Heading off to work now... catch you guys later. Love you all, Gabi. It’s been pouring here in Skopje today; after that intense heatwave, we really needed this little cooldown... Talk soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lawrence Ramirez3 said:but I always feel like I'm not pretty enough for him... even though physically I look fine, this psoriasis has just been killing me for years
I think I’ve already been through that phase, and honestly, I’m still going through it🙄 and it’s not exactly killing me—I handle it like a man (dying like a man, I guess😁). Still, I can't help but wonder: where on earth did this stupid disease find me?
That question is basically what drives our lives... but man, there are so many of us out there. It didn't just pick one person; it found millions of us. God knows how many people across the world are dealing with this exact same thing.
Gregory Mendoza3 said: If I caught that correctly, you were clear for 17 years thanks to that spa in Bujanovac!
How bad was your skin right before you went? How long had you been dealing with psoriasis before that? And what kind of results were other patients seeing there?...
Before I headed to the spa—I was about 17 at the time, maybe a junior in high school... everyone teased me for going to a spa like some old lady—I had psoriasis on my elbows, legs, knees, and even my ankles. After leaving the spa and getting cleared up, I didn't have it for about three years. I was totally clear through the first two years of college. Then, when I hit 23, a massive flare-up hit and it was just awful. That was probably my lowest point. I was searching everywhere for a cure... ended up spiraling into depression for a bit. It really took its toll. Eventually, I found relief at a clinic using radiation therapy and phototherapy. Since then, it’s stayed on my elbows, knees, legs, and one little spot on my lower back. I manage it somehow, just enough so it doesn't look too bad. So, yeah. That’s the gist of it. But that spa in Bujanovac is really effective. Interestingly, while I was pregnant with my son—who's 8 now—it completely vanished. Around that time, I was also graduating from the School of Economics, getting married, feeling happy... everything was smooth. Now, it's moderately annoying, but I don't let it get to me anymore. I'm used to it. Anyway, I've vented enough... As for those patches, they don't have a specific name (the label is in Chinese), but the packaging says they are psoriasis patches.😵 😵 🙂
I finally scrubbed myself down today... feeling a bit better now after a warm shower and some oil 😍
And seriously, Elizabeth Lee49, don't go overthinking things regarding your husband. Good people aren't shallow... you're a wonderful person whether you have those little red spots or not... and I'm sure your man knows that too🙂
Darling, thank you so much. Your support really means a lot to me... ever since I stumbled upon this forum, I've been feeling so much better emotionally, just knowing I'm not going through this alone😁
It happens to me quite often... even when I'm just standing there in the pharmacy, people will ask me to show them my elbows so they can see the results for themselves. I guess that's just how it goes... since people are constantly looking for it and raving about it. I'm thinking specifically about those patches...👍
Regarding those Chinese patches... I checked the packaging at home yesterday, but there’s basically nothing listed on the label. Honestly, I have no idea what the exact ingredients are, though they have this strange scent when you open them—presumably because they actually contain medication. For me, they work wonders; my elbows are completely clear now. The only downside is that after three days of being taped up like a mummy, everyone keeps asking what on earth happened to you... It would be great if someone could arrange to import them from the big pharmaceutical companies over in America. They arrive here quite regularly. From what I hear, pharmacies are seeing a huge demand because people are genuinely happy with the results.
Gregory Mendoza3 said:Gabi, what's the deal with this... what actually is "Hvoina" anyway?
Hvoina is an evergreen tree. They take its dried berries and grind them down to make a soak... and regarding those spas in the US, there's a spot near Bujanovac that really helped me out. It basically cleared me up completely over 17 years... but after the war broke out, things changed. Most of the people living there were of Albanian descent, so I haven't been back since. The spa itself is incredible, though. They have healing mud and mineral water... back then, I was clear for about fifteen days...
About fifteen years ago, I used some Hvoina bath salts and they actually made a huge difference for me... had a really positive effect. A woman from an institute for skin diseases over in Bulgaria brought them to me back then. If anyone knows where I might be able to track some down again, please let me know 👍 👍
Personally, I find that more salt water really does wonders for me... though I don't exactly have the time or the budget to spend weeks at the beach every single year. On those occasions, I usually just stick to olive oil, but only after I've done some prep work with vitamins to make sure I don't end up getting a nasty sunburn.😛
Gregory Mendoza3 said:Does anyone know anything about how St. John's Wort or ointments made from it affect psoriasis...
Anyone actually have experience with this stuff...
In my experience, it doesn't really do much. Last summer, I tried applying St. John's Wort to some wounds my son had after an insect bite, and it just seemed to make things worse. We ended up using some Mercurochrome for skin healing instead, and that worked much better...
