Psoriasis & A Healhtier Lifestyle

Jenn152

I was diagnosed with Psoriasis (www.psoriasis.org) in 2002 when I was a sophomore in college. I have been through countless types of treatment as I have 3 types of Psoriasis (Plaque, Guttate, & Inverse). I am very fortunate to have a fabulous attitude about my diagnosis, as there is NO CURE and it's never going to go all the way away, so I accept it as a part of who I am and what makes me great! :blushing: No lack of confidence here...

There have been periods of the last 9 years where it has covered upwards of 70% of my whole body/scalp :noway: I am what the doctors like to call a 0% success rate because very few of the treatments prescribed to me were really making a difference. I was a college student and although I was in good shape, I was drinking heavily and eating poorly (thank you early 20s) and my lifestyle was a major reason I had a hard time getting my disease in control. I was able to get approved for an injectable drug, after many many failed treatments, and that cleared it almost 100% :bigsmile: After relying on that for a few years (it is insanely expensive - over $3,000 a month, thank god for insurance) my doctor started talking to me about the possible side effects of long-term use (cancer... yikes) and that he would really like me to get off of it and try to keep control with other treatments (that never worked for me before :mad: ...). So I agreed, because cancer spreads easily enough on its own, I didn't want to give it a personal invite to my body!

Enter MFP and getting myself together weight-wise and health-wise! :drinker:

Little did I know, that all I would need to do would be to eat as cleanly as possible and maintain a solid workout routine to get my Psoriasis in check! It is by no means cleared, but I would say it only covers about 5% of my body right now and I can live with that! My dermatoligist is shocked and impressed to say the least. I am of course still using some topical treatments to keep it at bay, but it is very very manageable at this point and I couldn't be happier!

Anyone else using MFP with Psoriasis and have you experienced similar results?

BeautyFromPain

I don't have it on my skin, only my scalp but yes it has cleared up MASSIVELY!

ToddFo

Congratulations. That's awesome!

My wife deals with the same problem, but to a lesser extent. She has a really poor diet, and I'm always getting after her. I'm definitely going to point out your post.

Jenn152

Yes! Absoultely point her to this post! I would've never believed it either, until it happened to me

Redladystl

I do of the scalp very very bad. Only eating clean is the total cure for me. 100%!

SuperScrabbleGirl

My Mum has psoriasis and so did my Nan, so I was hardly shocked when I got it, but I was slim, active and 17 years old, so I didn't attribute it to my lifestyle. I've had two very bad flare ups in my life, the first was when it initially manifested itself, the second was when I was going through a ****ty time emotionally and was eating really badly, as well as drinking and trying to write my dissertation. I had to go to hospital and it just was not fun at all.

I'd say that I usually have 5 or 6 patches of it regularly, or I used to, because I can honestly say I maybe have one or two tiny spots now and haven't had anything bigger for a while (About 4 months). It has to be the healthier lifestyle because I don't treat it unless it's a really bad flare up.

How ace is that? Thank you vitamins and minerals.

Jenn152

How ace is that? Thank you vitamins and minerals.

AMEN to that!

mrsmellymac

I was diagnosed with Psoraisis when I was 14, but I've had it since I was little, the doctors just didn't know what it was or were too lazy to take a sample of skin and analyze it (thank you very much Army doctors >.<). But its something I've constantly dealt with. It has thankfully cleared up everywhere BUT my scalp. On stressful days, or menstruation, I get flare ups. I'll find it on my elbows, between my breasts, or on my nose. I put on some A&D and it goes away.

I never really thought it would deal with what I was eating, its always been emotional with me. During my pregnancy it was pretty much GONE. I don't take vitamins and I don't really spend money on treatment. I'm afraid of the shots because, quite frankly, my psoraisis won't kill me, and some of those vaccinations have deadly side effects.

Like you, I just come to accept my psoraisis. Its a part of who I am, and I'll try to keep it at bay.

