Why does psoriasis affect certain areas more commonly?

[Lilbromy_x]

Hi there. 

I am 23 years old and for as long as I can remember I have always suffered with psoriasis. 
The most effective treatments have been light therapy or dovobet ointment. 

I've had times where my skin is completely clear and psoriasis free for a long time. Others I've been so severe I can't even leave the house because 90% of my body is covered in thick itchy scales that crack and bleed and leave me uncomfortable and sore. 

I haven't had a severe breakout like that for 2 years now. However, I do have breakouts quite often. 
My psoriasis is very generalised, it never affects just one area of my body, and is never on the so called common areas such as knees or elbows. I do however have it in my scalp. 

I have recently had a breakout and it's very slowly getting worse, small psoriasis plaques appearing in different places all over my body and a big cluster on the insides of legs (always happens here!) 

I am currently out of all my ointments and am going to try the banana peel which I've read all about. I want to stay away from steroid creams as my skin tends to flare up again right when I stop using it and I don't want my skin to get addicted to steroid creams or build that resistance. 

If anyone knows any other home remedies that have worked for them let me know. I'm open to trying just about anything :

However, the question that is bugging me the most which after hours of trying to find an answer on google with no luck is... 

Why are the elbows, knees and scalp considered the most common areas? I've never had it on my elbows or knees. I am curious as to why psoriasis is more common on certain areas of the body and why I always get it on the inside of leg as the most commonly affected area. What is it about these areas that makes it more common to be affected by psoriasis ?? 

I have read a million things about psoriasis and I understand the entire disease, but this I cannot understand and websites are just telling me the common areas not why they are common! 

Bit of a niggle that I couldn't find an answer and well now it will bug me til I do :

This is also my first post, I'm new to psoriasis club, so anything anyone can share from personal experiences about their best ways to deal with flare ups would be amazing !! 

Thank you for takin the time to read and respond

[Fred]

Hello and to Psoriasis Club.

I have moved this thread from Feedback to Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis Topics as it will get noticed better there.

I tried banana peel and it made no difference whatsoever. I think that was around the time I realised that none of the myths worked. If you do want to try home remedies you could have a look here: Natural Treatments For Psoriasis

As for what you read about the most common being Knees, Elbows and scalp. I wouldn't take to much notice of it, in the past 30 - 40 years I've never had it on my knees. I have had small amounts on my elbows, and lot's on my scalp. I would say forget the so called Normals of psoriasis as we are all different and there is no one suit fits all.

Have a good look around you will find a good mix of people using various treatments.

Regards.

Fred.

[JohnB]

Hi Lilbromy and 

It is a good question, my Dermy once explained that PS liked knees and elbows but she did not know why   .
 I guess it is one of life's great unknowns.

Have a trawl around the site I've learned more in the last couple of months than in all the time I have been diagnosed. Any questions fire away somebody will point you in the right direction.

[jiml]

Hi Lilbromy and    to the club, you have found a great place for finding out about the disease and what is working for our members, Fred has already pointed you at the natural treatment boards , but if I were you I would get myself referred to a dermatologist, you are right that steroid creams are not good and uv treatment is a short term fix, whereas a dermatologist has many things he can offer that won't damage the skin.

As you know psoriasis is for life and the sooner you manage to get it under control the better for you. We don't have all the answers here but you will get plenty of advice

good luck and I have no idea why psoriasis is supposed to be more common on knees and elbows, I always thought it was because the skin there was more likely to get injured and also it's constantly stretching and contracting ... But that was only my opinion ..not fact

Jim

[Lilbromy_x]

Ok lovely, thanks for that Fred. The more notices the better!! 

I was told about it the banana peel by a friend and after researching it found reviews of it being quite effective. As you say, we are all different! I guess that's why it's so hard to find a cure hey! 

I will look at alternative natural treatments, hopefully someone has a secret weapon up their sleeve to share with me ?? 
I agree with you there Fred, and I have never really questioned it. I guess just realising my flare ups generally breakout on the inside of my legs more than anywhere... Is there a reason why they might always breakout the worst here? Why would psoriasis breakout frequently on one area? 

Thanks

[jiml]

I tried Banana peel rubbing it on every day....I got fed up eating bananas just to have the peels to rub on my plaques ....it had no effect ..but we are all different... I remember my dermatologist nearly falling off her chair when I told her

But anything is worth a try, I'm sure it must have worked for someone ...but I have never found any evidence myself

[Lilbromy_x]

Hi Lilbromy and    to the club, you have found a great place for finding out about the disease and what is working for our members, Fred has already pointed you at the natural treatment boards , but if I were you I would get myself referred to a dermatologist, you are right that steroid creams are not good and uv treatment is a short term fix, whereas a dermatologist has many things he can offer that won't damage the skin.

As you know psoriasis is for life and the sooner you manage to get it under control the better for you. We don't have all the answers here but you will get plenty of advice

good luck and I have no idea why psoriasis is supposed to be more common on knees and elbows, I always thought it was because the skin there was more likely to get injured and also it's constantly stretching and contracting ... But that was only my opinion ..not fact

Jim

Wicked! Thanks for that Jim! Yeah that kind of makes sense I guess about the knees, it could be something to do with the skin being thinner I guess.. But yeah a mystery we may never know. I just find it peculiar that I always flare up the worst on the inside of my legs. 

I also went to the dermatologist 8 months ago and was out straight onto light therapy which I ended 3 months ago. However, the dermatologist costs a lot of money here in Australia and the flare up is relatively mild at the moment so if I can get it back under control without the need to pay more money which I don't really have, that's the ideal solution.

[Caroline]

Hi Lilbromy,

Welcome to psoriasisclub.

Good question and I do not know the answer. As you read Fred never had it over there, Jim neither, and me neither (though I am a bad example) nor do I know people closely who had it there, but on the forum are several who have psoriasis over there.

Yes, I heard about banana peel, and I don't think it will help. I even think you should be careful with that, you never know what kind of bacteria are on it.

Cheers,
Caroline

[Lilbromy_x]

I tried Banana peel rubbing it on every day....I got fed up eating bananas just to have the peels to rub on my plaques ....it had no effect ..but we are all different... I remember my dermatologist nearly falling off her chair when I told her

But anything is worth a try,  I'm sure it must have worked for someone ...but I have never found any evidence myself  

I don't even like bananas so I would have to get my boyfriend to eat it haha. Maybe I'll skip the banana peel then ?

[Caroline]

I tried Banana peel rubbing it on every day....I got fed up eating bananas just to have the peels to rub on my plaques ....it had no effect ..but we are all different... I remember my dermatologist nearly falling off her chair when I told her

But anything is worth a try,  I'm sure it must have worked for someone ...but I have never found any evidence myself  

I don't even like bananas so I would have to get my boyfriend to eat it haha. Maybe I'll skip the banana peel then ?

you can try it and stop if he gets fed up from all those bananas.