new job, no insurance, little money...psoriasis getting really bad - any ideas?

[malcolmmedgar]

i recently moved, and had to switch jobs (so my wife can go to law school)

my new job is a big pay cut, but worse is that i have no insuarnce. And now my psoriasis is coming back with a vengance. My face is getting covered, my legs are about 60% covered now, and my skin is as dry as a bone.

I have a little bit of dioflorasone diacetate (.o5% ointment), but it has lost it's effectiveness

i dont drink, dont smoke, dont take in caffiene, and been able to reduce all other factors - except for stress (money issues and psoriasis are a bad combination or stress)

The last medication i used that was really effective was Olux. though the docs told me not to, i had used it on my face and it cleared up 100% for a long time. Improved my legs, cleared my arms 90%

because i have no insurance - a doc visit will cost a minimum of 150 dollars - i have no access to get prescriptions. I would love to get methotraxate (i took it when i was 13 and had a 2 year remission), but of course, that is out of the realm of possibility.

Anyone have any ideas? Heck, id take black market olux at this point :P

[chaimFL]

There is a program that has been discussed on these boards numerous times that can provide financial assistance and at times can provide drugs free of charge if you qualify. The program is found at http://www.needymeds.com and people have been successful using it. You will need to see a doctor to get the prescription, but if you financially qualify then you will be taken care of. Here's a link to one success story using NeedyMeds http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?threadid=3979&highlight=needymeds

[malcolmmedgar]

better than trying to buy olux from someone that does have insurance...lol

im at the point ill try anything - mud from the dead sea, herbal teas...but no leaky stomach stuff :)

[malcolmmedgar]

is that if you dont know exactly what med you are looking for, it's hard to find something for psoriasis

be better if they had a search function

any ideas for topical meds to look for?

oh, and here is a question: i know dermatologists get in a huff when asked this, but....

are tanning beds the same kind of uvb light as light boxes? i know it isnt as regulated as light boxes, but could tanning beds be used to help?

[GitOverIt]

not sure about this but if your wife is going to a university do they have a clinic you could go to? or sometimes these pharm co's have programs for testing you could get into...just a thought

[malcolmmedgar]

crossing fingers - getting lsat scores back march 1st :)

there is a free clinic here in tallahassee, but im unsure how good it is - and most free clinics dont have dermatologists


i need olux, z-pac (antibiotic...i have found that before i start a new medication, taking a powerful antibiotic helps jumpstart it, for hatever reason)

but i need a new topical...havent used any lately that have been of he,lp. protopic was especially useless for me

[sprite30]

Depending on how much diposable imcome you have might try a tanning salon. Most solons you can get a months unlimited for around 30-45 dollars. This will some what help. Some psoriasis suffers clear pretty well with uva alone. But most will get some kind of benifit. Ifuva alone does not help alot then using some coal tare on the skin will help photosensitize your skin. But if you go this rought start off at only 2-3 min. at the start and slowly increase the time so you donot burn. Good luck

[malcolmmedgar]

otc stuff - what brands are out there that are any good? is there OTC coal tars?

[chaimFL]

There are many coal tar ointments that are OTC. Psorigel, MG217, Lavatar, and Psoriasin to mention a few.

MG217 is probably the easiest to find and it comes in an ointment, which can be kind of greasy. Psoriasin, if you can find it, comes in an alcohol bases liquid that is not nearly as strong as MG217, but it dries fast and the odor is easily masked. Psoriasin also has a new roll on applicator, but the coal tar is even less there for some reason. Psorigel and Lavatar I have no experience with nor have I ever seen them, but I know they exist.

[cjg]

Go for the tanning bed--it works for me and isn't dreadfully expensive.

[mcbeckysue]

hello out there,

i use five drops of tea tree oil (melaluca oil) in a dollop of OTC vitamin E lotion to calm the inflammation and some flaking. i work outdoors, getting alot of scratches, so the tea tree oil also stopped any secondary infections in my plaques. it's not heavy duty scrips, but this made life livable.

yoga helped calm me, too. you can do self study yoga with tapes from the library for free.

buena suerte,
beck :)

[makeitgoaway]

You might also find that the coal tar used alone may provide some relief.

[Ksayre]

Take some flaxseed oil and a 1,000 IU of vitamin D a day. Also my Brother cleared his up by using T Gel shampoo on his. He rubbrd it in and left it on at night. Then in the morning he would rinse it and rub vitamin E on it. He had it cleared in two weeks. His leg looked horrible. I would not reccomend that for your face though. Also try Yoga for the stress.