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I went to the doctors the other day, to check what I thought was a nasty c ase of ringworm.
Turns out it's psoriasis.
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, genetic disease manifesting in the skin and/or the joints. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis. In plaque psoriasis, the most common type, patches of skin called "lesions" become inflamed and are covered by silvery white scale. Psoriasis can be limited to a few lesions or can involve moderate to large areas of skin. The severity of psoriasis can vary from person to person; however, for most people, psoriasis tends to be mild. - National Psoriasis Foundation.
According to my Dermatologist, I have an extremely rare mixture of Inverse, and Guttate psoriais.
The lesions are very painful, like bad sunburns, and cover my entire genitalia, buttocks, and chest. There are also some small, painless ones on my arms.
I can use medicine and creams to make it go for a while, but because its a chronic disease, it'll inevitably come back.
Q_Q, shitsux.
Looks like this:
And no, that is not me in the image.
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Man I really feel for you. Hope it stays mostly under control and makes you stronger.
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sucks, man... you just have to keep putting on the creams... which ones did he prescribe you, anyway?
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On March 31 2008 10:51 Gokey wrote:
sucks, man... you just have to keep putting on the creams... which ones did he prescribe you, anyway?
Betamethasone Valerate.
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United States22883 Posts
I've got it too along with a couple other autoimmune diseases that are all related. I had psoriatic arthritis as well and my shitty sports doctor didn't pick up on it, but the rheumatologist did. Anyways, some of the cartilage in my knees is permanently damaged but nothing too big. I'm on a moderate dose of methotrexate and the arthritis is in remission, as is my uveitis (autoimmune condition in the eyes.)
My psoriasis isn't nearly as bad as yours but I have gone through phototherapy and stuff. Gave me a really nice tan. o.O The only thing left are several small spots on my legs which I control with Clobetosol ointment (not gel, the gel blows) and on my scalp, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without serious, heavy medication. It comes and goes on my scalp and I take care of it with clobetosol and loprox shampoo. It's pretty much just like dandruff up there.
My recommendations are take shorter, not super hot showers and immediately put the ointments or any kind of skin lotion on afterward to keep your skin from drying out. Also pay attention to how your joints are feeling, because I know a fairly large % develop psoriatic arthritis.
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when is your follow-up appointment?
if the cream doesn't work in a few weeks, you may need additional treatment, like UV radiation or systemic drugs... everyone reacts to each different treatment differently, but you should be able to find what works best for you... just be patient and open-minded about other treatments
also, the disease can be very psychologically impacting... if you need support, there are lots of groups out there...
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On March 31 2008 11:21 Jibba wrote:
I've got it too along with a couple other autoimmune diseases that are all related. I had psoriatic arthritis as well and my shitty sports doctor didn't pick up on it, but the rheumatologist did. Anyways, some of the cartilage in my knees is permanently damaged but nothing too big. I'm on a moderate dose of methotrexate and the arthritis is in remission, as is my uveitis (autoimmune condition in the eyes.)
My psoriasis isn't nearly as bad as yours but I have gone through phototherapy and stuff. Gave me a really nice tan. o.O The only thing left are several small spots on my legs which I control with Clobetosol ointment (not gel, the gel blows) and on my scalp, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without serious, heavy medication. It comes and goes on my scalp and I take care of it with clobetosol and loprox shampoo. It's pretty much just like dandruff up there.
My recommendations are take shorter, not super hot showers and immediately put the ointments or any kind of skin lotion on afterward to keep your skin from drying out. Also pay attention to how your joints are feeling, because I know a fairly large % develop psoriatic arthritis.
My psoriasis isn't that bad, its just a picture for people who dont know what psoriasis looks like.
It's mostly in my crotch, so it;'s pretty easily irritated by walking, etc.
I'm starting phototherapy soon.
But I have 2 questions, as a Psoraisis newbie.
When in remission, how long does remission generally last for you?
and
How much do you spend yearly on treatment?
I'm kind of worried about both. I would like to have my wang usable for at least half the year. :/
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i have it too
same with cousins
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On March 31 2008 11:26 DustFerret wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:21 Jibba wrote:
I've got it too along with a couple other autoimmune diseases that are all related. I had psoriatic arthritis as well and my shitty sports doctor didn't pick up on it, but the rheumatologist did. Anyways, some of the cartilage in my knees is permanently damaged but nothing too big. I'm on a moderate dose of methotrexate and the arthritis is in remission, as is my uveitis (autoimmune condition in the eyes.)
