How clear is a clear skin

[jiml]

I have read a lot of members going off topic discussing what their idea of being clear of psoriasis is

My idea of clear is what makes me happy. I having spent my life keeping covered up, but for the last 4 years I am what I regard as clear......I am happy to mix with people on the beach, go swimming at the pool, wear shorts and tee shirts without feeling self conscious ........and don't get strange looks from people

I have an odd small plaque on an elbow, and occasionally get a spot in my hair.....I can live with that...it keeps me on guard

So I regard clear as "virtually clear" I'm happy with that and I certainly won't strive or lose any sleep if it always stays that way

I would be interested in what others regard as clear or what level they are happy to live with the

[Fred]

Well the dermatologists use the PASI [thread=141]

As you know I made the Psoriasis Score in the menu above as I found it easier to understand.

But how clear is clear? I suppose zero psoriasis would be 100% clear and we should probably class ourselves as "Almost" **% Clear"

Is clearance and coverage the same thing? If psoriasis is scored at 30% does that mean 30% of the body has psoriasis, or has it cleared 30% from what it was at.

Confusing Jim

For me I class myself as clear, but I still do have the odd little bit that wouldn't show up on a pasi score. So technically I'm not clear, but there is nothing to register so in my eyes I feel good being clear.

[Turnedlight]

I think of having no psoriasis at all as being clear, as you stand a chance of remission.
I had remission for about ten years after the first attack.
But whenever I have the tiniest patch, it's just a matter of time before its bigger. I don't seem to stay at the 'almost clear' stage.
I achieved almost clear (tiny amount) on methotrexate at a high dose, but when the derm started bringing the dose down it came back quick. Then it stopped working.

So for me, clear means none at all.

[jiml]

I think of having no psoriasis at all as being clear, as you stand a chance of remission.
I had remission for about ten years after the first attack.
But whenever I have the tiniest patch, it's just a matter of time before its bigger. I don't seem to stay at the 'almost clear' stage.
I achieved almost clear (tiny amount) on methotrexate at a high dose, but when the derm started bringing the dose down it came back quick. Then it stopped working.

So for me, clear means none at all.

Thanks TL I think you are right but I have never been totally clear....it is a dream I have to be that clear and in remission, the closest I have ever got it on my current medication Fumaderm 4 years of happiness. I must admit that it's my first job in the morning to check to see if the patch I have is any larger or starting to scale.....

So it's constantly on my mind that I still have the disease lurking on the background....but to all others who see me " I am clear" I see people with bigger grazes on their elbows than my tiny patch is..

In my mind I'm clear but in reality I still have visible psoriasis slightly  

[pingu]

It's a difficult question and potentially less related to how clear our skin is but to our psychological well being.

Ask yourself "Would you go to the pool or beach with 100% clear skin wear shorts and t-shirts etc?" The answer is probably yes.

Now I hated having psoriasis, I still have it. A little has returned but I din't take medication for a few weeks because of a chest infection so I hope it goes.

Now ask yourself if you would do the same with you psoriasis in its current state. I have a little returned on the elbows and a few patches on my butt. But yes I will go to the pool and wear t-shirts.

Being clear is awesome but I don't think I will ever achieve 100%. Even if my meds stop working today I will be glad of the 6 months I have had of respite, however I know that I can have a much happier lifestyle with modern meds than I have enjoyed in a long time.

[jiml]

It's a difficult question and potentially less related to how clear our skin is but to our psychological well being.

Ask yourself "Would you go to the pool or beach with 100% clear skin wear shorts and t-shirts etc?" The answer is probably yes.

Now I hated having psoriasis, I still have it. A little has returned but I din't take medication for a few weeks because of a chest infection so I hope it goes.

Now ask yourself if you would do the same with you psoriasis in its current state. I have a little returned on the elbows and a few patches on my butt. But yes I will go to the pool and wear t-shirts.

Being clear is awesome but I don't think I will ever achieve 100%. Even if my meds stop working today I will be glad of the 6 months I have had of respite, however I know that I can have a much happier lifestyle with modern meds than I have enjoyed in a long time.

Agreed

[D Foster]

Thanks Fred for the information, I have just had a look at the scoring and I am a little more aware how it's done ,I must admit that I had never really thought about it but Bill brought to my attention last week.
When I went in hospital last time for over six weeks which is about 16 years ago I was about 96% covered according to your score rating ,just like the "Singing Detective" and I was very low at that time and never though that I would be clear ever but with the Stelara I am as near to 100% as matters with just a few patches around/in my ears . If I can go from that sort of coverage and I also had several different types as well then anybody can get clear .
Just hoping now I can keep it going and continue as I am now.

[Bill]

96%! I have never been above 40% and that was horrid. I agree with Pingu that how you assess is yourself is part of managing the illness: I certainly would not want to lose sleep over a couple of spots, but I do prefer to see the spots diminishing. More pertinent is keeping the arthritis controlled. That is the dragon at the door for me.

[jiml]

96%! I have never been above 40% and that was horrid. I agree with Pingu that how you assess is yourself is part of managing the illness: I certainly would not want to lose sleep over a couple of spots, but I do prefer to see the spots diminishing. More pertinent is keeping the arthritis controlled. That is the dragon at the door for me.

Good luck keeping the dragon under control Bill, up to now I haven't suffered with the arthritis.....but I am getting pain in my feet which worries me a bit, in case it's PsA..... Or just pure old age

[D Foster]

96%! I have never been above 40% and that was horrid. I agree with Pingu that how you assess is yourself is part of managing the illness: I certainly would not want to lose sleep over a couple of spots, but I do prefer to see the spots diminishing. More pertinent is keeping the arthritis controlled. That is the dragon at the door for me.

Good luck keeping the dragon under control Bill, up to now I haven't suffered with the arthritis.....but I am getting pain in my feet which worries me a bit, in case it's PsA..... Or just pure old age  

You have got me really thinking now Bill and 96% seems a bit high so I had all my files out this morning after I decided to get out of bed and I found some notes that I am sure were taken at the time.
Scalp covered , ears but not on face only under the beard, clear area neck and across shoulders apart from odd patch, all torso covered including backside and other "bits" . Arms covered , back of hands and nails but palms clear. right leg covered down to foot ,left leg covered down to below knee then large patches with clear areas , feet covered but not the underneath of the feet , nails on right foot bad but left nails OK . Flexure's under arms cracked and sore, groin also cracked and sore.  
Now working on the info from Fred I am not sure exactly what you would rate my coverage from that list ?
What I do know is that it wasn't until I started MTX that I started to clear and even though I never achieved "clear" it did move a very very large amount leaving me with a few patches ,maybe half a dozen. Now I am on the Stelara I only have my ears and a couple of small patches which I am using Doverbet on and they are slowly getting rid of it.