Posts by Jamie Flores5

placidpanther12 said:I just stumbled upon this forum recently and I’m honestly so thrilled! It feels like I don't know a single soul who deals with psoriasis. As for me... well, I've been fighting this since I was a kid. It took doctors forever to even figure out what was going on! The wildest part? Nobody else in my family has it, so growing up, I always felt like the "odd one out" in the family. I’ve tried absolutely everything under the sun, but I just can't bring myself to try those little bugs—the idea of something crawling on me is just so repulsive. Does anyone here actually have experience with them? The last thing I tried was homeopathy, and honestly, I’d recommend it to anyone with endless patience. And I say "patient" for a reason—you basically need two months of treatment for every year you've been sick! But it really pays off. All those creams, ointments, and lotions only treat the surface; they just push the psoriasis deeper into your system, causing it to flare up even harder next time.
I have one question: I just got a tattoo, and now I'm wondering—has anyone had their psoriasis spread over a tattoo? What does that even look like???
Now, here is something we can all ask ourselves—it's what my homeopath asked me: Do you consider yourself a healthy person or a sick person? I answered instantly: HEALTHY! What about you?

I've been dealing with psoriasis for 10 years now. Like you, I've tried every trick in the book, and I finally decided to go for the bugs this past August.
Those bugs are intense, but they’re actually kind of cute and tiny when they nibble away. It’s uncomfortable at first, but once you get used to it after a few days, it's not so bad. For me, everything cleared up! Of course, it's not a permanent fix, but at least I get a break from those annoying scales.
Supposedly, the therapy lasts anywhere from one to three years depending on how your body reacts.
My psoriasis hit my scalp the hardest—like, my entire head. The requirement for the bug therapy is to shave your head completely bald, so that's what I did. And wow, it's a miracle! Honestly, I don't even miss my hair; it’s so much easier to manage, especially when you have to apply treatments to your scalp every single day.
I personally use St. John's Wort oil (olive oil infused with St. John's Wort), and it works wonders at soothing and nourishing the skin.
I really think people with severe psoriasis covering their bodies should give the bugs a shot. It clears up much faster on the body, and finishing the treatment is way simpler.
There aren't any negative side effects to this therapy. In fact, that ditranol the bugs release is amazing for the skin, and they act as a sort of natural exfoliant.
One thing you should be prepared for: after 5 days of treatment, you might get a fever that lasts 2 or 3 days. Not everyone gets it, but I did. It's just a reaction to the ditranol, and it's actually a good sign.
It isn't cheap, but if I could afford it, I’d do it every single year. You truly feel so much better afterward—it almost gives you some mental peace, too.
And yes, I also consider myself HEALTHY. But man, wouldn't it be nice if our health insurance actually helped us out? They treat us like we're perfectly fine, so we end up paying for everything out of pocket. And do you know how expensive those specialized creams and "must-have" nonsense can be? Plus, people in service jobs often lose work because they don't realize that psoriasis isn't contagious.
Good luck!

Carol Harris64 said:I don't have psoriasis, but I deal with mastocytosis and all sorts of skin issues, so I end up getting similar treatments to those with psoriasis (medical stuff, pills, creams, UVB, PUVA, Bucky... )
I've heard about those little fish treatments, but I don't know the specifics. Where did you go to see them? How often did you go? How long did it last, what was the sensation like, and do you need to keep going back?
Anyway, I'm currently in Sweden and I doubt they even offer these "alternative" methods here.

Psoriasis is a hereditary condition that tends to flare up whenever you're under stress.
In my case, it flared up during pregnancy—probably because my hormones were going absolutely wild!
Since the actual cause remains a mystery, we still haven't found a definitive cure.
I actually went to a clinic in Pula this past August for the fish therapy. The treatment lasts 21 days and isn't particularly painful; it’s just a bit uncomfortable, but it really does work! It's true that this isn't a permanent "cure," but rather a temporary relief—even when it does return, it doesn't hit nearly as hard as it did before.
So far, mine hasn't come back at all. The folks in Pula told me I could potentially stay clear for anywhere from one to three years.
You can repeat the therapy if you want, but it's not mandatory—it's really up to you since it isn't exactly cheap.
If money were no object, I’d honestly go every single year!
While the little fish are working (nibbling away), it feels like a light massage. Occasionally, they might open up a sore spot, which can sting a little, but you just protect that area until it heals and then keep going.
To be honest, I felt pretty gross for the first few days—just sort of slimy—but you get used to it and then it's fine.
I'm not sure about Sweden, but I know they use this method in Austria and Germany, and the providers here actually sourced their fish from Austria.
Over here in the States, you can find it in places like Chicago or suburban areas near New York.
At the very least, even if nothing else, it gives you a break from those annoying scales, which helps you feel much more mentally at peace.

I’ve been dealing with M07 Psoriasis for about 10 years now, and I really wanted to reach out and start a conversation. I actually managed to clear my skin using fish therapy, which was such an incredible experience! So, if anyone is curious about how that works, or if you have any other alternative treatments that actually worked for you, please let me know.
Honestly, I just want to connect with people who truly understand what this is like. It helps so much to exchange info and just vent a little—it makes dealing with this annoying condition so much more manageable when you aren't doing it alone, right?
Thanks so much!