Psoriasis [PLEASE READ FIRST POST!]

Alright, listen up...
I’ve been dealing with psoriasis for about 15 years now—I'm 22. In the beginning, it was slow and manageable, but over the last three years, things have spiraled. Now it’s spreading across my arms and legs. It used to be worst on my scalp; Dr. Temt Black Shampoo helped quite a bit there. It isn't a permanent fix—the issues tend to crawl back once I stop using it, and it makes my hair incredibly greasy—but considering my scalp used to look absolutely terrible and nothing else worked, I’d say it’s decent enough.

Now, I NEED YOUR HELP. I’m heading to Miami in three weeks, and this trip is non-negotiable—I want to be able to walk along the beach in a dress without feeling self-conscious for once in my life. Look, I’m not looking for a lifelong cure here; I just need something to calm it down for a few weeks. Even if it only stays quiet for two weeks, that's enough. Right now, I have Zorac gel and Psorcutan cream on hand, but I can't use them simultaneously, and I don't have the luxury of testing one then the other. I need to know your experiences with these specific creams... which one works faster and more effectively, even if it's just a short-term fix?

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!!

Honestly, nothing you rub on there is going to clear that up in three weeks. I’m not exactly a fan of creams or ointments in general—they often do more harm than good. If you were heading down to Miami, the ocean and the salt would probably do most of the heavy lifting for you, assuming you could actually manage a walk on the beach. You could try using some topical stuff, but stick it only on the red patches; don't put it on clear skin or you'll just irritate it further. I've used similar stuff before, and it doesn't even start working until you've been consistent for at least a month. Your best bet is to find some secluded spot away from the crowds until it clears up enough for you to walk the boardwalk freely. It sucks for everyone, but living near the coast definitely has its perks. Anyway, I'm heading out to the beach now.

Sean Foster81, you sound incredibly naive and unserious with these posts. They're pretty much pointless and aren't helping anyone.

placidbadger10 said:thanks for all the replies🙂

Right now, it’s just showing up on my elbows and my temples,
so it isn't exactly a disaster, and I've made my peace with it.
Tanning beds actually help me out quite a bit!
I'm wondering if anyone here has dealt with psoriasis personally, or knows someone who actually managed to clear it up... even if it was just for a while?
Because it seems possible... you can get it under control for a few years where nothing shows up at all!

I heard there's some good badger fat ointment available over in Des Moines, and you can get $33 100g 👍 of it

fadedraven772 said:I heard you can find good badger fat over in Des Moines, and it's about $33 100g 👍 per serving.

I'm actually from that area! I've heard mentions of that fat before, but just in passing... honestly... I always figured it was just old wives' tales, so I never really gave it a second thought. To be fair, I've never actually heard of it helping anyone, nor have I ever read anything about it working. But hey, maybe I'll ask around next time I'm back in town!

Sean Foster81 said:Has anyone actually tried using those doctor fish for their skin?

Kate Williams41, you just confirmed my suspicions. This is how I read the situation: it’s not that the treatment will cost me $1,200, it’s that it’ll actually cost me way more than that. I’m not about to lose sleep over this.

Well, count me out. I'm lucky enough to have some connections there where I can stay, so I'm set! You only asked about the price of the treatment, so stick to that... don't go looking for trouble where there isn't any.
And I gave a perfectly polite answer, unlike some people who just snap back rudely!!

Best,

Alright, I want to clear one thing up right now. I honestly find it hard to believe that anyone could actually recommend spending time in the ocean to help with this!
Sure, if you’re talking about soaking up the sun, I can see the logic there, since being by the coast means you aren't breathing in nearly as much pollen or dust as you would back home.
BUT, I simply cannot wrap my head around how someone could claim that swimming in the salt water actually helps. To be perfectly blunt, it doesn't work, and if it's necessary to prove my point, I'll grab a new smartphone with a decent camera at the start of next month and send over some old photos from my trip to Miami back in 2002 to show you what I mean.
I truly cannot fathom the reasoning behind such advice. After all, isn't salt the primary component of places like the Dead Sea or even certain salt deserts?
As far as my own experience goes, my only advice to people is to enjoy the sunshine, but stay out of the water—or at the very least, make sure you shower immediately after getting out. For me personally, about ten days after returning from a beach trip, my infection flares up about three times worse than usual, particularly in the areas along my back between the shoulder blades.
If anyone is so deeply convinced that swimming in the ocean provides relief, then please, go ahead and post some before-and-after photos.
That’s all for now, and please, don't ever forget to fight this relentlessly, every single day without exception, because if you truly give it everything you've got, then you have every right to expect nothing less than total victory.

Sean Foster81 reminds me of some uninvited philosopher who also insists on using a specific regional dialect... I can't tell if it's the same guy or just some coordinated conspiracy at this point.

