Posts by Lawrence Ramirez3

When it comes to switching up my primary care doctor, do I have to wait until the end of the year, or can I just make the move whenever I feel like it?

Michelle Parker3 said:hey guys, I know this sounds a little weird, but I figured you all would get where I'm coming from 🙂
Sun and the ocean are absolute gold for psoriasis—everyone knows that. Every year after summer, mine clears up completely for a few months, which is amazing. Unfortunately, I don't have any vacation days left this year, and I live nowhere near the coast. Is it actually possible to request medical leave for this, like, officially? My goal is to actually treat it, not just go for a summer trip 😢 so, does anyone here work in HR or something who can answer? pleeeeeease 🙂

You can definitely ask for sick leave and get it. Honestly, your best bet is seeing a dermatologist to prescribe heliotherapy 🤣 I think that's what they call it—basically tanning and swimming twice a day. Just do it in the morning and late afternoon when the sun isn't brutal. Tell the derm you need the sick leave so your primary care doctor can sign off on it. If your GP won't budge, just find a new one.

Andrew Ward9 said:Hey everyone!

I was scrolling through The Washington Post yesterday and saw this piece about Indianapolis. Apparently, they’re expanding everything and launching a new outfit called Ivanal that’s going to focus strictly on making and selling those psoriasis creams used in treatments.

Interesting... though most likely we psoriasis sufferers will just end up footing the bill. 😁 For instance, if you don't have Medicare coverage for it, you're looking at dropping a serious amount of cash just for a 20-day treatment cycle.

Chris Morgan67 said:Anyone tried Neutrogena T-Gel? What's the verdict?🙂

I even tried that shampoo, but honestly, it just made things worse for me. Nothing really worked. My scalp psoriasis has finally cleared up quite a bit—it's mostly just lingering near the hairline now—but I'm pretty sure that’s thanks to sticking with some mild shampoos. Give it a shot though, you never know.

Rebecca Collins28 said:Hey,
just jumping in here for the first time. I’ve been dealing with psoriasis since my first kid was born back in '93. It used to be manageable—mostly just knees, elbows, and shins—but now my palms are the worst part; the skin cracks and turns into actual wounds. It's started spreading lately too. Over the last fifteen years, I've tried basically everything under the sun, but even hydrocortisone doesn't touch it. The only thing that actually worked was Dermovate, which cleared things up for a good long stretch, but you can't find it in stores around here anymore.
Does anyone know where I might be able to pick up some Dermovate, or does anyone have experience using that Zepter Bioptron lamp?
Best,

I've used the Bioptron lamp before, and honestly, it did absolutely nothing for me. I've heard from others who used it for stuff like arthritis that it didn't help them either. Luckily I didn't have to pay for it since I was just borrowing it; those things are pricey. I think they used to go for about $800.

Kate Williams41 said:Just popped some Omega-3 capsules!! haha😍

Tried those Omega-3 pills, but they didn't do squat for me. Lately, though, I’ve noticed my multivitamins actually help a bit. The itching isn't as bad, and my psoriasis looks lighter—not that angry dark red anymore. The catch is the multivitamins make me hungry as hell, so the weight just keeps creeping up. It's a vicious cycle: stop the vitamins to lose weight, but then the skin issues come right back.
If your psoriasis is really flaring up, try using Napoleon. It actually works wonders for moderate to severe cases while letting you cut way back on the steroid creams. As for covering it up, I don't see the big deal. It’s more about your mindset than being ashamed—I mean, why do people wear wigs after chemo? Besides, nobody walks around with "just recovered from pneumonia" tattooed on their forehead.

hiddenviper17 said:Elocom was my only saving grace—it worked wonders, but like everyone else warns, you can't just use it forever...

Elocom works for me too, though I only use it for half a day right before I wash my hair, following that liquid method mentioned in the other post. Before switching to Elocom, I was using Diprosalic because my scalp psoriasis was absolutely brutal. It's fine now. A little flaking here and there, but nothing I can't handle.

