My new dermatologist recommend I start with Stelara treatments. I have it a patch around my bellybutton, behind, scalp and a starting with a small spot on my face. I am concerned with the health risks. I am a 20 year old male college student. Very self conscious about my looks. Not sure what to do. Scared of the side effects. Any advice would be great.

Hello Katie, Eh... you are male? Then I would have chosen another forum name .

Welcome to Psoriasis Club.

I am quite sure that Fred will respond to you quickly, as he is using Stelara, and knows a lot about it.

Stelara is a MAB-type immune respons suppressor. MAB = Monoclonal Anti Body.
Normally it is used with quite heavy types of Psoriasis. In your description I see that it is just starting to become nasty.
Which does not mean that you should not use it.

But perhaps there are other possibilities, like the DMF approach. The advantage of this approach from the point where you are now, is that it is cheaper, helps in 70% of the situations, very little side effects (but Stelara has also very little side effects), and the last advantage is that if DMF would not work, then you still have Stelara as the after catch.

There is a lot to read on the forum. Fred will no doubt response soon.

Cheers,
Caroline

(Tue-28-10-2014, 11:20 AM)katie1017 Wrote: My new dermatologist recommend I start with Stelara treatments. I have it a patch around my bellybutton, behind, scalp and a starting with a small spot on my face. I am concerned with the health risks. I am a 20 year old male college student. Very self conscious about my looks. Not sure what to do. Scared of the side effects. Any advice would be great.

Hello Katie to Psoriasis Club.

First off it's natural to be self concious about having psoriasis, but we all understand here. So you don't have to worry about being around us as we don't care what you look like.

Stelara: Now I'm a very big fan of Stelara, and I would say if you have the chance of using it then you go for it. It's natural to worry about side effects and you have to weigh up the Pro's and Con's of all treatments, but remember at the end of the day it's your choice.

The best I can suggest is to have a look at these threads and see what you think, the first one is about my use of Stelara, the second explains about the Bio treatments and you will find Stelara in there, and the third one may be of interest as it's recently been announced Stelara are going for approval to treat 12 to 17 year olds.

Stelara round two
Biological Treatments For Psoriasis
Stelara seeks EU approval for 12 to 17 year old psoriasis patients.

There are also lot's of other threads about Stelara and if you use the search facility (only available to members) you will find them.

Hope that helps to get you started, and please don't hesitate to shout out, you will find a friendly bunch of people here.

Regards.

Fred.

(Tue-28-10-2014, 11:20 AM)katie1017 Wrote: My new dermatologist recommend I start with Stelara treatments. I have it a patch around my bellybutton, behind, scalp and a starting with a small spot on my face. I am concerned with the health risks. I am a 20 year old male college student. Very self conscious about my looks. Not sure what to do. Scared of the side effects. Any advice would be great.

Welcome to the forum Katie, in my opinion it sounds as if your dermatologist is offering you a very powerful treatment before exhausting other options , I would be inclined to go back and ask about oral alternatives that will probably give you clearance, without going on to biologicals so early in life
You are probably aware that you will possibly be on one medication or another on and off throughout your life.... No doubt Stelara will probably work well but your psoriasis sounds mild to me and could be treated with something like acetretin. Which will be better than the topicals you are currently on.... I would be inclined although im no expert, to leave strong biologics like Stelara until you have to take them, as nothing else works
It's just my opinion and no doubt wiser people than me will,offer alternative suggestions.

I hope you enjoy your time with us we are a small and friendly bunch of psoriasis sufferers all happy to pass on their experiences and support to others.
If you feel like a change venture into the off topic section where there is a chatting thread which is a good place to meet others and talk about anything or there are loads of other threads, and you will notice I am the only sensible person in there
Thanks for finding the forum and hope to read more of how you get yourself clear
from Jim

Thank you for your advice. What is a DMF approach?

Fred- How long have you been on Stelara? I am not sure yet if my insurance will cover it still waiting to hear from them. I am worried because I am only 20 and not sure how long one can be on Stelara and if the side effects increase as the length of usage. I had read that with some people it flares up worse being on the shot. Then there is that one video on youtube that shows a young man who is now disabled from the shot... UGh! I have to stop reading the negatives and read the positives!
Has anyone tried a natural approach?

(Wed-29-10-2014, 02:35 AM)katie1017 Wrote: Thank you for your advice. What is a DMF approach?

Fred- How long have you been on Stelara? I am not sure yet if my insurance will cover it still waiting to hear from them. I am worried because I am only 20 and not sure how long one can be on Stelara and if the side effects increase as the length of usage. I had read that with some people it flares up worse being on the shot. Then there is that one video on youtube that shows a young man who is now disabled from the shot... UGh! I have to stop reading the negatives and read the positives!
Has anyone tried a natural approach?

Hello Katie,

My apologies for my reaction on your name yesterday.. , I always hide myself behind the fact that I am Dutch, so I sometimes can be quite direct in my expression. Don't blame me for that. And of course choose any name you want.

DMF, dimethylfumarate is a substance that appears to have a very good effect on psoriasis. It has a 70% success rate. With the advantage that it is non poisonous and low risk.
On the workings there is a lot described in this thread Dimethylfumarates and Psoriasis.
There are several people on the forum that use it with success and some are starting the treatment.

Caroline

Hi again
Yes Caroline is correct DMF is a great approach to controlling psoriasis
I take it the name of my drug is Fumaderm, the one Caroline takes is psorinovo. There are other types I believe available... And they are a good control without much risk and although Stelara is very good I think you are not severe enough to go that route.

I don't think DMF is available yet in the US but it's worth looking for
Good luck

My insurance may change and then I don't know if the new one will cover the Stelara. I fear it will come back worse than.

(Wed-29-10-2014, 12:21 PM)katie1017 Wrote: My insurance may change and then I don't know if the new one will cover the Stelara. I fear it will come back worse than.

My first suggestion acetretin is a good idea it's cheaper, but I would avoid methotrexate if you can it's effective but not nice..... Read in here others opinions

(Wed-29-10-2014, 02:35 AM)katie1017 Wrote: Fred- How long have you been on Stelara? I am not sure yet if my insurance will cover it still waiting to hear from them. I am worried because I am only 20 and not sure how long one can be on Stelara and if the side effects increase as the length of usage. I had read that with some people it flares up worse being on the shot. Then there is that one video on youtube that shows a young man who is now disabled from the shot... UGh! I have to stop reading the negatives and read the positives!
Has anyone tried a natural approach?

I've been on it over 4 years now.

I think you could find horror story's for just about anything out there, I'm not a believer in the Natural Approach and think it's just a placebo. But you have nothing to loose by trying (Apart from a lot of money from the scams) there's a section here Natural Treatments For Psoriasis that may give you some ideas.