Posts by Robin Robinson8

Grace Hughes42 said:Thanks everyone for the replies—every bit of advice helps.
Can anyone tell me if low GGT enzyme levels could be linked to psoriasis and high triglycerides?

Well, look—don't go assuming anything and don't listen to just anyone... not even Michael Ramos3, because honestly, he doesn't have much smart to offer unless it somehow benefits him, hahahahahh.

Good luck with the checkup—I really hope it turns out to be nothing serious. Best, 😍

Grace Hughes42 said:I have a 12-year-old son, and a little while ago, some crusts covered in white scales started appearing on his scalp. He has something similar on his right hand—we’ve actually seen this before, so we tried applying Eucerin, but it didn't really clear up, though it did stop flaking. Also, the skin around his pubic area is quite red, almost blistered and cracked.
One doctor—not a dermatologist, but a urologist—immediately suspected psoriasis. A dermatologist then prescribed an oil and a lotion called CeraVe for his head, hands, and genital area, though even they weren't entirely sure if it was psoriasis since the symptoms look so much like seborrhea.
Please, if anyone has any sensible advice to share, I’d really appreciate it. What’s the easiest way to diagnose psoriasis? What kind of tests are needed and where should we go?.....
By the way, there’s a history of psoriasis in our family—my brother has been battling it for about three years now. Could there be a genetic connection here, given that they are uncle and nephew?
Any advice at all would mean the world to me; I’m honestly just feeling pretty panicked and overwhelmed right now.
Thanks everyone in advance.😕

Greetings first of all,
Based on what you described, I’d lean toward it being psoriasis rather than seborrhea—I suspect seborrhea wouldn't typically present quite like this (sorry if I'm off base here).
If you're in the Washington, D.C. area, you can find dermatologists at the military hospital in Oakland, Vineyard, or the Salisbury clinic for skin and sexual health. You’ll just need to see a primary care physician to get a referral for a specialist. At the Oakland location, they take patients until about 9:00 AM, and at Salisbury, they might take people until 2:00 PM, though aiming for 10:00 or 11:00 AM is probably your best bet. There is a specific pediatric clinic at Salisbury, too. They’ll examine him first, and if they suspect psoriasis, they'll perform a biopsy and send a tissue sample for analysis. They might also run tests to check for genetic predisposition—though, honestly, the fact that your brother has it is already a pretty strong indicator.
Since your brother is managing psoriasis himself, he probably knows exactly what it looks like, so he might be able to offer some insight. Still, seeing a doctor is the best move to get a definitive answer and the right treatment. Best, 😍

This is honestly such nonsense—they claim iron is just some unnecessary mineral, yet they completely fail to mention who actually needs it. It’s pretty ridiculous, really. I deal with anemia myself, and tablets are basically the only way I can keep my levels steady. Just pointless!! 👎 😕 👎

Joshua Sanders34 said:Hi everyone—I have a little girl who developed psoriasis when she was 3 (she’s 9 now). After trying a bunch of different creams, Psorcutan ointment seems to be the only thing that actually worked for her.
The only issue is that she's left with these white patches on her legs and diaper area. I'm wondering if those will eventually fade away or what? 🙄

I'm really hoping those white spots aren't from loss of pigmentation—which can happen if you get too much sun exposure after using Psorcutan. I hope I'm wrong about that.
If the spots are just because the psoriasis cleared up in those specific areas, then I imagine they'll disappear once the skin fully regenerates.
I also personally think Psorcutan is probably the best option out there for psoriasis creams. Just... maybe avoid the corticosteroids. Greeting 😍

Thanks everyone—I really hope you all get to experience this kind of relief soon, too! Wishing you all the best and hoping for as little psoriasis as possible in your lives. I'll be sure to keep you posted on how things go! Best to everyone

goldenstag213 said:Jack!
I'm really glad to hear you're doing better.
Looking back at your old posts, I see you were on Sandimmune—could you tell me how long it took for things to actually improve, and if you dealt with any side effects?
Also, I was wondering... did your dermatologist recommend that specific one, or did you have to specifically ask for it?
It’s honestly such a disaster—my "brilliant" dermatologist prescribed Zora gel during my last checkup, right when my skin was flaring up everywhere—covering my entire legs, buttocks, and elbows—even though his own medical notes clearly state it should only be used for small areas, like under 10% of the body.
So, yeah... that's about all I can say regarding the "care" some doctors provide.

