Psioriasis behind my ears

Posted Sun 15 Apr 2012 17.00 by SarahB
Since my early teens in varying degrees, mainly scalp and back

Hi there, I am new to this forum so I apologise if anyone has asked this before, but I suffer from particularly sore psoriasis behind my ears. I have to wear glasses all the time and I am guessing that doesn't help matters, and I have been told not to use dovobet (my prescription for other areas) behind my ears as the skin is too thin. I do also get Psoriasis on my scalp, which I manage to control with a product from Lush, as I cannot tolerate any of the shampoos or products like T-Gel because the tar products make me itch so much its unbearable. I would be grateful for any advice! :-)

Posted Mon 16 Apr 2012 11.13 by saintsfan

I was going to suggest Carbo-dome cream but as it's coal tar based don't know whether that would help you. If you have it behind your ears do you have it in the ear canal as well? If so, it might help if you can keep that calm and that have a knock on effect behind the ears. Best tip I have been given by an audiologist is to put a couple of drops of olive oil in the ear once a week, alternating ears. (You can buy glass bottles with a pipette from chemist to keep ear oil in.) This helps ear wax move down the canal and keeps the skin in it smooth. Ear wax becomes attached to the psoriatic skin and the scale itself both contribute to blocking the canal. Doing this is generally keeping the psoriasis in and around my ears calmer. Also, if your ears become blocked don't have them syringed. After years of problems with this the audiologist explained it only serves to irritate the psoriasis and you can end up with pools of water in the ear which can increase the risk of infection. Over the counter ear wax removal products can also irritate. Instead, see a proper audiologist and have wax removed by suction. It isn't cheap but it might be worth asking a gp for a referral. Lots of gp surgeries are cutting down on syringing anyway (as it isn't cost effective) so with our skin issues my audiologist thinks gps should consider paying for it as we can have specific ear problems as a result of psoriasis. I've been having suction once a year for about 4 years and it's having a noticeable difference on my hearing and condition of my ear psoriasis. (I only suggest a private audiologist as the service and education from mine has been infinitely better than the occasion I had suction at hospital. So bad was in tears during the procedure but dr would not stop. Thanks to my wonderful nurse audiologist have learnt more about ear care for psoriasis than had done in previous 30 years.) Final thought - see you're using Dovobet too. Ttrust your dr has warned you about only using it for short periods of time (no more than couple of months, say) and to gradually reduce how often you use it (perhaps week ends only) rather than stop it abruptly. It contains a strong steroid, which is why it works so well, but can lead to severe rebound if stopped abruptly. Can then end up in a Catch 22 position of taking ages to get under control skin which is worse than when started using it! Apologies about rambling but know ears are a real problem for a lot of people. All the best.

Posted Thu 19 Apr 2012 00.55 by jenbyer
I have severe plaque and flexural psoriasis which covers 80% of my body and have had it since i was 7 years old

I have it behind my ears and i wear glasses too, i just use a moisturiser like doublebase and it keeps the skin from becoming flakey and splitting....i used to be naughty and put dovobet behind my ears when it was really bad (just a little amount once in a while). Hope this helps!

1 Posted Mon 23 Apr 2012 11.01 by minimyers (edited Thu 8 Jan 2015 14.59 by JAYBEEJOHN)

Hi SarahB, Firstly I can say that I empathise with the ear psoriasis - which wasn't helped recently by a 6 year old telling me I looked like I have 'crusty ears' - thanks!!! Can I ask what Lush product you find helps your scalp? Would be great to know! Jess

Posted Wed 25 Apr 2012 00.03 by michaelswims
Yes

Hi Sarah, I have similaer issues, glasses wearing etc. Tend to use Simple moisturiser at night. Also get flake in ear canal so will try olive oil tip from saintsfan. Also find scalp remedties like TGel too harsh, which Lush product do you use? I find washing hair in cool water helps. All the best , Michaelswims

Posted Wed 23 May 2012 09.21 by SarahB (edited Thu 8 Jan 2015 14.59 by cazza99)
Since my early teens in varying degrees, mainly scalp and back

Hello Everyone, Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to you all. I have been back to the doctors because my skin split completely behind one ear, which was pretty horrid, and as I am practically bling without my glasses took a while to heal! The Doctor also suggested Doublebase behind my ears, as she said the skin is far too fragile for any steroid treatment like Dovobet. The lush products I use, I use a massage oil bar called snake oil once or twice a week, you warm up the bar in your hands so it melts into oil, rub it in and leave it on, I find it really reduces the scaly bits on my scalp and soothes itching. It lasts forever as well. I leave it on for as long as I can, but minimum half an hour, maximum however long it takes to do my cleaning normally (I don't mind looking like an idiot then haha!). I would recommend this to everybody. Lush also sell a shampoo bar called soak and float, I have used that too and find it is helpful in calming an itchy scalp. I try not to wash my hair every day as I find in the long run it makes things worse. Sarah :-)

1 Posted Wed 23 May 2012 09.23 by SarahB (edited Tue 19 Jun 2012 01.23 by cazza99)
Since my early teens in varying degrees, mainly scalp and back

oops! I am pratically blind without my glasses and not bling! Haha. And also, my doctor has never told me to use Dovobet for short bursts - I have been using it almost continously for a year now!!