My psoriasis isn't nearly as bad as yours but I have gone through phototherapy and stuff. Gave me a really nice tan. o.O The only thing left are several small spots on my legs which I control with Clobetosol ointment (not gel, the gel blows) and on my scalp, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without serious, heavy medication. It comes and goes on my scalp and I take care of it with clobetosol and loprox shampoo. It's pretty much just like dandruff up there.
My recommendations are take shorter, not super hot showers and immediately put the ointments or any kind of skin lotion on afterward to keep your skin from drying out. Also pay attention to how your joints are feeling, because I know a fairly large % develop psoriatic arthritis. My psoriasis isn't that bad, its just a picture for people who dont know what psoriasis looks like. It's mostly in my crotch, so it;'s pretty easily irritated by walking, etc. I'm starting phototherapy soon. But I have 2 questions, as a Psoraisis newbie. When in remission, how long does remission generally last for you? and How much do you spend yearly on treatment? I'm kind of worried about both. I would like to have my wang usable for at least half the year. :/
1. The remission time varies from patient to patient... From anywhere between a few months to years... Generally, several months is usual.
2. Each treatment is different in its cost... The steroid you're taking right now is probably going to be as cheap as it gets... The most expensive are the systemic biologics, which can cost thousands of dollars a year.
3. Be careful and NEVER take systemic (oral pills) steroids... They can make the remissions much worse... The topical steroids you're taking right now are completely safe, though, and are first-line initial therapy.
4. About 5-10% of psoriasis patients get psoriatic arthritis... Just be on lookout for it, especially with joint pain and signs of deformity... But, your chances aren't THAT high...
5. About 1-2% of US population have psoriasis, so you are not alone... That's like 2 million plus people...
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On March 31 2008 11:24 Gokey wrote:
when is your follow-up appointment?
if the cream doesn't work in a few weeks, you may need additional treatment, like UV radiation or systemic drugs... everyone reacts to each different treatment differently, but you should be able to find what works best for you... just be patient and open-minded about other treatments
also, the disease can be very psychologically impacting... if you need support, there are lots of groups out there...
He says he wants to start me on UV radiation right away.
He said something about me being young, and that theres a good chance if we get rid of it sooner, the longer it'll take to come back.
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On March 31 2008 11:35 Gokey wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:26 DustFerret wrote:On March 31 2008 11:21 Jibba wrote:
I've got it too along with a couple other autoimmune diseases that are all related. I had psoriatic arthritis as well and my shitty sports doctor didn't pick up on it, but the rheumatologist did. Anyways, some of the cartilage in my knees is permanently damaged but nothing too big. I'm on a moderate dose of methotrexate and the arthritis is in remission, as is my uveitis (autoimmune condition in the eyes.)
My psoriasis isn't nearly as bad as yours but I have gone through phototherapy and stuff. Gave me a really nice tan. o.O The only thing left are several small spots on my legs which I control with Clobetosol ointment (not gel, the gel blows) and on my scalp, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without serious, heavy medication. It comes and goes on my scalp and I take care of it with clobetosol and loprox shampoo. It's pretty much just like dandruff up there.
My recommendations are take shorter, not super hot showers and immediately put the ointments or any kind of skin lotion on afterward to keep your skin from drying out. Also pay attention to how your joints are feeling, because I know a fairly large % develop psoriatic arthritis. My psoriasis isn't that bad, its just a picture for people who dont know what psoriasis looks like. It's mostly in my crotch, so it;'s pretty easily irritated by walking, etc. I'm starting phototherapy soon. But I have 2 questions, as a Psoraisis newbie. When in remission, how long does remission generally last for you? and How much do you spend yearly on treatment? I'm kind of worried about both. I would like to have my wang usable for at least half the year. :/ 1. The remission time varies from patient to patient... From anywhere between a few months to years... Generally, several months is usual. 2. Each treatment is different in its cost... The steroid you're taking right now is probably going to be as cheap as it gets... The most expensive are the systemic biologics, which can cost thousands of dollars a year. 3. Be careful and NEVER take systemic (oral pills) steroids... They can make the remissions much worse... The topical steroids you're taking right now are completely safe, though, and are first-line initial therapy. 4. About 5-10% of psoriasis patients get psoriatic arthritis... Just be on lookout for it, especially with joint pain and signs of deformity... But, your chances aren't THAT high... 5. About 1-2% of US population have psoriasis, so you are not alone... That's like 2 million plus people...
1. That's not so bad. The cream I use takes the pain out of the lesions, so I can deal with 2-3 months of Psoriasis a year, if that seems accurate.
