Stelara round two

[Quest4Cure]

Oh Bugger it's all gone a bit wonky this last few days, psoriatic arthritis is flaring up again and this time the psoriasis is joining in.

The psoriasis increase is mostly down to red patches under my arm pits and in my groin, but this is very disappointing I now have a patch of classic flaky pastry going on at the front of my lower right leg. This has come up like this in the last three days.

*Not a great picture as I couldn't be arsed to piss about with the camera.


Psoriasis score has gone up from 5 to 10.

Psoriatic arthritis score has gone up from 6 to 18

Now I'm putting this down to being wound up over my scans going on again (that's another story, results tomorrow) or it could be that Stelara is failing. I've said this before, but it seems to start working again after a while (I'm on month two at the moment) but the psoriasis patch is not looking good.

Anyway whilst at the hospital today for my MRI scan I decided to go past the dermatology department, luckily my dermatologist was there and after explaining what was going on I've come away with a new prescription for next months Stelara and another appointment with rheumatology next month. The reason for getting the Stelara shot was because I wanted it before our little holiday but rheumatology couldn't fit me in till afterwards.

So I'm hoping this is going to subside once tomorrow is finished and I know the results of the scan, I also asked my dermatologist to give me some Dovonex to give a try as I would like to get it clear if possible before our break.

Oh well psoriasis never fails to surprise does it.  

Update done, it's Merlot time.  

Hi Fred,
It sound like you have a lot going on.
Just a suggestion if you are using dovonex have you ever tried occlusion. As I have mentioned many times before it's the only way that helps me keep P under control and after a few months remission. At least give it a try. What can it hurt ? The purpose of occlusion is to force the meds deep into the derm layers to shut down the small capillary veins that feed P. It's from the outside in. As Stelara (ustekinumab) shuts down the small path way the capillary veins from the inside out....compromising the immune system.

Oclussion used properly can and does help. Alternate with heavy skin conditioners while doing occlusion with steroids. Protect fingers while application with gloves....use olive oil coconut, crisco , zinc...my favorite is magnesium spray it's a great skin barrier or whatever... Your fav...As a alternative to always using steroids. 2 days steroids 2 days skin conditioner. This helps prevent the skin from thinning from steroid use. It is absorbed thru the skin faster than oral use and lasts in the system longer. It take a few minutes a night to do and it's worth the extra fuss....

Try to stay away from water, water pulls moisture out of the skin unless you moisturize 3 minutes after showering. I shower and use a wash cloth with skin-so-soft oil on it to dry. By the time I wipe all my body with the wash cloth with oil I am dry, and my skin is moisturized. Clean skin with glycerine soap no Lauryl sulfates in soaps and detergents for clothing.

Try adding a salt soft water system to your household water system. It's cheap and easy. You would be surprised at the difference it makes on your skin in just a few days. Using cetaphil or generic to wash with it puts moisture back in your skin. Or try glycerine soap (I use), which is a bio component in the skin layers. It is also a skin barrier. My derm who is a P.specialist and works on many clinical studies, always said taking a shower in water is like taking a chemical bath,( well or city water). Protect you skin against sunburn. Your greenhouse may be putting your skin at risk by sunburn and Stelara ( ustekinumab) together can cause a flare before it begins to work.
- STELARA - targets an underlying cause of psoriatic arthritis—an overactive immune system. It blocks two proteins called IL-12 and IL-23 that may play a role in active psoriatic arthritis. STELARA thru the interluken pathway may help reduce joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, as well as plaque thickness, scaling, and redness. It helps many in a few days depending on the severity on the P. coverage and others in a few months.

I take Apremilast for PSA. It helps a lot, hoping to stop the damage to my joints. EVEN my bionic joints hurt. But with Apremilast they don't.. Go figure it's like , oil can Harry.
I have saved a lot of vacuum bags using occlusion. Less skin shedding. No gritty sheets to cleanup... LOL

Just my 2 cents!
Hope your better soon.