I think my son has it too, I found some plaque-y skin behind his ears. Doctor said he's too young to do anything about it, so I'm just puttin some A&D on it. A&D is the best thing ever.

mrsmellymac

I should add, congratulations to your success with your recovery, that is amazing!! i bet you feel like a million bucks!! I know I feel like crap even with a few areas with my flare ups....the itching...OH GOSH THE ITCHING! ahhh! lol (it makes me itchy now) :embarassed:

Jenn152

I should add, congratulations to your success with your recovery, that is amazing!! i bet you feel like a million bucks!! I know I feel like crap even with a few areas with my flare ups....the itching...OH GOSH THE ITCHING! ahhh! lol (it makes me itchy now) :embarassed:

Oh yeah the itching and cracking and bleeding... is AWFUL! I would scratch myself til I bled IN MY SLEEP! hahah it was horrendous! I think as we get older and learn what our triggers are it is easier to handle.

mrsmellymac

Oh yeah the itching and cracking and bleeding... is AWFUL! I would scratch myself til I bled IN MY SLEEP! hahah it was horrendous! I think as we get older and learn what our triggers are it is easier to handle.

Oh yes, the other night I was scratching my scalp in my sleep and i woke up with blood under my nails. I might need mitts or something, like what we put on babies while they sleep lol.

Its really nice to be able to talk to people about this!

does anyone suffer from psoraic arthritis? The doctor said I don't but my joints hurt really bad where I flare up.

Jenn152

i do not suffer from psoriatic arthritis YET... but my doctors all say that it is basically inevitable for psoriasis sufferers! oh well... again, nothin i can do about it, so ill maintain walking and working out forever... lol

JeSuisPrest

My mother suffers from it and have occasionally wondered if those are flare ups I get on my scalp. What exactly do you think contributed to the improvement you have seen? What are you doing differently? What changes have you made exactly? Is it something you've stopped eating??

debiann58

hi my name is debi i am 58 and have this for 45 years, except for the pass four years it was not to bad, the past 20 years have i been way over weight, i have been over two hundred pounds and not very healthy i need to make some big changes how i eat and i need to start moving more it was nice seeing this group thank you for starting this, hope we can share more storys debi

mrsmellymac

hi my name is debi i am 58 and have this for 45 years, except for the pass four years it was not to bad, the past 20 years have i been way over weight, i have been over two hundred pounds and not very healthy i need to make some big changes how i eat and i need to start moving more it was nice seeing this group thank you for starting this, hope we can share more storys debi

yes, its great to be able to share. I haven't been able to really talk about it to anyone because I don't know anyone else with it!

I've heard fish oil tablets help. I haven't taken them (i'm REALLY bad with taking pills and stuff).

Jenn152

My mother suffers from it and have occasionally wondered if those are flare ups I get on my scalp. What exactly do you think contributed to the improvement you have seen? What are you doing differently? What changes have you made exactly? Is it something you've stopped eating??

i just eat as few processed foods as possible. i am by no way a vegatarian/vegan and i am not obsessed with organic. but i do buy all fresh produce and i try to avoid eating alot of things that come from a "package" so to speak. I still eat some things that do, but as a whole i try to make sure every meal has some sort of fresh vegatable involved and lean meats. i eat tons of veggies and fruits. :O) I also take a Fish Oil tablet every day (that is more for my heart health, but it assists with Psoriasis as well)

dixiech1ck

I am a psoriasis suffer as well. My dad has it. I was diagnosed as a kid with serrobic dermatitis, go to see another derma when I moved to Pennsy who took one look at my nails and said "My dear, you have psoriasis." =( I get it pretty bad on my scalp, behind and in my ear canal, on my backside and around my breast area. It's painful. But what I've started noticing lately is that the oil spots on my fingers get worse, making my nails crack so easily. My toenails have started to turn black and blue -- my 2nd toe on my left foot, the nail is nearly pulling right off my foot. Has anyone else experienced nail pain??

I was also diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I got really sick in January and by April, still was not better. Went for a multitude of bloodtesting, my CRP came back at over a 3.0 (it should be under .85) for inflammation. I've been on naproxen and meloxicam, and nothing helps. I don't want to go on high powered meds yet. The weight loss has been a huge help though on my joints.

