This forum active? My introduction LONG

[Forest Walker]

Welcome, Squidbro!  

Glad you found us.  Congratulations on your little one and growing family.  Certainly, these changes are stressful.  They may not feel that way, but you're probably sleeping less, worrying about things more as your responsibilities have increased by a lot.  

Healthy diet, healthy you.  Even if your skin is patchy, the rest of your body systems are being helped with good nutrition.  What you've figured out now in your late 20's will really, really help you achieve a strong and healthy late 70's and beyond.  So good on you!

I'm 58, female, and my lower legs are so damned ugly from Psoriasis.  But I've seen young folks in their 20's proudly going about in summer attire, even when they have messed up skin.  I admire their self-assuredness, their confidence.  It gives me a little courage this summer to let my worst patches get some warm summer air without hiding.  In the big scheme of things, your lean, fit, muscular, healthy body and your confident smile are going to be remembered more than your psoriasis if you can believe this and make it so.

And when you're out with your baby?  No one will notice you, anyway.  Your amazing little bundle of joy will steal the affections of all.  

(I take Humira for Crohn's Disease.  I was afraid to try Remicade, its predecessor, when it became available.  And with Remicade, I had anaphylaxis twice, so quit using it.  In 2007, Humira was approved in USA for Crohn's, and I was afraid to use it, but my Crohn's was very bad.  It saved my life, gave a lasting remission, and I can roller skate again.  Biologics have been around for a couple decades, now.  So more is known about them. I do understand your fear about them.)

[SquidBro]

Some say, it's a gut thing, but I'm not so sure.

As you can see it's difficult to treat as like I said we are all different, personally I would suggest get an appointment with a dermatologist, but I'm sure others may say different.

Tips to help you on the forum: As a member you can use the Search facility with things you think may interest you to find others threads, or you can start new threads asking your questions and someone will usually reply.

Also if you click a members name you can check out if they have mentioned what they use or see what threads they have started, also on the right of each members posts you will see those that have chosen to put their treatment in their profile.

Pheeeeeeeeeeew almost as long as your post. 

Have fun at Psoriasis Club, just shout out someone will find you.

Thanks fred. They sure do say alot about psoriasis. It can be pretty easy to find conflicting viewpoints. I just recently saw my doctor again, Im going to get a referral to a derm and explore that see what they can do for me. Maybe consider other treatments ive been avoiding.

I just did bloodwork as well. As far as I can best understand the results, I seem to be in great health, even with very low inflammation markers. So thats great but further puzzles me regarding the PSO. Oh well, lol.

[SquidBro]

Over here we all use different medication, some biologics, some pills, some light (very few), some creams, some alcohol (), some natural, some no treatment at all, some humour.
It really is a search what is working for you, at this moment it is not possible to define what will work for you. The project Next Generation Immuno Dermatology is going to try to make this possible, but it is a long running project.

They have found genetic elements that may make it a family-inheritance and will make you more vulnerable, but over here in this forum, we overall think that literally everyone can get it.
Triggers for getting it are widely known, things like stress are very important, trauma, streptococcus and staphylococcus, are the among the most serious.
Also smoking, alcohol, environment, BMI, etc. Are seen to have an influence.

Psoriasis of course is no skin-disease the problem is much deeper in our bodies, but exactly where….?? Well no dermatologist can tell you that.
So… most of the known medications are all suppressors of the problem. We know that the problem is in our immunesystem, so suppressing certain parts of the immunesystem (what biologics do) does work. But why the immunesystem reacts, that is not clear.
It is not an auto-immune disease as it lacks the definition of an autoimmune disease, which are antibodies… Psoriasis has no anti-bodies.

It does have comorbidities…. That is that you can get other problems, that you are more vulnarable for e.g. Crohns, or heart problems, or… well to many to want to know. Except for Psoriatic Arthritis, where you should be very alert for.
Why? Well they think that the permanent inflammation activity in our bodies can cause that.

I very much doubt that the problem is in the gut. I have never heard a dermatologist talk about a leaky gut or so, things that are popular in alternative medicine.
That the Microbiome can play a role, that is very much possible, as e.g. Alan, with his total change of diet, and more like him, do reach success.