2. It's 5 bucks a tube, and it seems like it's working.
3. Duly noted.
4. My Dermatologist consulted me on this. He said if I feel any join tpain, consult him immediately, for a biopsy.
5. I'm aware of all the support groups, and stuff. It's good to know.
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On March 31 2008 11:36 DustFerret wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:24 Gokey wrote:
when is your follow-up appointment?
if the cream doesn't work in a few weeks, you may need additional treatment, like UV radiation or systemic drugs... everyone reacts to each different treatment differently, but you should be able to find what works best for you... just be patient and open-minded about other treatments
also, the disease can be very psychologically impacting... if you need support, there are lots of groups out there... He says he wants to start me on UV radiation right away. He said something about me being young, and that theres a good chance if we get rid of it sooner, the longer it'll take to come back.
hmm... i haven't really heard about that thing about getting rid of it sooner = longer remission times, but he's the dermatologist, heh...
btw, where are you from?
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On March 31 2008 11:38 DustFerret wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:35 Gokey wrote:On March 31 2008 11:26 DustFerret wrote:On March 31 2008 11:21 Jibba wrote:
I've got it too along with a couple other autoimmune diseases that are all related. I had psoriatic arthritis as well and my shitty sports doctor didn't pick up on it, but the rheumatologist did. Anyways, some of the cartilage in my knees is permanently damaged but nothing too big. I'm on a moderate dose of methotrexate and the arthritis is in remission, as is my uveitis (autoimmune condition in the eyes.)
My psoriasis isn't nearly as bad as yours but I have gone through phototherapy and stuff. Gave me a really nice tan. o.O The only thing left are several small spots on my legs which I control with Clobetosol ointment (not gel, the gel blows) and on my scalp, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without serious, heavy medication. It comes and goes on my scalp and I take care of it with clobetosol and loprox shampoo. It's pretty much just like dandruff up there.
My recommendations are take shorter, not super hot showers and immediately put the ointments or any kind of skin lotion on afterward to keep your skin from drying out. Also pay attention to how your joints are feeling, because I know a fairly large % develop psoriatic arthritis. My psoriasis isn't that bad, its just a picture for people who dont know what psoriasis looks like. It's mostly in my crotch, so it;'s pretty easily irritated by walking, etc. I'm starting phototherapy soon. But I have 2 questions, as a Psoraisis newbie. When in remission, how long does remission generally last for you? and How much do you spend yearly on treatment? I'm kind of worried about both. I would like to have my wang usable for at least half the year. :/ 1. The remission time varies from patient to patient... From anywhere between a few months to years... Generally, several months is usual. 2. Each treatment is different in its cost... The steroid you're taking right now is probably going to be as cheap as it gets... The most expensive are the systemic biologics, which can cost thousands of dollars a year. 3. Be careful and NEVER take systemic (oral pills) steroids... They can make the remissions much worse... The topical steroids you're taking right now are completely safe, though, and are first-line initial therapy. 4. About 5-10% of psoriasis patients get psoriatic arthritis... Just be on lookout for it, especially with joint pain and signs of deformity... But, your chances aren't THAT high... 5. About 1-2% of US population have psoriasis, so you are not alone... That's like 2 million plus people... 1. That's not so bad. The cream I use takes the pain out of the lesions, so I can deal with 2-3 months of Psoriasis a year, if that seems accurate. 2. It's 5 bucks a tube, and it seems like it's working. 3. Duly noted. 4. My Dermatologist consulted me on this. He said if I feel any join tpain, consult him immediately, for a biopsy. 5. I'm aware of all the support groups, and stuff. It's good to know.
wow, 5 bucks a tube? if it works well, you should be counting your blessings =)
did they biopsy you for the diagnosis of psoriasis?
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On March 31 2008 11:40 Gokey wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:36 DustFerret wrote:On March 31 2008 11:24 Gokey wrote:
when is your follow-up appointment?
if the cream doesn't work in a few weeks, you may need additional treatment, like UV radiation or systemic drugs... everyone reacts to each different treatment differently, but you should be able to find what works best for you... just be patient and open-minded about other treatments
also, the disease can be very psychologically impacting... if you need support, there are lots of groups out there... He says he wants to start me on UV radiation right away. He said something about me being young, and that theres a good chance if we get rid of it sooner, the longer it'll take to come back. hmm... i haven't really heard about that thing about getting rid of it sooner = longer remission times, but he's the dermatologist, heh... btw, where are you from?
San Diego.
Also, I'm not quite sure that's what he said. He said its so rare that someone my age gets a type of Psoriasis this rare, that the trigger of it might be something really extreme, and it may never happen again, the outbreak of lesions.