I have to go back to my derma -- my scalp is just driving me nuts. What works for you? I have a scalp wash, prescribed, but it doesn't seem to work well. I HATE carmex -- that stuff puts my hair in terrible knots, no matter how much I try to condition my hair after. =(

Jenn152

For my scalp, I use Loprox (prescribed) shampoo every 3-4 days and I also try to use Derma Smooth Scalp Oil (prescribed) as needed once a week or every 2 weeks, that one you put on and then put a shower cap on and go to sleep so it can be on all night, then i wash it out in the morning with regular shampoo & conditioner. I also used Nuetragena T-Gel when I didnt have insurance, there is a target brand that is great too.

I go to my derm every 6-8 weeks. So he can keep an eye on me.

I do not have the nail issue, but my friend at work does. His are also very dark and rutted, very painful he says.

poesch77

I suffer from Psoriasis as well.....very bad on my scalp ( wearing black=not good) tad bit on each elbow, inner corner of eyes on occasion and now most recently on my dang hands, palms and thumbs! This is tough because it is hard to keep ointment on the hands! I got my first patch in my early 20's and have been on various creams, ointments and a mousse type RX for my head. Tried different shampoos to no avail. Seems to be more intense when I have TOM....fish oil does help when I take it! I am glad to hear I am not the only one with these problems!

Jenn152

There are Millions of people affected by this disease I am very open and honest about mine and I even educate my office with info boards and tid-bit info emails during the month of August every year (August is Psoriasis Awareness Month). I talk to strangers about it on the street (ya know, the people that ask if you have poison ivy or an allergic reaction). This is a part of me and I am not ashamed of it at all. I love making people aware of it, so they can become more compassionate as a whole :happy:

Scholastica1974

Jenn152 - it's not inevitable that you will get psoriatic arthritis (PA). As someone who has severe psoriasis you are more likely to get PA than someone who has mild or moderate psoriasis but from my understanding I think the chances are pretty much 50/50. I have PA but it's mild. My severe psoriasis is pretty much in remission at the moment and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that long may it continue

Jenn152

That is good to know. I am crossing my fingers the PA stays away for as long as possible (or forever really), but I love to hear people's stories about how it affects them. Thank you for sharing!

mrsmellymac

Do we have a group started on here yet? We should!

Jennifernellwebb

I have scalp psoriasis and gutate psoriasis. I was diagnosed last year. I was 42 ( just 3 months before my 43rd birthday) with my first outbreak and I could not understand what was going on with me. I was freaking out! I had these sores all over my head and scratches from where I just dug and dug at my scalp until I was raw. My doctor didn't know what it was so he sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist took one look and said "psoriasis!" Of course I said, "no it isn't!" Reluctantly, I used the scalp oil prescribed to me every night and I used it for weeks! Just as soon as I THOUGHT that I was coming to terms with that, I broke out with these spots all over my body. The dermatologist told me that it was a second type of psoriasis that I had. I was prescribed an ointment that I had to put on my body and sleep in it. It is a really difficult thing to deal with, especially when you work and have to put your hair up. I caught people looking at me and it was really hard. I quit my job in April of last year and never wanted to leave the house. I was taking pills to control it, but were very dangerous for long term effects. I eventually weened myself off of them and braced myself for the worst. So far, I have not broke out on my body again ( knock on wood ) but my scalp, it lets me know that my psoriasis is still a factor. I may have had to treat my scalp 3 times in the last 6 months, opposed to treating it every night just a year ago. More of a KEEPING IT IN CHECK type thing than actually needing to treat my scalp. I feel the knots on my scalp but it doesn't flake like it use to. I get knots behind my ears and I do have issues inside of my ears. My face, I use a Garnier for moisture because between my eyebrows, I seem to have a noticeable red patch that flares up when I stress out. I also use Aveeno for my skin if it gets a little dry. I have not been to my dermatologist in maybe 9 months and I was stressing over my scalp oil..... but I found a $3 bottle of Tea Tree Oil at Wal~Mart that is WONDERFUL!!!! It seems to do for me what my prescribed scalp oil did. Like I said, I haven't had to "treat" my scalp , but I like using it occasionally to moisturize my scalp. I bought the shower caps and it is just nice to have in the house. With all that being said.......... to the heath part.
I started losing weight in July of last year. I quit smoking in December of 2010 ( one of the many reasons..... smoking brings on psoriasis!!! ) Trust me, giving up smoking after 25 years far outweighed a breakout in psoriasis!! So, I researched vitamins and things to do differently to prevent a breakout like fish oil that some of you mentioned and keeping your stress level in check. Things like that. Where I am going with this is I started losing weight in July and looking back , that was when my issues with my psoriasis got better. I was 7 months smoke free, working out and eating right along with my vitamins. Don't get me wrong, I have the knots on my head that remind me that it is there but I always did wonder if I had taken just the right amount of that real bad medicine to slow it down or if it was my vitamins or simply my change in my diet over the past 6 1/2 months. One thing I do know.... it can show up at any time so I just can never relax and take it for granted that it slowed down like it has. I hope this helps some of you or all of you...