Myself I think the problem is deep in the centre of our cells. In our cells all kinds of chemical reactions are executed and if such a reaction has a problem, it can cause waste of that faulty reaction to kick off the immune system and so cause our problems. This hypothesis has already been described, but has not yet been investigated.

Myself I am one of the DMF-gang  , as Fred always tends to say. There is enough written about it here on the board if you would do a search. It is rather common in Europe, but probably not available at your side.

As Fred says, any questions, just pose them


Caroline

Interesting that psoriasis lacks the the presence of anti-bodies as an autoimmune disease does. I did not know that. Aside from psoriasis being really annoying and an unpleasant thing to deal with, it really is a very interesting ailment.

Great overview, thank you!

I myself have pretty much come to seriously doubt that it has much to do with the gut. I still just don't know. Ive been pretty headstrong for a few years that it can be managed by natural means but im coming to seriously doubt that. I think your onto something about it being some sort of issue deep within the cells themselves.

[Fred]

Thanks fred. They sure do say alot about psoriasis. It can be pretty easy to find conflicting viewpoints. I just recently saw my doctor again, Im going to get a referral to a derm and explore that see what they can do for me. Maybe consider other treatments ive been avoiding.

I just did bloodwork as well. As far as I can best understand the results, I seem to be in great health, even with very low inflammation markers. So thats great but further puzzles me regarding the PSO. Oh well, lol.

You are welcome, it's only my and others opinions. So to answer your original question .................. yes it is active. 

Unfortunately there is a lot of conflicting things out there and that is why Psoriasis Club exists. I wanted somewhere with good honest reliable information away from the money side of things to help me, I couldn't find it so I started this place.

You will search and search and others will draw you in to empty your wallet or for clickbait, but here all you get is people living with psoriasis sharing personal information and support.

Good luck with your dermatology appointment, don''t hesitate to start a new thread about your journey if you wish. It's a good way of keeping track of things and your input may help others in the future.

[Kat]

I'm a fan of whatever works to control psoriasis! As you see, some have had good results with different meds.

Myself, I had good results with Acitretin (an oral med) after trying light therapy and topical treatments that didn't improve much for me. However, after learning more about Acitretin, I can't say I am a huge fan. I was basically clear except for a little bit on my scalp, but it was a bit like having dandruff at that time so I was able to stop taking meds. Then I had a big flare up and tried biologics. However, prior to getting the biologics actually in hand (had to get approval and such) the doctor put me on a topical that helped get things better. I tried 3 biologics but didn't have a ton of improvement. I don't know why.

Good luck with your appointment. The important thing is to find what works for you!

[SquidBro]

Welcome, Squidbro!  

Glad you found us.  Congratulations on your little one and growing family.  Certainly, these changes are stressful.  They may not feel that way, but you're probably sleeping less, worrying about things more as your responsibilities have increased by a lot.  

Healthy diet, healthy you.  Even if your skin is patchy, the rest of your body systems are being helped with good nutrition.  What you've figured out now in your late 20's will really, really help you achieve a strong and healthy late 70's and beyond.  So good on you!

I'm 58, female, and my lower legs are so damned ugly from Psoriasis.  But I've seen young folks in their 20's proudly going about in summer attire, even when they have messed up skin.  I admire their self-assuredness, their confidence.  It gives me a little courage this summer to let my worst patches get some warm summer air without hiding.  In the big scheme of things, your lean, fit, muscular, healthy body and your confident smile are going to be remembered more than your psoriasis if you can believe this and make it so.

And when you're out with your baby?  No one will notice you, anyway.  Your amazing little bundle of joy will steal the affections of all.  

(I take Humira for Crohn's Disease.  I was afraid to try Remicade, its predecessor, when it became available.  And with Remicade, I had anaphylaxis twice, so quit using it.  In 2007, Humira was approved in USA for Crohn's, and I was afraid to use it, but my Crohn's was very bad.  It saved my life, gave a lasting remission, and I can roller skate again.  Biologics have been around for a couple decades, now.  So more is known about them. I do understand your fear about them.)

Thank you so much for the kind words and support been working on trying to just be more confident. But you know people look at you and try to act like they arent, its a strange feeling lmao. Sometimes I wonder if its just in my head and more so than reality. Probably is. But having the baby sure does help take any attention off myself lmao!