Look, they start out writing with standard American grammar, but once they get deep into their "philosophical" ranting, they lose track and revert back to that weird original way of speaking... It's pathetic.

silentheron25 said:this Sean Foster81 guy reminds me of some unwanted philosopher who also uses a weird regional accent... I can't tell if it's the same guy or just some massive conspiracy at this point.

Look at that. He starts typing with one dialect, then gets so caught up in his own "philosophy" that he slips right back into his original way of speaking... it's almost funny.

I agree. And there’s definitely a bit of a cynical tone there too!!

And hey, Sean Foster81, why are you suddenly acting like such a genius? It's common knowledge that the beach and the sun make everyone feel better! Who are you trying to impress with all this wisdom?..............
Anyway, let's keep one thing in mind... EVERYONE reacts differently. Everyone is an individual. Our whole system, blah blah blah!! I feel like a parrot just repeating it, but clearly, some people think they're much smarter than the rest of the world because they live in their own little philosophical bubble!!!

Cheers everyone, hang in there..👍

Sean Foster81, let’s start with this: just write out exactly what kind of psoriasis you have.
Since you're always talking about how fast this infection spreads, I’m starting to think you actually have psoriasis. If that’s the case, your whole story finally makes sense—especially that part about your trip to Miami and swimming in the ocean.

Greetings from a sweltering Washington, D.C.

Nicole Lee78 said:Alright everyone...
I've been dealing with psoriasis for about 15 years (I'm 22 now). It started off incredibly slow and wasn't much of an issue, but over the last three years, things have escalated, and now it's flared up on my arms and legs. My scalp used to be the worst part, but Dr. Temt Black Shampoo actually helped quite a bit there. It isn't a permanent fix since the issues tend to crawl back once I stop using it, and it does make my hair pretty greasy, but considering my scalp was completely covered and looking terrible before, I’d say it’s actually decent.

Now I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP. I'm heading to the coast in three weeks, and this time it is incredibly important to me that I can finally walk down a beach in a sundress without feeling self-conscious. I'm not looking for a lifelong cure; I just need something to calm it down for three weeks—even if it only stays quiet for fourteen days. Right now, I have Zorac gel and Psorcutan cream at home, but I know I shouldn't use them simultaneously, and I don't have the luxury of testing one then the other. Could you please share your experiences with these creams? Which one works faster or more effectively, even if it's just short-term?

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!!

I might be able to help. My husband deals with psoriasis, specifically on his scalp. He has tried Zorac, Besalix, and basically everything available here, but unfortunately, nothing really worked. We recently picked up a cream from Italy, and I have to say, it is incredible. I applied just one drop to him the first night; by the second day, the scales had lifted so much that I could comb them right out with a fine-tooth comb and reapply. By the third day, I could barely see any scaling left on his scalp, so I reapplied to those spots. I stopped after that, and a week later, the scaling was completely gone. His skin looks totally clear.

The product is called "Flubason 0.25% emulsione cutanea." It comes in small 2g sachets. You get a pack of 15 for about five dollars. It's manufactured by Pfizer in Milan. The only catch is that you can really only find it in Italy. See if you can track some down and give it a shot. It worked for him, and I honestly couldn't believe my eyes.

I was wondering if any of you folks here have ever actually visited the ExxonMobil facility over in Indianapolis, and if you felt like it really made a difference for you? Also, does anyone happen to know what the whole process looks like to get admitted there for treatment?

Thanks so much in advance for any help you can give me!

Good evening, everyone. How are you all doing?
So, my son and I finally made it to the Salat clinic today. We saw Dr. Knight, who gave him a full exam and prescribed a treatment plan using Belmont products for his scalp—starting with a deep cleanse to clear out any scaling. After ten days, we'll move on to the NODE K emulsion and DS shampoo, plus some Belmont cream for the external areas.
She hasn't given us a definitive diagnosis just yet. She mentioned that while the symptoms definitely seem linked to psoriasis, she isn't ready to make a final call quite yet.
Both my son and I walked away feeling pretty good about the visit. Honestly, I feel like we received much better care here than we ever did with those dermatologists back in Indianapolis. I’m eager to get a concrete diagnosis, but I think we're moving in the right direction. Even the doctor emphasized that this process is going to require a lot of persistence and patience.

ExxonMobil works for some people, I guess. For me? It barely did anything when I was a kid.
Honestly, you’re going to need a massive amount of patience. If your kid deals with this frequently, "easy childhood" isn't exactly on the menu. I know from experience what it's like growing up with this... what can I say, I suppose they'll take whatever help you can throw their way.

Ethan Perez4 said:Could anyone tell me if they've been to the ExxonMobil facility in Indianapolis and if it actually worked? Also, what’s the protocol for getting admitted there for treatment?

