Let's all welcome, ct69646!

[MikeK]

Hi everyone,

Ct69646 introduced herself to us in Manders' "Depression" thread. She's newly diagnosed and is understandably going through a very rough time. I figured that she'd get a better response if her introduction to us was posted in a brand new thread. Here's a copy of it:I was just diagnosed today. I wonder all the time if I have depression. I just moved to a very cold place in the mountains, on my own, new job, school, life. It is stressful enough. I've been itching for a few months--i tossed it off as eczema and put some cortisone cream on it. Today I faced the facts. It isn't eczema. It isn't just going to go away. It will be a stuggle for the rest of my life. I'm scared as it is. It's hard enough growing up as it is and I'm just 19-- I'm too self-conscious to wear short sleeves because of my elbows, afraid to wear my hair up because of the edges of my scalp. Always walking by a mirror to make sure the flakes aren't showing. I'm stressing myself out way more than I ever need to. It is desperation. I don't know what to do. So many people have it worse than me. I have no idea what I am getting myself into. I have sculiosis, eczema, and now psoriasis. My scalp is about 80% covered, it is all over my face, on my chest, elbows, stomach, sides of legs, sides of arms. The itching drives me CRAZY.

I felt a little depressed before. Now I'm overwhelmed, kinda scared. It is just a whole new thing that I never had to think about before. I'm just not ready for it but I guess I don't get to choose.

Lost. Depressed. Confused. It is life I suppose.Source: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?p=213205#post213205.

Thanks, everyone!

Mike

[Manders]

Hey! I recently got diagnosed also, well in May of 05' but I'm very new to the Forum! WELCOME WELCOME! You're going to LOVE it here!

[bratsareus]

Welcome to the boards ct69646.

[MikeK]

Hi again,

I want to one again welcome you to the Board! Here's a couple of quick suggestions that I hope will be helpful to you:

You mentioned:I'm too self-conscious to wear short sleeves because of my elbowsI hear you. I'm 47 and I have friends -- since kindergarten -- who joke that they've never seen me in shorts. The trouble is -- they're not joking. I hardly ever wear shorts. Even when the temperature is 100 degrees in the shade. Since you have psoriasis on your elbows, you might want to try using some Cordran tape. (You'll need a prescription.) It looks like regular first aid tape, but it has medication on the "sticky" side. You put it on and leave it on overnight. When you take it off, any scales that have formed overnight come off with it and the treated area looks and feels much, much better. Here's a link to a very informative post about Cordran Tape:
http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2967 and here's a link to some additional informatoin about it: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/fluran.htm.

You mentioned that you wereafraid to wear my hair up because of the edges of my scalp. and that yourscalp is about 80% coveredI had severe scalp p when I was in college (I'm at my current job almost 25 years, so we're talking a long time ago) so I know how miserable it can be. I shouldn't say this too loudly, but it cleared one day and I'm not exactly sure what I did. I now rotate through several different over the counter shampoos to keep it from coming back.