When I first started, I had some headaches, but I guess that's pretty normal until you settle on the right dosage. I'm currently on a minimum dose of 2.5 mg—doses usually scale with weight, maybe 3-5 mg per kg—but since I'm below that, I feel great.
If you've read my previous posts, you probably saw everything else I tried; this was really my last resort before moving to biologics. My doctor suggested this option, and while I was a bit skeptical, I figured I'd give it a shot since it was the only path left that I hadn't explored yet. You really have to keep a close eye on your blood pressure and kidney function with Sandimmune (I think I wrote quite a bit about that medication before). I've been using it for nine months now; things went amazingly for the first two months, then suddenly took a turn for the worse—not sure why, maybe it was the dose reduction or perhaps an infection I had at the time—but after that, it improved again, and since then, it's just been getting better. Right now, it's just Sandimmune and Vaseline for me.
Honestly, I'd stop using that Zora stuff; I used it once on a single patch, and it didn't help at all for months, so I just quit.
If you're dealing with a large area, maybe ask your doctor about Neotigason? Those are the pills they usually suggest after creams fail to work. It's all very individual, though—it didn't work for me and I had quite a few side effects, but I know plenty of people who don't deal with psoriasis anymore because of it.
Best, 😍

Chris Morgan67 said:Haha, honestly, me too—I'm still watching 😍

But anyway, is anyone else here seeing Dr. Smith for their 😍 I actually thought she’d have retired by now, since I haven't been back up north in two years, yet there she is. She just sent me off for a bunch of tests—bloodwork, urine, HLA typing... we'll see how it goes

Hey everyone

😂,I'm seeing her too. And honestly, it's kind of weighing on me because I really should have checked in for a follow-up months ago—since I've been feeling so great—so now I'm just waiting for the right moment to go in and hear her lecture me😁
She looks wonderful, though maybe a little slower than before😉

By the way, I'm doing really well—my psoriasis coverage has dropped to about 10%, and it's just redness at this point; no more scaling🙏

Best, 😍

Kate Williams41 said:For Michael Ramos3:

Listen, Mr. Self-Appointed Nobel Laureate—you’re telling me we should just stick to Nivea lotions or maybe jump straight to corticosteroids?
It might help some people for just a little while—or maybe even longer—since everyone’s body is wired differently... and I guess that means everyone reacts to it in their own unique way!
We keep trying everything—but honestly, there just isn't a cure for psoriasis.
Look, psoriasis—just like any other ailment—really needs to be treated from the inside out. Because of that, I’d say your "miracle cream" is pretty much worth zero—and honestly, I think some people have already even gone on record to confirm that too!
The people who were supposedly "helped"—well, they aren't exactly stepping up to speak out—so there’s really nothing to prove here. I mean, unless you decide to go around bribing someone just to show up and validate your "investigations," which... yeah, that's pretty much where we stand.

I guess jadesailor14 has a point—everything you do is seen and heard by God, and it all eventually weighs on your Unhealed soul.
Maybe he’d actually be Unhealed if he ever bothered to visit someone with a "psycho-" prefix in their name... seriously! I mean—just as proof that he needs some help—I should probably just hand them your latest posts!

As far as your character goes—honestly, you have no shame. I mean, none at all. It’s wild that after everything that happened, you even have the nerve to show your face around here again.
I think it might be a better idea if you head over and visit your people on that other forum... not here in the States!
Honestly, those guys—with their twisted way of thinking—are just making a mess of things!

I haven't really wanted to jump in until now—but honestly, I completely agree with this!

You’re being exhausting—honestly, maybe just go get some help instead of constantly dragging everyone else down with you!! 🙂

vividskipper15 said:A friend of mine is seven weeks pregnant—she's actually been using Herbalife for about two months already (she just kept going
once she found out she was expecting). Is there any chance this could harm the baby?

