Psoriasis

[Astraz]

Anybody got any advice or effective treatments to help reduce or remove Psoriasis ?

[honkytonkman]

My brother has/had really bad psoriasis and most of the coal-tar treatments, bath oils etc did precious little. As you probably know psoriasis is due to the body over-producing skin cells so they form thick patches. Sunlight is good, and my brother used to visit the hospital for intensive sun-lamp treatment which provided some temporary relief for a short period of time, but the light us so intense that you can only have limited amount of treatement. But the thing that DID work and is still working, is to take mild chemotherapy in the form of Methotroxate. It was discovered that one positive side-effect of the treatment clears up severe psoriasis. He has to have periodical blood count tests as it knocks your immune system on the head a bit, but other than that, and being on high-dose antibiotics when he gets a cold, his skin is clear.

[ninalondon]

Apart from sunlight the only thing I have found that helps control psoriasis is steroid cream. You can buy hydrocortisone 1% cream over the counter in pharmacies; or if your psoriasis is really bad your GP can prescribe you a stronger percentage. The bad news is that it stops working with continued use so you have to take a break from it every few weeks. Unfortunately there is no cure for psoriasis so good luck with trying to keep it at bay!

[Quizmonster]

I have the disease, but - for reasons known only to itself - just on my left thumb! I've been prescribed every single steroid cream and had the UV light treatment. Most 'worked' but for only a short time.

Here's the most effective cream I've ever used...buy from a health-shop separate small tubes of each of these creams manufactured by Nelson's...Calendula and Graphites...and a small bottle of Grapeseed Oil. Then squeeze an inch or so of each cream into a container...a milk-container-top is ideal...and add a very few drops of the oil. Mix it up with a cocktail stick and apply it two or three times a day to the affected area. Cover the container with clingfilm. As I said, it beats all the Elocons, Dermovates and so on hands down. There is, of course, as the earlier answer said, no known 'cure' for the disease, so palliation is the best we can hope for. I hope it works for you, too.

[KARL]

To the best of my knowledge, this is an ailment that stays with the sufferer for life, as has already been said. Remedies are therefore limited to reducing the symptoms and, personally, I would not like the thought of a relative being on anything but externally applied treatment. But of course the extent of the illness will decide how badly the sufferer wants relief. I understand that there are some naturally occurring compounds which work at least to some extent. One that I have heard of is derived from the water in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, and it was claimed somewhere that quite a few examples of substantial relief (lasting months as I recall, then same again after a repeat visit) are on record after bathing in the lagoon. Perhaps the self-help groups can comment on this with some authority. Good luck.

[honkytonkman]

KARL's answer reminds me an item I saw on TV once. IT sounds bizarre but bear with me. People with psoriasis went abroad (I can't remember where) to bathe in some mountain streams/rock pools. Whilst bathing, little fish would 'nibble' away at the psoriasis (which apparently was quite a pleasant tickling sensation) and within a matter of weeks the skin was back to normal. But as with all the other treatments relief was only temporary, but for the people concerned it was nice just to be rid of the problem for a month or so.

[honkytonkman]

oooh I was inspired enought to find these links on the Internet.. looks like you can do a package deal! http://psorsite.com/docs/doctorfish.html and http://www.psoriasisfishcure.com/

[geofbob]

Sorry to disagree with all the other responses, but I found Alphosyl cream, available over the counter at Boots, very effective in controlling my psoriasis. I used to have patches on both knees, both elbows, and a few other places. It now only recurs on one elbow, and it soon goes if I apply the cream. I would recommend trying Alphosyl, before other more exotic ( and expensive) options.

[Tizzy]

'ello .. there are a number of creams available from your doctor and your pharmacist ... u can get stronger ones on prescription ... however u can use an OTC hydrocortisone which is 1% something like eumovate. This has to be used sparingly as over time it can thin the skin. This can help cure some peoples skin conditions and in between uses to simply moisturise you could use eumobase ... its emovate without the active ingredient! It doesnt conatin lanolin and is non greasy - it simply soothes. Its rather like diprobase, boublebase, aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment but a bit better!

[PaulB]

Hi Aztraz, I have Psoriasis and also the answer.. May I still post?

[Roxy]

What's the story PaulB? Spill the beans

[papia]

For years I have tested so many techniques to help my Psoriasis, and some things have helped more than others. Some things I have done have worked very well. Many other people have different stories on what helped them the most. For more informations, visit
http://www.mypsoriasistreatment.com/