New member looking to compare symptoms

[Stevie1963]

Hi all, I joined this forum a while back but this is my first entry so please be patient.
I was diagnosed with psoriasis around 18 months ago after returning from a holiday in Crete. As I did catch the sun quite a lot I was a little worried it may be skin cancer hence my initial visit to the Docs.
I was prescribed with Dovobet which to be honest doesn’t seem to do a lot of good. The Psoriasis has got worse around my knees and elbows since the initial diagnosis but nothing like as bad as some of the members here seem to have it.
However I holidayed in Tunisia this year and it seems to have accelerated the spread so I am wondering if being in the salty sea water may aggravate it and just wondered if any other members have had the same experience as myself?
Prior to my holiday in Crete I haven't swam in the sea for many years but it may obviously be a coincidence that it started around this time.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Steve
P.S
I also noticed that on the instructions on my medication it advises only continued use for 7 – 10 days while I’ve read many members seem to use it constantly. Are there different strengths of this medication ?

[Stevie1963]

Hi again Folks,  May not have made myself clear here on re-reading my post. After beibg in the sun my Psoriasis is a lot better. Its after I return home and have less exposure to the sun that is seems to return with a vengence. I'm just wondering if the sea can be worsening it long term.
Thanks again
Steve

[Fred Hoggin]

Hi Stevie, welcome along, not sure about the sea. but the sun is very good.

Just don't overdue it.

All the best.

Fred 

[yorkie]

Hi Stevie and welcome to PHO

Best wishes

Yorkie 

[david_8]

hi, Stevie

we all different peps with different types of p and even triggers etc

! its a shame your gp started you of at the high end of the topical treatment ladder

? what was your treatment regime just dovobet ftu twice a day  etc ,
any moisturiser prescribed let us know

for most peps sun&sea= balneotherapy is good for there p
unless you have a photosenseative p etc,
some peps get have seasonal p IE p flares in winter calm in summer etc
hope this as helped

eons ago i had derm who signed me off work in the summer so i could catch the sun &sea

have a look  back through the old pages and then use the search box
loads of info well worth it

[Stevie1963]

Hi again,  The Doc just gave me a prescription for this cream and told me the sun was good for it. Oh and to return when I needed more cream. No advice on moisturising or anything like that. I've only learned more regarding moisturising and possible help techniques from surfing the net so any pointers or suggestions that anyone can offer will be greatly apreciated.

[Stevie1963]

Hi David 8.  Thanks for the advice, I'll go and do a search for any interesting info.

[riaY]

Hiya and welcome to PHO. Gp's in my opinion/experience do not know enough about p to traet you properly. If I were you I would ask/insist on a referral to a derm who can offer you so much more and know much more about it. The best thing for my p seems to be light treat combined with tar. Only a derm can prescribe this for you. Good luck with whatever you try.

[Stevie1963]

Thanks riaY and to all of you who have taken the time to respond. I will request a visit with a dermatologist at my next visit to see what else can be done.

[Scaled Down]

Hi Stevie and welcome...I concur with David_8...for Me the Sea/Sun combination is very good..I think the salty water strips away the scale so the suns rays can get to work.

But I realise that some folks psoriasis gets provoked with sunburn (which is quite likely to occur on newly scale free lesions)..so if you are in this category..best take care...

[Stevie1963]

Thanks Scaled down for your tips, That does make sense. A comment that David * made regarding the Dovobert cream I've been given, is that quite a strong medication then as I only have a very mind form of Psoriasis at present ?
Steve

[riaY]

Me again Dovobet is a pretty strong steroid which can cause a bad rebound flare if you don't wean yourself off it slowly. I think (just my opinion) that you should have been offered something less powerfull to start with especially if your p is pretty mild.

[gingping]

Hi, I find that although the sun helps for a short term, salt water definitely does no good for my psoriasis as the salt dries out the skin therefore there are no long term benefits. 

[Scruff]

Hello and welcome. A lot of people actually find hat sea water helps their p, but it is the nature of this disease that if effects peeps differently. Hope things are improving for you.

Scruff

[jotee]

Hi,

I find the sun and salt water are good for my psoriasis. After watching the reactions of my skin I think that dry heat is excellent for it. Humidity and also hard water really are bad for me. Everyone is different though.

On steriod creams, they shouldn't really be used more than 2 weeks at a time. You should try and get it under control with the creams and then use something a bit weaker I think. All the steriod rotation and usage information is a bit of a puzzle to me still! Sorry! I have been using these things for 10 years on and off, and every healthcare professional I speak to gives me a different story! i usually just read the labels now and ignore what they said! 

Hope that helps!

Jotee

[JUDGE DREDD]

Hello & Welcome Steve. 

[newshaz]

For what it'd worth, My dad used to cover up in the sun, it really made it worse. his treatment was always coal tar. He has 95% covering - head to toe. Cannot update what meds now though not spoken in 15 years...

[weenic1986]

I find that in the summer my p gets better but I still have nasty looking red patches where the p has been. 

I also used to go for sunbeds once a week as I found that helped to clear it also.  Obviously going for sunbeds is not the best option but it works for some.  I have recently started going again but have no luck with it this time round.

Hope you get your questions answered.

Best wishes

[karen t]

Hi I used dovobet cream for a while on and off to start with it was brill, but it stopped working aswell after awhile.

Found when I stopped using it p came back. I do use dovonex cream which I find quite good I only have little spots of p. I used to use a coal tar cream which at first I got on prescription but then was able to buy over the counter. Can't remember what it was called, but they stopped making it GP said it was because coal tar was linked with cancer scare. I don't know if it was just coincidence but my p was really clear when using it. Did get something similar from GP a couple of years ago but it had a steroid in it. Just remembered it was called Alpyhsol cream smelt funny but was really good.

Does anyone know of anything similar.

[hove]

Hi and welcome,

I do not use dovobet any more - I have had bad rebounds and seen skin damage on thinner skin areas in 3 weeks of use. Not for me.
Dovonex is the same but without the steroid - some people are concerned about the amount of calcium absorbtion so like all medications and treatments you are given or decide on - make it your decission and read up and weigh up the risks.


I was wondring what p your gp has diagnosed as gp's are often not so good with skin conditions as there are so many. I have guttate P which responds well to the sun but it is not an exact science (and there are risks).

Crete being closer to the equator -time of year - your skin type etc etc
The sun exposure does cause damage to the skin (a little pinkness helps my p very quickly) but under the skin, when the p is flaring, the body is still attacking the skin so that could be why you are seeing it come up again. Also if I sunburn badly, I find the p can attack in these damaged regions if the p is flaring.

We are all different as many have said here and also, the p can cycle and the effects change so I hope it calms down for you.

[flecksable_flyer]

Hello! Waving from "across the pond"! I just wanted to welcome you.

Sabra & Surrido