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[jiml]

Thanks already for your help.

We are seeing a dermatologist, the GP finally referred us and we saw one in February, who prescribed UVB light treatment at the local hospital.  This was three times a week, we had to go early in the morning and ended up late for school every time we went because of the distance.  This was successful and the psoriasis started to go down, but then suddenly they said we couldn't have any more treatment because of the need to ration, which I understand.  It started to come back, so the second dermatologist prescribed dovobet and dovonet, alternating each month, plus exorex for the evenings.

We went on a few holidays in the summer, and the sun and seawater seemed to work some magic as I had expected, and he was almost free by September, however by the end of September it was back with a vengeance.  I am unhappy using steroids on his young skin, and if we used it on every area we would be using a bottle a day. 

The hospital then decided they wanted to do a biopsy, when I went they made some pretty unhelpful remarks about how bad it looked, then said he could have more light treatment, once we got the results of the biopsy in four to five weeks and he had an appointment with another consultant.  Over this time it got so bad that we took the step of buying our own UVB light machine at considerable cost, and have been using that - very carefully and according to manufacturers instructions, and have had some success.  I know we will be criticised by the profession for doing this, but it seemed like the best option.  We are due to see the dermatologist next week.

Son is very open about it, he goes to a lovely school where they are very accepting of difference in whatever shape it takes, and has not had any adverse comments at all.  He has good friends and is good at sport, which strangely often seems to help with stuff like this.  I have taught him that there are worse things in the world, that this is part of him and we have to continue to manage it and look for solutions.

Well you seem to have a good outlook and he sounds like a strong young man, and it's good he has got good understanding friends at school,
I would do what ever you have to to make him comfortable, if that involves a sunlamp, that's up to you, you sound as if you are not put going to be reckless with the lamp and as long as you are careful, it should be alright,
I have a uv lamp which I purchased years ago and I used to use it when I got bad and was kept waiting by the hospital.

Here's a link to  the anti-inflammatory food pyramid The anti-inflamatory food pyramid
Where you can see the good foods and the bad foods . There may be something of interest there
I hope you find some comfort here and do keep returning if only to chat, we gave an active off topic board and all are made wel come there