Robin Robinson8 said:Honestly, I don't even have flakes on my scalp right now, so I don't really care what I use since it's not bothering me. I just want to get rid of that "dandruff" along the edges.T
Isn't Diprosalic lotion basically the same thing as Elocom or Belisalic? It's all the same chemicals, all corticosteroids, right?👎 It totally dried out my scalp and felt like it was burning. I used it twice and never again.
Thanks for the advice! cheers 😍

Well, if there aren't any flakes, then great—you should probably focus on your shampoo instead. I was just speaking from my own experience, because I couldn't get mine under control without corticosteroids. I wasn't suggesting you use them every single day, but hey, if you don't want to, that's fine. Unfortunately, when psoriasis gets a bit more aggressive, it's hard to fix with just some neutral creams. Maybe try some calendula ointment? People say it works for psoriasis; I tried it myself with zero luck, but who knows, maybe it'll work for you.
Cheers 🙂

Robin Robinson8 said:Thanks for the tip. Do you have anything for these tiny flakes I'm getting right now? They’re impossible to get rid of unless I slather on olive oil and try to comb them out gently. It looks like heavy dandruff. I try not to touch them unless they're right at the hairline where they show. I just put some regular Nivea on the edges, which works okay. Otherwise, I don't even bother drying my hair unless I'm in a rush since it dries pretty fast on its own. For shampoo, I just use some yellow stuff from CVS; I heard it's better than Johnson's.
peace 😍

☕ 5% salicylic acid is a heavy hitter. The catch with salicylic is that it just peels off the scales, leaving the redness behind as a perfect breeding ground for new ones. Try applying the treatment to your scalp only half a day before you wash it. Once you rinse, just use a neutral cream on the hairline. Between washes, don't put anything on—except maybe the salicylic or the Diprosalic lotion (which also has salicylic), but only about half a day or a full day before washing. Some yellow shampoo? 😁 Shampoo is actually a huge part of this whole process. Give the L'Oréal shampoo for frequent use a shot: "Sensitive Scalp shampoo for normal to dry hair." It's the white and blue bottle with a little pink square on the front. It's pricey, like $15-$20 a bottle, but you can't compare it to that cheap drugstore stuff from CVS or Walgreens. It soothes the scalp like nothing else you'll find in a local shop. If you can, just shampoo once and rotate through different types every three times.
Later.

Robin Robinson8 said:hmm, I’ve been using 5% salicylic acid mixed into lard or olive oil. I slather it on, throw on a plastic shower cap, and leave it overnight. In the morning, my mom helps me clear off the flakes with a fine-tooth comb. It’s calmed down quite a bit now—my scalp just has this tiny crust left, so I just dab some olive oil on it to help it soak in, then comb it out again. I’ve been using baby shampoo. Not sure what you've been trying until now? Cheers 😍

If you wash your hair constantly, stop. Try to limit shampooing to once if you can; it keeps your scalp from drying out so much. Even baby shampoo isn't a magic fix for everyone, personally. You might need to rotate two different shampoos—like, three washes with one, then three with the other, and just keep cycling them. Also, ditch the blow dryer if possible; that heat just kills your scalp. After washing, if you've got psoriasis right at the hairline, try applying something neutral like a basic moisturizer, Vaseline, or even some plain petroleum jelly.

Jerry Grant2 said:So, it’s been seven days since I started using Elocom. Things actually looked promising at first—even gave me a little mood boost. Everything seemed to be clearing up, but then yesterday it all just flared right back up like I hadn't even done anything. 😢
I’ve been watching what I eat and trying my best to stay chill... 🤷

That’s just how psoriasis works. Typical.
Get some Vaseline or an emollient on right after you shower—do it ASAP. Just let it soak in, and if it feels dry, hit it again. Regarding Elocom, there’s this liquid or emulsion you can get made at a pharmacy that isn't too harsh; you can even use it on your scalp. Since it's a prescription, insurance usually covers it. It works pretty well for me—it won't make the psoriasis disappear, but at least the itching stops and the patches settle down.
Prescription for Elocom lotion and Excipial.

