Psoriasis [PLEASE READ FIRST POST!]

Michelle Parker3 said:I mean, I developed mine because of stress—I'm actually the first one in my immediate and extended family to deal with it...

I definitely agree—for me, psoriasis flared up just a week after a pretty intense period of stress.
Whenever I can get away to somewhere peaceful—you know, somewhere without any obligations or worries—things always seem to improve for me. 🙂

hollowraven78 said:Good evening.
Hey there—so, that first photo shows how things looked up until this date. I’ve been dealing with this for many years, and if you read back through my previous posts, you might get a better sense of the history. I actually have photos documenting the results after every single injection, but—due to server space limits—I can't upload them all at once.
The second photo shows progress after three injections. Things were moving in the right direction until my HLA B27 antigen flared up, causing the psoriasis to act up again. Because of that, they had to add Medrol—prednisone—along with an extra ointment. My case of psoriasis is pretty complicated, and I honestly thank God it’s going this well; otherwise, I don't think I'd still be here if it weren't for these injections. It suggests that for people with less severe cases, these biologics probably work even more effectively than they do for me. I'm sharing these photos specifically to show how the psoriasis resurfaced, and now I'm pushing forward with these injections. As long as Medicare keeps covering them, that's what I'll do. What happens after that? I don't know. All I can do is get my affairs in order at home so that if anything happens, I won't leave any problems behind. You just have to take life as it comes, I guess. 🙂
One thing is 100% certain: these preparations really do help, even those whose psoriasis covers their entire body. Tomorrow, I’ll put together a photo showing the progress after 40 injections and post a web link. Just hang tight—I'm going to go grab a cup of coffee.☕

I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but did they start you on Medrol because the psoriasis came back?!
If that's the case, then in my opinion, that's about the worst thing they could have done. Medrol is a corticosteroid, and it's usually reserved for the absolute worst-case scenarios because it—well, it really tears everything down.
By the way, I met a guy who has psoriasis affecting his internal organs, and the only reason he's still alive is because of Medrol—but it basically "ate him up" from the inside. His skin is practically non-existent; it's so thin you can see every tiny little vein underneath, and he can't even scratch himself because he'll bleed instantly.
But he's content with it, though—he says he'd rather be alive.

I figured I’d jump in and share my own experience dealing with this miserable disease. 🤣

I've been living with psoriasis for six years now. It started with just two little patches on my scalp—pretty itchy, too—but before I knew it, it had spread across most of my scalp and even moved onto my face. After some major stress, a fever, and an infection, things took a turn for the worse and flared up all over my body.
Of course, the standard move from our doctors is to prescribe corticosteroids (like Belosalic or Beloderm...), some basic moisturizing creams, or maybe 5-10% salicylic acid in a lard base to deal with the scaling on the scalp.
Early on, I actually spent a month in the hospital undergoing occlusion therapy and stuff like that; it helped a little, so they eventually let me go.
A while later, things flared up again because of a throat infection and a fever, which landed me back in the hospital for three months. My private specialist suggested I have my tonsils removed—which I did—but honestly, it didn't seem to make any difference at all.
Under medical supervision, I used Belosalic ointment for quite a long stretch—maybe five or six months.
I tried basically every type of phototherapy out there (UVA, UVB, PUVA, PUVA Bath). In my opinion, UVB had a tiny bit of an effect, but they ended up stopping because I'm super sensitive to the sun and those rays—it basically scorched me, so they gave up on it.
They also put me on Psorcutan ointment; it's expensive and it works, but you can't use it in combination with phototherapy—apparently, it's strictly forbidden because of the risk of hyperpigmentation.
About two years after the psoriasis first showed up, psoriatic arthritis joined the party. At that point, I feel like I've tried everything under the sun. 😕 Medrol, Vioxx, Decortin, Indomethacin, Methotrexate, Keto... right now, I'm on Indomethacin.
After that, I was prescribed Neotigason, which is usually reserved for critical cases like mine. I took it for two years under a doctor's watch, but saw zero results. Meanwhile, I was still using Belosalic (because, well, there's no other way to survive 😢).
On my own accord, and following a recommendation from my private specialist 🙏, I decided to seek treatment in Israel. But after just four days there, my overall condition plummeted and I developed erythroderma. This happens when you've used corticosteroids for a long time and then stop abruptly—your body gets so used to them that once you quit, it just goes haywire and tries to purge everything at once 😁. Since the treatment in Israel is entirely natural, this unfortunately hit me hard because I had needed to taper off all my meds a few months prior.
That month there was pure misery. (Though, don't lose hope—I saw so many success stories there; I was actually one of the unique cases they dealt with involving that specific condition.)
Once the erythroderma passed, I was psoriasis-free for about a month 🤣.
My doctor wouldn't accept that the erythroderma was caused by the corticosteroids; she insisted it was from stopping the Neotigason, which the doctor in Israel absolutely disagreed with.
By the way, because of the dry climate in Israel, I didn't have any issues with my joints for five months—I didn't even take a single pill during that window.