Well, all those distributors always claim it’s the greatest product on the planet—like it's some kind of miracle or whatever. But honestly, they use GMO soy in their formulas, so... you know how it goes. Best of luck. 😍

Kate Williams41 said:Thanks so much for the support... especially since I'm still pretty new here! 😁
Could you let me know what kind of treatment you're on right now? If it's actually worked for you, that is...
P.S. Sorry if I'm repeating something you've already shared... 😕

Best, 😍

I have mentioned it quite a bit, but honestly, there's no harm in repeating myself. Right now, I'm just using Vaseline and taking Sandimmun Neoral—you can find more info on that Medicine in the previous pages. My psoriasis has cleared up almost entirely 👏, going from covering 90% of my body down to about 15%. There is still some left, but it’s very minimal and doesn't really flake anymore—it's just red. It's been such a struggle, but I'm really hoping they hit the mark with this one. If it turns out they haven't, my last resort would be biologics. I'm praying to God that this stays effective 🙂
Best regards!! 😍

Kate Williams41 said:See, Robin Robinson8... people didn't pay much attention to me before... mostly because I was pretty good at hiding it... I’d just do short haircuts, wash my hair regularly... nothing really stood out...!! For my hands, 🙏I used powder since my doctor said it was fine... nobody noticed anything... legs... I wore mini skirts without any issues back when I could... everything was great (even though I've had this for 5 years)!!!!!! 😁...until last year... my hands, my legs... everything flared up big time... now I don't even bother with Diprosalic, Elocom, Excipial, Zorac... not to name them all... nothing works anymore... 🤷

If I were you, I'd honestly suggest stepping away from the corticosteroids—they haven't helped anyone in the long run; they just provide temporary relief. Plenty of people on this forum can vouch for that. Try switching to neutral products first, and if that doesn't work, definitely check in with your doctor. I know how frustrating it is—waiting around and feeling like the doctors are treating you like some sort of lab rat (I've been there myself)—but they prescribe what seems most effective for the majority, even if it helps or hurts everyone differently. Personally, I think they finally nailed my therapy after six years. And maybe it's just me, but through those six years, I've gained enough mental maturity regarding this condition that I don't let stress or certain people get to me as easily as I used to.
Hang in there, best 😍

Kate Williams41 said:Hey everyone!!!!! I'm actually in the same boat—just a young girl who dealt with psoriasis early on..... I've been lurking here for ages, reading everything you guys write about this condition... but I never actually signed up until now!!!
I feel like I've tried absolutely everything too, even though I'm only 19! Reading all your posts has helped me quite a bit... mostly because I know there's someone on the other side of the screen who really gets it—someone living a life similar to mine!
Honestly..... I struggled so much mentally with this disease back when it was just starting out... but now....... that depression has eased up a bit, and I find it much easier to talk to people about myself and my
condition!! And now that summer is almost here... to be honest, dear fellow travelers, I'm already starting to get that "short-sleeve panic"—as I call it.... truly..... if I could wish one thing for everyone here,
it would be for you all to HEAL, just as much as I want to heal myself!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the group!!! 🙂
Aside from that pre-summer panic,😁 maybe you could tell us how things are looking for you right now and what your current treatment plan is??
I used to hate it when people stared at my psoriasis, too, but that doesn't really get to me anymore—partly because it’s not contagious, so there's no reason to feel ashamed or afraid, and I'm certainly no threat to anyone; and partly because, I guess, I realize there are plenty of much worse conditions out there that look way harsher, which helps put things in perspective. Besides, whenever someone asks me what's going on, I just tell them without any fuss—and I'm usually surrounded by people who understand, so they mostly just ask if I'm feeling better lately.😁
Personally, I don't have an issue wearing long or short sleeves. Long sleeves are fine because there are so many lightweight, breathable fabrics nowadays that you barely feel them, and short sleeves? Well, I've reached a point where I just don't care who looks. Thank God they don't have to deal with this, so they don't have to see it on themselves.
If you're worried about swimming or being watched at the beach, you still have options—there are so many beautiful, secluded spots along the coast that aren't far from the main beaches, so you can always find some privacy.
I'm really hoping—and I truly believe—that this will be my first summer without psoriasis since I've had it, provided things keep going this way. I'm actually quite excited about it. 🙂

I'm wishing you a speedy recovery as well. Best, 😍

Lawrence Ramirez3 said:☕ 5% salicylic acid—that’s a pretty high concentration. The tricky thing about salicylic is that it just peels off the scales, but the redness stays behind, basically acting as a foundation for new flakes to form. Maybe try applying the treatment to your scalp only half a day before you wash your hair. Once you rinse, just use a neutral cream along the hairline. Between washes, don't apply anything else—meaning, maybe use the salicylic or the Diprosalic lotion (which also contains salicylic) just a half-day or a full day before washing. What about a yellow shampoo? 😁 Shampoo is actually one of the most critical parts of this whole routine. I’d suggest trying the L'Oréal shampoo for frequent use: "Sensitive Scalp shampoo for normal to dry hair." It’s the white and blue line with a little pink square on the front. It’s pricey—about $15 a bottle—but honestly, you can't compare it to whatever you grab at a drugstore. It soothes the scalp like nothing else you'll find in a shop. If you can, just shampoo once, and maybe rotate between two different ones.
Best,