I apply this Excipial from Spirig once a day. It’s an emollient with 4% urea, so honestly, it actually does a pretty decent job on my skin.
Hey everyone. 👍

Maria Chavez55 said:What tablet are you taking for the itching? Neither Telfast nor that other damn thing (can't remember the name, one for allergies) did anything to help me.

For me, Belodin, Claritin, and Rinestone worked best—they're basically the same stuff. Doctors still prescribe Dimetindene too, even though it's old school. My GP recently put me on this newer one called Allegra. Reading your post, it looks like you've done your homework 😁, so if you haven't been to the Spas, I'd highly recommend it. They have solid dermatologists there who actually specialize in psoriasis. One more thing—since we all know there's no magic cure—besides the actual treatment, just being there helps. It’s a massive mental relief to be around people dealing with the same crap. If you can swing it, go once a year. Keep your head up. 👍

silentheron25 said:Haven't been posting or reading much lately—always sucks seeing new stories unfold, or rather, seeing new victims of this crap. Personally, nothing’s improved. Ever since I started using some nasty Belgian ointment, I've been itching so bad my shirts are constantly bloodstained and my sheets are a mess. There's no winning; if I get even slightly stressed, it's game over. My skin gets red and thin, and it stings my eyes so much I can barely look at myself. This has been dragging on since last summer, and if this cream doesn't work, I know what kind of hell awaits me this summer. It's been hanging over my head all year. I might try starting herbal tea again to detox, since I definitely feel "dirty" on the inside. July is coming fast and this isn't going anywhere. No freedom in sight.

If a cream isn't working after 10 or 15 days, just stop using it. Don't waste your time. Summer is hitting me hard too... the heat, the sweat, having to wear long sleeves... it sucks.
My clothes and sheets are bloody too, and the itching... honestly, I don't even know where I'd start scratching first😁. I feel like I should be walking around the apartment with a vacuum cleaner every day just to pick up the flakes... there's enough debris here to export to other countries😁,but whatever. Ariel handles the laundry, I grab the vacuum, try not to scratch as much, and occasionally pop an antihistamine when I can't take it anymore. That's just life for us "artists"... 😳 which reminds me of that old joke about the Scotsman where the dad tells his son: "Just shut up and keep swimming."

Andrew Ward9 said:??

It’s not even about supplements for me, unless we're talking vitamins or Omega-3. My Doctor told me that messing with your body's natural balance is a quick way to flare up psoriasis. It's common knowledge that certain meds can trigger a bad reaction too.

I've tried everything from Alverde to Asebon and Fitoval—all the anti-dandruff stuff out there... I'm officially out of ideas.🤷
Same here. None of those dandruff shampoos actually work for me; if anything, they just make my scalp even more irritated. You might want to try Vichy Dercos for sensitive scalps—the one with the red square meant for normal to dry hair. It doesn't exactly work wonders, but at least it doesn't sting and actually calms things down.

Robin Robinson8 said:Honestly, when I first dealt with psoriasis at 14, I just had to take the doctors' word for it. I didn't know anyone else going through it, and I was already spiraling into a bit of a depression once I realized this was a lifelong thing. That was my first real run-in with specialists, since I was basically a perfectly healthy kid growing up.
Look, docs can be sketchy sometimes, but even if you're facing something as heavy as cancer, you still turn to them. You know the diagnosis is brutal and they might only be able to help so much, but you still have to trust them, right?
I only use salicylic acid ointment on my scalp—and I’ve done that from day one—simply because nothing else lifts those scales quite like it. I've tried everything under the sun, but that's the only thing that actually works. As for corticosteroids, like I said before, I avoid them like the plague 🙂 though I definitely learned that lesson the hard way. I actually flew to Israel specifically for my psoriasis, but it turned out to be a lifesaver for my joints (if it wasn't so expensive, I'd go back in a heartbeat). The treatment in Israel is entirely natural—not that I'm preaching, but I saw the results with my own eyes.
My rheumatologist recommended Petroleum, but my dermatologists told me to skip it because I deal with three different types (vulgaris, guttata, and pustulosa) and they weren't sure how it would react with each. Plus, they combine it with phototherapy there, which is a total no-go for me since I'm hyper-sensitive to light.
I hate being in hospitals, and I'd avoid it if I could, but when things flare up, they're the only option. 🙂 It's not like I'm begging them to keep me there, but I can't exactly run away either. The last two times I was admitted, I ended up clashing with the nurses and the doctor who kept trying to force some white salicylic cream on one part of my body. I won that round, obviously—nobody's forcing me into anything—and ever since then, I strictly demand neutral creams (like basic Vaseline or Cetaphil).
It's just a constant grind with this disease. 😁
Thanks for taking a minute to chat with me. 😉 😍

