Pensaid as treatment for plaque psoriasis

[Kat]

It seems mostly the members from the USA (and Bill) that seem to play around with things, whereas us Europeans tend to stick to our health care professionals. Why this I don't know, is it down to cost? possibly but I don't understand the USA system enough to be able to comment though I do have a theory but won't take Christopher's thread off topic.

Being American, I can express why it interests me. First, I also like to go the tried and true route, I'm not really in to experiments as I've mentioned numerous times I am not very scientific and so I prefer to trust the professionals over going off on my own. Not that doctors always get it right. It is true that cost is a factor here in the U.S. Most people here have limited coverage on prescriptions, and psoriasis medications do not run cheap. My interest is that I am currently only using topicals anyway and also have osteoarthritis. But I'm not going to make a special appointment to discuss this with my dermatologist or rheumatologist or orthopedic surgeon. Since this isn't a known method for psoriasis, I don't think my dermatologist will be on board (just a hunch as I think doctors have to worry about prescribing things that are not on an approved list, all it would take is one bad reaction and a lawsuit occurs, we are the land of lawsuits here after all) and so it is something I plan to talk over with my rheumatologist since that may fall under something he would prescribe, but my next appointment isn't for a few months. My orthopedic surgeon is ready to go with replacement, I'm not there yet. So, if my doctor says sure let's give it a try then I'll also try it on my psoriasis (which is fairly clear so if that remains the case I'm not sure I'd be much help there anyway as I wouldn't necessarily know if it is helping) But anytime I use a prescription medication, it will be under a doctor's care. That's just how I personally do things. If this were over the counter, then no problem. I also have other health issues and other medications so I'm not brave enough to go out on my own.

I see Christopher's posts as simply saying what is working for him (as we all share that info.) And I understand wanting to know if it would work for someone else. So for me, the interest is there however it will take a doctor on board for me to try it. And if that happens, I'll certainly share the results.

Back to Americans more being on board, I think it's partly cost and we are so consumed here with trying to go as natural as possible that I think we try to go with anything that sounds the least invasive. Topicals (although we could discuss how using some of them long term can be detrimental, but that is another topic) sound better than taking medicine orally. Foods should not be processed, yet going all natural is practically impossible unless you either grow your own or can handle the expense. Organic is expensive. Even most pet forums will tell you to get dogs off pet food and go to a raw diet (not saying this is good or bad, simply that here things are being pushed to get back to "natural") Sorry, I know this is a bit off topic and also getting long, but trying to make a point in as few words as possible, and not sure I succeeded. So although this isn't a discussion of a natural treatment, it is a discussion of going topical which doctors here seem to prefer as a first choice over other medications.

So thanks Christopher for sharing your information. And Fred, thanks as always for keeping the site under control. You aren't the bad guy, although it may limit what people can post, we do have the option to use pm's to ask for more information and it keeps the forum running smoothly and spam free.