Psoriasis [PLEASE READ FIRST POST!]

Michael Ramos3 said:It’s a fantastic product—definitely something I'd recommend to all my friends for daily use.
You're better off using that hand cream mentioned above.

Look, I didn't actually recommend Zorac—if anything, I was warning people about Mayu-k and all its nasty side effects and what kind of treatment we're really dealing with here. As for any other products or their side effects? Well, at the end of the day, we can only find out by testing them on our own skin.

Hey there!
We finally made it to page four. Where is everyone at? How are you all holding up with the colder weather and this disease flaring up during the fall and winter? 🙄

Greetings to everyone
Just wanted to jump in here and join this group of people dealing with this annoying disease. I was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris about 7 years ago; it started on my scalp, then hit my elbows, and eventually spread out a little bit everywhere.
The treatment I've been using is mostly topical stuff, usually just various ointments and creams from the pharmacy.
I've also tried using detox teas a few times to cleanse my system, but I guess there hasn't been much progress there.
Basically, the results have been pretty much what you'd expect for most people dealing with this.
I've only been following this forum for a little while now, so I decided it was time to officially join in.
That's all for now, I suppose.
Best regards.

Quick question: can someone living with psoriasis actually donate blood?

George Fisher11 said:I was wondering—can someone living with psoriasis actually donate blood? Just curious if there are any specific rules or things to watch out for regarding that.

35. So, you're wondering what exactly they're looking for when they test a blood donor's blood? It’s a bit of a deep dive, honestly—kind of like when you realize a "quick checkup" at the doctor is actually an hour-long interrogation. When you go in to donate in the States, they aren't just checking your pulse and sending you on your way. They run a whole battery of tests to make sure everything is safe for whoever receives that donation. Usually, the big ones involve screening for infectious diseases—things like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. They also look for things like Syphilis and sometimes West Nile Virus, depending on where you live or if there's been a recent outbreak. It’s all very clinical and thorough—they want to be absolutely certain that nothing nasty slips through the cracks. It’s a lot of science happening behind those lab doors while you're just sitting there trying to decide if you're going to eat all the free cookies afterward.
After every single blood donation, they run tests on every dose of blood or blood product to check for anything that could be transmitted through the bloodstream—specifically Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis.

So, who's actually off the hook when it comes to donating blood? It’s one of those things you don't really think about until you're sitting in that big recliner—you know, the one that makes you feel like you're at a very clinical spa—wondering if your recent choices have officially disqualified you from being a hero for the day. Basically, there's a whole list of reasons why the Red Cross might give you a polite "thanks, but no thanks." Usually, it boils down to safety—both yours and the recipient's. If you've got certain chronic illnesses, or if you've been traveling through areas where certain diseases are common, they'll probably pass. And let's not even get started on the medication side of things—certain antibiotics or even some skin treatments can throw a wrench in the works. Then there's the lifestyle stuff. If you've recently had a tattoo or a piercing (unless it was done in a super sterile, regulated clinic), they'll likely tell you to wait a few months. It's all about making sure everything is as clean and safe as possible. Oh, and obviously, if you're feeling under the weather—like, actually sick, not just a little "I stayed up too late watching Netflix" tired—you definitely shouldn't go for it. You want to be giving life, not passing around a nasty flu. It's a bit of a minefield, honestly, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If you're ever unsure, just ask the folks running the drive—they've heard it all before, trust me.
About 10% of donors end up getting turned away during the screening process—some just for the day, others are permanently blacklisted. It’s never personal, really; it always boils down to one of two things: either taking the blood poses a genuine risk to the donor's own health, or using that specific blood product could put the patient at risk. Safety first, I guess.
Look, there’s a basic rule here—you can't just go donating blood if doing so would wreck your own health, or if your blood might end up being a risk to the patient receiving it. It's common sense, really. Safety first, always.
Look, just a heads-up on the blood donation front—you can't exactly roll up to the clinic if you're dealing with anything acute or chronic, or if you're currently mid-antibiotic course (or any other meds, really). It’s also a hard pass if you're running on zero sleep, stuck on some long-term restrictive diet, or if your lifestyle leans a bit too much toward "risky behavior." They've got rules for a reason, I guess.
Look, I get it—you showed up ready to be a hero, rolled up your sleeve, and then got hit with the "sorry, not today" news. It feels a little personal, doesn't it? Like you failed some sort of secret test. But honestly, please don't take it to heart. It’s not about you being "unfit" in a general sense; it’s just a massive, complicated checklist that the medical staff has to run through to keep everything safe. I know you have a million questions burning in your mind, so let's just lay it all out on the table. First off, the whole thing about travel or where you've been—it’s not because we think certain places are "bad," it's strictly about local health trends. If you've recently spent time in an area where certain bugs or viruses are running rampant, the blood center has to play it safe. We aren't trying to judge your vacation choices; we're just making sure nothing hitchhikes in the bag. Then there's the stuff with medications. I know, it seems overkill to skip a donation just because you took something for a headache or a skin issue like psoriasis, but some drugs can interact with the blood or affect how the recipient's body processes it. It’s one of those "better safe than sorry" situations that sounds annoying until you realize the stakes. And yeah, the iron levels and the hemoglobin checks—that’s purely a "don't pass out in the chair" measure. We want you to walk out of here feeling fine, not dizzy and pale, and we definitely don't want to give someone else blood that isn't at its absolute peak quality. So, if you were turned away today, just hang in there. Check the guidelines, wait out the necessary window, and come back when the timing is right. You still want to help, and we still want you to help—we just have to do it by the book.