Can you tell us about Israel? What was the vibe like—any real fear regarding terrorist attacks? How did the therapy affect the psoriasis itself versus the psoriatic arthritis? Do Americans travel there for treatment? If it's not a secret, what's the damage cost-wise? If it is a secret, just give me a ballpark. What's included in that price? And how long does the relief actually last 😁—as in, how soon do the symptoms crawl back? Do people from here actually make the trip?
Regarding those neutral creams and ointments, my dermatologists also mentioned that calendula ointment is a good option.
Best, 🙂

Robin Robinson8 said:Might as well add my own take on this soul-sucking disease. 🤣

Been dealing with psoriasis for six years now. It started out as just two itchy spots on my scalp, but before I knew it, it had spread across most of my head and onto my face. Then things really went south—stress, weather changes, and some inflammation triggered a massive flare-up all over my body.
First off, our doctors usually just throw corticosteroids at you—think things like topical steroids—or some basic neutral creams and ointments. If you've got scaling on your scalp, they might even suggest a 5-10% salicylic acid mix in some lard.
I spent a month stuck in the hospital dealing with those occlusion wraps and stuff. It helped a little, I guess, before they finally let me go.
Things went south again after some throat infection and a fever sent me straight to the hospital for three months. My private doctor suggested getting my tonsils out, so I went through with it, but honestly? It didn't do a damn thing.
I was on that Betamethasone ointment for quite a while under a doctor's supervision—maybe five or six months.
I've tried basically every type of light therapy out there—UVA, UVB, PUVA, even those PUVA baths. Honestly, UVB barely did anything for me, and it just ended up burning my skin off because I'm way too sensitive to the sun. My doctors eventually just gave up on it.
They put me on Psorcutan. It’s pricey as hell, but honestly, it works. Just can't use it alongside light therapy—apparently, they won't allow that combo because of the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Two years after my psoriasis flared up, now this psoriatic arthritis thing is showing up too. Honestly, I’ve tried just about everything at this point—I'm out of ideas. 😕 I've cycled through Medrol, Vioxx, Decortin, Indomethacin, Methotrexate, and Ketoconazole... right now I'm just sticking with Indomethacin.
Then they bring out the Neotigason pills for the severe cases like mine. I spent two years on them under a doctor's watch, and honestly? Zero results. I just kept using Betnovate on top of everything else because, let's face it, nothing else was working. 😢 )
Did it on my own, plus my private doctor suggested it. 🙏 So, I decided to go all in on treatment over in Israel. Fast forward four days into the trip and everything's going south—I've hit full-blown erythroderma. It’s what happens when you lean on corticosteroids for way too long and then suddenly quit cold turkey; your body gets so used to the meds that once they're gone, your system just loses its mind and starts purging everything at once. Typical. 😁Since they claim that therapy is totally natural over in Israel, I figured I’d give it a shot. Unfortunately, it backfired on me because I had already tried cutting myself off from all my meds a few months prior.
Those thirty days there were pure misery. But don't lose hope—I saw plenty of people getting better, and honestly, I was the second person they treated for this kind of thing.
After that bout of erythrodermia, I actually went a full month without any psoriasis flare-ups. 🤣 .
My doctor couldn't pin my erythrodermia on the corticosteroids; she's convinced it happened because I stopped taking Neotigason, though the specialist in Israel thinks she's totally off base.
Honestly, thanks to that dry climate in Israel, my joints were totally fine for five months straight. I didn't even touch a single pill during that whole stretch.