Two years later, everything naturally comes rushing back and starts all over again. They don't have much left to offer me besides neutral creams and a little Belosalic, which led to the exact same thing happening this summer. I had erythroderma again and ended up in an infectious disease hospital. Based on my labs, they thought I had sepsis, so they treated me with sepsis medication, only to realize a month later that they were treating me for the wrong thing. 😠
Then comes the recovery phase. This summer was a zero out of ten for me (even though the ocean usually helps). After being discharged, they started me on Sandimmune oral tablets, which I'm still taking today. Since things usually improve after erythroderma, my doctor assumed it was thanks to the tablets—she was so happy she thought she'd found the solution that she spent two months lecturing me about it. Then, of course, another flare-up happened, and now I'm just waiting to start biologics.
I should mention—those biologics were actually recommended to me about two and a half years ago while I was in Israel.

My private doctor even discussed treatment options for me in Munich, though I'm still weighing that decision—not sure if it's the right move yet.

On top of all those steroids, my skin has become incredibly thin—honestly, it's awful—and I've developed stretch marks that are up to 3 cm wide. 👎 It’s pretty bad; even the slightest bump or just pressing my skin against something causes these bruises and welts to pop up immediately.

Because of all these heavy-duty pills, I have to get my blood work done every two months just to keep an eye on my liver levels.

So, yeah, that's the short version. I know this all too well from my own experience. 👍
Best regards,

Robin Robinson8 said:none of those medications are used for "mild" psoriasis
they’re mostly for when you’ve got the combo—psoriasis plus psoriatic arthritis.

I don't even know which type of psoriasis I actually have yet. It's almost tragicomic—I'm currently stuck waiting for my doctor to get back from vacation just so I can finally get an exam. I haven't had any flare-ups for maybe two or three weeks now; I've just been slathering on those creams. But honestly, after reading your post, part of me just wants to toss everything in the trash and stop treating it altogether. That might be exactly what I do. I've been using these creams for the last year or two, and I swear it feels like I've just fried my skin. And phototherapy? Based on what you said, that sounds like a nightmare for me. I'm sensitive to the sun like crazy—for the last three years, I've been getting allergic reactions all over my face if I don't wear SPF 50+, even in the middle of winter.
To be fair though, I feel like it hasn't been flaring up as much lately. Less anxiety, less obsessing over it... right now, I'm just trying to feed my own mental state and hoping it stays away... ugh, this damn hope. 🤣

Michelle Parker3 said:I don't even know which type of psoriasis I'm dealing with yet—which feels a bit tragicomic, honestly—since I’m currently stuck in this waiting game for my doctor to get back, so I can finally head in for an appointment. It's been about two or three weeks now without any flare-ups; I've just been messing around with those various creams. But, after reading your post, I kind of feel like just tossing everything in the trash and stopping all treatment altogether. I think that might actually be what I'll do. I've been applying those creams for the last year or two—well, more like the last couple of days, really—and I have this nagging feeling that I've just fried my skin. Plus, based on what you described, phototherapy probably isn't my cup of tea. I'm incredibly sensitive to the sun—like, seriously sensitive—and for the last three years, I've been getting allergic reactions all over my face if I don't slap on SPF 50+, even in the middle of winter.
To be honest—I have this feeling that things have been calming down lately. I'm seeing fewer flare-ups, less nervousness, and just less overall stress... I guess I’ve started focusing more on my mental state, and now I find myself hoping it won't resurface... though, honestly, this damn hope is a double-edged sword. 🤣

