Starting Derma smoothe

[smithblat]

Hi, I am starting Derma smoothe and was wondering if anyone has any advice. I am 29 and have had Scalp P for several years and nothing seems to work. Have tried various OTC and RX lotions, creams, shampoos! Has anyone found success with this product? How long did it take to see real results? Once cleared when did you need to start using it again and for how long?
Thanks for your comments.
Craig

[julesverne]

Hi there. Dermasmoothe didn't work for me. About a month ago I started reading about Psorolin ointment and 777 oil, an herbal concoction from India which I started using one week ago today. It has worked really well in helping to clear my dry patches and clearing the flakes on my scalp. I highly suggest it. I purchased mine at nutrition4skin. Not too expensive either. If the dermasmoothe doesn't work for you maybe this will. You can do a search on this forum and read more about it. Good luck!

[RichJ]

hi craig,
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

[winterface]

I've had good luck with derma smooth when used on my ears.

I have severe psoriasis though everywhere else that requires much stronger medicines.

However, I have/had a bad reaction to dermasmooth. If I use a good amount for more than say 2 weeks I start to have blood sugar problems. SO just keep a look out for that.

[GitOverIt]

I found Psorolin ointment when I was using Sisairosp (psoriasis backwards) from
http://www.garrysun.com/jawahar.html

I had been reading and researching about wrightia, an herb from India, and 777 oil, an oil made from wrightia. But the only place I could get it would be directly from India as a dealer ! So next time I ordered the Sisairosp (I used that in and on my ears and it always worked pretty good in fact I used to order 4 tubes at a time cause they were so small!) the next time I ordered I asked Gary if he knew where I could get any ointment or oil with wrightia.... since he carried Indian Ayurvedic products.....OMG...he said he had some jars of the ointment and could get the oil if I wanted it....I immediately said yes! order both (he only had like 4 jars of the Psorolin) I told him I thought there might be some others that would want to try it.....
That began my clearing from guttate P.....
you can read the story here:

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21567

This is not a magic ointment/oil it does not work for everyone but for the price you might find it worth a try...I really think a healthy eating plan, and possibly a blood allergy test for trigger foods help!

the ointment is $19.95
the oil is $39.95 for 500 ml (which I think that size is almost a must for getting rid of scalp P)

free shipping if you mention NPF

ONE MORE THING...ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE...IT DID FOR ME...I'M CLEAR AND HAVE BEEN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW!
I never like to count my chicken so we'll see how it goes! ;)

[pammy1]

I use Derma Smoothe and it helps temporarily by loosening the scales to make them easier to remove. They are always back by the next day though. Just a temporary fix for me if I have to wear my hair back, but I have to combine it with Pramasone ointment all around my hairline to reduce the redness.

It also takes me about 6 coats of shampoo to get rid of the oil each morning that I use it, but like I said, it does work temporarily for me.

Good Luck!

[sergecosta]

I have mild scalp psoriasis Craig. Dermasmoothe did not help me one bit. I don't have the crusty kind of psoriasis. The steroid that is in it is, I feel, to weak for the scalp. In fact, my personal opinion is that nothing weaker than clobetasol, a super potent steroid, works on my scalp. The scalp is thick skin and there is no threat of skin thinning there, so says a dermatologist I used to go to. I use CLobex spray these days once every so often and it helps to keep the psoriasis in control. A little bit goes a long way.

You might find that the Dermasmoothe helps with crust buildup if that is a problem for you. But, again, it seemed like the medication is too weak for scalp psoriasis.

Sergio

[PJ Leary]

Hi Craig,

I have used dermasmoothe for decades on and off, but always with good results. The thing is that it is messy, and the odor is quite strong. It also stains, both linens and light colored hair ( blondes and white hair especially ).

However, even with all of those negatives, I keep going back to it when I need something to clear my scalp & ears. It is a very safe, though old medication, and can generally be used over the long term with no ill effects ( except for certain people like in winterface's case ).

It is important to use it regularly and to apply it properly for the best results. While the instructions do say to occlude it ( wear the shower cap ), I have found it equally as effective without that step. You should wear it overnight, wash out in the morning. If you have thick scale, you should apply in grid like fashion to the scalp, and comb it through with the finest toothed comb you can use. ( I like the ones they give kids in school on picture day ). When applied in this manner, you can be sure to treat the entire scalp.

The stains it causes are purpulish-brown, and do not wash out. You might want to cover your pillowcase with an old towel, and wear old pj's, etc. I remember many years ago returning from a long inpatient stay at the dermatology unit at Dartmough University in NH. I had used dermasmoothe every day, all day long for weeks. My scalp ( and the rest of me! ) was clear when I left. I arrived home to find that the pure white streak in my hair had turned a strange combination of greenish purple! The green was from the lcd tar shampoo, the purple from the dermasmoothe! The good news was that when it grew in fresh, it was white again. I discovered the only way to get rid of the offending color was to dye it....lol.