Here's a couple of quick over the counter suggestions (in no particular order) that will hopefully give you some relief: Put some mineral oil on your scalp. Cover it with a shower cap and leave it on for a couple of hours. You can do the same thing with olive oil. You can also call your drug store and see how long you will have to wait for a special order of an over the counter product called Baker's P&S Oil. Baker's P&S Oil is mineral oil based. You have to leave it on your scalp -- covered by a shower cap -- for a couple of hours. I've never been able to find a website for Baker's P&S oil, so I'm going to give you a link to a site that sells it online. I've never ordered anything from them, so I have no idea how reliable they are. I'm giving you the link because their description of Baker's P&S Oil is a good one. Here's the link: http://www.dermadoctor.com/product.asp?WID=%7B29749BC7%2D0B35%2D4715%2D88BC%2 D8D2746DB41D0%7D&productid=206. (Baker's also makes a shampoo. I've never tried it.) Most people who use any of these methods leave the treatment on overnight. It's a good idea to wear old night clothes and to cover you pillowcase with a towel. At least one person who sometimes posts here (Joseph1), uses a metal flea comb to remove the scales from his scalp. (He also uses a prescription medication called Clobetasol Scalp Solution. I tell you a little bit more about that when I get to some prescription suggestions.) Here's a link to the thread where he discusses it: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3492. You can also try using a shampoo with either coal tar or salicylic acid in it. Coal tar has been used to treat psoriasis for many, many years. (Coal tar products may not be available if you live in California.) Salicylic acid is one of the few doctor approved methods for removing scales. Examples of a coal tar based shampoo would be MG217 (www.mg217.com) and Neutrogena T-Gel ( http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_148.asp). MG217 also makes a salicylic acid shampoo. (Here in New Jersey, the salicylic acid version of MG217 shampoo seems to be available by special order only.) Some other examples of salicylic acid shampoos are Neutrogena T/Sal (http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_65.asp) or Dermarest (www.dermarest.com). I just started using a shampoo called Lupicare, so I can't tell if I like it or not. (Karen (Ouchyk) tells me that she likes it very much.) It has salicylic acid in it. I just came from their website (http://www.lupicare.com/products.php3) and see that they make a "scalp cream" in addition to the shampoo. I've never tried it, but it's certainly something you can look into. MichaelCFP swears by a coal tar shampool called Pentrax. (Here's a link to a post where he discusses it: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?p=212472&highlight=Pentrax#post212472.) (I've never used it.) I couldn't find a website for Pentrax, but google referred me to that same site that I sent you to for Baker's P&S oil's description. Again, I've never ordered anything from them, but here's a link to their description of Pentrax: http://www.dermadoctor.com/product.asp?productID=105 Using a shampoo with tea tree oil in it can be very soothing. Paul Mitchell makes a tea tree shampoo that a lot of people use. I was told that I could only find Paul Mitchell products at a beauty supply store, but I was able to find it a New York area chain type drug store. It's very expensive, but I was able to find a cheaper tea tree shampoo by reading just about every bottle of shampoo in the store. Here's a link to some additional information about Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shampoo: http://www.paulmitchell.com/site/subpage.asp?section=2,10,32,80. Julia (screen name: austinfish) who sometimes posts on the Parents and Caregivers' Board, recommended Nature's Gate shampoo and conditioner made with tea tree oil, calendula, aloe vera and Vitamin E that I sometimes use. I like it a lot. I found it at my local health food store. Here's a link to the thread where Julia discusses it: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9219. As I mentioned in my response to Julia, I was able to find several stores in my area, that carry Nature's Gate products by going to their website and using the find "find a retailer feature". (It's searchable by zip code.) Here's a link: http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/naturesgate/findastore.d2w/report. Kim (Kimbercat) had what her derm thought was an allergic reaction to Paul Mitchell's tea oil shampoo. Here's a link to her post: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15976.
Here's some prescription suggestions (again in no particular order) that you can discuss with your derm: Capex shampoo (www.capexshampoo.com); Olux foam (www.olux.com or http://www.rxlist.com/drugs/drug-20010-Olux+Topical.aspx?drugid=20010&drugname=Olux+Topical) or its milder cousin Luxiq foam (www.luxiq.com or http://www.rxlist.com/drugs/drug-17045-Luxiq+Topical.aspx?drugid=17045&drugname=Luxiq+Topical). Both medications burn for several very long minutes when you first put them on. Olux has a very strong steroid in it (clobetasol propionate) so it should only be used for two weeks max followed by a break of at least a couple of weeks. As I mentioned above, Joseph1 uses a Clobetasol Scalp Solution (http://www.medicinenet.com/clobetasol_scalp_solution-topical/article.htm) and a metal flea comb to keep his scalp psoriasis under control. Clobetasol proponate is the same medication that's in Olux foam. Clobetasol is a Class 1 or Super Potent Steroid. Steroids are classified by strength into 7 different classes. Each class is assigned a number. The lower the number the stronger the steroid, so that means that clobetasol proponate is one of the strongest steroids that's available for the treatment of psoriasis. Most derms limit the use of any class 1 or class 2 steroid to either the weekends only or two two weeks max. That's to prevent problems such as skin thinning. Here's a link to the NPF's steroid classification chart: http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/steroids/potency.php Derma-Smooth/FS is similar to Baker's P&S oil in that you put in on your scalp and leave it on for at least a couple of hours. (Again, you should wear old clothes and cover your pillow with an old towel if you leave it on overnight. Derma-Smooth/FS has a mild steroid in it. It's peanut oil based so it cannot so you can't use it if you have a peanut allergy. Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.hillderm.com/questions/questions.htm.

