Calcipotriene, Mometasone, & Triamcinolone Ointments

[Forest Walker]

While awaiting a couple vaccines before starting Methotrexate, my dermo doc prescribed the ointments named in the subject line.  I began using Calcipotriene on Friday night.  Then applied it twice a day on Saturday and Sunday.  On Monday, I switched to twice a day Mometasone.  Her instructions are to use the Mometasone on Monday through Friday, the Calcipotriene on Saturday and Sunday and to do this for two weeks.  After two weeks, she said to reverse the ointments.  Calcipotriene will then be used during the week with Mometasone on weekends.  

The Calcipotriene alone was not relieving the itching, pain, or swollen/thicker areas but it was very slightly reducing size, but that may have been wishful thinking and not a true observation.  Since Monday, though, the pain and itching has reduced plentifully.  The patches have gone from screaming red to a moderate pink, and the painful swelling is gone.  Still a good bit of thickness and extra skin flakes, though.  

I can use the Triamcinolone for up to two weeks a month in sensitive places.  

The dermo doc also told me that sweat can aggravate the rash, so I've changed habits and now wash off in the cold skating rink water and dry off and then change into dry clothing.  I still shower at home after skating and apply moisturizing cream.  I also no longer apply a moisturizing cream before bed since I have sweaty hot flashes while sleeping.   A lighter lotion before bed seems to not trap the night sweats as much and I feel more comfortable.

I am hopeful that this will not lead to thinning of the skin as I found myself earlier this year.  I am thankful to have found a better dermatologist.  Thankful, always, for the help given here at PClub.  

[Fred]

Always difficult to get the topicals to work, but it sounds like your dermatologist is being careful and not just throwing something at you and letting you get on with it without correct advice.

Good luck FW 

[Caroline]

Good luck Forest.

As long as there is no corticosteroids in the ointments, the thinning of your skin probably will not appear. Heard that yesterday in a webinar, where one of the best derms in the Netherlands readily pointed to corticosteroids as being the bad guys for the skin.

Cheers,
Caroline .

[Fred]

Good luck Forest.

As long as there is no corticosteroids in the ointments, the thinning of your skin probably will not appear. Heard that yesterday in a webinar, where one of the best derms in the Netherlands readily pointed to corticosteroids as being the bad guys for the skin.

Cheers,
Caroline .

Mometasone is a potent steroid

Triamcinolone is a corticosteroids

[jiml]

Great you are seeing results Hopefully it can get you clear in a short time without extended use, you will hopefully be ok, as Fred says at least you are alternating between the ointments sounds like you have a good dermatologist

[KatT]

Hopefully you won't need these ointments once on MTX!

[Forest Walker]

Thanks, everyone.  Your experience and advice are extremely helpful.  

I can start the oral MTX as soon as December 1 since I received Hep B and flu vaccines, yesterday.  However, I'll be traveling that week, so my start date may be Dec 3.

In the meantime, as the patches quiet down, I will apply to fewer places and keep the amount used as little as possible but as much as necessary, I guess. 

Caroline, do you know approximately the percentage of people in your country with psoriasis?  I wonder how common this is in specific places and also how common this is globally.

[Fred]

  I wonder how common this is in specific places and also how common this is globally.

A bit old now, but gives an idea: Approaching 40 Million people with Psoriasis

[Sheila]

Hi Forest! I have to tell you that here in Canada it is a little more common than other places. At least that what the doc told me when he first started treating me for psoriasis. Can't verify his statement, but he added that with the dry cold and dry winds, skin dryness is the result. So I do think environment has a bit to do with it. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences about the other topicals. I may have to go down that road, but the lady skin doc (a trainee with the specialist) told me that I will likely be given Methyltrexate. Thankfully I am not immuno-compromised so that is one fear that is out of the way. Here we do have issues with tuberculosis. The majority of exposure come from people from reserves in the north. I am not being prejudice, it just is what it is. Aboriginal peoples from the north tend to experience a higher concentration of certain diseases than the norm. Living in crowded conditions and poverty are the perfect conditions for an increase of exposure of diseases. Tuberculosis is really the only big one around here I have to worry about.

Thanks for sharing your experience with those meds! Happy Skating!!