Psoriasis [PLEASE READ FIRST POST!]

Then this idiot tells me, "I just don't get doctors prescribing corticosteroids to patients. Would you even prescribe them to your own kids?!"

Sean Taylor10 said:Some idiot actually told me, "I just don't get doctors who prescribe corticosteroids... would you even give that to your own kids?"

😠 I'm speechless
I really have no desire to judge this doctor's character right now. That's between him and his conscience...
I'm just glad I could be of some help, and I truly hope the little one feels better soon. 🙂

So, I have a question for you all... maybe I’m just overthinking this and spiraling unnecessarily. I realize I really ought to see a dermatologist to get an actual diagnosis, but I thought I might be able to lean on your collective experiences for a little guidance.
Over the last two or three weeks, these little bumps have started popping up on my elbows—they look a bit like mosquito bites, just slightly larger, and they itch quite frequently. There isn't any redness or peeling skin involved. I've been applying some chamomile soothing cream, but honestly, it hasn't done much of anything. Could these be the early warning signs of psoriasis, or am I just imagining things? I've never dealt with anything like this before, though my late grandmother did struggle with psoriasis.
All in all, do you think there's a chance this could actually be psoriasis?

Good grief, I hope that actually made sense; I feel like I've phrased that terribly. I'm hoping you can follow what I'm getting at. 🙂

I suspect that might be it, unfortunately😢 given how frequently psoriasis shows up on the elbows.
But it isn't the end of the world. Plenty of people deal with it exclusively on their elbows—my mom is one of them—and it often clears up for good...
Just make sure to see a decent dermatologist so you can be certain.

Is Daivonex and DOVONEX actually the same thing, or am I tripping?

Sean Taylor10 said:Are Dovonex and Daivonex actually the same medication, or am I mistaken?

They are. Anything containing calcipotriol falls under that umbrella...

In Germany, they call it Psorcutan. Over in England or the States, it's Dovonex or Daivonex...

crimsonbear23 said:so, I wanted to ask you guys something... maybe I'm just overthinking it, and I know I really should see a dermatologist to get an actual diagnosis, but I figured you all might have some insight based on what you've dealt with.
For the last 2 or 3 weeks, I've had these little bumps showing up on my elbows (kind of like a mosquito bite, but slightly bigger) and they itch constantly. My skin isn't peeling or turning red. I've been using some chamomile cream to soothe it, but it hasn't done much. Could these be early signs of psoriasis, or am I just imagining things? I've never had issues before, though my late grandmother did have psoriasis.
Overall, do you think this could actually be psoriasis?

God, that was a mess to type out. Hope you guys can make sense of it. 🙂

We get you, girl. 😁

Lawrence Ramirez3 As specified by:
We really do understand our own kind. 😁

Well, here we go... after spending enough time in the gourmet foodies, the heavy smokers, and the non-smokers clubs, I guess I’ve finally earned my membership in the psoriasis club. 😁
You really ought to see a dermatologist before things get even messier. And here’s another one of those seemingly ridiculous questions: can psoriasis actually be triggered by changes in your diet? I can't help but wonder why this decided to flare up on me right now, just as I'm hitting my late twenties. Is this something you simply carry around like a silent passenger for your entire life, only for it to suddenly decide to make an unannounced appearance on the surface for no apparent reason?

crimsonbear23 said:Yay... first the foodies club, then the smokers, now I’ve officially joined the psoriasis club. 😁
I need to see a dermatologist before things get messy. Also, stupid question—can diet changes trigger this? Why did it hit me right NOW (turning 28 soon)? Is this just something you carry around forever until it suddenly decides to show up on the surface for no reason?

A radical shift in your diet can definitely make symptoms worse. Like, if you go on some extreme diet or whatever. It probably hit you now because it usually shows up between ages 25 and 35, though it can happen anytime. As far as I know, there are tests to check for genetic predisposition, but I'm not sure about the cost or if insurance covers it.
If a dermatologist actually diagnoses you with it, you don't even need those tests.
Best,

Lawrence Ramirez3 said:Making radical shifts in your diet can actually trigger a flare-up. Think of those extreme fad diets—they often backfire. You’re likely dealing with this now because it typically makes its debut between the ages of 25 and 35, though it can technically show up whenever. As far as I know, there are genetic tests available to determine if you have a predisposition to psoriasis, though I'm not sure about the cost or if insurance covers it.
If a dermatologist has already handed you a diagnosis, there's really no need to bother with all that testing.
Best regards,

Thanks for the reply.🙂

Chris Morgan67 - reading through the last few pages, I can see you’ve really lived through this annoying condition. You clearly have the drive and the time to dive deep into it, and honestly, your willingness to help us all out makes life so much easier. You're basically like our own personal dermatologist with real-world experience—someone we don't have to be nervous around, wait weeks for an appointment, or (heaven forbid) pay a massive bill to! Anyway, huge props to you, seriously top-tier stuff.🙏

So, just tell me—how did you actually use that PSORCUTAN cream? Like, how many times a day were you applying it? I just ordered some from the pharmacy at Pike Place Market based on your advice; the price tag definitely gave me a bit of sticker shock, but hey, I'm giving it a shot.
All those plain corticosteroids I used for years haven't offered any long-term relief—just quick fixes—and now it feels like they're finally catching up to me, because my entire body—even the healthy skin—is itching like crazy.
🎉

Does anyone have a go-to dermatologist in Miami for psoriasis? Also, has anyone tried phototherapy down there? I'd love to hear your experiences! 😕