What can I even say? Everyone keeps telling me, "Don't get worked up—stressing out will only make things worse." But honestly, the second I notice a flare-up on my own skin, I just lose it. I mean, I live with this every day and I’ve gotten used to it, I really have—but there's still that nagging thought that gets under my skin... the idea that I might not be able to just walk outside in a t-shirt without feeling self-conscious. It's frustrating, I guess.
Based on my own experience—if I'm being honest—I probably wouldn't recommend corticosteroids.
My private doctor suggested I just stick to plain old Vaseline—and honestly, I have to say, I’m pretty happy with the results. I’ve been using it for about four months now, and at the very least, my skin doesn't feel bone-dry anymore. On top of that—just a little trick I've picked up—I apply olive oil while my skin is still damp right after showering, which helps nourish and hydrate everything a bit better. Now, the Vaseline doesn't exactly do much to calm the redness, but it definitely keeps those thick scales from forming and stops the dryness.

Regarding phototherapy—before you actually dive into it, they’ll run a test to see just how sensitive your skin is. In my case, I had an immediate reaction, so they started with incredibly low doses—though they still managed to burn me, regardless. Personally, I think PUVA is quite effective since it works alongside melanin to encourage pigmentation, but you definitely still need to be careful.

Every treatment plan needs to be handled on an individual basis—honestly, just because someone claims a specific therapy worked wonders for them doesn't mean it’ll do the same for you. You don't necessarily have to take my word as gospel, though I suppose it might be helpful to read through some different perspectives and advice every now and then.
And if you’ve ever dealt with this—well, in my own medical history, I’ve actually had three different types of psoriasis—so now you're left wondering how on earth you're going to treat them all.🤣 😁
Don't worry about it—best regards!

Hi, Robin Robinson8, 🙂 it’s good to have you here.

In short, since I stopped following my doctors' orders, I've seen massive improvements. I regret spending so much time applying corticosteroids like Belosalic; they don't help in the long run... if anything, they make things worse.

Your private doctor gave you sound advice regarding Vaseline... though it would be even better to use natural oils, such as calendula or St. John's Wort oil.

For me, those oils were a lifesaver. If it weren't for them, I don't know where I'd be today.👎

And believe it or not, I actually got that advice about the oils from my primary care physician, not a dermatologist.

I have to say, your story really touched me, but it also worried me... it seems our doctors are prescribing some pretty nasty medications in excessive amounts.👎

Chris Morgan67 said:Hi, Robin Robinson8. 🙂 I'm really glad you decided to join us.

To put it briefly—since I stopped following my doctors' orders blindly, I've seen some massive improvements. I honestly regret spending so much time slathering corticosteroids (like Belosalic) on my skin; they just don't work long-term. In fact, they can actually make things worse.

Your private doctor gave you solid advice regarding the Vaseline... though, honestly, it might be even better if you used natural oils, like calendula or St. John's Wort oil.

For me, those oils were a total lifesaver! If it weren't for them, I don't know where I'd be right now.👎

And funny enough, I actually got that advice about the oils from my GP, not a dermatologist.

Anyway, I have to tell you—your story really touched me, but it also worried me. It’s pretty clear our doctors here prescribe these nasty medications in crazy amounts.👎

Hey, I've been reading through a lot of your posts, and I think your advice has helped so many people—I'm sure there are folks out there who are incredibly grateful to you.👍
Unfortunately, I can't quite bring myself to stop listening to my doctors. I'm just too afraid of this condition getting out of hand—not just with my skin, but with my joints, too—so I feel like I have to stay in constant coordination with them.
That Belosalic stuff left me with some real trauma.😲 Those two times I dealt with erythroderma were probably the worst experiences of my life, so I try to steer clear of those kinds of toxins. I'm not sure if anyone else here has gone through erythroderma or truly knows what it feels like, but I know you mentioned something about it once.
As for our "esteemed" doctors... I wouldn't even bother commenting on them. They—and honestly, the entire American healthcare system—are basically zero compared to doctors elsewhere in the world. For instance, I think I'm one of the first people in the US to use these specific meds (Sandimmune Neoral) for psoriasis, even though they've been used globally for 20 years already. Usually, that drug is used for organ transplants to prevent rejection.
Well, we'll manage somehow, haha. Take care!👍

Lawrence Ramirez3 said:So, what's your commission or percentage on this? How much are they paying you to run an ad like that?

WHAT AD? I'm not out here working for anyone; I just started using Tianshi supplements.

