Good Products??

[HuskerEd]

Hey Everyone,

How's everybody doing?? Miss chatting with u guys...
I was wondering if anybody has any suggestions for a good cream for my back, elbows, and legs. I been using Dovonex but doesn't seem to work very well. As far my scalp goes, I been using something call "Psoriasin Ointment", but again, is not doing the job. I'm embarrassed going to my new job, and people keep asking what's the red spot in your head or the plaques on my elbow? I tried explaning, but u know how people r.
Anyways, seems like I'm having a hard time finding a product that actually works in my situation.
Oh well, Have a wonderful day everyone, please any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ed

[chaimFL]

First off Ed, you have to be careful what you use with dovonex because it's not a very stable medication. It can become inactive rather easily with the most notorious deactivating agent being salicylic acid. To prevent this problem make sure you wait a minimum of 30 minutes before applying dovonex on top of any other cream or vice versa.

I recently read that a combination of dovonex twice a day and tazorac once a day (the gel works better than the cream) works at least as good as a potent topical steroid without the skin thinning issue. Tazorac did not interfer with dovonex so you don't have to worry about the that aspect.

For OTC treatments I would suggest salicylic acid because it works wonders when it comes to lifting and removing scales, but as I mentioned you need to be very careful that you don't use it to close to the time you apply the dovonex. One suggestion I would give to prevent the deactivation of the dovonex would be to apply salicylic acid in the evening and after one hour take a shower to wash it off and then apply your nightly dose of dovonex. One hour with the salicylic acid for a few days should be enough to eliminate the scales.

If it were me, I would look into local tanning salons and see which ones have unlimited tanning for a flat monthly fee. I would use the tanning salon at least 4 times a week for the first 4-6 weeks and that may work well for you also.

[jennab711]

Hey Ed----I use my clobetasol on my scalp. LEaves it greasy, but it really works great. Rub it in at nite. Wash it out in the am. Results overnite. Super strong. But where the clobetasol solution I have is ineffective, I use the ointment and it works awesome. BTW-I have also used dovonex. Sometimes I use clobetasol with the dovonex over it. I do not have time to wait, i put it right on, never had any problems.......Jen.......

[itchy-trigger-finger]

I use Olux foam, it works wonders. Very expensive though, my co-pay is $90.00.

[MikeK]

You've gotten some great advice. Here's a couple of other suggestions for you to ponder.

For you elbows: I love Cordran Tape for my elbows. Cordran tape looks like regular scotch tape. It has a mild steroid on the "sticky" side. You cut the tape to fit and then you pull off the backing and put it on the way you would a bandaid. You leave it on overnight. When you take it off, it pulls the scales off with it and the treated area looks and feels so 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.

For you scalp, you can try Olux (www.olux.com) and/or Clobetasol (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/tem1431.shtml) (both of which have already been discussed). Both medications have very strong steriods in them and can only be used for short periods of time (no more then two weeks max -- followed by a break of at least a couple of weeks) to prevent problems such as skin thinning. (Steroids are classified by strenght into 7 different classes. Each class is assigned a number. The lower the number the stronger the steroid. Both Olux and Clobetasol are Class 1 or Super Potent Steroids. It doesn't get any stronger then that. Here's a link to a thread that includes a copy of the NPF's Steroid Classificiation Chart: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?p=46322&highlight=chart#post46322.

Unless you're allergic to peanuts, Derma-Smooth/FS is another good weapon in the war against scalp psoriasis. (It's peanut oil based, so it can't be used by people who have a peanut allergy.) It's very messy to use. You have to leave it on overnight covered by a shower cap. It can stain and the stains can be very hard to get out. (Wear old bed clothes and cover the pillow case with an old towel.) It can be VERY hard to get used to. Some people have posted here that they stopped using it, because they couldn't get used to it. Here's a link to some additional information: http://www.hillderm.com/questions/questions.htm.

At least one person who sometimes posts here, uses a metal flea comb to remove the scales from his scalp. :eek: I haven't tried it, but here's a link to the thread where we discussed it: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3492.

I hope this helps.

Mike

[Saxmom]

I use Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo. It works pretty well for the scalp and it doesn't leave your hair smelling bad. You can also use it on your body like soap. I used to use Alpha Keri Oil instead of soap. It took some time to get used to since it doesn't dry out your skin like regular soap does. I haven't been able to find it lately but I did just see that Johnson and Johnson has out a new baby wash product that has baby oil in it. I'm going to try and find that and give it a try. I figure if it's made for babies it shouldn't bother my skin too much.

Good Luck finding somethig that works for you,
Paige

[PSUNNY]

Hi Ed!
I'm a newbie to the boards and have found some great advice.
Some of the people here are just as knowledgable as derms and
a heck of a lot more compassionate!
I don't have insurance, so have been trying to conserve the
Diprolene. Like everyone else, I've tried a gazillion things. What
seems to be working lately is one week with Diprolene and Gold
Bond medicated lotion, then switch the next week to Dermarest
and Corn Huskers. (Did you guys invent that?) The backs of my
legs still look like gator hide, but not completely covered like they
were and other places (fingers crossed) seem to be fading...
Good luck!

[arlcollins]

I just started using dermazinc a. nd it seems to be helping. I put it on at night You are supposed to use it twice a day, but it leaves your hair greasy so I only use it at night. It is expensvie too.