Rebecca Ramos81 said:Chris Morgan67 - reading through the last few pages, I can see you really have hands-on experience with this tedious illness. You clearly have the desire (and the time) to research it, and the willingness to make life a little easier for all of us. You show up like a sort of dermatologist with personal experience whom we don't have to be shy around, wait for, or (God forbid) pay... In any case, kudos, an easy A+ for your dedication.🙏

Just tell me how you used the PSORCUTAN cream—how often did you apply it? I just ordered some from a pharmacy near Pike Place Market based on your advice; the price gave me a bit of sticker shock, but well, I’ll give it a shot.
The plain corticosteroids I've used for years haven't offered much lasting relief, just short-term fixes, and now it seems like they're catching up to me, because my entire skin—even the healthy parts—is itching like crazy.
🎉

Hey. Thank you so much for the compliments.😍 I'm glad my advice and experiences can help. When I first dealt with this, absolutely no one was helping me, and I felt completely panicked and alone.

Oh, and regarding usage: I applied it in the evening after showering and applying baby oil to my body. Once I massaged that in and let it absorb, I would thoroughly massage a thin layer of the cream into the flare-ups. Using a THIN layer is key; if you apply it too thick, it doesn't really work.
Shower in the morning, and then repeat the whole process in the evening. Make sure to wash your hands well after applying, and be careful not to get it on your face. For me, the first results appeared after a couple of weeks, and you can continue using the cream for several months.

Even if it looks like there isn't much, trust me, it will last you quite a while. Next time, I'd recommend getting the PSORCUTAN MAST; it's a bit cheaper than the cream and easier to rub in.

If you want to know anything else, just ask.🙂

And another reason I apply oil before my cream is to nourish the skin first... it helps the moisturizer absorb more easily, which makes it much simpler to apply a thinner layer.

I honestly just don't get it. I can't wrap my head around doctors telling me things like, "Apply this twice a day, strictly to the affected areas, and massage it in well." Like, hello? I can't spend my entire existence catering to psoriasis! I actually have a life I enjoy—between work, my marriage, and a little kid... how am I supposed to find the time for all that?!
When I do manage to apply it (maybe twice a week at most), I just go over my whole body because I have tiny patches everywhere. If I tried to treat every single spot individually, I’d spend my whole life just rubbing cream on and showering...
Don't take this personally, Chris Morgan67, I'm not attacking you! This is just my little vent session against this annoying disease. It's more of a rhetorical question about how anyone manages to follow every single instruction without becoming a total slave to their condition.

Rebecca Ramos81 said:I just don't get it, and I can't wrap my head around doctors telling you, for instance, "apply this twice daily, strictly to the affected areas, and rub it in well." If I did that, I’d have to live my entire life solely for psoriasis. I certainly don't have that kind of time to dedicate to it; I actually enjoy living my life (work, marriage, a young child...). I honestly wonder how anyone manages it all...
When I apply my treatment (at most twice a week), I end up covering my whole body because I have tiny patches everywhere. If I tried to treat every single spot individually, my whole life would be nothing but applying cream and showering...
I'm not attacking you, Chris Morgan67, this is just my little cry against this tedious disease—more of a rhetorical question about how one manages to follow instructions perfectly without becoming a slave to the illness itself...

Personally, I might apply Psorcutan to larger areas first, then just focus on rubbing it in more thoroughly over the specific spots, and honestly, that works for me.
Applying it twice isn't always necessary.

You just have to make it a routine to apply oil to your body after showering; otherwise, your skin will get incredibly dry, everything will itch, and you'll be right back where you started...👎

I know you have a life—I do too—but any psoriasis patient should probably set aside about 40 minutes a day for skin care, since it significantly improves things and makes the condition much easier to manage.

I don't feel like doing it either, but I calculate it this way: if I don't, I feel worse. If I do, I feel better...😬 and that's just the reality of it...

Hey Chris Morgan67, could you let me know which Daivonex I should actually order?
Found some Daivonex cream (50mcg/g, 30g) and the Daivonex ointment (50mcg/g, 30g).
What's the actual difference here? Thanks in advance.

Rebecca Ramos81 As specified by:
Does anyone have a recommendation for a dermatologist in Miami who specializes in psoriasis? I’m also curious if anyone there actually goes for phototherapy sessions—I'd love to hear some firsthand accounts or general experiences regarding how effective it's been for you. 😕

I'm actually wondering the same thing—does anyone have a recommendation for a solid dermatologist down in Miami?

Sean Taylor10 said:Chris Morgan67, could you please let me know which Daivonex I should order?
I found Daivonex cream 50mcg/g - 30g or Daivonex oint. 50mcg/g - 30g.
What is the difference here? Thanks in advance.

I'd suggest the Daivonex ointment... it's more of a salve.
Personally, I find it easier to spread...🙂

I have an appointment with my dermatologist this Friday, so I’ll be sure to check back in with you all then to let you know if I am officially 😬 Vance. I know from reading your stories that this can be a tedious process at times, though it's never truly catastrophic. If it seems like I'm making light of this condition, just know that's simply my way of processing it.
Does psoriasis flare up more frequently when your immune system is down, or is there no real connection there? I actually picked up some royal jelly today because my mom insisted it was great for boosting immunity—she figured since it couldn't hurt, I might as well give it a shot. I am fully aware that there is no magic pill or miracle cream that will make psoriasis vanish into thin air, but anything that helps soothe a flare or dial things back is a win in my book!

Anyway, I'll touch base again on Friday, and I'll also give you an update on how this royal jelly "therapy" is treating me...