treatments for psoriasis or eczema: damn skin problem! - Psoriasis Message Board

Maddman · 07-10-2008, 01:37 AM

heres the backround,sorry for ramble

So I have been fighting with a very annoying skin problem . Probably considered psoriasis. I once thought it must be some kind of fungus, alot like athlete foot, that I have had problems with. When playing many different sports, with extreme heat and sweaty socks on for hours the athletes foot was a problem. eventually I pretty much got rid of it, with the usual anti itch and anti fungus otc meds, and keeping the feet cool and dry.
it was probably all gone for a while , but years later more itchy spots on the feet and then on the hands, fingers knuckles. this became the problem .
Spots and area of inflamed, blistering skin would develop. if left untreated , it could get terribly bad. Itchy, blistering spots, on the fingers , hands, feet.
Well, this has gone on for years . remembering back I believe a doc gave me a dose pac of methylprednisolone or something and that was one of the only times it went away for a long while. So after every few weeks or couple months i would end up going back and getting more topical ointments and then they wouldnt work so well. So I would see another doctor would give me the dose pac and more different ointments to try. Some of the ointments had good effects , but they seemed to be corticosteroids also. Not that they bother me at all, but thats the only thing that has worked .
But then the effectiveness has really worn off, and sometime the blistering itchy spots would return. So i let it get a little bad and returned to a doc and got him to prescribe alot of prednisone.
Well thank goodness for that sh*t. Its antinflammatory functions would take care of business. it appears my body likes the stuff(pred) .
The skin problem was/is psoriasis like showing up at my hands, around my fingers and at the borders of my palms ,and also on the tops of my feet...
The medication would clear it up in short order.
But then it would come back like usual . Now it appears it might be coming back a little more quickly .....
I know what is happening , and feel I should get off the pred stuff.

I need to find some other antinflammatory acting medicine or herb or treatment....
WHat oral anti inflammatory meds are htere out there???

Anyone have any ideas for a strong antiinflammatory for the skin ???

to replace oral or topical corticosteroids???

apparently there are some severe cases outhtere....

any herbs ,oils, nutrients or anything help anyone????

willy8512 · 07-10-2008, 07:21 PM

What you seem to be describing is eczema. It is close to psoriasis in the way it feels. Their are a lot of medications but not all work with everyone. Eczema is thought to be related to allergies and for some people diet makes a huge difference and others no difference.
If the dermatologist said it was psoriasis then diet will not do anything. If you haven't been diagnosed by a dermatologist I would do that. Then ask for Enbrel
Take a look at some of the information on eczema and see if that resembles your symptoms.
If it is eczema you need to change your washing habits and products. Then go on a produce diet staying mainly with alkalizing fruits and vegetables.

My skin problem is perplexing to the dermatologist. The skin doesn't itch and doesn't turn red or scaly it just hurts and stings periodically. some times for minutes sometimes for half an hour. But it always goes away after a shower.
They prescribed steroids which always made things worse. I'm on my fourth dermatologist. This time the doctor is actually listening not just saying it's eczema everything is eczema.

Maddman · 07-11-2008, 07:49 AM

ah the doctors seem to call it eczema also . but it seems they like to generalize ....

It is always poping up in circular spots , and seems more inflamed and blistery at times....if it gets bad, if it let develop I think its really alot like the psoriasis types

I have thought that drinking lots of beer has made it worse , i don't know if this is a function of hindering the immune system or something from the alcohol or yeast ....

all I can say is that it very unnatural and has gotta get eradicated....

I am about to start trying these various herbal remedies, and the magical potions found on the net

janewhite1 · 07-11-2008, 08:29 AM

Um, if you have allergies, a whole mess of herbs might not be the best idea, either. Plenty of people are allergic to plants.

willy8512 · 07-11-2008, 06:19 PM

I agree
Herbal medicine is probably not the best choice.
Alcohol will definitely make it worse. This is eczema. I would bet that you would have better luck with modifying your skin care routines and especially your diet.
Try going a few days with just fruit and water absolutely no carbs or meat. Get short cool showers with oilatum not soap. Apply Vaseline on the areas that are giving you problems. Then see how much it improves. I say Vaseline because I bet you are allergic to some of the moisturizers that you have been using. I found out the hard way.
Diet for eczema is funny it's not that you are allergic to a specific product but you might not digest that product properly. You might test negative to something and later recognize that every time you use it your symptoms get bad.
I know that no one wants to be forced to have to live a certain way because of a skin problem, but even though I love hot spicy food, I realize the consequences.