Hopefully.
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well, 3 drugs that are notorious for precipitating psoriasis are lithium, beta-blockers, and antimalarials... or, if you were recently sick with something (strep pharyngitis, any systemic illness)
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United States22883 Posts
On March 31 2008 11:26 DustFerret wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:21 Jibba wrote:
I've got it too along with a couple other autoimmune diseases that are all related. I had psoriatic arthritis as well and my shitty sports doctor didn't pick up on it, but the rheumatologist did. Anyways, some of the cartilage in my knees is permanently damaged but nothing too big. I'm on a moderate dose of methotrexate and the arthritis is in remission, as is my uveitis (autoimmune condition in the eyes.)
My psoriasis isn't nearly as bad as yours but I have gone through phototherapy and stuff. Gave me a really nice tan. o.O The only thing left are several small spots on my legs which I control with Clobetosol ointment (not gel, the gel blows) and on my scalp, which is extremely difficult to get rid of without serious, heavy medication. It comes and goes on my scalp and I take care of it with clobetosol and loprox shampoo. It's pretty much just like dandruff up there.
My recommendations are take shorter, not super hot showers and immediately put the ointments or any kind of skin lotion on afterward to keep your skin from drying out. Also pay attention to how your joints are feeling, because I know a fairly large % develop psoriatic arthritis. My psoriasis isn't that bad, its just a picture for people who dont know what psoriasis looks like. It's mostly in my crotch, so it;'s pretty easily irritated by walking, etc. I'm starting phototherapy soon. But I have 2 questions, as a Psoraisis newbie. When in remission, how long does remission generally last for you? and How much do you spend yearly on treatment? I'm kind of worried about both. I would like to have my wang usable for at least half the year. :/
I've only been treating it for about a year now. Before they figured out the psoriatic arthritis part, I was just using shitty tar shampoos which smelled terrible and didn't do shit. Since then I've been treating it with real medication and there hasn't been a major flare up the whole time, and my doctor's have told me I shouldn't expect one as long as I'm on the methotrexate and ointment. With my scalp, I'd say my head is clear for about 2-3 weeks and then it'll start to show up for about a week, but I can quickly take care of it by being diligent with the ointment, and it really isn't that bad if you're not scratching your head. I wear baseball caps a lot anyways, so it's a non-issue appearance wise, unless I get my hair cut very short.
I'm not sure about the yearly cost. The methotrexate is pretty cheap (I think <$20 for 6 week supply) and the clobetosol and loprox can last for months. The gel and foam versions run out much more quickly than the ointment.
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United States22883 Posts
On March 31 2008 11:40 Gokey wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2008 11:36 DustFerret wrote:On March 31 2008 11:24 Gokey wrote:
when is your follow-up appointment?
if the cream doesn't work in a few weeks, you may need additional treatment, like UV radiation or systemic drugs... everyone reacts to each different treatment differently, but you should be able to find what works best for you... just be patient and open-minded about other treatments
also, the disease can be very psychologically impacting... if you need support, there are lots of groups out there... He says he wants to start me on UV radiation right away. He said something about me being young, and that theres a good chance if we get rid of it sooner, the longer it'll take to come back. hmm... i haven't really heard about that thing about getting rid of it sooner = longer remission times, but he's the dermatologist, heh... btw, where are you from?
I'm not sure how old the OP is but with autoimmune diseases, there's always a chance they'll just disappear from puberty and beyond. Many are really just a giant mystery atm.
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On March 31 2008 11:48 Gokey wrote:
well, 3 drugs that are notorious for precipitating psoriasis are lithium, beta-blockers, and antimalarials... or, if you were recently sick with something (strep pharyngitis, any systemic illness)
Nope, none of that.
Which the dermatologist noted was even stranger, was that I hadn't had any illnesses, or medication before this.
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crap that sucks, consider yourself unable to get laid for the rest of your life
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On March 31 2008 11:59 Rev0lution wrote:crap that sucks, consider yourself unable to get laid for the rest of your life
DONT SAY THAT!
Q_Q.
It goes away for months at a time. And it isn't contagious at all.
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T_________________________________________________T
Man, I'm really sorry to hear that. At least it sounds like your condition is generally treatable.
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Wow, it can't kill you right?
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On March 31 2008 14:10 il0seonpurpose wrote:
Wow, it can't kill you right?
Not on its own. But it puts me at a higher risk for fatal diseases, like cancer.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://www.psoriasis.org/images/medical/guttate.jpg)