Two years later and everything's just circling back to square one. They couldn't give me anything useful, so they just handed me some neutral creams and a bit of Belosalic—which didn't do squat because my erythrodermia flared up again this summer. I ended up stuck in an infectious disease ward where, based on their tests, they were convinced I had sepsis. They spent a whole month pumping me full of heavy-duty antibiotics meant for sepsis, only to finally realize they were treating the wrong thing the entire time. Typical. 😠
Recovery is going nowhere—zero progress this summer (and I usually find relief by the ocean). Since getting out of the hospital, I’ve been on Sandimmune oral tablets. My doctor thought the improvement after my erythrodermia was thanks to them, so she spent two months playing hero thinking she'd cracked the code. Then everything tanked again. Now I'm just waiting to start biologics.
Just so you know, they actually recommended those biologics to me over two years ago while I was in Israel.

My private doctor also set up some treatment options in Munich, but I'm still weighing whether it's worth it.

Between the meds and the skin issues, my skin has gotten incredibly thin. I've ended up with stretch marks nearly an inch wide—it's gross 👎 ,and even the slightest touch leaves me covered in bruises.

The whole time I've been sick, I've had to monitor my blood and liver levels constantly because of all the heavy-duty pills I take every couple of months.

So yeah, that's the short version. I know this stuff all too well from being in the trenches myself. 👍
Later.

Reading what you wrote, it feels like you might have been heading down the wrong path. Not to be blunt, but maybe you trusted the doctors a little too much. They know their stuff, sure, but when it comes to psoriasis, even they hit a wall sometimes. Honestly, I think you should've leaned less on the corticosteroids and stuck more to neutral creams or things with lower salicylate content. Also, since you're dealing with psoriatic arthritis, Petroleum might actually be a better bet than whatever they suggested in Israel. You could always try combining both. Petroleum works wonders for the arthritis side of things. Personally, I wouldn't recommend long hospital stays; they tend to mix corticosteroids with various types of phototherapy, which just wrecks your skin. For me, hospitals are fine for running tests or staying a few days, but that's it. Give Petroleum a shot—there are great clinics in the States that offer more natural approaches with solid specialists.
Best, 🙂

Robin Robinson8 said:Might as well add my own two cents about this soul-sucking disease. 🤣

I've been dealing with psoriasis for six years now. It started out as just two itchy spots on my scalp, but before I knew it, it spread across most of my head and even hit my face. After some heavy stress, a heatwave, and a bout of inflammation, things just went south and flared up all over my body.
Standard procedure here? Doctors just throw corticosteroids at you—stuff like Betamethasone or similar—along with basic petroleum jelly or some neutral base creams. For the scalp scaling, they usually just prescribe 5-10% salicylic acid mixed into lard. Typical.
Spent a month stuck in the hospital dealing with those nasty occlusive dressings. It helped a little, I guess, before they finally let me out.
Things went south again after some throat infection and a fever sent me straight to the hospital for three months. My private doctor suggested getting my tonsils out, so I did it, but honestly? It didn't change a damn thing.
I was on that white salicylic ointment for quite a while—maybe five or six months—under a doctor's supervision.
I've tried pretty much every type of phototherapy out there—UVA, UVB, PUVA, even those PUVA baths. Honestly, UVB barely did anything for me, and since my skin is insanely sensitive to light, I ended up getting fried a couple of times. My doctors eventually just gave up on it.
They put me on Psorcutan ointment. It’s pricey as hell, but it actually works—just can't use it alongside phototherapy. Apparently, I'm banned from doing both because of the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Two years after my psoriasis flared up, now the psoriatic arthritis is starting to kick in too. Honestly, I’ve lost track of everything I’ve already tried. 😕 Dealing with Medrol, Vioxx, Decortin, Indomethacin, Methotrexate, and Ketoconazole... currently stuck on the Indomethacin.
Then they bring out the Neotigason tablets for the severe cases like mine. I spent two years on them under a doctor's watch, and honestly? Zero results. I just kept using Betamethasone on top of it because, let's face it, nothing else was working. 😢 )
Did it on my own call, plus my private doctor suggested it. 🙏 I decided to go all in on treatment over in Israel. Four days after arriving, my whole system just crashed and I hit full-blown erythroderma. It’s what happens when you've been riding corticosteroids for way too long and then suddenly stop—your body gets used to them, panics when they're gone, and basically starts throwing everything out at once. 😁Since they say that therapy is totally natural over in Israel, I tried going off all my meds a few months early. Naturally, it blew up in my face.
Those thirty days there were pure misery. Don't let it get you down, though—I saw plenty of people bouncing back. Honestly, I was actually the second person they'd seen deal with this exact thing.
I actually went a full month without a single psoriasis flareup after that erythrodermic episode. 🤣 .
My doctor can't wrap her head around the idea that the erythrodermia was triggered by the corticosteroids. She’s convinced it happened because I stopped taking Neotigason, which is something my specialist over in Israel completely disagrees with.
Honestly, thanks to that dry air in Israel, my joints were fine for five months straight. Didn't even touch a single pill during that whole stretch.