Well, I don't really have any flakes on my head right now, so I guess it doesn't matter much what I use since it isn't bothering me anymore. I just want to clear up that "dandruff" along the edges.
And isn't Diprosalic lotion essentially the same as Elocom or Belisalic? It's all the same chemistry, right—all corticosteroids?👎 That stuff absolutely dried out my scalp and it burned like crazy. I used it twice and never again.
Thanks for the advice! Best,😍

Lawrence Ramirez3 said:If you're washing your hair frequently, just be careful—if you can manage to shampoo only once, do it, because it keeps your scalp from drying out so much. Personally, even the baby shampoos don't really work for me. I think it might be better to alternate between two different shampoos—maybe three washes with one, then three with the other, and keep rotating them like that. It would also be a good idea to skip the blow dryer, since that just dries out the scalp even further. Also, if you have psoriasis right at the hairline, you should probably apply a neutral cream after washing—something like a plain base cream, Vaseline, or maybe some ointment from a local pharmacy.

Thanks for the advice! Do you happen to have any solutions for these tiny little flakes I'm dealing with right now? I can't get them off at all—unless I apply olive oil and very gently brush them out with a comb. They look like slightly larger dandruff, honestly. I wouldn't even touch them if they weren't right along my hairline where people can see. I just put some regular Nivea on those edges, which seems to help. Otherwise, I don't really blow-dry my hair unless I'm in a huge rush to get somewhere, since it usually air-dries pretty quickly anyway. As for shampoo, I've been using that yellow one from CVS; I heard it's actually better than the Johnson's stuff.
Best, 😍

Chris Morgan67 said:Alright, thanks for asking.😍
I've got a few spots popping up on my skin... right now, I'm just sticking to neutral creams and oils.

The only thing that’s been giving me trouble lately is my scalp—it's just being a bit difficult.🙄

Hmm, I’ve been using a 5% salicylic acid mixture—mixed into either lard or olive oil—applying it and then wearing a plastic cap overnight. In the morning, my mom helps me clean it off and brushes away the flakes with a fine-toothed comb. It seems to have calmed things down quite a bit—both on my body and my scalp—though now I just have this tiny bit of dandruff left. For that, I just apply a little olive oil so it absorbs, and then use the comb again to brush everything out. I’ve also been washing with baby shampoo. I'm not sure what you've been trying so far!? Cheers! 😍

Sophia Martinez3 said:Hey, I totally agree with you—honestly, I think you gave everyone the perfect answer. It’s pretty much how I would have phrased it myself, given everything we've all been through... I was just digging for more details because I've been chatting with some folks who use Sandimmune in drop form, so I was curious about your specific experience with that... BEST,👍

I've heard about a Sandimmune oral solution, but there seems to be some distinction between standard Sandimmune and Sandimmune Neoral—I'm not entirely sure what the deal is. Could you please let me know how long your acquaintances have been using Sandimmune and what their experiences have been? I'm really curious. I don't actually know anyone else besides myself who uses it for psoriasis.
best, 😍

Chris Morgan67 said:haha! 😬

Robin Robinson8, I am seriously so happy to hear you're feeling better. Going from 90% coverage down to 15%—that is such a massive, life-changing difference.

thank you! 😁
I’m just genuinely thrilled—and honestly, it means a lot to be able to share this joy with all of you, along with whatever little advice I can offer regarding psoriasis. I really hope things stay this way. How are you holding up lately?
best to you and everyone here 😍

Michael Ramos3 said:Good afternoon, everyone.

Everyone, please—slow down with this kind of talk.
It feels like a lot of you are quite young and perhaps aren't thinking much about old age. None of us really knows what we might face as we get older—or what kind of medications we might be forced to rely on for newly developed conditions. What if, down the road, you find yourselves unable to use a specific therapy because you overused such HEAVY drugs now? At that point, a seemingly harmless condition could turn into a total nightmare.

