Suggestions on De-scaling

[ct69646]

I'd like to get through the thick patches on my scalp. I think thats the only reason why the shampoos and foams are not working. But if I scratch then sometimes I get fluid or blood coming out of my scalp. So I was wondering how I could go about getting the scales off without creating wounds. Any feedback or suggestions are welcome.
Thanks!

[tmartha]

Have you tried mineral oil before bed? I've used bag balm, too. (Baby oil and vaseline too, but the perfume of the baby oil - irritant - what was I thinking - and vaseline is so goopy) Wet your scalp first, and apply the oil - put a shower cap on (yes, I had to get one especially but they're cheap - I also put a towel over my pillow for the night when I do this) then wash your hair in the morning - gently, gently, gently! Might take a couple washings to get the oil out. But yes, you want the medicines to reach beneath the scales. I do think doing this has helped my shampoos/meds to do their thing.

This is only what I've tried - someone else might have a better idea. :) What shampoos and foams are you using? Any other treatment?
Tani

[ct69646]

DHS shampoo, luxiq foam, betamethasone cream(for spots, my favorite so far), desonide(for my face), salex lotion for all over

and I'm taking allegra for the itch, and trying out turmeric twice daily

[jennab711]

DHS worked great for me, BUT BE CAREFUL! My scalp was a nasty helmet, for lack of a better term. But it really was completely involved. I found DHS, and it worked great. prblem though when using it every day. A lot of my P was pustuole(sp?). When the puss stopped, I still had scales of course but it wasnt liquidy. Eventually, I quit the DHS and just used my Luxiq. When It got a little worse, I used DHS again. After just 2 days, my scalp was more puss than ever. I dont know what it was, but it was NASTY. I would only use 2x week max. I use my clobetasol ointment on it now when I can. It works great. My derm told me to use the ointment on my scalp rather than JUST the clobetasol solution because it just wasnt cutting it. After putting the ointment on spots at nite, in the am they came right off. I also used a fine tooth comb to get them out. Some use a flea comb, but the metal, I would gouge my scalp. I lost a lot of hair due to picking it out, so PLEASE be careful when picking. Now it cost me $600 every 9-10 weeks or so for extensions until my hair grows back. I got myself into a situation with my precious hair, it is VERY hard, but try to be careful picking them out. It IS truly horrible. Jenna

[cajungirl]

I just started using something called Derma-smooth. You'd have to get a script, but it has done wonders for the itching etc. so far. You wet your hair at night and massage this in (it's an oil), throw on a shower cap and rinse it out in the morning. My scalp no longer feels like it wants to split into two! Which is a nice feeling..

[PJ66]

I just started using something called Derma-smooth. You'd have to get a script, but it has done wonders for the itching etc. so far. You wet your hair at night and massage this in (it's an oil), throw on a shower cap and rinse it out in the morning. My scalp no longer feels like it wants to split into two! Which is a nice feeling..
Yes, I've used that before. I couldn't remember the name until I read this. It worked very well for me as well.
Polly

[mattellie]

Soak the scalp in slightly warm olive oil leave for an hour, use a nit comb then wash out, this will get rid of the thick scales.

Baby oil is another good option, and a quick splash in your bath water, pat yourself dry then followed by applying copious amounts of a good moisturiser will strip the scales from your body too.

Paul

[condor]

In skin care there is something called a glycolic acid peel, which is intended to remove dead skin cells and restore the natural radiance of the skin underneath the layers of dead skin, using a 10% solution.
I have adapted this for use with psoriasis; Scalp area or otherwise.
Try a 5% vinegar on any psoriasis affected area that is scaling or peeling or shedding, etc.
Put it on directly, during a bath is a good time, but anytime works. Leave it to sit for 10 minutes or more (I have left it overnight and it's fine).
It will irritate if it is doing it's job. Don't let this make you think it is not a good thing. It is counter-intuitive in skin care with a glycolic acid peel to think if it stings it is NOT a good thing, but that is exactly what it should be doing for a healthy radiant glow to the skin.
And in the case of Psoriasis, removing the dead skin as fast as possible is advantageous to looking better.
For more info on skin care take a look at the following book:
Secrets for ageless skin by Adrienne Denese, M.D., Ph.D.