Permanently rejecting donors:
They’ll permanently turn you away from donating blood if you've ever dealt with—or are currently dealing with—serious chronic issues involving the respiratory or digestive systems. It’s the same deal for anyone struggling with heart disease, vascular issues, cancer, liver problems, HIV, diabetes, or even neurological and mental health conditions. Basically, if your body's been through the ringer with those kinds of stuff, they aren't interested.
2. People exhibiting high-risk behavior are being permanently rejected:
People who are hooked on alcohol or drugs—
Men who have had sexual encounters with other men—you know, homosexual relations—
So, we're talking about men and women who have been with sex workers—just putting it all out there.
People who tend to cycle through sexual partners pretty frequently—you know, the ones labeled as promiscuous—
People who have been using drugs intravenously—well, that’s a whole different ballgame.
People who have gone through treatment for STDs—you know, the whole syphilis or gonorrhea ordeal—
People who are HIV-positive—
- sexual partners of the people mentioned above.

Temporarily turning down a donor:
People who are temporarily barred from donating blood include:
With those milder, acute issues—you know, things like the common cold, digestive hiccups, or when your iron levels take a dip—
- following surgical procedures,
After getting some blood transfusions—and then having to deal with all those vaccines—
...with a slightly milder case of blood pressure issues, too—
Women dealing with everything from their monthly cycles to pregnancy and breastfeeding—you know, all those hormonal rollercoasters.

Look, if you're heading in for a blood donation, you absolutely have to be upfront with the doctor about any medications you're currently taking. It’s not just a suggestion—it’s a must. These drugs can actually travel through the bloodstream, and if they get passed along to the recipient, they could cause some pretty nasty side effects for them. Just be honest during your checkup; it's better to be safe than sorry.
This kind of information just comes out naturally during a conversation with the donor—you know, while they're going through their regular check-up.

Look, I’m just saying—please, for the love of everything, just be honest during every single medical checkup before you donate blood. Seriously. If you have any doubts or weird gut feelings about your health, just speak up and tell the doctor. It isn't about being difficult or making things complicated—it's about protecting your own health and, honestly, everyone else's too. It's common sense, really. Just be straight with them.

Becoming a blood donor is honestly such a privilege—but let’s be real, it comes with a massive side of responsibility toward the patients who are actually counting on you.

Not a single mention of psoriasis anywhere in the text—not even once.

Here is another newcomer—namely, me. :-)

I’ve been dealing with psoriasis for about 13 years now (I’m 29.5), but so far, it only shows up on my scalp, under my eyes, around my eyebrows, and occasionally near my ears.

Right now, I apply Aloe Vera gel to my face once or twice a day. I picked it up at CVS for about $5, and honestly, it’s worked better than some much pricier creams. It keeps the facial psoriasis under control, ranging from being totally invisible (rarely) to a mild redness without pain or scaling (more common).

As for my scalp, I used to rely on Selsun Blue, but since that disappeared from the shelves here, I’ve been using Vichy Dercos anti-dandruff for about a year and a half.

I used the Vichy stuff without any breaks, and it kept my scalp under control until about 10 days ago, when I suddenly developed an allergy to it.

I was just debating what to switch to next, or if I should take a little break before going back to Vichy, when I stumbled upon this forum. 🙂

So, I decided that despite the intense scalp itching, I won't use anything until I’ve read this forum from start to finish. After wading through roughly 1,700 posts and a few days of reading—and constant scratching—here I am. 😁

Now, a few questions. :-)

Regarding the scalp, I haven't noticed much discussion about it here; most of the talk seems to be about clearing elbows, legs, and so on.

For context, I have medium-length, thick hair (about 2.5 inches).

I noticed that both Vichy and Selsun Blue use Selenium Disulphide as the active ingredient. I'm wondering if it's actually safe to use those long-term, or is it similar to how you have to be careful with corticosteroids?

Do you guys recommend any specific creams for treating the face? From what I’ve read, certain creams—like Psorcutan (can that be used indefinitely?)—aren't recommended for facial use.

Like I mentioned, the Aloe Vera is keeping things moderately stable for now, but the Vichy did the same until I hit a plateau, so I’d love to have a backup plan ready to go.

I also have a question about that ointment from Mr. Healed—can it be applied to the face and scalp, and if so, how?

It seems to be quite a controversial topic here, so if you can't answer publicly, please just shoot me a PM.

Rambo64, how is your therapy going with that ointment from Bihać?

Also, it’s been a while since I saw a dermatologist. Can anyone recommend a good one? I'm in Knoxville, and ideally, someone at a hospital covered by insurance, because I'm currently without income and can't really afford expensive private consultations or treatments right now.