1 Posted Mon 18 Jun 2012 15.56 by saintsfan (edited Thu 8 Jan 2015 14.59 by saintsfan)

Being on dovobet for nearly a year is really not good. I'd strongly suggest you return to your GP and ask for an alternative non-steroid based cream. Whatever you do, don't just stop using it. It's safest to withdraw from it gently, say not using it one day a week and replacing it with something else, and gradually reduce the number of days using it that way. It can be 'pulsed' in as a kick start, say at weekends, but absolutely should not be used long term in the same way as, for example, coal tar or vitamin D based treatments. The skin needs time to recover from steroids, especially strong steroids. If you need more info before going to your GP contact head office (phone number, email address etc are on the website or click on 'get in touch' at the bottom of this page) - they're very helpful. I'm afraid you're probably going to have to be your own expert here and be prepared educate your GP about this. Have the impression too many GPs think Dovobet is the same as Dovonex because of the name and they're made by the same manufacturer. Both contain Vitamin D derivative but that's about where any similarity ends. Sorry to sound as if I'm nagging (especially as you've found a treatment that works!!) but this isn't a treatment to be messed with. It has a great place in our treatment programmes for short periods of time (no more than a couple of months continuously) but it isn't a long term option. Good luck.

Posted Tue 19 Jun 2012 01.30 by Ruthie
20+ years of near total coverage and associated problems and now Cushings Syndrome because of misstreatment

It's hard to tell where people post from. In the UK betacap is used quite extensively for the scalp. It has been very successful for me. I also have p behind my ears and use eumovate for that. The combination seens to work. I do however swear by TGel. Hope this helps.

Posted Thu 21 Feb 2013 22.11 by jrowlands51 (edited Thu 8 Jan 2015 14.59 by Sonnenreich)
Losing self confidence as patches of psoriasis increase and get bigger. In my fifties and started with it just before my 50th birthday.

Epaderm cream is excellent for moisturising and taking away the soreness behind the ears. I use it on my face and body too. Its not expensive to buy from the pharmacy, but you can ask for it on prescription. I get a 3 month or 12 month prepayment prescription which makes things easier financially, and make sure I get my money's worth by ordering several times throughout the 3 or 12 month period.

Posted Thu 28 Feb 2013 15.50 by at
plague psoriasis since 2008

I use thin layers of dovobet behind my ears once or twice a week. If you are worried, maybe try protopic.

1 Posted Thu 4 Apr 2013 20.06 by Susie (edited Thu 8 Jan 2015 14.59 by Chizzi)
Suffered since age 9 now 35. Recently had an outbreak all over due to a house move :'o( (STRESS induced.)

i have had Psor behind my ears for many years and the best thing that works for me is the 'Nivea' cream in the big blue tub. Its thick, heavy moisturiser really helps in this area, hope this might help you too.

Posted Mon 2 Dec 2013 20.23 by Amandine
Plaque Psoriasis since childhood, now nail psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, eye problems, the full monty really!

If you have an ointment or gel-based product for your psoriasis, you can add a bit of olive oil to it to reduce its potency before using it on sensitive areas. If its a cream I suggest adding nivea cream which is very mild. If the skin has actually split, apply Sudocrem which is an antiseptic cream and also quite greasy so it will not dry the skin more like aqueous based creams.

Posted Wed 25 Jun 2014 21.50 by alirolls
Mainly have scalp psoriasis with patches on my trunk.

I have scalp p too and get it in and around my ears. I use dovonex ointment which isn't steriod based but is still too harsh for delicate skin behind the ears but helps get the scale down. My derm advised me to just use olive oil to keep the skin soft and keeps the scale down or I just use vaseline! I find most of the medicated shampoos useless at getting ointment out of my hair and feeling it has helped my scalp. I use ceanel medicated shampoo but you can lather it all over your body. Its the best shampoo ive used it the 20 yrs ive had scalp psoriasis and have used it for at least 15yrs! Cant live without it!

Posted Sun 20 Dec 2015 08.59 by hopecnvn
Can cure psoriasis.

use of tar products may lead to cancer. use pure aloe vera extract. apply on affected area for two days on a weekend dont let it it stay dry keep on applying whenever it gets dry all the time keep moist with aloe vera. get bath use neutral ph soap

Posted Sun 11 Jun 2017 07.19 by KimVicki

I've had severe Psioriasis for 35+ years on my scalp and ears. I've tried every salve, cream, soak and shampoo. Foderma serum is very calming. It's not a quick fix. It's a serious, healing serum. It's not heavy and gloopy either. Very light and soaks in quickly.

Posted Sun 11 Jun 2017 13.19 by Jenny39579

Hi. I have scalp psoriasis, which has spread behind & in my ears. I find that lip balm helps. After I shower, I apply Nivea Blueberry lip balm behind & in my ears. Vaseline also works, but I love the fruit smell of the Nivea one. Also, I've started putting a homemade hair mask on after I've washed my hair with Vosene, & leave it in overnight. It's basically just a mix of Head & Shoulders conditioner & coconut oil. I've noticed it moisturises the skin around my ear too. I don't know if this is any help to you,but it seems to be working for me anyway Moisturising seems to be the key for me! Good luck & hope you sort it!

Posted Sun 26 Feb 2023 09.57 by sleppooooo (edited Tue 4 Apr 2023 06.43 by sleppooooo)

Psoriasis Cream - https://hespac.com/psoriasisen.htm Purchased this for my father, works wonderful. Takes care of all the itchy, flaky areas including the scalp. Highly recommend this product.

To take part, sign in or register with us