11 replies to this topic

[Travelling Blackbird]

I have been dealing with psoriasis for a few months now. I have had it before, very mildly, but it used to go away quickly, recur, go away... Now that I'm dealing with a lot of financial stress and other health issues, it's come on, won't go away, and keeps getting worse.

I have it on both sides, my back, my chest, both arms and both thighs. It's sore and really itchy, and it's also making me withdraw from being around people, because I'm very conscious of it. It's been getting infected despite my best efforts to keep it clean, and I've had to spend more time at doctors because of that, which keeps me out of work, which means I don't get paid, which means I'm stressed... The medicines are very expensive, and they only make it go away - it comes right back again.

Okay. That's the picture. Now, questions:

Has anyone ever heard of a link between SCI/TBI and psoriasis? I never had it before the initial TBI, and it's gotten much worse since the SCI.

Has anyone found a cleaning regimen that works to keep psoriasis and similar skin conditions from getting infected?

Has anyone heard of dietary changes that I could make that might make it milder?

I'm really tired of all the health issues caused by the stress of last year, and this one has really pushed me over the edge.

[allister]

Hi Derek,
Have suffered with it for 9 years, since my body became majorly stressed with the sci. It flares up and goes etc.....chest, beard, eye brows, ears and hair.
I have noticed it gets worse with more pain, but daily stresses also effect it too like financial ones your experiencing
Have tried over the counter creams, and prescrition drugs too.
Best thing I have found is a set of products to be used together, all containing teatree oils.
Body wash, shampoo, cream, and an oil.
I can not give you the name at the moment as they're out of my reach, but they are available on the web.
will add another comment later today with the details.
Al

Edited by allister, 08 May 2010 - 12:07 AM.

[brython2]

I had bad attacks of it many years ago. Used to get the steroid cream for it. I used to shower everyday back then, I used to chew a lot of gum too. I also used fluride toothpaste.
I changed my routine to having a shower every 3 days, (flannel wash in between). I stopped chewing the gum and I switched to fluride free toothpaste, (there's a brand called Kingfisher that does fennel flavour).
Ok, I don't know why, but after I stopped doing these things, my Psoriosis gradually went, I haven't had it come back for years.

It may be a just a coincidence, or placebo effect, or maybe a completley unconnected reason, but I swear it was one of those things that was causing it!

[Ches]

My best friend has psoriasis head to toe, she swears by the tea tree oils. In the 10 yrs Ive known her Ive seen the flare ups caused by stress first hand, in her case smoking the herb and really forcing herself to stay optimistic along with proper skincare and those darn oils seem to be what it all boils down too.

So,.. google your skin type (dry, oily, combo) research the recommended moisturizing, consider that with psoriasis needs and combine.
Stick w/ those tea tree products
Try youre hardest to release yourself from the stress in whatever means possible
Andddddd Smoke bud!

Seems like booze has some direct effect on it too, but I cant remember if she clears up temporarily or flares up?

[jenny407]

Hi Derek,

I don't know if you're in Germany right now. Yes, "Teebaumöl" is definitely recommended by some. (But I have no direct experience.) And I personally have good experience in skin matters with really competent "Homöopathen / Heilpraktiker". (Perhaps you don't believe in these things, I don't know.) It's worth trying! But it must be a proper treatment, if possible. ("Konstitutionsbehandlung")

I wish you good luck! (What s****!)
Jenny

[allister]

Quote :I can not give you the name at the moment as they're out of my reach, but they are available on the web.
will add another comment later today with the details.
Al

The product brand name is Therapeutics.
www.essentially-yours.co.uk

Therapeutics Complete Set
This special offer gives you the complete set for a special price. All of the products are designed to work in harmony with each other so you get the maximum benefits by not mixing them with other petro-chemical products.

Extra Rich Moisturiser 100ml, Hair Shampoo 200ml, Hand & Body Lotion 200ml, Bath Oil 125ml, Moisturising Oil 125ml. Body Wash 200ml.
SKU: NE000A
Size: Mixed Mixed
Price: £39.99 inc. VAT

It has worked great for me. hope it helps you.

