Health Boards
Mon-31-10-2011, 09:22 AM
Hi Jess. This is the first time I have ever joined a forum to write anything but your story made me so sad.
I live in Brisbane Australia and have had psoriasis for 49 years since I was 7 years old. It sems to recede at times (eg when I was pregnant with my 4 babies 30 years ago) and at other times it is in full blown rage.
My skin splits at the top of my buttocks and under my breasts making wearing a bra very uncomfortable but not wearing one worse since the skin gets smelly and disgusting. It hurts to turn over in bed as everything seems like it is splitting.
However, I have found some things that help me control it.
1. I use a mixture of oil (and sometimes sorbolene cream or any other body cream) and sea salt. Keep it in the shower and massage your skin GENTLY before turning on the water. It does really sting but the salt acts as an antiseptic and dries the plaques while the oil then moistorises. I use this all the time. When travelling overseas or even in Australia, I make up a mix of any kind. Attention Hotel Room Cleaners:-I am the person who leaves the saucer of salty, oily, creamy gunk in the shower. Not sorry.
2. Sun, salt water and the beach. Every chance I get, I go to the beach. Not possible in London I realise - I think that is where you live from reading the thread. I massage my skin with the soft sand and rinse off then sun bake. At present I am too busy with work to get away and my skin is in a bad place.
3. I see a dermatologist every 6 months as Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world. Even he recommends the sun. We have big discussions about psoriasis v sun cancer and he says to spend 10 minutes a day or 1 hour a week with as much skin exposed as possible. I use heaps of sun block on my face which has stayed quite soft and nice given 40 or so years of sunbathing.
4. Stress is a trigger for me. Can't do much about that but I do take antidepressants for depression. Doesn't help the psoriasis.
5. I too really hate it. It is painful, hideous and awful. I suffered terribly at boarding school because of it. My parents shaved my head when I was 7 and first got it because my mother said it was ringworms. It has really affected my confidence but I have managed to run my own business for 8 years.
6. I dread my grown up kids getting it and now I have grandchildren I freak out everythime they have a patch of dry skin on their precious little bodies.
7. One of my sisters has it badly as well and now she has psororiac arthritis which is ruining her life.
My husband doesn't seem to notice it and is great at putting cream on my back when I have the courage to ask him which is not often.
I feel so sad for you and understand some of what you feel. I think if the medical world knew the psychological impact of this afflication, more would be done. I pay taxes too.
Please accept a hug from the other side of the world. Judith xxxx
I live in Brisbane Australia and have had psoriasis for 49 years since I was 7 years old. It sems to recede at times (eg when I was pregnant with my 4 babies 30 years ago) and at other times it is in full blown rage.
My skin splits at the top of my buttocks and under my breasts making wearing a bra very uncomfortable but not wearing one worse since the skin gets smelly and disgusting. It hurts to turn over in bed as everything seems like it is splitting.
However, I have found some things that help me control it.
1. I use a mixture of oil (and sometimes sorbolene cream or any other body cream) and sea salt. Keep it in the shower and massage your skin GENTLY before turning on the water. It does really sting but the salt acts as an antiseptic and dries the plaques while the oil then moistorises. I use this all the time. When travelling overseas or even in Australia, I make up a mix of any kind. Attention Hotel Room Cleaners:-I am the person who leaves the saucer of salty, oily, creamy gunk in the shower. Not sorry.
2. Sun, salt water and the beach. Every chance I get, I go to the beach. Not possible in London I realise - I think that is where you live from reading the thread. I massage my skin with the soft sand and rinse off then sun bake. At present I am too busy with work to get away and my skin is in a bad place.
3. I see a dermatologist every 6 months as Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world. Even he recommends the sun. We have big discussions about psoriasis v sun cancer and he says to spend 10 minutes a day or 1 hour a week with as much skin exposed as possible. I use heaps of sun block on my face which has stayed quite soft and nice given 40 or so years of sunbathing.
4. Stress is a trigger for me. Can't do much about that but I do take antidepressants for depression. Doesn't help the psoriasis.
5. I too really hate it. It is painful, hideous and awful. I suffered terribly at boarding school because of it. My parents shaved my head when I was 7 and first got it because my mother said it was ringworms. It has really affected my confidence but I have managed to run my own business for 8 years.
6. I dread my grown up kids getting it and now I have grandchildren I freak out everythime they have a patch of dry skin on their precious little bodies.
7. One of my sisters has it badly as well and now she has psororiac arthritis which is ruining her life.
My husband doesn't seem to notice it and is great at putting cream on my back when I have the courage to ask him which is not often.
I feel so sad for you and understand some of what you feel. I think if the medical world knew the psychological impact of this afflication, more would be done. I pay taxes too.
Please accept a hug from the other side of the world. Judith xxxx