searching for a cure

Hi, I've had Psoriasis since the age of 17, and I'm now 43. How long ago did you start Methotrexate and are you still on it? How is your skin on it? If not, what are you using now? I've tried pretty much all of the topical creams, ointments etc, rounds of UVB light therapy, and I've just had a medical work-up to start on Methotrexate, currently on waiting list to see the dermatologist which is approx 9 months. It sounds like it's trial and error, try one thing and move on to another. I've no idea what percentage of people living with psoriasis end up clearing their skin.... I'm thinking people on here are still searching?..

Can anyone tell me if they think they know what causes psoriasis? Is it stress or diet or lifestyle or something else. So many 'cures' but there does not appear to be one that works for all. This is illogical and even those cures that appear to work initially become ineffective after a few months. Why cant Doctors, Anallists and Lab investigators find a potion that will help everybody? Is there anybody out there who thinks that they have the answer? I am going through a period of suicidal depression and hope someone can help me. Olive

Support is available from the Psoriasis Association via: Email: mail@psoriasis-association.org.uk Telephone: 01604 251 620 WhatsApp: 07387716439 I'm 49, was diagnosed with psoriasis aged 7, was an inpatient and outpatient to age 16, then discharged from dermatology at the children's hospital. I accepted I'd have psoriasis the rest of my life and for 30 years used T-Gel shampoo, prescribed by my GP, to manage scalp psoriasis. As an adult, I noticed the psoriasis on my body and scalp worsened after particularly stressful events, and improved when I ate healthily. In 2022, on PTSD UK's website, I learnt about the link between skin conditions, including psoriasis, and PTSD. I realised in 2021 I'd had Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) most of my life, so in 2022 I decided to work with a clinical psychologist. Since learning to live more effecively with C-PTSD my skin has dramatically improved. Whilst I'm not completely clear of psoriasis, and may never be, it's now a case of searching for the psoriasis patches, as they are so minimal. There's an interesting article from the Nursing Standard (search "RCNi Open Access Assessing and managing mental health issues in people with chronic skin conditions"). The section "Interaction between mental health and skin conditions" includes: "Understanding the link between mental health and skin conditions is important because their co-occurrence can result in substantially increased disability and distress, and may negatively affect the course of an indivdual's skin condition and their response to treatment. "This means that mental health issues can be: A direct cause of a skin condition A consequence of a skin condition A factor that influences the development and course of a skin condition "Psychosocial factors such as prolonged stress, depressed mood and anxiety can affect a person's inflammatory and immune responses, and so can influence the development of skin conditions and/or exacerbate their symptoms." Hope this helps.

Hi @Ivy, As mentioned by @ElleB, we have a confidential helpline where we can offer support and advice, but we are not medically trained. We understand the link between mental health and psoriasis and how it can impact every aspect of someone's life, but please know that support is out there and you are never alone. You can always reach out to the Samaritans for immediate support https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Best wishes, Georgia - Psoriasis Association

Methotrexate is a strong medication, and in my opinion, you may consider trying UVB phototherapy—either with it or as an alternative—in order to reduce the required dose. There are different types of light treatments because there are different kinds of lamps. The most common are narrowband UVB lamps, which are fluorescent lamps that emit light at 312 nanometers. These require a gradual dose increase because the therapeutic dose needed to treat psoriasis is higher than the dose that causes erythema (skin redness). This is why it usually takes a few weeks before results become visible. However, new lamps are now available that emit more effective wavelengths than 312 nanometers. These are UVB LED lamps, which use LED technology that can be tuned to specific wavelengths. With these lamps, the therapeutic dose is lower than the dose that causes erythema. As a result, they do not burn the skin, and patients can see results from the very first treatment without needing to wait one or two months.

Meth almost killed me

I've had psoriasis since I was 16 and I'm 42 now. It was at it's worst (large patches all over my body) from 18-25 and has got a lot better in my 30s (minimal patches). Here's things that seemed to work for me in case it helps: - Enstiller cream is easily the best prescribed medicine I've used. - Psoriasis is a 'man-made' illness so whilst Enstiller cream, which is 'man-made' too, helps; try to embrace the natural world as much as possible, and become happy in yourself; generally, become happy with life and take control of anything that is bothering you. - Green tea to help detoxify and has helped me a lot. - Artichoke tablets or boil artichoke leaves - artichokes cleanse the liver and therefore the skin and generally cure most skin issues. This had a massive effect on reducing psorasis for me. Also, cod liver oil, vitamin D and milk thistle tablets have had big benefits. - Lemon juice with hot water (works best if the water isn't boiling hot) - this worked really well for me. - Using natural shampoo and shower gel e.g Lush shampoo and Sanex shower gel - Lush shampoo made a huge difference for my scalp. Use natural deodorants; this worked really well for me. - Wash your clothes with a product that is kind to sensitive skin. - Be aware of any changes you make to your lifestyle/products you use that increase or decrease psoriasis and obviously stop/continue accordingly. - Take care of your feet; they are a very important part of your body and can carry a lot of toxins; so moisturise and treat cracked skin etc. on your feet. - Philip Kingsley hair/scalp toner - use this after you shower and it really helped my scalp. - Obviously sunlight really helps but I use sunbeds once a month if the weather isn't great and this really helps. - Avoiding an airconditioned office made a huge difference. The more fresh air the better. - Avoiding stress and gettting good sleep; stress and injuries seem to be the biggest cause for me. - I tried accupuncture and it didn't seem to help at the time but a few months later it got a lot better so maybe it did. - Losing weight and general fitness and wellbeing; obviously exercise relieves stress as well as having other benefits. The less fat on my body, the less psoriasis I have. - I do yoga once a week and this is very good for the body in general but also seemed to help my psoriasis a lot; it get's your entire body working really well. - Avoid anything with chemicals in it and ideally use organic food and organic clothing etc. - Certain foods can cause and heal psoriasis apparently; I'm not too sure how much personally, but for sure, the more natural and organic foods are best. Nightshade foods (tomatoes) are bad apparently and foods like melons, berries and fish are good. It's certainly good to eat local and organic foods that are in season; this helps with general health and psoriasis too. Avoid inflamatory foods and sugar. - Non-dairy milk e.g, coconut milk and fresh bread (not supermarket bread with sugar and chemicals) works really well for me. - I lightly heat ginger in hot water once a week and then add honey; this keeps me healthy in general. - Free radicals in the body and leaky gut syndrome are apparently related to psoriasis (which makes sense, in my experience), so try to reduce this as much as possible. - Take care of your gut - Kefir yoghurt has worked really well for me. - I eat a bar of dark chocolate (80%) once a week and this seems to really help; it detoxifies and cleanses your body. - I've been to Glastonbury a few times and whenever I've been, even for a few nights, my psoriasis has healed; it's a spiritual place and on ley lines etc.