Just keep in mind I'm speaking from my own experience (I'm 35)

The symptoms you described sound, frankly, at least fifty times worse than psoriasis.

Relying on drugs like these doesn't lead anywhere good.

With faith in the Lord,

I think some of what was said applies to me, so I just want to clarify... 😁

I’ve already shared everything I’ve tried before—how many times I've dealt with erythroderma, how aggressive my psoriasis is, and the arthritis on top of it all. If any of the meds I tried previously actually worked, I certainly wouldn't be using something like this—not that they did, and honestly, even now I'm not sure if this is better than Sandimmune or Vaseline or something else entirely—but for the first time, things feel better. Right now, it's my only viable solution.
Of course, I would never recommend anyone use this without consulting their Doctor; everything is highly individual, and just because it helps me doesn't mean it will work for someone else. All these drugs have side effects, especially something this potent, so I completely agree with you there—but if this is what's showing improvement for me, then I'm going to take it regardless of what happens later. My psoriasis went from covering 90% of my body down to 15%, which is a massive difference.
In the US, Sandimmune hasn't been used for psoriasis for very long, but it's been around globally for 20 years, so I suppose it's relatively well-studied, despite the many side effects.
If improvement is visible, the dosage is gradually tapered down and eventually stopped—meaning I won't be on it forever, which is a huge plus in my book. And if there’s no result within six weeks of starting, the treatment is discontinued and further use isn't recommended, which I also think is a good thing.

I agree that fewer medications and toxins is always better, but not in a situation like mine.
Thanks for the warning, though. I hope your psoriasis is under control. Best regards.😍

Sophia Martinez3 said:Hey there—could you share a few more details? I'm wondering if you're talking about Sandimmune—how exactly do you take it, and do you need a prescription from a Doctor to get it? I'm asking because I've seen a couple of people who swear by it and say it really helped them. Anyway, I'm just glad to hear you're doing okay now...👍

So, we’re talking about Sandimmune in capsule form—it contains cyclosporine. It falls under the category of immunosuppressants, which is basically just a fancy way of saying these drugs work to dial down the body's immune responses. Usually, you see them being used during organ transplants or bone marrow transplants to stop the body from attacking foreign tissue—you know, to prevent rejection. They’re also used for things like rheumatoid arthritis, severe psoriasis, or intense atopic dermatitis, since those conditions can be triggered by the immune system acting up. I guess you could say it helps improve the situation simply by suppressing the immune response.
Before you even think about starting this therapy—you really need to get some extensive blood work done first. And please, I can't stress this enough—don't go taking any medication without consulting your Doctor and getting their green light first. It’s just better that way, I guess. It’s mostly because of the sheer number of side effects—plus, the potency and dosage requirements really vary from person to person, I guess.
If you're currently on Sandimmune—no matter how great you might be feeling lately—please don't go stopping that therapy without checking in with your Doctor first. It’s probably best to stay the course unless they give you the green light.
It’s really important—you absolutely have to keep an eye on your blood pressure and stay on top of your kidney and liver function tests. Just a good idea, I guess.
You can get it with a prescription.
Hey there! 😍

brightjackal15 said:thanks for the advice

And here’s my latest update! The biopsy confirmed guttate psoriasis vulgaris—apparently triggered by some old stress and more recently by strep throat, which caused this full-body rash. It turns out I don't have hereditary psoriasis after all!
I'm scheduled to have my tonsils out in four months, but until then, I'm on antibiotics for the strep.

So, I've been wondering: —once my tonsils are gone, can I still catch strep?
—will the psoriasis clear up?
—or just lessen?
—or am I stuck monitoring this thing forever, waiting for it to flare up again whenever it feels like it?

Thanks in advance!

I actually had my tonsils removed too, and honestly, my psoriasis didn't calm down at all. Every single time I catch even a minor cold, the lymph nodes in my neck swell up, and whenever my immune system takes a hit, the psoriasis flares right back up. I suspect psoriasis just stays dormant somewhere inside us, just waiting for a trigger—like stress or a cold—to blow up again. 😁
I really hope things settle down for you, though.

By the way, ever since I switched to using just Vaseline and taking Sandimmune, it has almost completely cleared up. There's still about 15% of my body affected, but it's very minimal now—it doesn't even flake, it's just slightly red. 🙏 👍 Honestly, I'm so happy! 😍
Best to everyone!!