Al

Edited by allister, 08 May 2010 - 10:41 PM.

[Hapahowlee]

My brother-in-law has psoriasis and his Dr. recommended he use a tanning bed about once a week. It helped his dry up and go away.

Now keep in mind, I'm not recommending anything on this post. However, once I had some poison something or other that would not go away with prednisone or anything else. I was going out of my mind for 2 months and one day I got desperate. I took a blow dryer and held it on the affected area until it burned. It hurt, but at the same time, it felt so good b/c it was itching like crazy.

Well, it worked and the poison whatever was gone within a week.

Sometimes during allergy season, if I develop a rash on usually my arms or legs, I just go out in the sun for about an hour and it goes away.

I stopped doing the "fake bake" years ago b/c I now live in Arizona and can get the sun well over 300 days a year for free. Maybe you can ask your Dr. at least about the tanning bed thing or some sort of therapy similar to it.

I do remember back when I lived in the midwest, I always got a rash on my elbows during allergy season and I'd use the tanning bed and it would go away within a few sessions.

If you are fair skinned, the sun or tanning bed may not be such a good idea.

Hope you find a solution. ~ Hapa

[DaveP]

I had that same, triggered by stress. It had to be treated by antibiotics first, the steriod creams to get it under controls, then moisturisers all the time. Now, when it flames up, I use the steriod cream for 1 or 2 applications and it normally goes away again.

But for my stress, I took St Johns Wort for 6 months and that really helped. I was told many people wrongly just take it for a few weeks, feel better and then stop. A min of 6 months has a long lasting effect. Worked for me, and my skin.

I also took Actovated B Complex vitamins and mulitvits to help make sure my immune system was getting the fuel it needed.

Tea Tree Oil also works really well.

[catmint]

My husband had this a few years ago on his face. Again triggered by stress we think.

The doctor prescribed strong steriods which he didn't really want to use but in the end he gave in and used the cream. It worked.

It seems to go away for some time but just before it comes back his skin colour starts to change ever so slightly. When that happens he uses the cream for a couple of days and it seems to stop it getting a hold.

Someone who suffers with this told him calendula cream is very soothing but he hasn't tried it so don't know.

Hope you find some relief.

[allis53ca]

tea tree oil and tan bed helped mine 10 years ago w/last flare up

[Hotwheelz]

Hemp Eaze cream just google it. All natural and healp with alot of skin problems............

[Travelling Blackbird]

Thanks everyone!

Tea tree oil: I'll definitely have to get some of that. The doctors never mentioned it. They were too busy selling me a prescription cream for €160 per tube that just makes it go away for a day and then it comes right back again somewhere else.

Al: Thanks a million for the link and the detailed product description. That sounds like a good long-term solution. It's also good to get information from someone else with an SCI and psoriasis. I have often wondered if there are triggers in pain as well as in stress. It's hard to separate them.

Brython: It is always worth trying something that may have worked for someone else, and I don't mind cutting the flouride out of my tooth-care routine.

Ches: Are you suggesting a road-trip to Amsterdam? ;) That'd definitely reduce my stress levels. What would also help is having a steady job. Being self-employed really sucks at times.

Hapa: I had read that psoriasis isn't as bad in the summer, so something with the vitamin D/melatonin system may have an influence. I'm part Italian, with skin that doesn't burn easily, so I would be happy to try a tanning bed at a low setting and see if that helped.

Jenny: I am in Germany. The suggestion to see a homeopath is a good one, since the regular doctors haven't helped, but unfortunately it's one I can't manage. My insurance won't cover most of these bills, and I'm still in financial stress from 2009... I'll have to put that idea on hold.

Dave: I'll look into the St John's Wort. That's another name for Valerian, isn't it? I'd heard it's good for stress reduction. Of course, we still need to tackle the root of the stress, but something to take the edge off isn't a bad idea.

Catmint (love the icon), Allis and Hotwheelz, thanks for the suggestions too.

Thanks to you all for proving again that this is the place to come for support and advice and occasionally a reminder to get off my butt and do something about my stress...