You should see very good results with daily use after about 2 weeks. Then you can use it once a week or so for maintenance. As the others said, you can also use it on the ears if you need it there, it is pretty mild. I hope you get some relief from it. Let us know how it works for you.

Regards,

[arlcollins]

I use it every other day. I leave it on all night. It helps but it doesn't clear it for me. I have just started using coal tar shampoo on the other days and if I leave it in for 15-20 minutes it works as good as the dermasmoothe. I am going to try the psoroline ointment and 777 oil.

[GitOverIt]

I'm glad you're going to try it....believe me it's worth a try...very safe and if it does work for you....being a scalp/hair slave is over.....I tried for years to get rid of the scalp P...nothing worked for any length of time....now for the first time since I got P...I'm free of that never-ending trials of treatments!....
when you put it on your scalp ...why don't you try some heat (low) from a hair dryer or something...heat is supposed to help!

I used the 777 oil and Psorolin combined (I heated the ointment and added the 777 oil to it in a clean glass container) actually I did not do the whole container just a couple spoonfuls of ointment and the same of 777 that way you still have the original ointment and oil plus another container of a mix! I think adding the 777 oil to the ointment makes it stronger and easier to apply!

good luck to you and let us know how it goes!

[Joann71]

Hi Craig,

I used Dermasmooth in combination with cormax. When I first starting using the combo it worked really well. The dermasmooth softens the scales overnight and then if you apply the cormax solution after washing your hair, it can be more easily absorbed by the scalp. The problem is it is very time consuming, messy to continue with this treatment. However if you stick with it, you may get to the point where your scalp is clear. I remember after I had used it for a few weeks and I didn't have that tightness on my scalp anymore. I had actually forgotten what it felt like to have a normal scalp until then!! The combo would probably still work but I don't use the derma-smoothe until my scalp p gets so bad that I can't stand it! I have really long, thick hair so it is just too much of a hassle for me. But if you can put in the effort and/or time, it could work. As with all the treatments, what works for one person doesn't always work for another. So even though others have posted that it doesn't work for them, doesn't mean you won't have success.
Good luck!!

Joann
Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!

[ct69646]

Dermasmoothe softens the scales for a little while however they do not go away. If I want to be clear I can irritate my skin by using a fine-toothed comb right after I take the shower cap off to take off the loose scales. They always get irritated though.

On my scalp alone I also use Clobex Shampoo, Coria salex 6% shampoo, betamethasone cream behind and in my ears, and dexiometasone? gel in my hair daily. With all of this I still cannot get it under control. It will take time. Try not to get your hopes up with dermasmoothe but I do hope that it is everything that you hope it will be.

[smithblat]

Thanks everyone for your input. I have been using it for a week and it has helped a lot with the scales. my scalp is still red and itchy but an improvement. And I am not so flaky on my shoulders anymore. It is kind of a pain and messy but trying it out and see if i can get any clearer. I am ahappy at least with the decrease in scales, etc. Thanks again.

[froiga]

I've had good luck with derma smooth when used on my ears.

I have severe psoriasis though everywhere else that requires much stronger medicines.

However, I have/had a bad reaction to dermasmooth. If I use a good amount for more than say 2 weeks I start to have blood sugar problems. SO just keep a look out for that.

Winterface in what way does it effect your blood sugar ?? I have recently been diagnosed as diabetic and been using dermasmooth on scalp and body for the last 6 months !!! could that be why mu sugar was high??

[JKNY]

Derma Smooth is a steroid.AKA Capex shampoo. Steroids have been helpful in the treatment of P. It is not a strong steroid though. Class VII is the weakest. The anti itch creams you see otc.

OTC drugs are drugs- just ones that are safe enough to not need a drs's approval.

[winterface]

Winterface in what way does it effect your blood sugar ?? I have recently been diagnosed as diabetic and been using dermasmooth on scalp and body for the last 6 months !!! could that be why mu sugar was high??

Possibly.

I am not diabetic but after...2 months of reguarly applying dermasmooth to my arms, ears, and scalp I developed what I think the doctor told me was hyperglcemia. Anyway though while on dermasmooth I wuold have to eat very very reguarly, if I didn't, I would get very dizzy, light headed, I would go numb and pass out. And by reguarly, I mean, breakfast at 8, Lunch at exactly 11:00AM and supper at 5PM. If I didn't do thsoe things man I would feel rotten either that or pass out.

It got so bad and I didn't realize it could be dermasmooth until I went off the medication and those symptoms slowly disappeared. Before I reliazed what was going on it was so bad that i was carrying around peanut butter crackers everywhere I went, just in case my blood sugar screwed up on me while out.