New outbreak of psoriasis caused by sunburn - how long for it to go away?

Posted Mon 15 Oct 2018 14.24 by RedDwarf

My back got sunburned in the summer and after a couple of days the area was covered in tiny blisters. Two months later they are still there and are actually drier and itchier than the rest of my psoriasis, and are hot, red and angry. Has anyone else had the same? If so, how long did your skin take to calm down? Never has anyone regretted getting sunburned as much as I do...

Posted Sun 16 Jun 2019 11.43 by gewakefie

I came across this post it’s exactly what happened to me if anyone else had this happen please share you experiences. I accidentally fell asleep in the sun for a few hours and my first and only ever guttate outbreak was 4 years ago after tonsillitis. I was completely clear last time after 9 months and the only thing that I assume helped was sunbeds. Anyway I got tonsillitis again and got really burnt at the same time. My whole front and shoulders were bright red from the sunburn and at the same time GP was back. Now the strange thing that happened is that the usual spots spread like last time over the rest of my body but the whole front and shoulders that were sunburnt I believe isn’t sunburn anymore just a huge area psoriasis has attacked! There are no white areas it’s all red and on my sides there’s a massive line it can’t be sunburn still after 2.5 weeks so it must be psoriasis does it mean it plaque?

Posted Sun 16 Jun 2019 19.11 by Danielle

I’m in the exact same position at this very moment! I got burnt in the lovely weather we’ve just had and normally I’m completely fine with a little sunburn but this time round I came out in what I can describe as something like prickly heat. It has then formed into one big amount of psoriasis but I’ve also now covered head to toe in red spots as well! I’ve been back and fourth to the doctors and currently on the waiting list for my local dermatology unit! Completely heartbroken that I look the way I do and really struggling with it!

Posted Sun 16 Jun 2019 19.13 by gewakefie

Have you had guttate before? Yeah it’s really stage it’s a massive mass all on my front as well as spots everywhere. Got instellar today hope it goes away quicker than last time took about 9 months to run its course!

Posted Sun 16 Jun 2019 20.50 by Danielle

I hadn’t but that’s exactly what it looks like! I’m calling the doctors tomorrow so I’ll ask for some installer as well as that does help a lot

Posted Sun 16 Jun 2019 20.55 by gewakefie

I’m getting instelar on Tuesday but after reading comments they say that it comes back with a vengeance so I am scared to use it have you used it before ?

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 08.06 by Danielle

Yeah I’ve used it before, I only stopped as I was getting my prescriptions on maternity and stopped getting it as it’s expensive! Worked wonders! I shouldn’t of stopped actually!

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 08.36 by RedDwarf

I did just the same last year, and it was awful. The sunburned area came up in a mass of tiny red angry spots that burned and were so hot. That stayed for 5 months until I started having UV therapy. It disappeared with the UV therapy and has not been back. Fingers crossed. But the UV nurse said that sunburn is a common trigger for psoriasis, so sufferers have to be very careful not to get too much sun. Of course, the sun can also be good for psoriasis...

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 09.41 by OhNo_NotAgain?

Any trauma to the skin can trigger a psoriasis outbreak - at the very least in people who have already suffered from psoriasis. I grazed my leg on a piece of wooden floorboard during a redecorating project- as the scab healed, it was replaced by a patch of plaque psoriasis that persisted for several years, but did not spread. Yes, sunlight can be very beneficial for psoriasis sufferers, but you should NEVER allow yourself to burn - as many have discovered this CAN trigger psoriasis ( I do not know if it is likely to trigger it in someone who has never had it before). I had my first psoriasis outbreak in Jan 1980 - all over my body, plaque psoriasis. By dec 1980 it was clearing nicely, after finishing at university, and plenty of sun and swimming in the sea over the summer. But in Feb 1981 I got VERY badly sunburned riding on a motorbike in Indonesia, and was burned and blistered on my face, arms and upper chest (cleavage) area. It healed with no firther outbreak or increase in psoriasis at all.

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 14.40 by gewakefie

Guys I’m wondering if anyone knows when to go to hospital and what signs to looks for. I’ve been covered for a week today I’m at work and it’s really really bad itching like crazy it’s all bright red and my body is so hot especially on the front where the psoriasis is a massive mass rather than droplets, today is definitely the worst day, I get my instelar tomorrow do I wait or call the nhs helpline? I’ve never had it this bad so I don’t know if it’s normal

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 14.49 by RedDwarf

Gewakefie, that sounds awful. Do you have a dermatologist? If so, ring them and see what they suggest? Or your GP - maybe they can suggest something you can take to reduce the itchiness. Huge sympathy from me.

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 14.51 by gewakefie

&redwarf thank you! As I say I had it about 4 years ago but don’t recall it being like this I just don’t know what else to do. I had to go to a walk in clinic on Sunday to get Enstilar only to be told they don’t have it in stock but will do tomorrow. I don’t have a dermatologist but will try to get to my GP this week though unsure of what they will be able to do

Posted Mon 17 Jun 2019 17.18 by OhNo_NotAgain?

gewakefie: you need to see your GP anyway, to get a referral to a dematologist . .so I would recommend to get a GP appointment set up anyway. Call the NHS helpline anyway - what have you got to lose, maybe consider going back to the walk-in clinic if it has become so much worse since yeaterday . .maybe they can refer you to a specialist?

Posted Tue 18 Jun 2019 08.03 by RedDwarf

Yes, make a GP appt and get yourself in the system and get the ball rolling. Ask for a referral to a dermatologist, as they are the only ones who can prescribe the UV treatment. I don't think calling 111 will help. Not sure what A&E can do. Were the walk-in clininc happy to prescribe you Enstilar without you having seen a GP?

Posted Tue 18 Jun 2019 08.35 by gewakefie

Thanks guys. Yeah they were happy to prescribe Enstilar

Posted Wed 19 Jun 2019 19.11 by gewakefie

guys any help will be appreciated, i got instelar today, am i supposed to moisturise too? if so before or after i apply it? thanks in advance

Posted Thu 20 Jun 2019 14.24 by OhNo_NotAgain?

gewakefie: You could ask the pharmacist at your local chemist if there are any specific recommendations (or at the drop-in centre). Personally it would make sense to me to apply the Enstilar to dry skin. that is your active treatment. I have not used Enstilar, but I use Dovobet which has the fame active treatment ingredients, just in a different physical formulation. Usually I have never been told that there was any restriction on moisturising and I apply emmollient/mosituriser as often as I need to during the day to relive itching and generally feel comfortable. One product I use is Doublebase Dayleve Gel, which does leave a slight barrier on the skin. So I only use that after applying steroid not just before. I have never heard of a specific suggestion or recommendation to moisturise just before applying a steroid. . . . . but I am not medically trained, and although I have read an awful lot about psoriasis in the 40 years I have experienced it, I have not read everything.

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