First flare up and UVB treatment.

Posted Wed 20 Mar 2019 17.04 by Darren S
I’m in my late 40’s, married with three kids. Had my first and only flare in Jan 2018. Just living with it now.

Hi All, I’m new on here, and just wanted to ask a few questions if I may? I’m currently about two months into my first ever flare up, and boy am I absolutely covered from head to toe. My GP, deemed my flare up serious enough to be referred to my hospital’s dermatology clinic, where I’ve been earmarked for UVB therapy, with three sessions a week for eleven weeks. Is there anything I can expect from this? I’m very fair skinned. If the light therapy works, do I stop using the creams I have been given, and wait until I flare up again. I’ve noticed that some of my plaques have started to go then have come back again. Sorry for the long post, Darren

Posted Sun 24 Mar 2019 20.50 by Sarah

Hi Darren,I’m having the UVB treatment at the mo... I’ve had 9 sessions so far,going 3 times a week. At first I found it hard fitting it in and working full time and they burnt me twice! But now they have the right dose for me it’s been fine. They put me up 10% each time instead of 20%,so if you are very faired skin be careful! But have to say my skin is looking good! It hasn’t looked like this for so long and I’m looking forward to getting my arms out this summer.😊 No dry scales on my body anymore and I was covered from head to toe. Plus really moisturiser after as you get itchy dry skin. Good luck! Sarah.

Posted Mon 25 Mar 2019 12.43 by Darren S
I’m in my late 40’s, married with three kids. Had my first and only flare in Jan 2018. Just living with it now.

Hi Sarah, thanks for replying, I can’t wait until my treatment starts in three weeks, as the constant burning and itching all over me is driving me mad! My creams lend some relief but not for long and it’s bsck then to the feeling of sunburn. Fingers crossed!!

Posted Mon 25 Mar 2019 18.40 by Sarah

Hi Darren,I know how you feel I was like that but my skin at the mo has never looked better! I really hope it works for you.😊 I use Cetraben cream after and wash with Doublebase Gel,also when I have a bath I put Dead Sea Salts in and Oilatum Bath,really good for the dry scales and keeping your skin moisture. If you do burn try some after sun cream... Good luck!

Posted Mon 25 Mar 2019 18.41 by Erinmelissa18
Hi I’m Erin,20 years old diagnosed with generalised pustuler Psoriasis, plaque and Guttate.

I finished my UVB treatment a few months ago now. I have very fair skin and at the end of the course my skin was completely clear however now there’s a few patches appearing but nothing obvious to the eye!! I had a few burns here and there but if you moisturise between the treatments it really helps! I recommend the dream cream from lush! It’s all natural ingredients and works wonders to your skin :)

Posted Mon 25 Mar 2019 19.09 by Sarah

Hi Erinmelissa17,how long ago have you finished your treatment? That’s what Im worried about,going all through this and then it coming back so soon. I just got a little sample of that dream cream today,I’m going to try it on just a little patch to begin with. I think I’ve spent a fortune on creams,lotions etc,drives me mad!

Posted Mon 25 Mar 2019 19.23 by Erinmelissa18
Hi I’m Erin,20 years old diagnosed with generalised pustuler Psoriasis, plaque and Guttate.

Hi Sarah :) I think the treatment is totally worth it! My treatment was just over 3 months ago now but everyone reacts differently some people can last years after treatment without any flare ups! I only have 2 patches the size of spots on my ribs at the top! But now are slowly disappearing because of the dream cream I use! Also take vitamins and primrose oil tablets they help a lot too! Try not to worry, yoga is very good to help anxiety! Hope this helps :)

Posted Mon 25 Mar 2019 23.37 by Darren S
I’m in my late 40’s, married with three kids. Had my first and only flare in Jan 2018. Just living with it now.

Thank you both for replying to my post. My main concern is if the UVB works, and I hope it does for me because I really do t want to go down the Methotrexate route, what do I do once my skin clears? Do I still moisturise? I can’t use Cetreben as I feel it burns once it’s applied. Hydromol is too heavy and although feels ok, it never sinks in and I’m left feeling like I’m being greased up to swim the channel!! I use Diprobase at present as a compromise and Calcipitrol and Bentnovate RD. I use Oilatum to bathe in and that seems good, I’ve never experienced anything like this before and it’s really thrown me. I feel very restricted in what I can do. I find myself saying to my children “once my cream’s sunk in, I’ll be able to play with you”. I used to wear t shirts all the time but now have to hide my arms. Sorry i don’t want to moan., Thanks again for your comments x

Posted Tue 26 Mar 2019 07.32 by Erinmelissa18
Hi I’m Erin,20 years old diagnosed with generalised pustuler Psoriasis, plaque and Guttate.

