do have several inmates in the States.

Any help you need just yell

JohnB

Hi Mary and welcome, I'm glad you found your way to us, here you will get great advice and friendly support from others like you who suffer this condition. I see you have already got some good advice about threads to read here, and I'm another lover of extra virgin coconut oil it absorbs well and gives some relief from itching
Do ask as many questions as you want as the many members here will undoubtedly have an opinion

Do get to see a dermatologist if you can as the steroid creams are designed for short term use and like has been said dermatologists can prescribe better alternatives
Good luck

Hi Mary!



I hope you find useful information and advice here in the forum. 

(Sat-07-03-2020, 18:05 PM)JohnB Wrote: Hi Mary and a very warm welcome to our club.  

Granted its one none of us want to belong to but over the years I have come to make some very important friends on here. The level if information available on here is second to non and there is generally some one that will have had first hand experience of some quirk of this wretched disease.

So to your hands as Fred has said creams are never going to cut it for long and using a steroid based cream can actually do more damage than good over time - it thins your skin quite badly and our skins don't cope with thinning as we age. Like Fred I would suggest using a moisturiser several times a day. Try different ones. Fred and a few others like Coconut oil. I don't mind it but find it difficult to apply in the morning as I get up in the dark so I don't wake Mrs John. My preference is to use Cetraben in the morning because it seems to last longer and isn't too greasy or claggy. For the evening I use Dermol. This soaks into the skin better so you don't cling to your bed sheets - there is nothing worse. I did try E45 but that stuff just feels like battery acid when i apply it its stings to high heaven.

If you have had a definitive diagnosis of Psoriasis then my advice would be to get your Doctor to refer you to a dermatologist. They have a much bigger arsenal of treatments available to them to help you manage your Psoriasis.

Feel free to wander around the site. We do have a very active 'Off Topic' section if you want to let your hair down. Most of us are European/UK based but we do have several inmates in the States.

Any help you need just yell

JohnB

(Sun-08-03-2020, 00:42 AM)proudmary1951 Wrote:

(Sat-07-03-2020, 18:05 PM)JohnB Wrote: Hi Mary and a very warm welcome to our club.  

Granted its one none of us want to belong to but over the years I have come to make some very important friends on here. The level if information available on here is second to non and there is generally some one that will have had first hand experience of some quirk of this wretched disease.

So to your hands as Fred has said creams are never going to cut it for long and using a steroid based cream can actually do more damage than good over time - it thins your skin quite badly and our skins don't cope with thinning as we age. Like Fred I would suggest using a moisturiser several times a day. Try different ones. Fred and a few others like Coconut oil. I don't mind it but find it difficult to apply in the morning as I get up in the dark so I don't wake Mrs John. My preference is to use Cetraben in the morning because it seems to last longer and isn't too greasy or claggy. For the evening I use Dermol. This soaks into the skin better so you don't cling to your bed sheets - there is nothing worse. I did try E45 but that stuff just feels like battery acid when i apply it its stings to high heaven.

If you have had a definitive diagnosis of Psoriasis then my advice would be to get your Doctor to refer you to a dermatologist. They have a much bigger arsenal of treatments available to them to help you manage your Psoriasis.

Feel free to wander around the site. We do have a very active 'Off Topic' section if you want to let your hair down. Most of us are European/UK based but we do have several inmates in the States.

Any help you need just yell

JohnB

Hi Mary I'm guessing you were trying to reply with a quote. If you are struggling with navigating the forum just yell out.  Somebody will most definitely guide you through. 
JohnB

(Sun-08-03-2020, 11:18 AM)JohnB Wrote: Hi Mary I'm guessing you were trying to reply with a quote. If you are struggling with navigating the forum just yell out.  Somebody will most definitely guide you through. 
JohnB

Hello Mary I have replied to your contact message, but in case you missed it here is a copy:

You can find a lot of help on using the forum in this section: Help using the forum

But these two threads should help:

Posting A Reply

Using Quote's

Fred

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I did see a dermatologist and he prescribed steroid cream which worked great. Hands were clear but since I can only use it 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off it’s back! I bought coconut cream,etc. My kitchen table looks like a pharmacy!! Lol... I’m leery of the drugs. He won’t give them anyway. Too many bad side effects. 

(Sun-08-03-2020, 16:51 PM)proudmary1951 Wrote: Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I did see a dermatologist and he prescribed steroid cream which worked great. Hands were clear but since I can only use it 2 weeks on then 2 weeks off it’s back! I bought coconut cream,etc. My kitchen table looks like a pharmacy!! Lol... I’m leery of the drugs. He won’t give them anyway. Too many bad side effects. 

Ahh good to see you made it back

Yes the drugs may have side effects and you will get a lot of very different opinions as to which route to go down. Personally I would not put anyone off trying the drugs. I admit I did hold off as long as I could but it just became too uncomfortable and embarrassing so I gave in and I have now just been taken off my third oral. I think your Dermatologist may be a bit remiss not offering you any systemics unless he believes that your condition is not bad enough at the moment. Yes there are side effects but everyone is different and there could be something you may just get along with.
There are other creams out there that you can control your PS with, quite a few that don't contain steroids and can be used long term. But be aware they can stink to high heaven