Hi all. I've been dealing with this flipping rash for about five years now. First person to see it declared it ringworm (one lesion was a classic ring shape). Second person called it eczema. Five years, five doctors and two herbalists later, and I'm told it's psoriasis. This was a couple of weeks ago.

Hoo boy. Talk about a club I never wanted to join.

I just woke up one morning covered in it (including my special, tinder sittin' down place), but it quickly resolved itself to two symmetrical bands around my ankles. Not too awful, except when it flares up...then my shoes cut into it and walking is painful.

So my first priority is learning what triggers flare-ups, so I can stop doing...whatever it is. That's the problem; I really haven't a clue.

I'll do a lot of reading and hope there's stuff here already to give me ideas. But my name will be hovering around, so I thought I should introduce myself.

So, hello from the sunny South coast of England. Where it's snowing a little.

Hello stoatula   to Psoriasis Club

Thank you for introducing yourself, you will find (if you haven't already) that we are a friendly bunch. I'm the sensible one by the way.    

That took a while to get a diagnoses, are you seeing a dermatologist? They should have spotted it straight away without any problem, if you're not seeing one I would get your gp to refer you to one as they are better suited to work with you and find something that will help you live with it. (Notice I said "Live with it" because you will have to live with)

OK that's the bad news, now the good news. There are many treatments and more coming forward each year to help us cope with it, and it can be managed. As for what triggers it, that is one of life's mystery's have a look at this thread: What triggers psoriasis flare ups ?

Have a good look around and just dive on in, you will find a good mix of people and all sorts of treatments being talked about.

Regards

Fred.

Welcome!!

You'll find lots of information here as well as people willing to answer questions and share their own experiences. It's nice to have the support of others who understand. Happy you found your way here!

Hi Stoatula what a great name love the stoat avatar as well   to the forum /club this is more than just a forum it's a place where lots of us psoriasis sufferers share our experiences and follow each other's journeys and learning more about the disease as we go. You say you want to know what triggers yours well reading others journeys may well give you clues on what to look out for. With me it was usually a bad throat that heralded in the next big flare up
I look forward to reading of your experience and what works and  what doesn't  
I wish you good luck and hope to see you often on the forum  

Hi Stoatula, welcome to the site, just to warn you that they are all bonkers here . It's great to be able to chat with others who have the same problems and there is masses of info on all sorts of aspects of the P . I wish I knew what causes the flare-ups but it's a mystery though I think that sore throats are a factor but I have had jobs that have had large amounts of stress and this was definitely a factor for me.
Best of luck and I am sure that we will be chatting again, it's snowing here and dam cold on the East Yorkshire coast.

Hi Stoatula,

Interesting name.
Welcome to the forum.

For myself I think that an important trigger is stress, combined with the fact that it might be in your genes somewhere so you are vulnerable.

Have fun over here !

Caroline.

Stoaty to the loony bin.

Well, ok, i'm the certified loony on here !!

Enjoy yourself on here Stoaty


GB

(Thu-05-02-2015, 12:26 PM)Grizzly Bear Wrote: Stoaty to the loony bin.

Well, ok, i'm the certified loony on here !!

Enjoy yourself on here Stoaty


GB

Hi staoty, to the group we all have a loose screw on this site.You will learn a lot,laugh a lot.Everyone is so nice here.We joke around a lot and have fun.With this horrible disease what else can we do.We can't let it get us down.Maybe someday we'll have a cure that's all we can hope for.

It sounds like u have been thru the typical diagnosis issues for P. It runs in my family. Sometimes strep throat can be linked to p. Everyone is different.

See a derm who specializes in P. Light therapy, excimer laser and occlusion along with topical steroids. OTC meds with coal tar works for many years to treat P. As with occlusion it smothers the small capillary veins that feed the P. cells deep in the skin layers.

Products with Salicylic acid to peal off dry layers of skin naturally. Olive oil & coconut oil. Keep skin moisturized. Vaseline is a good skin barrier to use with occlusion too!

And the biggest enemy of P. is water. My derm said washing with water is like bathing in a chemical bath and is a flare for P. Put filters on UR water to filter out contaminants & chlorine and use soft water system using salt. After bathing use a skin protectant/ moisturizer of UR choice. Water strips the oil from skin. Only use glycerin soaps. Or natural soaps. Washes on the market for P. Check for Laural sulfate in soaps & detergents it's a commerical cleaner and is what makes soaps, toothpaste & laundry det. suds up. Another trigger.

Stress=trigger. Alcohol=trigger. Cold weather=trigger. Cuts & scrapes=trigger. Water =flare. Just to name a few.

Zinc, vit -D, fish oil......drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Magnesium oil clears up P. As well as witch Hazel non - alcohol, mixed 50/50 with glycerin. Really stops the itching and clears the p.layers. Glycerin is naturally in the skin layers. Antihistamines also calms itching for a better nights sleep.

There are a vast no. of meds available from the derm. Steroids in cream, gel or foam. Light therapy etc.
UVB light therapy done by the therapist at a derms office. Summer sun in early am or late in the day do not burn. Sun exposure on the skin causes a chemical reaction for the body to make vit-D helps clear P.

Many more meds available called biologic meds. Usually if the above type meds has failed the biologics will help clear the P. Especially if there is more than 40% of skin effected with P. Many posts here are on many meds available. Do a search many experienced posts are right here. Lists of biologics and other methods that have helped clear P. or put P. In remission.

Also if u can get into a teaching hospital in UR area they may be doing any number of studies for meds for P.

See research & clinical studies for P.

Hope UR on the mend soon.

Belated hello Stoatula