bakingmadness

I was diagnosed with Psoriasis at age 12 (1993). 3 weeks after my 13th birthday I started having severe joint problems and was shortly after that diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (1994 / 8th grade). It attacked my scalp, behind my ears, my forehead, eyebrows, legs, stomach, butt and genital region. The arthritis attacked my right knee, both ankles and feet and my spine.

I went through various creams, oils, even a styling foam for the psoriasis on my scalp. The oil was the worst to try and wash out and it smelled awful. I can still remember rolling over in my sleep and adjusting the shower cap on my head and catching a whiff of the oil on my scalp. :grumble: It took at least 3 shampoos and 1 conditioner to get out in the morning before school. I have found that Elocon Cream (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mometasone_furoate) works the best on the spots I got on my body. I discovered a shampoo that is over the counter that works really well - Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T/Gel ) It's in the medicated shampoo section near the lice control and such.

I've battled with the arthritis and the psoriasis for years. Over time with the various and multiple medications I went through I gained a lot of weight. In March 2007 (age 25.5) I weighed 270 pounds. Due to the advanced nature and deterioration of my joints from the arthritis my doctor recommended gastric bypass surgery to alleviate weight on my joints so I didn't end up in a wheel chair by the age of 30. Below is me the day of my surgery: 3-26-07 @ 263 lbs.



Below is me 3-26-11 (4 years later) @ 175 lbs.



Within 2 weeks of the gastric bypass surgery... the psoriasis was GONE and pretty much stayed gone for 4 years. I had a few minor flare ups where I would treat the spot(s) for a day or two and they'd be gone for months. I had a major psoriasis flare up in May 2011 (took a month and lots of rx steroids to clear up) that also caused a severe arthritis flare that I am still battling to get under control. The arthritis flare hit joints this time that it's never affected before and scared the crap out of me. It hit my hands. They swelled up like balloons and itched and hurt so bad I eventually had to take time off work to see if they would heal (since the multiple added medications weren't cutting it- and made me gain a lot of weight back) and hopefully not suffer any permanent joint damage.

If any of you have questions about psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, or medications, or even personal questions, feel free to ask me and I will do my best to help you out.

SparksFly460

YAY! So glad to find this thread. I've been struggling with scalp psoriasis for years. Minor outbreaks on arms, huge ones on my scalp to the point I lost 50% of the hair on my head. Not thinning but thick, 4-5 inch diameter patches. I wore head wraps for an entire year :ohwell:

Anyways, as you all know it gets better and it gets worse....a new funky thing? MY EARS....psoriasis....in....my...ears... SMH

So yes, cleanER eating has helped TONS. I avoid ketchup (for some reason, ketchup absolutely triggers outbreaks for me) and a few other trigger foods that I cant quite pinpoint. Highly processed crap will do it too.

I also have SLE on top of psoriasis, which at first the arthritis was associated with the psoriasis but then re-diagnosed...funny thing....both psoriasis outbreaks and SLE outbreaks tend to go hand in hand!