I generally buy a 1 gallon bottle of vinegar at the grocery store for this use.

One more thing, following using vinegar as a peel, use a loufah in the bath to speed this process along, and a skin cleanser (see the book listed) to help remove the dead skin layers as they form.

Hope this helps!

[keano]

what type of vinegar? apple or wine or it does not matter?


How soon do you see plaques come back to that same spot?

I feel like with my diet and SE and As I have stopped the progress of P, but plaques remain.

[MikeK]

Hi Ct69646,

You've been given some great advice. Here's a couple of other suggestions that will hopefully give you some relief:

An over the counter product such as MG217 (www.mg217.com) or Dermarest (www.dermarest.com) that has salicylic acid in it is a great way to remove scales. Salicylic acid has to be used with caution because it can cause burns if you over use it. (I speak from the voice of experience. I once burnt myself when I used the salicylic acid version of MG217 for too many days in a row. :eek: Trust me. There is NOTHING worse then a burn on top of psoriasis. :rolleyes: ) You also need to be careful if you use Dovonex, because salicylic acid can actually deactivate Dovonex. :eek: I'm going to give you a link to the NPF's discussion of Dovonex. The information about Dovonex and salicylic acid is towards the end of the discussion: http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/topicals/dovonex.php. I just came back from Capital Hill Day. Justin, who was one of the many fellow sufferers that I met, mentioned at dinner one night that he removes his scales by taking a very long bath. I thought that was very interesting because there is a very old post where several other people mentioned that they take long baths to remove their scales. Here's a link to that discussion: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3351. Joseph (joseph1) mentioned in another very old post that he uses a metal flea comb to remove the scales from his scalp. :eek: I've never tried it, but here's a link to his thread: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3492.

I hope this helps.

Mike

[condor]

what type of vinegar? apple or wine or it does not matter?

Keano; Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar both seem to work equally well.
wine vinegar would be more expensive, and I have not tried that.
Probably would also work well.


[QUOTE=keano]How soon do you see plaques come back to that same spot?
I feel like with my diet and SE and As I have stopped the progress of P, but plaques remain.

My view on plaques not dissipating at a steady pace is that not all irritants have been removed from diet, or immune system is still being over-run, etc.

[condor]

Keano;

Sorry, I edited my previous post incorrectly.

Apple Cider vinegar, or white vinegar both work well.

[arlcollins]

I have used dermasmoothe and dermazinc and they both help soften the plaque but then it takes an hour to get rid of whatever has softened up. But if I didn't use them by scalp would feel like it was in a vise.

[keano]

My view on plaques not dissipating at a steady pace is that not all irritants have been removed from diet, or immune system is still being over-run, etc.

For the last month I eat apples, brocoli, chicken, salmon, sweet potatoes, cabage, spinach, bananas here and there, cantalupe, few oranges, whole grain rice, 2 slices of whol grain bread per week, 2-4 eggs per week, olives, 3 times I have had whole grain pasta, (I did some soy milk and millet puffs which I have elimianted in the last week) driet fruits such as raisins, figs, apricots, prunes, 5-7 almonds per day.

I am relgious on my SE and AS, 2-3 tablespoons of Cod liver Oil.

My scalp has cleared but my body keeps resisting.

How much more food should I elimiante?

[condor]

HI Keano;

Here is my recommendation to you to get a handle on your psoriasis:

Eliminate any wheat, be it organic, whole wheat or otherwise.
Eliminate the Eggs.
Make sure that any Salmon you eat is labeled as "wild", not farmed.

Not sure what it is you are taking that you have labeled SE, and AS.

For the same reason you take Cod liver oil, you should be adding to this, GLA from Borage oil as a supplement in the amount of 700 to 1000 mg. per/day of GLA content, interestingly enough, these two only work in combination - not seperately. Also, this is the reason to not eat the farmed salmon. It has to do with something called an Arachidonic Acid Cascade which is a strong contributor to development of arthritis, and toxifying your system via inflammatory messengers (arachidonic acid). Counter intuitive since we are baraged with info on how good salmon is for health, but that only goes for wild salmon.
For more on all of the above, read the book: Inflammation Nation by Floyd H. Chilton

Once you have eliminated all suspect foods, AND you have cleared your psoriasis, start adding wheat back to see for yourself, if it will cause the outbreaks. If they do cause outbreaks after a period of time, give it a few weeks, then moderate the consumption of it, or eliminate it altogether.
The same goes for any other suspect foods. You determine which ones affect you by cleaning the slate, keeping a simple, safe diet, and adding foods to your routine one at a time to determine what works for you and what does not.
As for the Arachidonic acid cascade, you should consider severely limiting these items anyway (eggs/farmed salmon). As you see on these posts, many people suffering psoriasis develop arthritis. This is not by accident.

Also, read my other posts for useful info that may help you in determining what may help. Feel free to contact me with questions if you want help in figuring it out to get a program that works.

A couple questions for you:
Do you eat much foods containing sugar, or have cravings for it?
What supplements do you take-viatamins, etc.?

[condor]

Keano;

I have answered my own questions I posed to you when I was 'surfing the strings' in the group, and came across one of your postings.

I have been through this one, and treated it so I know this works.
The missing link you specifically, are looking for, I will cover here.

In addition to cutting out wheat, do the following, I know it will help.

No white rice, just brown rice.
Use Silk brand Unsweetened Soy milk (with the green label), and no dairy until you can test your reaction to dairy products after your psoriasis clears.

I am willing to bet, that although you are trying to eliminate sugar from your diet, that you are cheating by compensating any way you can. Excess fruit, sweetened products, etc. This sugar craving is not entirely your own; I will explain in a bit.
Although fruit is better for you, it still has sugars in it that can be utilized in a negative way.
Limit your fruit intake to two servings per/day; An apple and a banana, or an orange and a serving of cantaloupe- you get the idea.
Eliminate all sugar from your diet, and use Xylitol instead to sweeten you tea, or cereal, etc. (The source for this product will be listed below).
Eliminate coffee, from your diet. Drink herbal tea, or lemon water.


You have a microbe infestation (parasite), it could be a yeast and/or a bacteria, and possibly others. The nature of the beast is to trick you into thinking that what it needs, is what you need, and that If you don't do what keeps it healthy, you don't feel healthy.

I don't see many postings on this site that cover how to treat these, but they make a big impact on whether you can treat your psoriasis effectively, or not, if you have the sugar craving problem. So here it goes:

This is a supplement plan specifically to control the problem.
Don't expect to do this without a bit of a fight from your opponent, but once you start, do not stop despite being influenced/coaxed into not continuing it.

Buy the following, from the supplier listed below:
Item # 831.8 Olive Leaf Extract, powder Take 3 scoops daily (the scoop comes with the product).
Item # 717.9 MSM, powder Take 3 teaspoons daily.
Item # 871.0 Oregano Oil, gelcaps Take 2 daily.
Item # 702.0 Acidophilus, capsules Take 1 per a day.
Item # 747.5 FOS, powder Take 1 teaspoon/day.
Item # 720.0 Psillium Husks Take 2 Tablespoons daily in lots of water, at a different time of the day than you take the other supplements.
Item # 707.3 Xylitol, see above.

Drink one or two tablespoons of lemon juice daily (fresh is better) and lots of water throughout the day.

This program is ongoing for a number of months; You can then reduce the quantity of these items, and add some additional supplements to your regimen to further even better results.

The source for these supplements is:
www.beyond-a-century.com

The previous posts I have covered here are also important for you, as some microbe problems will likely be external as well as internal for you.




A note on eliminating so many foods: To stick to these routines, you have to find combinations of foods you can both have, and live with and like. This takes some work and experimenting. Get the skin condition clear first, with a simple diet, then see what you can and can't have in your diet

What works for me, are stone ground 8 grain cereals w/o wheat that are out on the market in grocery store health food sections, oatmeal, or brown rice, with dried dates, and walnut pieces, and banana added, and doused with Soy milk.
Fresh vegetables and a dip.
You have to kind of get creative with so many foods off limits.
Tuna or cobb salads with substitutes that you may like, such as artichoke hearts, etc.

[TheOne1313]

so let me see if im following here

I just go to my grocery store, buy vinegar, apply it when taking a bath, leave it on for 10 mins, wash it off and it should de-scale? What exactly is the 5% for? lol.

[condor]

Hi TheOne;

Yes, essentially, apply it, let it sit, then bathe as usual.

The 5 % is the strength of vinegar (acetic acid); You wouldn't want to dilute it or use anything weaker as a substitute for a glycolic acid peel. If I could find stronger vinegar, I would use it instead, Glycolic acid peels that really do the job well in advanced skin care are 10 %.
A 5 % acetic acid content certainly is an inexpensive, and working alternative.

Experiment with the time frame you keep it on to find what works best for you.

[keano]

Keano;

I have answered my own questions I posed to you when I was 'surfing the strings' in the group, and came across one of your postings.

I have been through this one, and treated it so I know this works.
The missing link you specifically, are looking for, I will cover here.

In addition to cutting out wheat, do the following, I know it will help.

No white rice, just brown rice.
Use Silk brand Unsweetened Soy milk (with the green label), and no dairy until you can test your reaction to dairy products after your psoriasis clears.

I am willing to bet, that although you are trying to eliminate sugar from your diet, that you are cheating by compensating any way you can. Excess fruit, sweetened products, etc. This sugar craving is not entirely your own; I will explain in a bit.
Although fruit is better for you, it still has sugars in it that can be utilized in a negative way.
Limit your fruit intake to two servings per/day; An apple and a banana, or an orange and a serving of cantaloupe- you get the idea.
Eliminate all sugar from your diet, and use Xylitol instead to sweeten you tea, or cereal, etc. (The source for this product will be listed below).
Eliminate coffee, from your diet. Drink herbal tea, or lemon water.


You have a microbe infestation (parasite), it could be a yeast and/or a bacteria, and possibly others. The nature of the beast is to trick you into thinking that what it needs, is what you need, and that If you don't do what keeps it healthy, you don't feel healthy.

I don't see many postings on this site that cover how to treat these, but they make a big impact on whether you can treat your psoriasis effectively, or not, if you have the sugar craving problem. So here it goes:

This is a supplement plan specifically to control the problem.
Don't expect to do this without a bit of a fight from your opponent, but once you start, do not stop despite being influenced/coaxed into not continuing it.

Buy the following, from the supplier listed below:
Item # 831.8 Olive Leaf Extract, powder Take 3 scoops daily (the scoop comes with the product).
Item # 717.9 MSM, powder Take 3 teaspoons daily.
Item # 871.0 Oregano Oil, gelcaps Take 2 daily.
Item # 702.0 Acidophilus, capsules Take 1 per a day.
Item # 747.5 FOS, powder Take 1 teaspoon/day.
Item # 720.0 Psillium Husks Take 2 Tablespoons daily in lots of water, at a different time of the day than you take the other supplements.
Item # 707.3 Xylitol, see above.

Drink one or two tablespoons of lemon juice daily (fresh is better) and lots of water throughout the day.

This program is ongoing for a number of months; You can then reduce the quantity of these items, and add some additional supplements to your regimen to further even better results.

The source for these supplements is:
www.beyond-a-century.com

The previous posts I have covered here are also important for you, as some microbe problems will likely be external as well as internal for you.




A note on eliminating so many foods: To stick to these routines, you have to find combinations of foods you can both have, and live with and like. This takes some work and experimenting. Get the skin condition clear first, with a simple diet, then see what you can and can't have in your diet

What works for me, are stone ground 8 grain cereals w/o wheat that are out on the market in grocery store health food sections, oatmeal, or brown rice, with dried dates, and walnut pieces, and banana added, and doused with Soy milk.
Fresh vegetables and a dip.
You have to kind of get creative with so many foods off limits.
Tuna or cobb salads with substitutes that you may like, such as artichoke hearts, etc.


Condor

Thanks for the plan. I am willing to try this plan in few weeks. I would like to stick to Slipery Elm (SE) and the American Safron (AS) regime.

I do crave sweets the most right after a meal since as I said I liked to always eat a desert. Cookie, candy, etc. But I am a strong character and I can eliminate sugar form my diet. I have eliminated soy since I saw few tiny spots that popped when I had soy milk with millet pufs.

I do not put sugar in anything! I do not drink coffe, but teas. I like peperming tea, and I started drinking green tea just few days ago. I love chamomile team but since I am drinking the AS which also has a chatarsis effect I am laying off (plus it does not go well with the Slipery Elm).

I usualy have an apple in the morning for breakfast. One pear after lunch and at night I may have a half cantalupe, 1/4 pineapple, an orange etc. But I do have few raisins or a dried prune at night to help me with a fiber boost.


I will try to cut those dried fruits out as well.


I used to take MSM with fish oil while back. I do not see that supplement on the boards as much nowadays.

[condor]

MSM is an interesting substance; Next generation derivative of DMSO.
An organic sulfur.
The interesting property of this substance is that it puts down a Teflon like barrier onto the intestinal walls.
I find it vastly superior to Slippery Elm, when used in amounts at, or above a teaspoon per day.

It is also this teflon like coating that makes it a great substance for fighting the microbe problem I wrote about in this string.

Anyone intersted in finding out more about the benefits of this supplement can get the booklet that describes this from Amazon.com, the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879838418/qid=1141535367/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-3632460-0680610?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[jameymac]

hi,i used to use alphosil lotion on my scalp p. when it got out of hand.it seemed to get my scabs under control.unfortunetly i believe they have taken this off the market.too bad cause it was one of the few things that gave any results.i also joined a study group for dovobet and vitamin d annolog.this hair gel worked very well on my p.,but won't be on the market till later this year or next .pending aproval.

[pigpen]

i am using Baker's P&S Liquid at night, wash it off with Baker's P&S Shampoo in the morn', then apply Betamethasone. my scalp was completely covered and it completely cleared. this worked for 1 month so far.
-Baker's P&S is over the counter, but you may have to special order it from your pharmacy.
-betamethasone is a prescription

[ct69646]

^the betamethasone that you speak of..... do you use Luqix (betamethasone valerate) or just the bethamethasone cream? I have both but I'm weary to put the thick cream on my scalp during the day

[RevReb]

Could you use a glycolic acid peel on your scalp??
Just wondering?

RR

[condor]

Hi RevReb;

I have never tried glycolic acid as a peel on the scalp, just acetic acid (vinegar) which works fine. If you can use glycolic acid as a peel on your face, you can use it on your scalp though.

As for the vinegar used as an alternative peel- It works great.


Steve

[ct69646]

well I got some dermasmoothe today from the dermatologist and capex to use to wash it out in the morning.... hope it works well because this is realllllly driving me nuts!

[Photochick66]

Hey there!!
I have found that dermasmooth works well. I hope that it has the same effect on you. Good luck!!
x0x
Nemo