Has anyone found "Anything" that has cleared their psoriasis up??

[jondsam]

Does anybody know anything I can do to help me with my psoriasis.  I am 8% covered, elboes, knees, arms, scalp, and legs.  It had become really painful in the winter time.  I have treid all the regular stuff, dovonex, clobetasol, olux e , all the topicals!  It just does not work for me, anybody have any other suggestions?? thank you

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,
"Psoriasis is a non-contagious disorder affecting the skin and joints which commonly causes red scaly patches called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes on a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees.

There may be many causes which may appear to aggravate psoriasis - stress, alcohol   and smoking are some of these.

There is a wide variety of treatment options available, response to which is determined by the degree and intensity of involvement. You may have to see a dermatologist to get a complete check-up, diagnosis and customized therapy in this case.

It has a genetic and immune component related. It is not contagious.

Lesions in psoriasis are recurrent in quite a few cases and therefore require long term medication.

As a first step, medicated ointments or creams like corticosteroids, cvutamin D analogues, anthralin, etc, called topical treatments, are applied to the skin.

If topical treatment fails to achieve the desired goal then the next step is to expose the skin to ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation or PUVA therapy (PSORALEN +UV-A). This is called phototherapy.

The third step involves the use of medications which are taken by pills or injection including methotrexate, cyclosporine and retinoids.. This approach is called systemic treatment.

Over time, psoriasis can become resistant to a specific therapy. Treatments may be periodically changed to prevent resistance developing.

More information on Psoriasis may be found at :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoriasis

and

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/psoriasis/article_em.htm

Let us know if you need any further information.

Regards

[jondsam]

Thanks so much for the info.  This really helped me a lot.  I am going to the doctor next week and im going to ask about that PUVA , UVB light treatment.  That really sounds promising.  Thank you again!