How long have you been on humira? Are there regular side effects with those drugs? Will you be on it basically forever?

[SquidBro]

I'm a fan of whatever works to control psoriasis!    As you see, some have had good results with different meds.

Myself, I had good results with Acitretin (an oral med) after trying light therapy and topical treatments that didn't improve much for me.  However, after learning more about Acitretin, I can't say I am a huge fan.  I was basically clear except for a little bit on my scalp, but it was a bit like having dandruff at that time so I was able to stop taking meds.  Then I had a big flare up and tried biologics.  However, prior to getting the biologics actually in hand (had to get approval and such) the doctor put me on a topical that helped get things better.  I tried 3 biologics but didn't have a ton of improvement.  I don't know why.   

Good luck with your appointment.  The important thing is to find what works for you! 

So you aren't on any drugs now then?

I was just looking up acritretin, sounded great until I got to the possible side effects and risks, lol. I have been using a topical every now and then after having not for years, it works but a week after stopping the pso mostly comes back. Spent all day in the sun a week ago and that actually zapped some of the pso away. For me, it just always seems to come back tho.

[Raxyl]

I'm a fan of whatever works to control psoriasis!    As you see, some have had good results with different meds.

Myself, I had good results with Acitretin (an oral med) after trying light therapy and topical treatments that didn't improve much for me.  However, after learning more about Acitretin, I can't say I am a huge fan.  I was basically clear except for a little bit on my scalp, but it was a bit like having dandruff at that time so I was able to stop taking meds.  Then I had a big flare up and tried biologics.  However, prior to getting the biologics actually in hand (had to get approval and such) the doctor put me on a topical that helped get things better.  I tried 3 biologics but didn't have a ton of improvement.  I don't know why.   

Good luck with your appointment.  The important thing is to find what works for you! 

So you aren't on any drugs now then?

I was just looking up acritretin, sounded great until I got to the possible side effects and risks, lol. I have been using a topical every now and then after having not for years, it works but a week after stopping the pso mostly comes back. Spent all day in the sun a week ago and that actually zapped some of the pso away. For me, it just always seems to come back tho.

For me acritretin was one of the last steps I had to go through to finally get on to biologics. I hated it, aches and pains, nausea and I was a walking snowstorm the whole time.  Fortunately, I was only on it a short time before my dermatologists started me on Humira which worked for a while, I'm on Cosentyx now which has been a total life changer for me.

[Kat]

I'm a fan of whatever works to control psoriasis!    As you see, some have had good results with different meds.

Myself, I had good results with Acitretin (an oral med) after trying light therapy and topical treatments that didn't improve much for me.  However, after learning more about Acitretin, I can't say I am a huge fan.  I was basically clear except for a little bit on my scalp, but it was a bit like having dandruff at that time so I was able to stop taking meds.  Then I had a big flare up and tried biologics.  However, prior to getting the biologics actually in hand (had to get approval and such) the doctor put me on a topical that helped get things better.  I tried 3 biologics but didn't have a ton of improvement.  I don't know why.   

Good luck with your appointment.  The important thing is to find what works for you! 

So you aren't on any drugs now then?

I was just looking up acritretin, sounded great until I got to the possible side effects and risks, lol. I have been using a topical every now and then after having not for years, it works but a week after stopping the pso mostly comes back. Spent all day in the sun a week ago and that actually zapped some of the pso away. For me, it just always seems to come back tho.

I am SO sorry to take this long to answer.

I feel the same about the Acitretin, I didn't like reading the risks. I mean ALL drugs have to list them and they usually sound bad but reading how it could harm a fetus (not that I was going to have that worry but still!) and stay in my blood for something like 3 years just didn't sit well with me.

I find that sometimes the sun and/or topicals help, but as you say it always seems to come back. I was on a steroid a while back and cleared up quite a bit, but it's come back now as I knew it would.

And no, currently no drugs. I wish I could say and I'm doing well but it's a bit worse than usual at the moment and I really need to get in to see a dermatologist soon and at least get a good prescribed topical again to help cut back on the itching!

[bav101]

Welcome on in bud. This is a fantastic community for people with Psoriasis. As you've prolly seen already if you need anything, ask a question someone is bound to know.

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