Thanks in advance for the help

My husband went to the Petroleum facility. It was excellent for him. He deals with psoriasis, though it isn't severe, but his arthritis is the much larger issue. He saw people there with psoriasis covering their entire bodies who claimed their skin cleared up right before their eyes. There were some guys who refused to follow the prescribed therapies, and obviously, nothing helped them. They insisted from the start that it wouldn't work, skipped the treatments, and predictably, saw no results. Those who stuck strictly to the medical instructions were satisfied. You have to stay for at least three weeks to see anything.
His coverage came through insurance. First, a rheumatologist made the recommendation, followed by a physical therapist and a dermatologist. Based on all that, his primary care doctor submitted a referral to the board. Initially, the board denied him, but after a heated argument and threatening legal action, they finally approved it. He sent everything to Petroleum and waited nine months on the list. However, if you pay $33 per day, you can get in within one or two months. If your board referral expires after six months, you have to go back through the whole process—which is exactly what happened to us because we didn't know the rules. You end up back at the board, and it's the same cycle: they deny you, you fight them, and then those jerks finally give in. That's easily the worst part of the whole ordeal. Apparently, if you only have psoriasis, you aren't eligible, but you should double-check that, since he only got approved based on his arthritis.
My husband thinks that if they actually realized how much Petroleum helps people, they would approve everyone without hesitation. They also have this incredible cream they manufacture there.
That's basically it. Ask if you need more details.

Thanks so much for getting back to me, but man, this is just so complicated... and waiting nine whole months? That is absolutely insane!
I honestly don't have the luxury of waiting that long because I am seriously losing my mind dealing with this psoriasis. I’ve been struggling with gut psoriasis for about ten months now, and I think I'm actually going crazy. I might just try to head over there and pay out of pocket for all the treatments and therapy myself, because, I mean, waiting nine months is just totally out of the question for me.

Thanks

Ethan Perez4 said:Thanks for the reply, but that whole situation sounds incredibly complicated—and waiting nine months is just insane!
I honestly can't afford to sit around waiting that long; I'm losing my mind dealing with this psoriasis. I’ve been struggling with guttate psoriasis for ten months now, and it's driving me crazy. I think I'll just head over there and pay out of pocket for the full treatment and therapy, because waiting nine months is simply not an option for me.

Thanks,

I think that would be an incredible move for you, provided you follow the doctor's orders to a T. My husband had to undergo about eight different treatments every single day. He always says the doctors and the entire staff were absolutely amazing and truly went above and beyond for their patients. He was extremely satisfied with the care. The guy who stayed in the room with him had psoriasis covering his entire body, and my husband swears the skin started clearing up right before his eyes. He received a copy of the bill—which was covered by his insurance—so we saw exactly what the cost was. For three weeks, it came out to roughly $2333. But don't hesitate; the results make every cent worth it.

placidorca14 said:It takes about $2333 three weeks. Just don't regret it; it's definitely worth the money.

I totally agree! If it actually works...👍

Anyway, my fellow psoriasis warriors, how are you all handling this sudden heatwave???😕
I'm struggling a little bit. This is my first summer dealing with having to wear long sleeves... it's not too bad yet, though....for now....☕More than anything, I'm just worried about the rest of the summer... and those temperatures that are coming up next! Ugh...!!!🤷

Sending everyone my very best wishes, of course.👍

Kate Williams41 said:I'm with you on that. If it helps...👍

Anyway, to my fellow Americans dealing with psoriasis, how are you all holding up with this heatwave?
😕
I’m struggling a bit, since this is my first summer spent in long sleeves... though it hasn't been unbearable... yet.☕More than anything, I'm just dreading the rest of the summer and those upcoming heat spikes... ugh.🤷

Sending my best to everyone, as always.👍

I just use concealer on my hands🤣 to get by... I can't exactly wrap myself in long sleeves all day.🤣 🙂

Right now, I'm just in that stage where everything feels stressful and I'm counting down the days until I hit the beach.🤣 😍

Yeah... but you get used to it eventually. It’s always a struggle at first, and honestly, you never fully settle in completely. I don't even bother going out lately because the heat here is just brutal. Those cicadas are loud enough to make your head explode in the trees...

silentheron25 said:Yeah... but you get used to it eventually. It’s always tough at first, and even after some time, you never truly settle in. I don't even bother going out lately because the heat is just brutal... those crickets are practically screaming in the trees...

My friend, you have no idea what a heatwave in Chicago feels like. It's 3 PM, you're stuck on a subway car with no AC, the humidity is hovering around 95%, and the asphalt is so hot you could burn through your soles😲🤣 everyone is yelling and cursing, the traffic lights are acting up, and it's a solid 104 degrees outside🙏🙏 yet you still have work, classes, and errands to run... and the coast is nowhere in sight...

My college friends from back home constantly say"Good grief, I don't know how you people survive living here"😍