Psoriasis/Hep C/Tx/Riba Rash

I was told my pre-existing psoriasis would get worse during treatment and they were right. It's flared up more where I had it, and has popped up in new places.

Wondering if anyone else ran into this problem and what kind of treatments they used (topicals, systemics, light therapy) and how
successful treatment was. Also interested if things got better after treatment was over.

Speaking of systemics, has anyone used a drug called Embrel during treatment for psoriais? One doctor recommended it and the other said stay away from systemics. How unusual. LOL.

Somewhat related is "riba rash". I hear a lot about this but I've always assumed my skin eruptions during treatment were due to the psoriais. Can anyone describe exactly what riba rash looks like, or better still post or email me a picture of it at ***@****

Thanks.

Jim

[Wasabi Pea]

I'm not familiar with that drug you mentioned, but I can describe what a riba rash looks like.

Itches like a fiend and looks like little red dots.  And the more you scratch them (bad idea, but couldn't help it), the more likely it is to make the little heads on the dots bleed.  Don't mean to be gross.  

I was told to use a 1% cortisone cream.  I actually just forced myself to ignore it long enough to let the scratches heal, and the darn thing seemed to dry up and go away.  

But I'm still on tx and my skin's still very dry and very prone to itching if I decide to scratch.

Good luck in finding relief.

[Docsgold]

I got a rash around both wrists and backs of the hands within 2 days of starting tx.  Very tiny bumps under the skin, extremely itchy.  I used benadryl orally and topically, and it cleared up (never had that type again).  The next rash was the typical allergic reaction type, red, raised and itchy which appeared on my chest, back of shoulders and arms and down the spine.  The derm gave me a cream rx (desoximetasone cr/eucerin TARO).  Kinda greasy but it helped 2x/day when applied.  I also used allegra.  For the really pretty rash on my face he gave me elidel.  Like the other side effects of tx, rashes came and went all the time.  I also got some 50 cent size itchy rashes on my lower thighs after a shot and they would usually resolve within 8 hours--go figure.  Sometimes I would get dry, raised red spots on my face which the elidel helped.  I used aveeno bath oil in the shower right before toweling off which helped. Exposure to the sun made it worse.  Good luck to you and I hope you don't have much longer to go.

[HepCinLA]

My husband does not have Hep C but he DOES have psoraisis (psoriasis) (sp?).

He is currently taking Embrel and it works like a charm.  His rashes have completely cleared up w/ a few splotches on his leg that look more like mosquito bites that were over-scratched.  He has had no side effects from this drug.  

The Embrel worked far better than any topcial cream he used or Raptiva which is the other injectable drug used to treat psoraisis (psoriasis).  In fact the side effects w/ Raptiva sound similar to Interferon in that he had headaches all the time, flu like symptoms the day after the shot and brain fog.  Just check with your dr. if Embrel is liver friendly.

In the meantime, I'm still waiting for my VL to come back so I can figure out what my start date is to enter treatment.   Once I get that info together I'll post my profile on this site for anyone who is interested.

[Wasabi Pea]

You may also want to try a topical cream or gel containing at least .05% aloe vera gel.  It's cheap and worth a try.  I forgot to mention I was using Banana Boat Aloe Vera (instead of the cortisone) when I broke out with a riba rash.  That might have helped in clearing it up, along with the cessation of crazy scratching. :)

[terriri]

I made my own concoction after much research.
Recipe for dry skin....12 oz of jojoba oil, six drops of aloe vera oil, six drops of vitamin e oil, 5 drops of lavender oil. Recipe for dry skin with rash.... Same as above but add 6 drops of teatree oil. Directions.... Wash & while skin is still damp (not wet) rub in small amount of oil, you only need a little. Jojoba is really more of a wax than an oil, American Indians have used it to soften leather. After a few months it even softens small lines in your face.

[Laika]

I have apparently had a very minor psoriasis type problem all my life.  It was never bad enough to go to the dr.  On treatment it flared up terribly--scratched the skin off.  I used Clobetasol (a prescription) and it went away.

Laika

[giddyup]

Giddy's rash appears on his shins. Terribly itchy and raw. we have tried everything from prescription creams and all sorts of solutions. Our best success is using a sunburn relief spray with lidocaine and aloe (any brand) and Gold Bond anti-itch medicated lotion.(pump top)It saves time!!!!

[Bill1954]

Hi there, Jmjm:

I was initially writing to warn you of what I thought were adverse interactions with IFN/Riba therapy and Enbrel (entanercept). I had been communicating earlier this year with a patient that used Enbrel for controlling RA. He had tested positive for HCV antibodies, and was in a panic because his rheumatologist told him he wouldn

[jmjm530]

Thanks for googling around, I couldn't google a gaggle with Enbrel. LOL.

The study is fascinating in that it suggests that Enbrel shots may actually *help* my therapy as opposed to being contraindicated by HCV therapy. But then there's the rheumatologist and one dertmatologist who told your friend the two don't mix. Can't they make their minds up. LOL. BTW if you're still in touch maybe u can find out why the rheumi didn't like the mix.

I plan on seeing my doc this week, showing him the bumps and go over the Enbrel thing. It may turn out it's not psoriais but what everyone calls Riba Rash. In that case, probably treat it differently.

As far as my sides...last week or so have been a real roller coaster with the GERD. First, I tried Xanax and stumbled like a drunken sailor for a couple of days. Then I tried Lexipro and it made the GERD flare up worse than before. Things got so bad (sore throat, ear aches, head aches) that I just stayed in bed for four days and dropped down to 150 pounds from my pre-treatment weight of 176. The good news is that as of a couple days ago, the GERD is a lot better. Not sure what to attribute it too (tried a buch of different things) but I've gained a few more pounds back, can eat real meals,  and even can drink water without pain. So if have to trade the psoriais for the GERD so be it. Doesn't seem like we have many choices in what happens week by week.