Hi Darren, Once you finish treatment start eating lots of leafy greens and cut out gluten and sugar. Moisturise 2 times a day if you can, I have a son too I say the same things to him but I let him join in by having a baby moisturiser! Also drink lots of water I heard celery juice is great too. Stay away from anxiety if you can and let the sun get to your skin! Don’t use any creams that burn you because it will make your skin worse! Hope this helps :)

Posted Tue 26 Mar 2019 08.38 by OhNo_NotAgain? (edited Tue 26 Mar 2019 11.48 by OhNo_NotAgain?)

Darren1: have you tried Doublebase Gel as a moisturiser? I have found it works brilliantly for me and is quite quickly absorbed. There are 2 versions (slightly different products): Doublebase Gel, and Doublebase Dayleve Gel. I like the Dayleve Gel when I am itching the most - it is designed to leave a slight barrier on the skin, so you might not like that. But I have found that the Doublebase Gel is absorbed completely. They are available on prescription or over the counter. I buy the 500g pump dispenser. I also use Oilatum bath oil in the evening in a warm (but not overly hot) bath. I also use it in the morning in the shower. I find it helps a lot (as you seem to have found). Good luck.

Posted Tue 26 Mar 2019 12.38 by Darren S
I’m in my late 40’s, married with three kids. Had my first and only flare in Jan 2018. Just living with it now.

Hi Erinmelissa and Oh No_Not Again!, Thanks for replying, I’ve heard dietary changes can help, I was by chance talking to someone who noticed I had psoriasis and said he cut out dairy and that really helped his. I’ve also heard that cutting out alcohol is good too, not sure how I feel about that!! I’ll try and keep my stress levels low, but having three children aged 13, 5 and 2 I can guarantee that some form of stress if just around the corner! Thanks again for the tips, I really appreciate them. I hope you both are well and manage to keep on top of this condition xx

Posted Tue 26 Mar 2019 13.48 by OhNo_NotAgain? (edited Tue 26 Mar 2019 18.48 by OhNo_NotAgain?)

Darren1, i have read different people's experiences regarding dietary changes, and it certainly can have an effect, but as with a lot of treatments there does not seem to be a single "this works for everyone" answer. Regarding alcohol, I have read from people who cut it out and they saw improvements in their psoriasis. Others who see a definite increase in their psoriasis symptoms if they have a particularly "heavy" night or weekend of drinking. For me, my psoriasis first showed when i woke the morning after a very heavy night of drinking on my 22nd birthday at university. I woke with a blotchy red face. Within a couple of weeks it spread over my entire body and was diagnosed finally as psoriasis (initially the Campus GP said it was chicken pox). Whether it was linked to the drink or just coincidence, I have no way of knowing. Over the following 30 years I drank very heavily and regularly at times, or I did not drink at all for 3-4 weeks at a time due to my work, I never saw any correlation between my drinking and my psoriasis. However, if I had seen a definite correlation, then I would have needed to weigh up the enjoyment I felt I gained through drinking vs my degree of suffering from my psoriasis, and decide which was the more important to me. In 1995 I did give up drinking completely for 9 months. I still went to my local pub most evenings - it was where I met and socialised with friends. After the first 2-3 days, and once I figured out what to drink instead of alcohol it felt normal (I started drinking slimline tonic with ice). I still played in the darts team and was still a member of the pub quiz team. My friends stopped trying to persuade me to "go on, have a drink" after the first couple of days, and I found the period interesting. No more hang-overs for one. I also lost weight - partially I think becuse of less calories, but perhaps more so because I stopped the late night curry or kebab on the way home.

Posted Wed 27 Mar 2019 00.09 by Darren S
I’m in my late 40’s, married with three kids. Had my first and only flare in Jan 2018. Just living with it now.

Hi OhNo, My psoriasis story is similar to yours in that i was in a phase of heavy drinking, around two bottles of spirits a week, plus wine, plus beer and I noticed that I had a 10p sized. red blotch on my forearm. My GP thought this was ringworm but changed his mind when my entire body looked like pink leopard print two weeks later., and he diagnosed psoriasis and I got an appointment with a consultant dermatologist who recommended that I get phototherapy. I’ve still been drinking and noticed that whilst my psoriasis doesn’t get any worse, it doesn’t get any better. Once I start the phototherapy I’ll stop completely so as to give myself the best chance for any kind of remission. I asked my GP and the consultant about alcohol being a trigger and they said it was unlikely but not impossible. They cited stress as a more likely culprit. Currently I’ll try anything so as to rid me of this, I hate it I really do. Thanks again for your advice and sharing your experiences. I hope one day we’ll both be clear skinned x

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