why....

[sarahincanada]

Im a 34 female who has had P as long as I can remember, for years it was mainly on the scalp but with patches in other areas. Ive tried every cream and scalp lotion, some worked, some didnt and it always comes back.

3 years ago my dad died and I assume due to the grief and stress I ended up being covered with little patches all over. My derm kept giving me lotions until I asked to see someone else and she immediately reffered me for UVB light therapy. This cleared up my psoriasis and for once in my life I could wear shorts and not feel conscious. Its stayed away for about a year but I am getting a few patches coming back, so have ordered a small uvb light for home use. For some of my stubborn patches my derm injected a cortizone in them and they literally dropped off.

I guess Im wondering why not everyone is recommended UVB light and injections, rather than going through years and years of steroid creams which I think would expose you way more than an injection here and there??

[lpagano]

Hi Sarahincanada:

I am very glad that uvb and injections are working so well for you. You asked why everyone does not use light. In my case light makes me a lot worse. Ditto for steroids in any form. The darnest thing about this disease is that what works for you does not work for me and vice versa. I am on Enbrel and MTX. With Enbrel I am at about 80% clear, adding MTX I am almost 100% clear. Without MTX I am always in a battle it is the only thing that really helps.

[emeraldcheral]

Yes, I wonder the same thing too (thank you for replying to my post about UVB beds btw). I know of three people who have been referred for light treatment with less severe cases of it than I have. My derm has even said that my case is stubborn but she doesn't believe in light therapy unless it covers your whole body. She thinks that I would be putting myself at risk for cancer. Just creams and more creams which only seem to work for a bit and then they seem to cause inflammation. And how good are these creams for your body anyways, I wonder.

I have had more success with my psoriasis healing doing my own regiman. My regiman includes not putting the steroid creams on all the time, using 'natural' creams and also using lots of moisturizer. I also take baths with oil to soften up the skin. I am definately going to try and find a new derm. Im getting sick of having every winter being incapacitated by the pain of inflammation (sometimes it looks like I have a servere burn where my psoriasis is). But I definately want to get a subscription to buy one of those small light boxes, I think it would help me immensely.

Emeraldcheral

[RichJ]

hi sarahincanada,
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 weekend all

richard

[SCCatman]

UVA can cause cancer, so you can only have (200?) treatments over your lifetime.
UVB BB is less likely to cause cancer, so you can have more, I have not heard of any specific limit.
UVB NB is pretty safe, so I don't know why a derm would be slow to use it. IF your derm is not connected to your insurance, it can become a doctor visit and cost a copay everytime you go (1 to 3 x a week), plus you have to dirve to the derms office, or buy a home unit which is expensive.

Injections are expensive and have their own risk. Enblem can cause cancer, blindness, and MS. Plus many derms do not have experiance with them. They are new, and even in the last year, I have seen derms get much more agressive in Rxing them.

Dennis

[sarahincanada]

Hi Sarahincanada:

I am very glad that uvb and injections are working so well for you. You asked why everyone does not use light. In my case light makes me a lot worse. Ditto for steroids in any form. The darnest thing about this disease is that what works for you does not work for me and vice versa. I am on Enbrel and MTX. With Enbrel I am at about 80% clear, adding MTX I am almost 100% clear. Without MTX I am always in a battle it is the only thing that really helps.

wow you know I just assumed the same thing would work for everyone being the same disease, thats changed my mind! Im 34 and it took a good 10 years for me to realize what works for me. I did find with all the creams anytime I stopped taking them my p would come back worse. With the injection of steroid its gone and never come back, I wonder how thats different. Anyway good luck, I feel for you as I know how much P can take out of you.

[sarahincanada]

Yes, I wonder the same thing too (thank you for replying to my post about UVB beds btw). I know of three people who have been referred for light treatment with less severe cases of it than I have. My derm has even said that my case is stubborn but she doesn't believe in light therapy unless it covers your whole body. She thinks that I would be putting myself at risk for cancer. Just creams and more creams which only seem to work for a bit and then they seem to cause inflammation. And how good are these creams for your body anyways, I wonder.

I have had more success with my psoriasis healing doing my own regiman. My regiman includes not putting the steroid creams on all the time, using 'natural' creams and also using lots of moisturizer. I also take baths with oil to soften up the skin. I am definately going to try and find a new derm. Im getting sick of having every winter being incapacitated by the pain of inflammation (sometimes it looks like I have a servere burn where my psoriasis is). But I definately want to get a subscription to buy one of those small light boxes, I think it would help me immensely.

Emeraldcheral

I will go look for that thread, are you in toronto?

[sarahincanada]

hi sarahincanada,
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 weekend all

richard

nice to meet you too!
"flakey in more then one way" i love it!!!

[sarahincanada]

Injections are expensive and have their own risk. Enblem can cause cancer, blindness, and MS. Plus many derms do not have experiance with them. They are new, and even in the last year, I have seen derms get much more agressive in Rxing them.

Dennis

Dennis thanks for the info, you know my derm didnt say anything about risks and stupid me didnt think to ask I was just so excited to get rid of my stubborn elbow patches, I will find out the brand name.

[Evey]

I asked about light therapy (at least for the scalp psoriasis, which felt like it was a tight cap on my head.) The derm said we don't do that. I said the lotions weren't working, and asked about systemics (he said no because I'm still in childbearing years, at the time, 36). He finally went with injections. However it takes forever to see him, he's got a 3 month waiting list.. hence the frustration and shaving my head! :) LOL I let the sun get at it in the summer for short periods of time. I was careful not allow sunburn and always had a cap or scarf with me.

[shellarella]

my light therapy cleared me like i never had the pppp
after 7 months it came back.
when i cant take it anymore i will go back.
it was the nicest 7 months of my p life!