Anyway, that’s all from me for now. I have to admit, seeing some of the cases posted here makes me feel like I handle mine a bit easier, though obviously, everyone wants to be completely cured.

I hope that Okto and Nick (who seem to be the two toughest cases here) can at least get things under control.

So, yeah, that’s my status report. I hope I didn't "smother" the group with my first post. 🙂

If I start using anything new, I promise to check back in periodically to let the group know whether it worked or not.

I'll only weigh in on what I actually know. When it comes to scalp issues, the truth is most anti-dandruff shampoos don't do squat for us. Maybe they help with the super mild cases, but for me and the other psoriasis patients I know, they’re useless. I get way more relief from really gentle shampoos. I'd suggest the basic anti-inflammatory Vichy shampoo—the one with the red square on the box. People also say Dr. Theiss's shampoo with night oil is decent. Unfortunately, all this stuff is pretty pricey. I'd also recommend using Diprosalic lotion, but only on the affected spots.
When it comes to donating blood, it's not because people with psoriasis can't. It's just that psoriasis isn't just genetic; it's an immune system thing too. I've noticed I pick up every virus, cold, or flu that goes around.

Welcome to the new members.

Hey everyone, I just joined the group and I’m still getting my bearings—I haven't managed to read through everything yet, so forgive me if this has already been covered. But listen, I am absolutely convinced this stuff works. Back home in America, I heard about this one woman who uses these special little fish for treating psoriasis. Essentially, you just soak in a tub with them, and they scrub the psoriasis right off your skin. It’s incredible. Apparently, she has to repeat the process every few years to keep things clear. I've even heard people fly in from all over the world just to see her. If any of you are actually interested, let me know and I can try to track down exactly where she is so you can look into it yourselves.🙂

So, here’s the thing. I’m feeling pretty stuck and could really use some input from you all. I need to know if what I'm dealing with might actually be psoriasis.
It’s on the outer side of my right foot, stretching around the ankle area, and it's been there for a few months now. Basically, it looks like this large patch about 4 inches wide—sort of a reddish-brown color. The skin feels wrinkled in that spot, incredibly rough, dry, and it’s starting to flake off a bit. I've been applying Plimycol to it for about two weeks, but honestly, I haven't seen much of a difference at all.
If anyone can point me in the right direction, I’d really appreciate an answer on whether this could be psoriasis.

If you have to come back for treatment every couple of years, then clearly you haven't been healed; you've just been temporarily patched up.

And it costs 1,000 bucks per treatment. There’s already plenty written about those little fish.

Good morning.

Since Oct hasn't shared his official, final results regarding yesterday's heavy and unexplained situation yet.
I'll try reaching out to him on his cell.

God bless,

gentlehound9 said:So, here’s the thing. I’m feeling pretty unsure and could really use some help. I need to know if what I have might be psoriasis.
I've had this patch on the outer side of my right foot, right around the ankle, for a few months now. It looks like a large spot about 4 inches wide. It's reddish-brown, and the skin there feels wrinkled, super rough, dry, and it flakes a little. I've been using Plimycol for about two weeks, but I haven't seen any real change.
If anyone knows, please let me know if this could actually be psoriasis.

You won't know if it's psoriasis or something else until you see a dermatologist and get a biopsy done.

I’m noticing, and honestly starting to worry, that this forum gets quieter every single day.

Is there maybe nothing left to say on these pages after all???

Regards

Michael Ramos3 said:I've been noticing—and honestly, it scares me a little—that this forum seems to be getting quieter every single day.

Is it possible we've already covered just about everything there is to say on these pages???

Best regards,

I can't help but feel like we're all just getting a bit exhausted from battling this ugly disease of ours.🙂

That's just our horoscope, I guess :-) or maybe fate. But the truth is, we've already covered everything on this forum, and honestly, it feels like modern medicine is just running in circles with psoriasis treatments. Skin diseases are still such a massive mystery. I doubt even the big American medical sites have anything groundbreaking to offer. It always makes me think of that old joke about the Scots swimming over to America, where they just say, "Shut up, son, and swim far." 😳
Greetings to everyone at once. 👍

Don't act like that.

There's no reason to ever lose hope.
What could people say who are battling much worse illnesses, or find themselves in truly life-altering situations?

Your situation isn't even that extreme. Just keep pushing forward.

Have FAITH.

It’s perfectly normal for interest levels to ebb and flow across all forums—this one included. It really just boils down to how many new faces show up to join the conversation. That’s how awareness about this disease spreads, and honestly, how treatment options evolve too, since there’s always someone popping up with a fresh perspective or a new discovery. Now, let’s be realistic here—we shouldn't sit around expecting that chatting on this forum is going to magically yield a cure for psoriasis in any reasonable timeframe, or if one will even be found at all. The whole point of this place is to lend each other a hand so we can navigate the daily grind of this condition a little easier; in that regard, our personal experiences and individual insights are absolutely irreplaceable. So, let’s not lose heart—let's keep helping each other out without holding anything back. Who knows? Maybe we'll actually pull it off!!!!!👍 👍 👍