Robin Robinson8 As specified by:
I've read through quite a few of your posts, and I honestly think your advice has been incredibly helpful to many people who are truly grateful... 👍
I can't seem to stop relying on my doctors' advice... I'm just too worried about this condition getting out of hand, especially with how it affects my skin and joints. I feel like I have to stay in constant contact with them...
That whole ordeal with the whitening left me with some lasting trauma... 😲 Those two bouts of erythrodermic psoriasis were easily the lowest points of my life. I try to stay far away from those kinds of toxic treatments now... I'm not sure if anyone here has actually dealt with erythrodermia or truly understands what that feels like, though I know you've shared some thoughts on it as well...
As for our doctors, I won't even bother commenting; they aren't even close to meeting global standards, much less our entire healthcare system... For instance, I'm one of the first people in America using these current medications—Sandimmune Neoral—for my psoriasis, even though this has been standard practice worldwide for twenty years. It’s actually a drug used for organ transplants to prevent rejection...
We'll find a way to endure it all, I suppose... cheers. 👍

👍
I’ve been reading online that using too many steroids in whitening creams can actually lead to tuberculosis and skin inflammation...😲
I feel like they're treating this whole thing as if it were just some basic drugstore moisturizer...🙄

Well, it is what it is. Regarding my psoriasis, I started out with guttate before it transitioned into the vulgaris type...

I’ve actually been hearing quite a bit about those immunosuppressants you’re using...

It’s a shame that all the treatments for this condition are equally unpleasant...

Well, like you said, we'll manage to pull through...👍

Robin Robinson8 said:I'm not sure if anyone here has dealt with erythrodermia or even knows what it feels like, :

Hey everyone!

Figured I'd jump in here and join the conversation. Just wanted to let you guys know I'm in the same boat. It's been almost 40 years now since I started dealing with plaque psoriasis. Then, about three years back, everything went sideways—erythrodermia and arthritis hit me all at once.
My skin got so thin, it was crazy. Seriously, it felt thinner than a sheet of cigarette paper. My feet swelled up so bad I couldn't fit into any shoes at all. Even in the middle of summer, I was walking around in wool socks because I was constantly freezing. My body just couldn't hold onto heat anymore.
I really have to thank Neotigason for getting me through this—started on a 30mg dose. For topical stuff, I was just using white petroleum jelly mixed with olive oil and St. John's Wort oil.

I actually just read somewhere that mixing 3-5% salicylic acid into petroleum jelly for the body works wonders. And for the scalp? Use olive oil with that same percentage of salicylic acid. Pretty sure I saw it mentioned in the New England Journal of Medicine.

That's all for now.

Best!

Robin Robinson8 said:Might as well add my own two cents about this soul-sucking disease. 🤣

I've been dealing with psoriasis for six years now. It started out as just two itchy spots on my scalp, but before I knew it, it spread across most of my head and even hit my face. After some heavy stress, a heatwave, and a bout of inflammation, things just went south and flared up all over my body.
Standard procedure here? Doctors just throw corticosteroids at you—stuff like Betamethasone or similar—along with basic petroleum jelly or some neutral base creams. For the scalp scaling, they usually just prescribe 5-10% salicylic acid mixed into lard. Typical.
Spent a month stuck in the hospital dealing with those nasty occlusive dressings. It helped a little, I guess, before they finally let me out.
Things went south again after some throat infection and a fever sent me straight to the hospital for three months. My private doctor suggested getting my tonsils out, so I did it, but honestly? It didn't change a damn thing.
I was on that white salicylic ointment for quite a while—maybe five or six months—under a doctor's supervision.
I've tried pretty much every type of phototherapy out there—UVA, UVB, PUVA, even those PUVA baths. Honestly, UVB barely did anything for me, and since my skin is insanely sensitive to light, I ended up getting fried a couple of times. My doctors eventually just gave up on it.
They put me on Psorcutan ointment. It’s pricey as hell, but it actually works—just can't use it alongside phototherapy. Apparently, I'm banned from doing both because of the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Two years after my psoriasis flared up, now the psoriatic arthritis is starting to kick in too. Honestly, I’ve lost track of everything I’ve already tried. 😕 Dealing with Medrol, Vioxx, Decortin, Indomethacin, Methotrexate, and Ketoconazole... currently stuck on the Indomethacin.
Then they bring out the Neotigason tablets for the severe cases like mine. I spent two years on them under a doctor's watch, and honestly? Zero results. I just kept using Betamethasone on top of it because, let's face it, nothing else was working. 😢 )
Did it on my own call, plus my private doctor suggested it. 🙏 I decided to go all in on treatment over in Israel. Four days after arriving, my whole system just crashed and I hit full-blown erythroderma. It’s what happens when you've been riding corticosteroids for way too long and then suddenly stop—your body gets used to them, panics when they're gone, and basically starts throwing everything out at once. 😁Since they say that therapy is totally natural over in Israel, I tried going off all my meds a few months early. Naturally, it blew up in my face.
Those thirty days there were pure misery. Don't let it get you down, though—I saw plenty of people bouncing back. Honestly, I was actually the second person they'd seen deal with this exact thing.
I actually went a full month without a single psoriasis flareup after that erythrodermic episode. 🤣 .
My doctor can't wrap her head around the idea that the erythrodermia was triggered by the corticosteroids. She’s convinced it happened because I stopped taking Neotigason, which is something my specialist over in Israel completely disagrees with.
Honestly, thanks to that dry air in Israel, my joints were fine for five months straight. Didn't even touch a single pill during that whole stretch.

Two years later and here we are—everything just resets and starts all over again. They couldn't give me much to work with, just some basic neutral creams and a bit of Belosalic, which didn't do squat because my erythrodermia flared up again this summer. I ended up stuck in an infectious disease ward where they actually thought I had sepsis. They spent a month pumping me full of heavy-duty antibiotics for sepsis, only to realize they were treating the wrong thing the whole time. Typical. 😠
Recovery is going nowhere—zero progress this summer (even with the ocean breeze which usually helps). Since leaving the hospital, I've been on Sandimmune oral tablets, which I'm still taking today. My doctor thought the improvement after the erythrodermia was thanks to those pills, so she was all happy about "finding the solution" while I spent two months being tortured. Then things took a turn for the worse again, so now I'm just waiting on biologics.
Just so you know, they actually recommended those biologics to me back in Israel over two years ago.

My private doctor also set up treatment for me in Munich, though I'm still debating if it's worth it.

Between the pills and the skin issues, my skin has thinned out horribly; I've even developed stretch marks up to 3 cm wide, it’s gross 👎 ,and any tiny bump or pressure against an object leaves me covered in bruises.

The whole time I've been out, I've had to monitor my blood and liver because of all these heavy meds I take every two months.

So yeah, that's the short version. I know a thing or two from living through it myself. 👍
Later.

Reading what you wrote, I get the feeling you were heading down the wrong path. Not to be blunt, but it feels like you trusted the doctors a little too much. Look, doctors are doctors and probably know more than we do, but when it comes to psoriasis, even they hit a wall sometimes. Honestly, I think you should've used fewer corticosteroids and stuck more to neutral creams or stuff with lower salicylic acid content. Also, since you have psoriatic arthritis, Petroleum might have been a better bet than whatever happened in Israel. You can always combine the two. Petroleum has actually worked wonders for psoriatic arthritis. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend long hospital stays because they tend to mix corticosteroids with various types of phototherapy, which is just brutal on the skin. Personally, I find hospitals fine for running tests or staying a couple of days, then getting out. Give Petroleum a shot; they have great doctors and specialists there, and the treatment is pretty natural.

Robin Robinson8 said:Might as well add my own take on this soul-sucking disease. 🤣

Been dealing with psoriasis for six years now. It started out as just two itchy spots on my scalp, but before I knew it, it had spread across most of my head and onto my face. Then things really went south—stress, weather changes, and some inflammation triggered a massive flare-up all over my body.
First off, our doctors usually just throw corticosteroids at you—think things like topical steroids—or some basic neutral creams and ointments. If you've got scaling on your scalp, they might even suggest a 5-10% salicylic acid mix in some lard.
I spent a month stuck in the hospital dealing with those occlusion wraps and stuff. It helped a little, I guess, before they finally let me go.
Things went south again after some throat infection and a fever sent me straight to the hospital for three months. My private doctor suggested getting my tonsils out, so I went through with it, but honestly? It didn't do a damn thing.
I was on that Betamethasone ointment for quite a while under a doctor's supervision—maybe five or six months.
I've tried basically every type of light therapy out there—UVA, UVB, PUVA, even those PUVA baths. Honestly, UVB barely did anything for me, and it just ended up burning my skin off because I'm way too sensitive to the sun. My doctors eventually just gave up on it.
They put me on Psorcutan. It’s pricey as hell, but honestly, it works. Just can't use it alongside light therapy—apparently, they won't allow that combo because of the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Two years after my psoriasis flared up, now this psoriatic arthritis thing is showing up too. Honestly, I’ve tried just about everything at this point—I'm out of ideas. 😕 I've cycled through Medrol, Vioxx, Decortin, Indomethacin, Methotrexate, and Ketoconazole... right now I'm just sticking with Indomethacin.
Then they bring out the Neotigason pills for the severe cases like mine. I spent two years on them under a doctor's watch, and honestly? Zero results. I just kept using Betnovate on top of everything else because, let's face it, nothing else was working. 😢 )
Did it on my own, plus my private doctor suggested it. 🙏 So, I decided to go all in on treatment over in Israel. Fast forward four days into the trip and everything's going south—I've hit full-blown erythroderma. It’s what happens when you lean on corticosteroids for way too long and then suddenly quit cold turkey; your body gets so used to the meds that once they're gone, your system just loses its mind and starts purging everything at once. Typical. 😁Since they claim that therapy is totally natural over in Israel, I figured I’d give it a shot. Unfortunately, it backfired on me because I had already tried cutting myself off from all my meds a few months prior.
Those thirty days there were pure misery. But don't lose hope—I saw plenty of people getting better, and honestly, I was the second person they treated for this kind of thing.
After that bout of erythrodermia, I actually went a full month without any psoriasis flare-ups. 🤣 .
My doctor couldn't pin my erythrodermia on the corticosteroids; she's convinced it happened because I stopped taking Neotigason, though the specialist in Israel thinks she's totally off base.
Honestly, thanks to that dry climate in Israel, my joints were totally fine for five months straight. I didn't even touch a single pill during that whole stretch.

Two years later and everything's just circling back to square one. They couldn't give me anything useful, so they just handed me some neutral creams and a bit of Belosalic—which didn't do squat because my erythrodermia flared up again this summer. I ended up stuck in an infectious disease ward where, based on their tests, they were convinced I had sepsis. They spent a whole month pumping me full of heavy-duty antibiotics meant for sepsis, only to finally realize they were treating the wrong thing the entire time. Typical. 😠
Recovery is going nowhere—zero progress this summer (and I usually find relief by the ocean). Since getting out of the hospital, I’ve been on Sandimmune oral tablets. My doctor thought the improvement after my erythrodermia was thanks to them, so she spent two months playing hero thinking she'd cracked the code. Then everything tanked again. Now I'm just waiting to start biologics.
Just so you know, they actually recommended those biologics to me over two years ago while I was in Israel.

My private doctor also set up some treatment options in Munich, but I'm still weighing whether it's worth it.

Between the meds and the skin issues, my skin has gotten incredibly thin. I've ended up with stretch marks nearly an inch wide—it's gross 👎 ,and even the slightest touch leaves me covered in bruises.

The whole time I've been sick, I've had to monitor my blood and liver levels constantly because of all the heavy-duty pills I take every couple of months.

So yeah, that's the short version. I know this stuff all too well from being in the trenches myself. 👍
Later.

Reading what you wrote, it feels like you might have been heading down the wrong path. Not to be blunt, but maybe you trusted the doctors a little too much. They know their stuff, sure, but when it comes to psoriasis, even they hit a wall sometimes. Honestly, I think you should've leaned less on the corticosteroids and stuck more to neutral creams or things with lower salicylate content. Also, since you're dealing with psoriatic arthritis, Petroleum might actually be a better bet than whatever they suggested in Israel. You could always try combining both. Petroleum works wonders for the arthritis side of things. Personally, I wouldn't recommend long hospital stays; they tend to mix corticosteroids with various types of phototherapy, which just wrecks your skin. For me, hospitals are fine for running tests or staying a few days, but that's it. Give Petroleum a shot—there are great clinics in the States that offer more natural approaches with solid specialists.
Best, 🙂

Lawrence Ramirez3 said:Reading through your post, I get the feeling you might have headed down a bit of a wrong path—I don't know, maybe you just placed too much faith in the doctors. Look, doctors are professionals and they likely know more than we do, but when it comes to psoriasis, even they can be pretty helpless sometimes. I suspect you should have leaned less on corticosteroids and focused more on neutral creams or those with a lower salicylic acid content. Also, since you're dealing with psoriatic arthritis, maybe petroleum would be a better alternative than going all the way to Israel? You could probably combine an Israeli trip with petroleum treatments. Petroleum has actually shown some real promise for psoriatic arthritis specifically. Generally speaking, I wouldn't recommend long hospital stays; they tend to combine corticosteroids with various types of phototherapy, which can be devastating for the skin. To me, hospitals are fine for getting tests done or staying a couple of days, but that's about it. Give petroleum a shot—it's available in the US, and they have great doctors and specialized staff, plus the treatment feels much more natural.