Two years later and here we are—everything just resets and starts all over again. They couldn't give me much to work with, just some basic neutral creams and a bit of Belosalic, which didn't do squat because my erythrodermia flared up again this summer. I ended up stuck in an infectious disease ward where they actually thought I had sepsis. They spent a month pumping me full of heavy-duty antibiotics for sepsis, only to realize they were treating the wrong thing the whole time. Typical. 😠
Recovery is going nowhere—zero progress this summer (even with the ocean breeze which usually helps). Since leaving the hospital, I've been on Sandimmune oral tablets, which I'm still taking today. My doctor thought the improvement after the erythrodermia was thanks to those pills, so she was all happy about "finding the solution" while I spent two months being tortured. Then things took a turn for the worse again, so now I'm just waiting on biologics.
Just so you know, they actually recommended those biologics to me back in Israel over two years ago.

My private doctor also set up treatment for me in Munich, though I'm still debating if it's worth it.

Between the pills and the skin issues, my skin has thinned out horribly; I've even developed stretch marks up to 3 cm wide, it’s gross 👎 ,and any tiny bump or pressure against an object leaves me covered in bruises.

The whole time I've been out, I've had to monitor my blood and liver because of all these heavy meds I take every two months.

So yeah, that's the short version. I know a thing or two from living through it myself. 👍
Later.

Reading what you wrote, I get the feeling you were heading down the wrong path. Not to be blunt, but it feels like you trusted the doctors a little too much. Look, doctors are doctors and probably know more than we do, but when it comes to psoriasis, even they hit a wall sometimes. Honestly, I think you should've used fewer corticosteroids and stuck more to neutral creams or stuff with lower salicylic acid content. Also, since you have psoriatic arthritis, Petroleum might have been a better bet than whatever happened in Israel. You can always combine the two. Petroleum has actually worked wonders for psoriatic arthritis. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend long hospital stays because they tend to mix corticosteroids with various types of phototherapy, which is just brutal on the skin. Personally, I find hospitals fine for running tests or staying a couple of days, then getting out. Give Petroleum a shot; they have great doctors and specialists there, and the treatment is pretty natural.

Carol Wright4 said:Hey everyone,

Two weeks ago, I started on some Tianshi supplements. For psoriasis, you go through three stages—basically three different sets of stuff. I'm on the first stage right now. It’s helping, honestly. That unbearable peeling has finally calmed down and things look better, but I'm far from finished. Moving on to the next phase...

Check it out here: www.tianshi.savjeti.com

So, what’s the kickback? How much are they paying you to run ads like this?

Steven Ross74 said:What are all the actual triggers for psoriasis, from stress to whatever else?

Stress doesn't cause psoriasis. If it did, like 70% of Americans would be dealing with it—probably mostly politicians these days. 😁 We've covered this enough on this thread already, so you're better off just scrolling back through the archives. Everyone's got their own theory, and I'm not trying to play expert here.