Yes t-Gel is AWESOME. Although it no longer works as well for me as it use to years ago. I avoid as many hair products as I can due to chemical & high alcohol content which is horrible for the scabbies. BUT any deep conditioning treatment mast, or cholesterol hair masks are great....I also try not to wash my hair more than every 5 days. I'll push it to a week and even dry-shampoo (yes its got a ton of alcohol) but if you do a conditioning mask right before the next wash....no problem!

bakingmadness

Yes t-Gel is AWESOME. Although it no longer works as well for me as it use to years ago. I avoid as many hair products as I can due to chemical & high alcohol content which is horrible for the scabbies. BUT any deep conditioning treatment mast, or cholesterol hair masks are great....I also try not to wash my hair more than every 5 days. I'll push it to a week and even dry-shampoo (yes its got a ton of alcohol) but if you do a conditioning mask right before the next wash....no problem!

Another shampoo I use that helps me is Joico: Boijoba (now called Daily Care Treatment Shampoo for a healthy scalp, formerly Biojoba, uses the same formula). It's kinda pricey but Ulta will run it for Buy 1 get one or for the huge bottles at 50% off. I also try not to wash my hair more than 4-5 times a week. Have gone 5-6 days (arthritis flared in hands so it was difficult to do anything more than a PTA bath ::EEW::) as well and then when I wash after that long I wash twice in a row and then condition for a good 5-10 minutes. My flare up in May last year was bad enough that I was pulling chunks of hair out of my scalp. -.- I have a large patch at my hairline/bangs area that is growing back in... it's kinda funny looking but it's life.

Anyone here is more than welcome to send me a friend request. :flowerforyou:

w8sarge

I was diagnosed with Psoriasis when in my twenties (though when I was a teen a doctor had told me it could be syphilis!). I had a bad flare up that covered much of my body, and that was at the same time I was having terrible headaches. So definitely stress was a factor. The coal tar baths, shampoo, creams, sunbathing helped and so did less stress. I then improved so that only my hands and elbows were involved.

Some years later I started taking fish oil and that really made a difference. Now I am fifty and notice only the rare patch on my palms.

I hope for everyone here relief from whichever form of Psoriasis you have.

Nitachi

The majority of skin problems are diet related, know of a few people that even managed to clear up their keratosis pilaris by eating a healthier diet and losing weight.

I also know that if you have dandruff that you are lacking EFA's.

angeldelight13

hey, Iv also got Psoriasis, i was diagnosed in about 1995 at around the age of 10. Since then i dont think iv ever been without a flair up on my scalp and in the last year its constantly been in my ear cannal :noway: I will get it in other places when highly stressed and thats usually my knees, elbows and face. Iv never really had any help or support from my G.P also untill this post i didnt realise it had improved with a better diet, but iv been extreemly stressed out and iv had no real "body" outbreak, result!!

My scalp is irritated by shampoo's, some more than others, but after years of trial and error iv found that the body shop, ginger shampoo will clear it up almost comletely. Iv often wonder what Ginger its self would do to the Psoriasis.

TouchAsMarshmellows

My husband was diagnosed with psoriasis as a skin condition in 2003. But 2008 he had developed PSA. PSA has destroyed him, he is very much disabled, needed a hip replacement in 2019. All his joints are twisted and inflamed, his fingers and toes look broken. This year he got on enbrel finally after treating some pretty existing conditions that would not allow him to be on enbrel. The enbrel cleared his skin quickly, his pain lessened. It’s a fortune though, it’s basically another rent payment. Five months into treatment, other new environmental changes and one Covid vaccine, he developed blood clots in his leg and lungs. He became anemic, developed a stomach ulcer and almost died. His hemoglobin dropped to 4.3. He needed a blood transfusion multiple times. We don’t know exactly what caused this to happens because there are so many variables. He is off the enbrel for now, he stopped working which could have been a reason due to lead exposure, he is on blood thinners now and many other things, vitamins and supplements. The pain had come back with a vengeance and he is always fatigued. He is 45 years old. I guess what I’m saying is, don’t think this won’t happen to you, do all you possibly can to stay healthy and note what flares up your psoriasis because you can’t see what it’s doing inside you until it’s done. Take action and be aware and seek medical help the moment something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait.