I'm New and have a Question

[Krizstyling]

Hello all,
This will be my first post on this messageboard and first I'd just like to thank all of you for even taking the time to look at this post.

I have self diagnosed myself with psoriasis after looking at my symptoms online (it got worse after i started smoking and my father died and I started a new job all at the same time...stress levels rose) anyway, I have it in my scalp and on my stomach and back and luckily my insurance kicks in at the end of next month and I will be seeing a dermatologist then...

On another note I was wondering if any of you noticed small birthmark like dark patches? They aren't necessarily as dry as the red patches with white flakes, they are just darker skin patches in area's where your psoriasis exists....

Thanks for any responses =)

-Kris

[MikeK]

Hi Kris,

I'm at work ( which means that I'm not supposed to be here :rolleyes: ) but I just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Board. :cool: Nice to meet you. (I'll be posting a more detailed response later on today when I get home.) I'm sorry to hear that you think that you have psoriasis.

I noticed that you live in the New York area. (I'm from Hoboken. I've lived there all of my life.) It's kind of sort notice, but I wanted to let you know that the next meeting of the New York area Psoriasis Support group is tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 28, 2006) from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. They meet at

Rockefeller University Hospital
1230 York Avenue rm 110b
East 67 St entrance
New York, NY.

It's kind of sort of across the street from Sloan Kettering.

Unless I get caught up at work, I'm going to try to make the meeting.

Even though you're not 100% sure that you have psoriasis, I can tell you that I've had psoriasis since way back in 1964 and I can't even begin to describe what it's like to be in the same place at the same time as other people who are dealing with the same issues as me.

I'm sorry for the brief response. More later.

Mike

[Krizstyling]

Thanks so much for responding Mike, I look forward to your response.

I do know for a fact it is Psoriasis I have, I remember my father having it when I was little, but I never really took the time to find out more about what it is, but what I have looks exactly like his...

I'm just very curious about these birthmarks. I must admit I'm pretty scared to go in and see a Dermatologist, I'm really scared about how they will look at me and what they will think...I feel silly though, I know my case is just mild at the moment and I read all of your stories and I feel horrible for feeling so self concious about my mild case.

[bratsareus]

Welcome to the boards Krizstyling.

[ohno1more]

HI & WELCOME Krizstyling. My condolences on your loss. I hope you have the time to look around all the Forums - it's like a P-encyclopedia here, what with all the links in the various posts !! I have a few - "freckles" in those areas but I have never had freckles anywhere before...glad for your insurance !!!!!

[RichJ]

hi Krizstyling,
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 night all

richard

[SCCatman]

After P clears, a lot of times there are spots of hyper (too much) and hypo (too little) pigmentation. Those are places where skin is darker, or lighter than normal.

Can't be sure from you discription if that is what you have.
Dennis

[Krizstyling]

Thanks SCCatMan

I don't think that's what I have...they are like big birthmarks and then inside I have smaller red marks with skin on top (the psoriasis)....in some places on my body there are just the birthmarks that just appeared. Darker than my pale skin.

[Frcrk]

Hi, I am new too. My P is darkest after a break out, a dark purple/sort of black and get lighter after cream and ointment application. My insurance also kicks in soon.

I had the exact same feelings as you before and upon my first visit with my Derm. When I left the Doctor's office, those feelings were gone. My Derm has experience with Psoriasis, answered all my questions and put me at ease once we spoke. We have met for a few years now.

Nice to share Krizstyling. Hang in there.

[SCCatman]

The red color of P comes from skin flaking off and breaking tiny blood capularies.
I find the color of my P can change during the day, like when I take a shower.
That info may or may not be useful, but is still and good tidbit of onfo for newcomers.
Dennis

[MikeK]

Hi Krizstyling,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. It's been a crazy day around here. Those "spots" that you are describing can be almost anything. (I see that Dennis already suggested that they could be hypo or hyper pigmentation.) The only way to find out exactly what you're dealing with is to see a doctor. Since your insurance doesn't kick in until next month, the only thing that I can suggest is that you keep an eye on them. If they seem to be getting worse, then you might want to see a doctor before your insurance kicks in. Sometimes those emergency walk in medical centers are cheaper (and you don't need an appointment) then going to a regular doctors office. (My internist is on East 12th Street in the Village. He's awesome, but he might not know enough about skin issues to make a proper diagnosis. He admits that he knows next to nothing about psoriasis.)

Here's a couple of suggestions for over the counter medications that you might want to try until your insurance kicks in. (Since we're not sure what those "spots" are, you might want to start by treating only very small areas of your body. That way any adverse reactions or problems will be kept to a minimum.)

MG217 (www.mg217.com) makes a lotion, an ointment and a shampoo that are available in two formulas -- one with coal tar and one with salicylic acid. Coal tar has been used to treat psoriasis for many, many years and salicylic acid is one of the few doctor approved methods for removing scales. Coal tar products may not be available if you live in California. (You have to be careful when you use any product with salicylic acid. I burnt myself when I used the salicylic acid version of MG217 for too many days in a row.) Here in New Jersey, the coal tar version of both MG217 ointment and MG217 shampoo is available at just about every chain type drug stores. The shampoo is almost always located with the other dandruff shampoos. The ointment is sometimes with the other creams and lotions, and sometimes with the first aid stuff and sometimes in a special psoriasis section. Ask if you can't find it. Again, here in New Jersey MG217 lotion, and the salicylic acid version MG217 shampoo seems to be available by special order only. Walgreen's seems to be the only store around here that carries the salicylic acid version of MG217 ointment.
Dermarest (www.dermarest.com) makes a lotion and shampoo that has salicylic acid in it.
Psoriasin makes several products that you can also try. I've seen them at Walgreen's. Here's a link for some additional info: http://www.alva-amco.com/pages/psoriasin.php. And here's a link to a some previous discussions about Psoriasin products: http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5210;
http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9092&highlight=Psoriasin; http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?threadid=8642&highlight=Psoriasin.Finally, I find the dyes and fragrances in detergent and dryer sheets tend to irritate and dry out my psoiasis and make it even itcher then it already is. I've had similar problems with antibacterial and deoderant soaps. 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 also find that it helps to keep things moist. Especially in the winter time. You rally can't overdo it when it comes to putting on moisturizer. I put on some moisturizer several times a day. (For example, I have psoriasis on my hands and I put on moisturizer everytime that I wash my hands.) Which moisturzer to use is a matter of trial and error and personal preference. I find that it helps to rotate brands. I also find that it helps to use only those moisturizers that are labled "fragrance free", "non-irritating" and/or "for sensitive skin".

I'm sorry that this 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. Let us know if you have any questions and please don't be a stranger.

Mike

[Krizstyling]

Wow. Thank you SO much for all of that info Mike! Fortunately the Psoriasis hasn't spread to my hands or legs or arms or feet (as I stated I feel silly even complaining about it when I see so many of you suffering from far worse cases) right now it's only on my scalp (the other day I had such a bad itching spell at work i had to go to the bathroom and cry) and on my stomach underneath my breasts and a little bit on my sides of my back, very small though...And I read somewhere that stress and smoking don't help the situation. I never wear lotion, I probably should So I definitely will try that...

and as for the creams and shampoos, I am going to go shopping immediately for a few of those! It would be awesome even if I could see ANY change ya know?

As I stated, I cannot wait for my insurance to kick in and find out what these blemishes are (not the psoriasis, seems my mom said my lil brother is getting them too, they seem to be darkened skin areas but there is NO inflammation nor irritation or flaking they just look like birthmarks but came much later in life). In the meantime, I thank you SO much for your help, seriously.

It's really nice to know that there ARE people out here who understand what it can do to a person's life, whether it's a mild, medium or serious case, we are all fighting the same fight.

You are all in my prayers and if it wasn't such short notice I would take you up on that offer for the meeting. Please let me know when the next one is, I plan to be a major participant in this online community =)

-Kris

[MikeK]

Wow. Thank you SO much for all of that info Mike!You're very welcome, Kris! I'm glad that I was able to help. :)

I had such a bad itching spell at work i had to go to the bathroom and cry)Yikes! I'm so sorry. I've been there, so I know exactly what you're going through. Here's a couple of suggestions for the itch; you can use some of them at work:

Taking a bath with a product like Aveeno Oatmeal soak (cheaper store brands are also available) (http://www.aveeno.com/detailAction.do?id=3689);
Corn Starch;
Cool showers;
Ice packs;
Benadryl;
Anti-itch powders creams and lotions such as Gold Bond. (I usually buy store brands.) My current favorite is Eucerin Itch-Relief Moisturizing Spray (http://www.eucerinus.com/medicalsite/products/handandbodycare/anti-itch/anti-itch.html). I like it a lot. It's easy to apply because it's a spray and it really does help to relieve the itch. Some friends from here have told me that they like Neutrogena Anti-Itch Moisturizer (http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_36.asp). It has lidocaine in it.

In the meantime, I thank you SO much for your help, seriously.You're very welcome! Here's some more shampoo suggestions:

Neutrogena/T-Gel (coal tar) or Neutrogena/T-Sal (salicylic acid) can also be very helpful in dealing with scalp psoriasis. They both come in several strengths. Here's a link for some additional information: http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsLine_7_3.asp. A lot of people who post here use Paul Mitchell's tree tree oil shampoo and/or condtioner. It's very soothing. It's on the pricey side. Here's a link: http://www.paulmitchell.com/site/subpage.asp?section=2,10,32. I was told that Paul Mitchell products could only be found at beauty supply stores, but I was able to find both the shampoo and conditioner at the Duane Reade that's on Broadway and 8th St (kind of sort of near the K-Mart on Astor Place).

It's really nice to know that there ARE people out here who understand what it can do to a person's life, whether it's a mild, medium or serious case, we are all fighting the same fight.You took the words right out of my keyboard. :) That's exactly what this place is all about.

You are all in my prayers and if it wasn't such short notice I would take you up on that offer for the meeting. Please let me know when the next one is, I plan to be a major participant in this online community =)You got it! I'm looking forward to having you join us both online and at support group meetings. :)

Mike