Listen, everyone... we’re just regular people here dealing with some body image issues and aesthetic struggles. So, let's keep things positive. Please, don't bring up depressing topics or—God forbid—talk about suicide. We're all normal folks here, and we need to live our lives normally too. Just keep your heads up...
Gregory Mendoza3 said:- I'm not really sure about this soap... I haven't heard of "Doctors" before... personally, I usually stick to stuff based on extra virgin olive oil, and when I can't find that, I just grab some Nivea baby wash for sensitive skin.
- As for Vitamin A, I try to get my beta carotene naturally through carrots and roasted squash... plus I take brewer's yeast too.
- What's the deal with these Chinese patches? What's the actual active ingredient... and is there any other version, maybe an ointment or something similar, for treating larger areas?
- Regarding that Greek Butavate, I actually found the ointment worked better for me than the cream. In the beginning, the results were amazing, but just like everything else, it eventually stopped working... and then the psoriasis flared right back up.
The DOCTORS line is a whole collection of soaps, and they have one specifically for psoriasis and eczema made with coal tar. It's a black soap and it isn't harsh at all when you're washing—it doesn't dry out the skin or cause itching, and your skin feels soft after you're done. You can find it in pretty much any drugstore.
Gregory Mendoza3 said:- I'm not really sure what kind of soap we're talking about here... I haven't heard of "Doctors" before... personally, I stick to stuff based on extra virgin olive oil, and when I can't find that, I just go with Nivea baby wash for sensitive skin.
- As for Vitamin A, I just get my beta carotene from natural sources, like carrots and roasted squash... plus I take brewer's yeast too.
- What's the deal with those Chinese patches? What's the actual active ingredient... is there some other version, maybe an ointment or something similar, for when you need to treat larger areas?
- Regarding that Greek Butavate, I actually preferred the ointment over the cream. In the beginning, it worked wonders for a little while, but then, well, just like everything else, it stopped working and actually caused a flare-up.
Donech, I have a big exam tomorrow... I mentioned that to Robert Clark2, too. Thanks everyone for the support, it really means a lot to me. Up until now, I haven't had anyone to talk to about this. My husband accepts me exactly as I am, but I still struggle with feeling like I'm not pretty enough for him... even though physically I look fine. This psoriasis has just been draining the life out of me for years...
Robert Clark2 said:🙂 Soap, Pavlović’s baby cream, and Vitamin A—that’s all fine. I haven't used those patches, though. But as for the Butavat ointment or cream... honestly, that stuff is 👎 pure poison for your skin. I’d strongly advise staying far away from it. I have no idea how they even get it onto our shelves here. A pharmacist friend mentioned it likely comes through black markets. If I remember right, the packaging even has pharmacy labels on it with prices listed in Euros (using Greek script). I actually reached out to a top dermatology professor at a clinic in Skopje, and the second I told him I was using it, he strictly forbade it. My next prescribed treatment ended up being Neotigason. My advice? Talk to a dermatologist before touching any Butavat, and please, don't recommend it to anyone else. I think Gregory Mendoza3 had some issues because of it too.
Thanks for the heads-up. Those patches being mentioned are from China; I'll try to bring you their ingredient list tomorrow once I get to work (p.s. I'm typing this from my job). Thanks to everyone following along... I've been battling psoriasis for years now, but nobody among those "normal" people really understands. We really needed a chat like this... we're stronger together since we're all dealing with the same struggle
The most important thing is keeping your head on straight. Don't let yourself get discouraged... it isn't going anywhere. If you spend all your time obsessing over it, it just drags you down even further. You have to look forward. We can live with this... we have to.
I haven't even mentioned this yet, but there isn't a single person in my family who deals with psoriasis... yet here I am, stuck with it. So much for having a set of rules to follow...
Just like all of you... I've tried everything under the sun. From heavy-duty prescription creams to those old-school home remedies my grandmother used to swear by. Honestly, I've come to realize that what actually works usually depends on whatever the person feels is helping them most... For me, I stick to using black soap (Doctors) when I bathe, and then I follow up with some baby cream. I also make sure to take Vitamin A regularly, and lately, I've been applying these patches. Every once in a while, I’ll use some butavat too—that stuff was actually really effective when I first started using it. Maybe this might help someone out...
Psoriasis... we have to beat it. We can't let it ruin us; we have to be the ones to take it down. If it wants to live with us, fine, then we'll just learn how to live with it. That’s exactly what I told myself back when I was 23 and dealing with a massive flare-up... I barely made it through then. It's still hanging around today, though it doesn't act up quite like it used to. It mostly just bothers me on my elbows now, but honestly, those patches from China I mentioned before? They really help keep things under control. 👍