Arthritis...25 going on 80

I never knew you could get an ultrasound for your finger, but apparently it’s quite normal. And yes, my finger is pregnant with twins.*

When Jack was younger I had to get Reid to snap all of Jack’s clothes for me, you know, because I’m 80 years old! Well, the ultrasound on my finger was to confirm that I have arthritis in that one spot, which is caused by the psoriasis.

I won’t go into all the boring details, except that I visited another doctor for a second opinion for my psoriasis. The doctor is a good friend of Reid and his family, so I felt very comfortable and hopeful.

Although, I didn’t feel very hopeful when the doctor realized I had psoriasis in my ears and mentioned the danger of eventually losing my hearing if it gets worse. It’s moments like that at doctor’s offices that I have to tell myself “don’t cry, don’t cry!”

During mentioning treatment options, he mentioned several things I’d never heard of. One was some type of something involving human or mouse protein. I just nodded and went with it because I’m not sure I even want to know what that’s all about.

BUT he was out of that sample and gave me two injections of Humira instead. I’ll go back every two weeks to get another injection because I’m too much of a baby to do it myself.

(Sidenote: My dear sweet Holly described these what the injections feel like just a few weeks ago. So, when he said injections, my heart skipped a beat. I’d like to say it wasn’t as bad as I thought, but it was like I imagined. Sidenote in this sidenote: Holly is a champ for giving these things to herself. I’m in awe!)

Oh, this was interesting. My vitamin D levels are low, so I’m being put on medication to balance it out. The reason this is interesting to me is that over the past few weeks I’ve been very low on energy and felt a little (and sometimes a lot) down and this could be a contributing factor. Oh, psoriasis, you really are not my friend.

I said I wouldn’t bore you with all the details, but I’ve lied. So sorry.

All this to say that if you have a friend with psoriasis, give them a big hug.

*Don’t get too excited people, I’m not pregnant! Let’s not start any rumors…

In apologies for this long, boring, medical post, I shall give more pictures of Jack, with a guest appearance by Sheena Patton.

the end.

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Healing The Skin With Healthy Fats

Psoriasis is an issue that nearly all of us have to cope with on a consistent basis. However, there could be times whenever the psoriasis can disappear, it is hard to tell whenever it may happen again and go back with a vengeance. Although there are some various types of psoriasis that we are able to have, the majority of us tend to have the variety that gets red, inflamed and contains silvery scales on the surface which flake. Overcoming this problem can be a little bit tough, but it is not at all impossible if you follow a small number of natural methods.

The initial thing that you need to figure out about psoriasis is that medical science is very quick to inform you that there is no treatment for psoriasis that will remove it entirely. They may state that you have to avoid some of the sets off that can cause psoriasis, such as emphasize or other environmental factors. There are way too many people who have had some success in overcoming their psoriasis through natural means, nevertheless, for it to be ignored. One of the ways that they do this is by balancing the system with the appropriate type of fats.

Most people are inclined to avoid eating fatty foods and this is really not a tough idea, particularly when you’re talking about the type of unhealthy fats that we are inclined to eat and most of the meals that’re in the common American diet. The’re a few different fats, however, which are actually extremely healthy for the body and can aid us in a few different skin conditions and bring our body back into a full balance. These would include the fats that’re found in things such as coconut oil or flax seed oil.

Needless to say, eating the correct fats is not intending to be the only aspect in helping you to remedy your psoriasis naturally. The’re a number of different things that must be tired order to ensure that the body is in an ideal balance and whenever this is the situation, you will see differences in the way that your skin looks and in the regularity that you have psoriasis outbreaks. The inclusion of these healthy fats in the diet program, all the same, are certainly one step that you must take as a way to make certain that your body is as healthy as possible.

Is psoriasis worse at different times of the year?

Changes in the seasons can play a role in your psoriasis flare-ups. During the summer additional exposure to sunlight can help improve your condition while the cold, dry air of winter can aggravate it.For more information, help and advice, visit my website on Psoriasis Treatment

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Psoriasis Management

By Kira Mayo

As we discussed in Psoriasis 101, the treatment for psoriasis depends on how severe it is, how much of the body is affected, the type of psoriasis and how well the skin responds to the initial treatment. A topical treatment, applied directly to the skin, is usually attempted first. Phototherapy, treatment with light, is used if topical therapy doesn’t cut it. The last resort is systemic treatment; patients who have severe psoriasis have to take oral or injectable medications.

Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin:

Emollients, topicals that soften the skin, include creams, ointments, petroleum (Vaseline) and cooking oils. They reduce scaling and are most effective when applied after bathing. Emollients are safe and are commonly used for mild-moderate plaque psoriasis.

Topical corticosteroids can improve psoriasis if the lesions are confined to limited areas. Using powerful steroids for too long can lead to skin atrophy, loss of effect, and may actually worsen psoriasis, so make sure you consult a doctor before starting any medication.

Topical therapies made from vitamin D can help control the excessive production of skin cells, thereby improving symptoms. These can be used in combination with topical corticosteroids.

Topical therapies containing retinoids, a compund derived from vitamin A, can also help control psoriasis. Although they are not as fast-acting as steroids, they have fewer side effects. Women beware—if you take any medication derived from vitamin A, it can lead to birth defects if you get pregnant, so make sure you are on oral contraceptives if you are using these medications.

Other topical therapies include coal tar, Anthralin, and salicylic acid. Ask your doctor about the benefits and side effects of any medication before you start taking it.

Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, is based on the premise that UV rays reduce DNA synthesis, slowing the overproduction of skin cells. This helps decrease scaling and inflammation.

PUVA therapy: There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. PUVA therapy combines the use of UVA rays and psoralen. Psoralen is a medication that is used topically or taken orally to sensitize the skin to UV light; it is applied before exposure to UVA light. This treatment requires frequent office visits, and there is some concern regarding long-term treatment and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Lasers: The FDA has approved a special type of laser to be used to treat mild-to-moderate psoriasis. Lasers have the benefit of delivering a much more controlled beam of light to the affected skin.

Systemic treatment is reserved for those with severe psoriasis and include:

Immunosuppresants, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, and hydroxyurea, suppress the immune system, thereby reducing inflammation. These medications can have significant side effects and should only be taken under your doctor’s watchful eye. These medications, like those related to vitamin A, can cause serious birth defects if women become pregnant. Therefore, women of childbearing age should use some form of birth control beginning 1 month before treatment until at least 2 years after treatment.

Biologics, such as Amevive, Raptiva and Enbrel, are the newest systemic psoriasis treatments. These are immunosuppresants that are injected either under the skin, in the muscle or in the bloodstream. Since they are immunosuppresants, biologics can increase your chance of infection and cancer.

Finally, antibiotics may help when an infection triggers an outbreak of psoriasis, as seen with some cases of guttate psoriasis.

Those are just some of the therapies available for treating psoriasis. So which one should be used?! That depends on many factors. While there is no single ideal combination, treatment should be kept as simple as possible. Be sure to ask your doctor about the benefits and side effects of these therapies; together you can up with a personalized plan that will work best for you!

Reference: Psoriasis: Psoriasis and Scaling Diseases. The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals, Nov. 2005. Web.

Originally written for DermHub.com

[Via http://dermreport.com]

Psoriasis go away!

 

   Around the age of 25, Psoriasis decided to move into my life.

Every single day since then I have to apply creams, lotion, or ointments.

I have done several years of getting shots and have also tried pills. It’s an addition to each of my days that grows very very old.

  There is no cure for Psoriasis. There has been a few times here and there that it did go away, but only to come back later. I do have some relief from a couple of the meds that I use, but at this point it is still there.

  My dermatologist that has seen me for years retired and I am trying to find another to replace her. It hasn’t been easy. One doctor gave me a medicine that they will not even sell in California because the possibility of it causing cancer.  I would love to find an alternative method and do away with the meds completely.

  There are support groups all over the internet and many people willing to share their story and how it has affected them day to day. Some people will not even leave the house, some fear having a relationship (it’s not contagious), but reading each story, I can relate in many ways. I am so thankful that to this day, my husband tells me that I am beautiful and that he doesn’t see the psoriasis when he looks at me.

 Beauty is only skin deep so we are told. Well, those of us with psoriasis don’t always feel that way.

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