You also mentioned that you have psoriasis all over your face. :( Ouch that hurts! Facial psoriasis is public enemy number one as far as I'm concerned. :mad: You might want to ask you might want ask your derm for a prescription for either some Elidel (www.elidel.com or http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/elidel.htm) or some Protopic (www.protopic.com or http://www.rxlist.com/drugs/drug-20330-Tacrolimus+Topical.aspx?drugid=20330&drugname=Tacrolimus+Topical.) Elidel is a cream and Protopic is an ointment. They're both approved for eczema but are often prescribed for psoriasis. The good news is the they're both safe to use on places like the face. They can be used by children as young as two. The bad news is that recently received "black box" warnings from the FDA because of concerns about cancer. Since both meds are approved for eczema, here's a link to a link to the Eczema Foundation's Statement Concerning the Use of
Protopic and Elidel: http://www.nationaleczema.org/research/ProtopicAndElidelStatement.html. Here's a link to a previous discussion about facial psoriasis: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5466. (It includes a link to a discussion about using make-up to conceal it.)

You also mentioned:The itching drives me CRAZY.II hear you. The itching is one of the worst things about having psoriasis in my opinion. Here's a couple of other quick suggestions (in no particular order) that will hopefully give you some relieve for that unrelenting itch: Benadryl anti-itch creams, powders and locations such as Gold Bond. I usually buy store brands. My current favorite is Eucerin Itch-Relief Moisturizing Spray ( http://www.eucerinus.com/skincare/moisturizingandhealing/handandbody/itch-relief/frame1.html). I like it a lot because it helps relieve the itch and it's easy to apply because it's a spray;
Corn starch;
Ice packs;
cool showers;
Atarax. You'll need a prescription. It will make you very drowsy so it's best taken right before you go to bed. Here's a link for some additional information: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/ata1035.shtml;

Taking baths with a product like Aveeno Oatmeal soak (cheaper store brands are available). Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.aveeno.com/detailAction.do?id=3689. A friend of mine who sometimes posts here (her screen name is Ptener) makes her own oatmeal bath soak. Here's a link to her recipe: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3003.Finally, I find that it helps to avoid antibacterial and deoderant soaps, because those tend to irritate my psoriasis and cause it to become drier and itchier then it already is. The dyes and fragrances in detergent and laundry detergent have caused roblems for my psoriasis. I haven't had any laundry related problems since I switched to "free and clear" laundry products. And. here's a link to a previous discussion about psoriasis and soap: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13629.

I'm sorry that this has turned into such a novel. You're probably suffering from information overload. :rolleyes: I hope that it helps in some small way. Good luck. Keep us posted and please don't be a stranger.

Mike

[Kimbercat]

Hi and welcome to the group. :)

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time having so much hit you at once. :( It's particularly tough for someone your age, and being on your own without a support system makes it that much harder. Please know that we are here for you. One thing in your post that I noticed no one else adddressed is your mention of having scoliosis (I hope I understood that correctly.)

Please read up on psoriatic arthritis, as it's possible that you could also be dealing with that as well, and it's very important to treat it in order to prevent further joint degeneration, particularly at your age. If you haven't already consulted a rheumatologist, I would suggest doing so as soon as possible. Sorry to add to all that probably has you reeling, but it's important to take care of ourselves.

Please keep us updated, and ask any other questions that you may have. We understand what you are going through. :o

[RichJ]

hi ct69646,
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good day all

richard