Hmm, well, when I first dealt with psoriasis, I was only 14. At that age, the doctors were really my only option—I didn't know anyone else who had this, and I was spiraling into a bit of a depression after finding out I’d be stuck with this for life. That was my first real encounter with specialists; growing up, I was healthy as a horse, so this was all new.
I mean, sure, doctors aren't perfect, but if you're facing something like cancer, you're still going to turn to them first—even knowing how heavy the diagnosis is and that they *might* be able to help. You have to trust them, right?!
I only use salicylic acid in my ointment on my scalp, and I've done that from the very beginning—but only because nothing else lifts those scales quite like it does. I've tried everything under the sun, but that's the only thing that actually works for me. As for corticosteroids... well, I've already mentioned that I run from them like the devil from temptation 🙂 though, unfortunately, I learned that lesson the hard way. I went to Israel specifically for my psoriasis, but it turned out to be especially helpful for my joints (if it hadn't been so expensive, I'd go back in a heartbeat). The treatment in Israel is completely natural—don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to preach, but I truly saw incredible results with my own eyes.
My rheumatologist actually suggested petroleum, but my dermatologists advised against it because I deal with three different types of psoriasis (vulgaris, guttata, and pustulosa), and they weren't sure how it would affect each one. Plus, at the petroleum facilities, they combine it with phototherapy, which I absolutely cannot do because my skin is just too sensitive.
I hate being in hospitals—honestly, I'd avoid it unless I absolutely had to—but when things take a turn for the worse, they're the only solution. 🙂 It's not like I'm begging them to keep me there longer, but I can't exactly run away either. The last two times I was admitted, I ended up clashing with both the nurses and the doctor, who kept insisting on applying a specific cream to one part of my body. Of course, I won that fight—nobody can force me into anything—and ever since then, I strictly demand neutral creams (like plain Vaseline or basic emollients).
All in all, it's just a constant battle with this disease. 😁
Thanks for taking a moment to respond to me. 😉 😍

The previous page mentioned using chamomile salve. I’ve started applying it preventatively—I can see some flare-ups starting on my legs, but I won't give 🤣 in just yet. Honestly, it actually seems to be working, at least since 🤷
. Maybe it's worth a shot? It started itching about a week ago, and this stuff really takes the edge off...
Anyway, I haven't had a single breakout in 4 or 5 weeks now. That's a personal record for me, at least...

It looks like everyone is getting a bit more active here, so I figured it was high time I chimed in too🙂!
It’s been three weeks since I started that fish spa therapy with the garra rufa. To be perfectly honest, none of the areas originally affected by my psoriasis have actually cleared up😢. If I had to find a silver lining, I suppose my condition has improved slightly in the sense that the scaling has slowed down, and I’ve noticed my skin reacts much faster to topical treatments now. I’ve scrolled through a few posts recommending herbal tea treatments, but in my experience, they didn't seem to do much—though perhaps they work better for those dealing with milder cases.
I recently came across a specific regimen for psoriasis: taking a 20% alcohol extract of propolis (about 20 drops in water or milk, three times a day), applying a cream containing 15% propolis, taking 120mg of royal jelly daily, and sticking to a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Has anyone else ventured down a similar path🤷?
For the past few days, I've been applying Psorcutan to certain spots, using "Psorex" on others and my scalp, while treating the rest of my skin with a basic moisturizing cream. All in all, I'm back to square one, just exploring various solutions again. Hopefully, something will eventually do the trick properly👍!!! Do keep posting; it seems like everyone is checking this forum quite frequently lately, because as soon as a new member shows up, ten or so replies pop up in a flash! God!

