Itching Question

[Kristy]

Hi

This may sound silly, but my daughter Amy has been using Dovonex cream for just over a week now (she is 6 1/2yrs) and she is now saying that the spots or patches are really itchy. I am putting on moisturiser before the Dovonex and letting it soak in, as per the instructions.

Also, some of the patches have developed what looks like a ring around them - do you know if this is normal.

I thought the itching might be down to the Dovonex actually working but am not 100% sure. We are totally new to this so any help or advice would be grateful.

Thanx
Mandy

[kellyr]

Hi Mandy,

I am currently using the dovonex ointment. From what I have read, burning and irritation may occur especially in the beginning of treatment. I have not experienced this problem, but I read that it may irritate the skin while the body adjusts to the medication. If it persists, I suggest you contact Amy's doctor.

As with the ring. Yes, the ring looks like a bit of loose skin (at least that's what it looks like on mine). The documentation reads that this may be a sign of clearing. So, that could be good news :)

I'm alternating the Dovonex treatment with a topical steroid (Cormax). Two weeks on each. However, I plan to slowly stop the Cormax altogether and hopefully the Dovonex will work long-term.

I wish you and Amy the best of luck! Keep us posted.

-Kelly

[rosee_posey]

Hello Mandy,

I don't know about the itching, but rings that trace themselves around the perimeter of the lesions are good things - according to my derm, they are called "Wernoff's rings" - but since I could find no reference to it, I made her look it up - and she couldn't find a reference to them in any of her derm textbooks either ;-)

Anyway, they usually happen when the lesions starts to heal.

So in either case, it's a good thing!

Of course, if you see the lesions take a turn for the worse, go back to your doc right away.

Hope this helps,
- rose

[fitzy]

I had the same reaction so I quit using it, but I may not have given it enough time. OTC cortisone seems to work better for me.

http://www.virtualdrugstore.com/psoriasis/calcipotriol.html

[jorwyn]

I'm using Westcort on mine. The doctor said he wanted to start out with something low-dosage for now, since I tend to react oddly to medications. It itches like mad. Worse than it did before the treatment, but it's not puffy anymore, and the skin on the edges has gone brownish, and the size is receding. I guess that's what you meant by rings. My doctor said that it's itching so badly because it's healing. Like getting a cut, and it itches when it heals. He said to give it another month, and the itching should go away.
I'd still talk to her doctor if I were you, I think. espcecially if she's itching bad enough to scratch. I notice when I scratch, the patches get bigger because I damage the skin around the spots. I'm still working on learning not to do that. My fiance suggested socks on my hands. He had better have been joking! *grin*
We used to put socks on my son's hand when he was a baby so he wouldn't scratch his face up. :)

[MikeK]

Hi Mandy,

I'm 46 and have plaque psoriasis. Unfortunately, itching is very much a part of it. :( Some parts of my body itch more than others. For example, my ankles hardly itch at all, the itching in my ears is sometimes so bad that I have trouble sleeping, and the itching on my hands comes and goes. Like you, I apply moisturizer before I apply the Dovonex. I moisturize frequently in between.

I use otc anti-itch medications (I buy the store brands ... they're usually cheaper) for those times when the itching becomes unbearable. Caution: Some people have posted here that they experience a terrible burning sensation if they apply anti-itch cream before applying prescripton medication. I only apply the anti-itch stuff a couple of hours after the medication and haven't had any problems. I sometimes take Benadryl before going to bed.

Depending on Amy's type and coverage, taking oatmeal baths with Aveeno or similar product, a couple of times a week, may be helpful.

Good luck,

Mike

[ladyandy]

I also find that the Dovonex works best if I use it on a rotating basis with other stuff. I will put Dovonex ointment, not toooo much, but on all the plaques, then rotate to an over-the-counter hydrocortisone creme, then sometimes a heavy moisturizer like Eucerin, then back to the Dovonex. No matter what you use, if you use it too often, the skin sort of gets used to it and it stops getting a good response.

Good luck to her! And do give the ointment a try; I noticed quite a difference. :)

[AnneElizabeth]

It's been a long time since I started Dovonex, but I remember that it was itchy and irritating for the first month. After that first month, it stopped being irritating, even when I used it on new patches. I still think that's pretty weird, but other people have the same experience. I was an early user, so they told me to apply nothing before the Dovonex. I routinely use Aveeno lotion a couple of hours after applying Dovonex ointment, though. Treated areas tend to have thin dry peeling, even when there are no thick plaques.

The ring around the patches is a good thing, as the other posters have told you. It's clearing!

It took at least a month before I started to really improve on the Dovonex. After six months of treatment, I couldn't believe how far the gradual improvement had taken me. I never cleared completely, but it's beaten back to mostly elbow and knee patches that are fairly smooth and comfortable. Dovonex has been the only treatment that worked for me so far. Cortisones improve me dramatically for a few weeks, then I flare. Tar - nothing. Anthralin - worse. Elidel - nothing on my elbows, but it may be helping on my face. I might like to try a combo of Dovonex and periodic cortisone.

Anyway - if you and your daughter can summon the patience, give the Dovonex a couple of months before concluding that it isn't a good choice. I was at 15-20% coverage and spreading before Dovonex, and I mostly maintain at 1-2% with Dovonex. I hope your daughter has the same good luck.
Anne

[Marielle]

Mandy
Hello! Another P mom here. My 7 year old daughter Jessica had P really bad. She was 95% covered. She in now down to 10% coverage with the help of UVB. She was on Dovonex and did not experience the circles but did experience the itching. I agree with MikeK, to help her with the itching Aveeno Oatmeal baths were the best. I had her taking 3 baths a week with the Oatmeal. It helped her over come the urge to itch. Dovonex did not help but that might mean that the circles do mean it is getting better. I wish you all the luck with Amy getting better. If you need anything else just holler.
M