psoriasis psucks!

I started using Humira in March of 2015 and was on it through January of this year, when I stopped taking it. Even though my skin was completely clear on Humira (!!), the side effects, while nothing super serious, added up, and I didn’t want to be on it indefinitely. (Also, let’s be honest, I really hate giving myself injections.) So far, I’m getting a few little spots but no flare-ups yet, although I think the medication is probably still not entirely cleared from my body. I’m scared that it will rear its head before summer but am really really hoping it stays like this! If it flares again soon, I might experiment with other solutions, like reducing how much dairy I eat. (I’m vegetarian and love cheese but am also lactose-intolerant... Womp womp.) I’m also considering trying Otezla, which my dermatologist said would be the next step, but I want to put off having to take another full-body super-intensive medication for as long as I can...

Hi. I don’t know when you wrote this and maybe it’s been a while, so I’m sorry for the slow response! Have you made any progress yet with your mother? If not, I’m sorry! It sounds like what you’re going through is incredibly frustrating. Since you said you’ve been diagnosed with seborrhea, it sounds like you have a doctor you can go to. Any chance you can go back to them? Definitely make sure to keep track (like maybe even write down or draw a diagram) of what symptoms you’ve been having and where it has spread or worsened. Psoriasis and seborrhea don’t always affect the same parts of the body, so this will help with a diagnosis. The doctor should take a skin sample too, to be sure -- did they do that before? If not, this is definitely worth asking about if you’re able to go back in.

If your mother is preventing you from going to the doctor in some way, that’s a tricky situation. Maybe she’ll respond better if you show you’ve done research on it and have good reason to believe it might be psoriasis? I always find the National Psoriasis Foundation’s website to be really helpful. They have a lot of resources which may be of use to you, like fact sheets you could provide to your mom. Under the “resources” tab on the homepage, you’ll also find links where you can talk to Patient Navigators or get one-on-one support from someone else with psoriasis. I haven’t personally used this tool before, but I imagine that the Patient Navigators, for instance, might have some other ideas on what you can do.

Disclaimer: You may know and have tried all of this stuff already, and if so, my apologies! I just thought I’d flesh out my response with some more general info about psoriasis treatments for anyone who is interested.

First, definitely discuss your concerns with your dermatologist, if you haven’t yet and if you have a dermatologist – I’m assuming you do since you’re implying you have a prescription for creams. Psoriasis treatment often follows this “treatment ladder”, where you try the least riskiest treatment first and then proceed through the next “steps” if the psoriasis doesn’t improve. This generally means trying creams (AKA topical ointments, usually steroid creams) first, then ultraviolet light therapy, then systemic medications (which are given orally, in liquid, or via injection)  then biologics (which directly affect your immune system and include both pills and injections). In other words, it’s possible that, depending on your particular situation, your doctor will try you on UV light treatment or something else first before they try you on biologics.

I’d also suggest exploring alternative treatments if you can – although everyone’s psoriasis responds to different triggers and solutions, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, meaning it’s tied to the immune system and therefore the healthy functioning of your entire body. Taking care of your whole body as best you can (the usual: drinking plenty of water, eating your vegetables, getting enough sleep, and exercising) really can go a long way. I know that’s way easier to say than do, but it really is important. It’s also really important to moisturize with a good lotion as often as possible. I especially like Lush Dream Cream, Aveeno (or drugstore generic version), and Eucerin. See this old post for other natural remedies.

Also note that there may be ways of increasing the effectiveness of the prescription cream you use, too – for instance, applying it before bed and wrapping your limbs, etc. in plastic wrap (AKA occlusion). Sounds weird and isn’t the most comfortable thing, but it can help with softening the plaques. Talk to your dermatologist before trying that as some creams are too strong for it and it can damage your skin.

I was on methotrexate (a pill medication) for a year about 8 years ago. It didn’t do a whole lot for me (and I used creams at the same time), but I was also in college and didn’t have a great lifestyle/wasn’t taking care of myself, so I’m sure that made quite a difference. One downside of methotrexate for many people is that you can’t drink alcohol when you’re on it. You also can’t take it if you’re pregnant. And, as with all the biologic medications, because it suppresses your immune system, you can be at increased risk for certain infections. It’s certainly worth a try because it definitely works for many people, but again, your dermatologist (and you!) may want to try other treatments first.

Other pill medications besides methotrexate include Otezla (which I don’t know much about but might try next time my skin really flares) and a couple other other systemic medications.

“Doctors aren’t entirely sure what triggers rheumatoid arthritis, a disease in which the body turns on itself to attack the joints, but an emerging body of research is focusing on a potential culprit: the bacteria that live in our intestines.

Several recent studies have found intriguing links between gut microbes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases in which the body’s immune system goes awry and attacks its own tissue.