I’m honestly not even sure what I’m dealing with. Four years ago, when this first showed up, I didn't get any biopsies or anything—just a visual exam.😲The doctor told me it was psoriasis triggered by an infection (a throat infection, in my case) and prescribed Elocom and Betamethasone. That did the trick back then. Now, four years later, it’s flared up again right after another throat infection. This time, I've got these round spots all over my legs—not the typical teardrop shape—and different sized patches on my arms.😕Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Is this going to stay rare, or am I looking at more frequent flares down the road? If anyone knows anything, please, let me know.🤣🙏

Carl Wilson75 said:I'm honestly not even sure what I'm dealing with. Four years ago, when this first showed up, a doctor just took one look at me without any biopsies and told me it was psoriasis triggered by an infection—a sore throat in my case. He prescribed Elocom and Betnovate, which did the trick. Now, four years later, it's back after another throat infection, but this time it's these circular spots all over my legs and various sized patches on my arms, not the typical droplet shape.😲Has anyone else experienced something similar? Will it stay this sporadic, or will it start happening more frequently? If anyone knows anything, please let me know...😕 🤣 🙏

First things first, get a referral from your GP for a dermatologist... then you'll actually have some answers.☕

So, my dermatologist gave me his take. Right now, I’m just waiting to get a skin biopsy done. They couldn't do it immediately because I’ve been using Belosalic and Elocom in the meantime. The preliminary report suggests it might be psoriasis vulgaris. If I actually had this four years ago, does anyone know if it’s possible to go that long without any symptoms?😕Anyway, thanks for the advice, Chris Morgan67.

Carl Wilson75 said:That’s what my dermatologist told me. I'm currently waiting on a skin biopsy, though they couldn't perform it immediately because I've been using Belosalic and Elocom in the meantime. My preliminary diagnosis points toward plaque psoriasis. If this is indeed the case, I haven't had any symptoms for four years... I wonder if anyone else has experienced such a long period of remission...😕Much appreciated for the guidance, Chris Morgan67...

My mother has had psoriasis only on her elbow, and it’s been dormant for about 20 years now... so I suppose anything is possible...🙂

Robin Robinson8 said:Honestly, when I first dealt with psoriasis at 14, I just had to take the doctors' word for it. I didn't know anyone else going through it, and I was already spiraling into a bit of a depression once I realized this was a lifelong thing. That was my first real run-in with specialists, since I was basically a perfectly healthy kid growing up.
Look, docs can be sketchy sometimes, but even if you're facing something as heavy as cancer, you still turn to them. You know the diagnosis is brutal and they might only be able to help so much, but you still have to trust them, right?
I only use salicylic acid ointment on my scalp—and I’ve done that from day one—simply because nothing else lifts those scales quite like it. I've tried everything under the sun, but that's the only thing that actually works. As for corticosteroids, like I said before, I avoid them like the plague 🙂 though I definitely learned that lesson the hard way. I actually flew to Israel specifically for my psoriasis, but it turned out to be a lifesaver for my joints (if it wasn't so expensive, I'd go back in a heartbeat). The treatment in Israel is entirely natural—not that I'm preaching, but I saw the results with my own eyes.
My rheumatologist recommended Petroleum, but my dermatologists told me to skip it because I deal with three different types (vulgaris, guttata, and pustulosa) and they weren't sure how it would react with each. Plus, they combine it with phototherapy there, which is a total no-go for me since I'm hyper-sensitive to light.
I hate being in hospitals, and I'd avoid it if I could, but when things flare up, they're the only option. 🙂 It's not like I'm begging them to keep me there, but I can't exactly run away either. The last two times I was admitted, I ended up clashing with the nurses and the doctor who kept trying to force some white salicylic cream on one part of my body. I won that round, obviously—nobody's forcing me into anything—and ever since then, I strictly demand neutral creams (like basic Vaseline or Cetaphil).
It's just a constant grind with this disease. 😁
Thanks for taking a minute to chat with me. 😉 😍

Can you tell us about Israel? What was the vibe like—any real fear regarding terrorist attacks? How did the therapy affect the psoriasis itself versus the psoriatic arthritis? Do Americans travel there for treatment? If it's not a secret, what's the damage cost-wise? If it is a secret, just give me a ballpark. What's included in that price? And how long does the relief actually last 😁—as in, how soon do the symptoms crawl back? Do people from here actually make the trip?
Regarding those neutral creams and ointments, my dermatologists also mentioned that calendula ointment is a good option.
Best, 🙂