Health Boards
Shane
Welcome! I see you have been receiving a great deal of useful info from the members. I've had Plaque P. (on and off) for several decades - although in my twenties it was diagnosed as something else. 20 or 30 years ago it was properly diagnosed and I've been subject to steroidal creams, PhotoTherapy (UV A & UVB), Fumaderm and even substantial periods of no treatment whatsoever. At no time however was I ever offered MTX so I'm unable to comment on that.....EXCEPT I once had to undergo Chemotherapy for cancer and I understand that one of the cocktail of drugs administered to me for 6 months was indeed methotrexate. Not only did I survive the cancer (that was 12 years ago now) but whilst I was on the chemo not only did I have no need to shave and all my hair fell out and my nails stopped growing etc etc etc - but all my P. patches totally disappeared as well.
It's a drastic way to slow down P. but something did it. I suspect it was the MTX element in my C. treatment.
But that's digressing (I'm good at that) Welcome to the club young man I hope you find the answers you need right here to help you sort out your best treatment path. I'm a big believer in sun worship myself. It's kept my P. at bay for many a year. Difficult to maintain in the UK as we dont get enough sunlight or warmth to allow us to reveal too much skin! Also sunbeds don't really radiate the same frequencies of light that the sun emits. Natural sunlight is much more effective in my case (but relatively expensive to find in the right dose!) - but your Dermatologist may have access to PhotoTherapy treatment(UVA or UVB) - which is a bit like a commercial sunbed but is specifically designed to emit light frequencies which are known to inhibit but not totally prevent P. As Jim said: There is no 100% cure - currently.
Do let us know how you get on - especially after your impending escape to the sun.
Nice to meet you.
Kit
Welcome! I see you have been receiving a great deal of useful info from the members. I've had Plaque P. (on and off) for several decades - although in my twenties it was diagnosed as something else. 20 or 30 years ago it was properly diagnosed and I've been subject to steroidal creams, PhotoTherapy (UV A & UVB), Fumaderm and even substantial periods of no treatment whatsoever. At no time however was I ever offered MTX so I'm unable to comment on that.....EXCEPT I once had to undergo Chemotherapy for cancer and I understand that one of the cocktail of drugs administered to me for 6 months was indeed methotrexate. Not only did I survive the cancer (that was 12 years ago now) but whilst I was on the chemo not only did I have no need to shave and all my hair fell out and my nails stopped growing etc etc etc - but all my P. patches totally disappeared as well.
It's a drastic way to slow down P. but something did it. I suspect it was the MTX element in my C. treatment.
But that's digressing (I'm good at that) Welcome to the club young man I hope you find the answers you need right here to help you sort out your best treatment path. I'm a big believer in sun worship myself. It's kept my P. at bay for many a year. Difficult to maintain in the UK as we dont get enough sunlight or warmth to allow us to reveal too much skin! Also sunbeds don't really radiate the same frequencies of light that the sun emits. Natural sunlight is much more effective in my case (but relatively expensive to find in the right dose!) - but your Dermatologist may have access to PhotoTherapy treatment(UVA or UVB) - which is a bit like a commercial sunbed but is specifically designed to emit light frequencies which are known to inhibit but not totally prevent P. As Jim said: There is no 100% cure - currently.
Do let us know how you get on - especially after your impending escape to the sun.
Nice to meet you.
Kit
