Kat's journey with laser therapy (XTRAC)

[Turnedlight]

Lazer might be the right spelling in the US, I’ve noticed a lot of US words tend to use a ‘z’ where we might use an ‘s’ in the uk. But when I type the word my spell checker will change it to the UK spelling.

Laser is correct, it’s an acronym (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation)

Oh yes! I did know that.. got my stupid head on today..

[Fred]

Good luck with it Kat. I think someone mentioned it a few years ago but there were no updates, so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

[Kat]

Thanks Kat for the further information. But surely your dermatologist or your rheumatologist must have experience of others trying different biologics that target the same interleukins and one works where another doesn't, if that's a problem for them they could put you on Stelara which targets different interleukins to the IL17 That Cosentyx targets
Just a thought ask to go onto that or any of the ones listed here Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

Stelara was the first biologic I was on and I stayed on it for a year with no results. She mentioned going with a TNF inhibitor, but at one point she mentioned that she didn't want to go "backwards" on treatments. Basically she is a fan of the newer treatments out there that have less side effects. She mentioned a few things but felt some of them wouldn't work as they targeted the same things as the ones I had been on.

Honestly I didn't push while she was talking to me about other biologics. After Stelara for a year and going past the loading doses for Cosentyx then immediately the loading doses for Taltz, I wasn't against giving my body a bit of a break. I don't think anything will change until November 18 when I see the rheumatologist again unless my skin should worsen before then. I do think the laser therapy is a temporary fix for now as we regroup.



Today my skin feels a bit sensitive, a bit more of that "sunburn" feeling. It's itchy but tender. I haven't notice any improvement yet but it's still early.

[jiml]

Good idea having a break and hope it doesn't flare and the laser on your scalp works for you while they are considering the next step

There was a mention way back about laser removal like they use in tattoos nothing like the treatment you are getting I'm sure RE: greetings

[Fred]

Good idea having a break and hope it doesn't flare and the laser on your scalp works for you while they are considering the next step

There was a mention way back about laser removal like they use in tattoos nothing like the treatment you are getting I'm sure RE: greetings

No the one I'm thinking was the something like xtrac but I can't find it.

[Fred]

I think this is it Kat: 308‐nm excimer light treatment of scalp psoriasis

[Kat]

Thanks for the info Jim and Fred.

Yes, I think the excimer light is what the XTRAC uses as I remember seeing "excimer" somewhere. I know it was approved in 2009 by the FDA for use on psoriasis.

[KatT]

Good luck Kat!  I really hope this works out for you!

[Kat]

Good luck Kat!  I really hope this works out for you!

Thank you KatT, hopefully it will at least keep things from getting worse.

[Kat]

Well I doubt there is going to be much to update here, at least not until the end of the month.


Oh, the nurse DID remind me why we aren't trying a TNF inhibitor. There is some concern if you have heart issues, mostly congestive heart failure which I do not have. However I have had some issues of concern (high blood pressure, heart murmur, irregular heartbeat) so I said that I would prefer to talk it over with my primary and/or heart doctor before trying one of those so the dermatologist ruled them out. But that could change if that's the direction we eventually need to go, I would just need to get reassurance from my primary that there isn't a reason I shouldn't use them.


Anyway, had treatment again today but it's early yet. I will let you all know when/IF I notice an improvement. I will say that an area above my ear has really been bothering me and I made certain to point it out. So it got "laser zapped"