General Chat

I have Psoriasis and have had since being 10 yrs old. Tried all sorts of things but nothing ever really worked. At the moment I am using E45 cream and going on the sunbed and the sun helps keep it at bay. The fear of the sunbed is setting in after all you here about the damage. Can anyone give me some alternative ideas. I have seen on the website today a chinese remedy talbet that is supposed to clear away interal toxins etc, but it expensive for what you get. Yours ideas will be welcome. Thanks

thanks Lynda, will take a look.

Hi! Julie, I have had Psoriasis all my life and I am now 76 and I have not found anything to cure it. My doctor also has it and if anyone could find a cure, it would be a doctor. I live in Australia now and it doesn't get as bad as it used to in England, so I think you had better move to Australia too. I think the sunshine helps. By the way, when I was young, I used to have sun ray treatment, but I wouldn't reccomend it as I now have several cancer type things on my face and have had to have them treated. I have been to see a Skin Specialist today actually and I have to have even further treatment on my face. I am sorry I can't give you any real advice. Best wishes from Sylvia in Perth WA

Hi Julie, I will follow your thread with great interest, as it was something I was going to ask myself! My brother and I both suffer with it, although his is worse than mine. We both find it is mostly stress-related, as we worry a lot and it gets worse at those times! I might have a couple of tips to help you though ... I have got Eumovate from my doctor and that is very good, it has completely cleared one of my patches. My brother has been taking Oil of Evening Primrose tablets which have also helped him. My mum found a cream on sale in the supermarket, it is by Vaseline and called Dermacare (or something like that, I've left my tube behind somewhere!!). You can get it in tubes like handcream or in bigger bottles as lotion. We are both trying it out at the moment and it seems to be working. Good luck! Mandy :)

hi julie i also have psoriasis!! mine is mainly on the nape of my neck ,behind my ears and on the back of my head i have tried alsorts of hair shampoo,tea tree shampoo but nothing works the dr gave me some tar shampoo but like everything else that failed aswell i do however rub aloe vera into my neck and behind my ears,which eases the itching for a bit i get paranoid about scratching lol i hope people dont think ive got visitors in my hair!! lol any help will be gratefully recieved lol susie

thankyou all for your replies, will take your advise in hand. For Susie, i too get paranoid about ITCHY HEAD. every now and then i put Nit lotion in my hair (although no nits) just to make sure. I find T.Gel shampoo eases the itching. Strange as it may sound i also find that Palmers Cocoa Butter body lotion seems to ease irritation, more tips very welcome...

Hi Julie i too suffer from psoriasis and i got this cream over here called "relief" cream and it is great it contains honey and some other stuff its the honey that has the healing content so my chemist told me its great i can itch till i bleed but after using this it has been a relief so have a look for it i dont know if its in the uk but its worth atry or something similar

On the way back from Liverpool Alder Hey hospital on the bus with my mum after 1 months instay treatment when i was 10 yrs old, an old drunk was on the bus. I was covered in the typical gauze (mummified) bandages. He turn to my mum and asked had i got Psoriasis. My mum replied yes. The man told my mum that whilst i had Psoriasis i would never get another skin complaint. I know it no consolation but i haven't. No teenage spots/acne, lucky me because i can imagine suffering with acne etc is as unfortunate. I am just glad I have my health, thats the main thing....

Hi All, My friend has terrible skin problems and they got better after he bought some cream from our local honey farm.He mixed it with aquaous cream and its the first time in his life he isnt on steriods to stop the eruptions. I will try to find out exactly what it is next time I see him and then if you like I will go to the Honey Farm and buy some and send it on. Debbi. xxxx in the meantime here is their website address, remove brackets as usual :) http://www.quincehoney(.)co(.)uk/index(.)php

My sister suffers with this a bit. Shes tried lots of different creams , none which have worked much. One thing that has worked for her scalp though is 'polytar' shampoo. You can buy it from boots, it's in a brown bottle and if you use it often enough it really clears the scalp - it's good stuff. You've got nothing to lose by giving it a go! Tracey

I have been using a 50/50 mix of Dovonex and Eumovate ointment for the last 6 or 7 years, and now only apply it about once or twice a week. However, I am also guilty of using the sunbed if it flares up, and worry about the consequences. Someone recently told me about a 'Milk Thistle' detox, which clears the liver of all toxins (homeopaths believe that a clogged liver can cause psoriasis amongst other things).The only thing is, its supposed to make you feel a bit grotty for a couple of days while you're detoxing - so I haven't plucked up the courage to try it yet! I've found the most important thing to prevent flare ups is to keep skin moisturised - that way it doesn't itch and I don't aggravate it by scratching it.

Try this one.My son had dry skin patches and I have a bit of psoriasis now and again and the health visitor recommended a vaseline type application called Epaderm Ointment in a 500g tub for my son.It is brilliant and works on me too.Cost about £10 to buy over the counter but can be prescribed on prescription.Good Luck!

how about porridge oats in the bath thats what my cousin uses a bit messy but it works for her

Hi All, My husband has this and we have been treating it with essential oils. 60ml of Almond oil 7 drops of lavender oil 7 drops of Geranium oil 7 drops of Bergamot oil tried all the creams, lotions etc but this has worked a treat. Don't use if you are diabetic, pregnant or on Wafarin.

I to have a problem with Psoriasis and I ended up being talked into buying a Chinese remedy. I did, a tiny pot for £15. I got it home and undid it and it was the most foul smell. I threw it away. There was no way I was going around smelling of whatever it was. I kicked myself because I should have asked in the shop to see it first before buying. So beware of Chinese remidies. Jo.

Hello Julie, Sorry about the psoriasis that you have. My mum used to have it very bad, it used to flare up every now and again, she used to go into hospital and lay under a lamp only for a few minutes at a time I think it was an ultra violet lamp, but well worth talking to your Dr about it, as it used to cure my mum for a few months, she came out of hospital with a lovely tan, it wasn't a sun bed though. Bathing in the dead sea is another help, but as that is a long way away, not always possible. Sue

Hello Julie, I developed psoriasis about 3 years ago and I had it all over my body. It took me so long to 'dot and dab' it was a bit like the Forth Bridge lol. I had to use Eumovate with Dovonex for the patches on my body, arms and legs and Hydrocortisone ointment for my face. This went on for months without any real improvement despite the Dermatologist's best efforts. Then she prescribed Alphosyl Cream which contains 5% coal tar. The improvement seemed to start straight away - could have been coincidence but it certainly worked for me. I have minor eruptions on my elbows and knees but that's it now. You don't need a prescription for the cream and it only costs about £3. Give it a try - there's nothing to lose! Magsx

Please be very very careful about herbal medicines that make exaggerated claims. I speak from professional knowledge. Herbal medicines can be very helpful for some illnesses and conditions, but unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who make money from selling remedies that don't work. Don't buy a product you see advertised in the paper/on the internet. Visit a reputable practitioner - talk to the European Herbal Practitioners Association or another reputable body about qualified and voluntarily regulated practitioners in your area. A practitioner can assess your individual needs and advise on what remedy might suit. Angela

I also suffer from Psorasis (and psoratic arthritis). Over the years I've tried all sorts of creams and potions but since I started taking fish oil suppliments along with Dovonex cream it's virtually gone. Also I have always used Polytar shampoo which keeps it away but if I change to another shampoo it comes back again. I was on the verge of trying the chinese herbalist shop in Brighton a few years back when I read a report in the local newspaper about a lady who had kidney failure and died after having treatment there...it put me right off! Sheila

What happened to my post referring to the non-toxicity of liquid paraffin? Who found it abusive?