Newly diagnosed and about to start Acitretin

[Kentpatient]

Can I ask all you wise people something else....
I have psoriasis now in my ears and it sounds as if I'm living underwater. My GP gave me steroid ear drops. In my right ear today I have ear ache and it feels sore and I'm even more deaf...is there anything else I can do? I go away on Tuesday and I'm worried the flight will make it worse
Thank you as always

Hi KP
Did your GP check in your ears? On Acitretin I suffer from excess wax production and this can give a similar sensation.

As for your Dermy visit I can't be too hard on him with the dosing. With Acitretin it is a black art it is very much a guess based on your weight. You are right at this stage to keep with it. As Fumaderm isn't licenced it doesn't surprise me he has little experience with it but with Skilarence now available, he should be aware of it and be as willing to try it as you are. I would like to try it, but because of a previous medical issues my  Dermy is dead against me trying anything but the acitretin. I am not expecting full clearance. I am happy with just a lot less and no itching.

Hi JohnB
Originally my GP did look in my ears and said I should use steroid drops. It's just since the Acitretin I found this weekend that my right ear is really sore and aching and now my hearing is completely muffled much worse than when my GP originally saw it. How did you treat it? 

I really want my face clear and hopefully my arms but I accept it might not all go elsewhere. Less itchiness would be great too!! I will try Acitretin a bit longer then wil need to talk again to the dermatologist.

[JohnB]

Can I ask all you wise people something else....
I have psoriasis now in my ears and it sounds as if I'm living underwater. My GP gave me steroid ear drops. In my right ear today I have ear ache and it feels sore and I'm even more deaf...is there anything else I can do? I go away on Tuesday and I'm worried the flight will make it worse
Thank you as always

Hi KP
Did your GP check in your ears? On Acitretin I suffer from excess wax production and this can give a similar sensation.

As for your Dermy visit I can't be too hard on him with the dosing. With Acitretin it is a black art it is very much a guess based on your weight. You are right at this stage to keep with it. As Fumaderm isn't licenced it doesn't surprise me he has little experience with it but with Skilarence now available, he should be aware of it and be as willing to try it as you are. I would like to try it, but because of a previous medical issues my  Dermy is dead against me trying anything but the acitretin. I am not expecting full clearance. I am happy with just a lot less and no itching.

Hi JohnB
Originally my GP did look in my ears and said I should use steroid drops. It's just since the Acitretin I found this weekend that my right ear is really sore and aching and now my hearing is completely muffled much worse than when my GP originally saw it. How did you treat it? 

I really want my face clear and hopefully my arms but I accept it might not all go elsewhere. Less itchiness would be great too!! I will try Acitretin a bit longer then wil need to talk again to the dermatologist.

Morning KP
Mine was sorted with a truck wash. Being wax it was easily sorted and once sluiced out the inflammation died down fairly quickly without any further treatment.

I can understand you wanting  your face clear and hope you see better clearance soon. Chilling out on your holiday will help a lot. Enjoy!

[Kentpatient]

Can I ask all you wise people something else....
I have psoriasis now in my ears and it sounds as if I'm living underwater. My GP gave me steroid ear drops. In my right ear today I have ear ache and it feels sore and I'm even more deaf...is there anything else I can do? I go away on Tuesday and I'm worried the flight will make it worse
Thank you as always

Hi KP
Did your GP check in your ears? On Acitretin I suffer from excess wax production and this can give a similar sensation.

As for your Dermy visit I can't be too hard on him with the dosing. With Acitretin it is a black art it is very much a guess based on your weight. You are right at this stage to keep with it. As Fumaderm isn't licenced it doesn't surprise me he has little experience with it but with Skilarence now available, he should be aware of it and be as willing to try it as you are. I would like to try it, but because of a previous medical issues my  Dermy is dead against me trying anything but the acitretin. I am not expecting full clearance. I am happy with just a lot less and no itching.

Hi JohnB
Originally my GP did look in my ears and said I should use steroid drops. It's just since the Acitretin I found this weekend that my right ear is really sore and aching and now my hearing is completely muffled much worse than when my GP originally saw it. How did you treat it? 

I really want my face clear and hopefully my arms but I accept it might not all go elsewhere. Less itchiness would be great too!! I will try Acitretin a bit longer then wil need to talk again to the dermatologist.

Morning KP
Mine was sorted with a truck wash. Being wax it was easily sorted and once sluiced out the inflammation died down fairly quickly without any further treatment.

I can understand you wanting  your face clear and hope you see better clearance soon. Chilling out on your holiday will help a lot. Enjoy!

Thank you. I saw a GP at urgent care today and have got an ear infection so am on antibiotics. Hoping it improves before I fly. My psoriasis just seems to be spreading. The first bits to pop up are improving but new patches are appearing all the time. Not sure if that's the Acitretin ? I'm 2 weeks 4 days in. Have peeling fingertips and palms but headaches have stopped. Can't wait to see some real results.

[JohnB]

Can I ask all you wise people something else....
I have psoriasis now in my ears and it sounds as if I'm living underwater. My GP gave me steroid ear drops. In my right ear today I have ear ache and it feels sore and I'm even more deaf...is there anything else I can do? I go away on Tuesday and I'm worried the flight will make it worse
Thank you as always

Hi KP
Did your GP check in your ears? On Acitretin I suffer from excess wax production and this can give a similar sensation.

As for your Dermy visit I can't be too hard on him with the dosing. With Acitretin it is a black art it is very much a guess based on your weight. You are right at this stage to keep with it. As Fumaderm isn't licenced it doesn't surprise me he has little experience with it but with Skilarence now available, he should be aware of it and be as willing to try it as you are. I would like to try it, but because of a previous medical issues my  Dermy is dead against me trying anything but the acitretin. I am not expecting full clearance. I am happy with just a lot less and no itching.

Hi JohnB
Originally my GP did look in my ears and said I should use steroid drops. It's just since the Acitretin I found this weekend that my right ear is really sore and aching and now my hearing is completely muffled much worse than when my GP originally saw it. How did you treat it? 

I really want my face clear and hopefully my arms but I accept it might not all go elsewhere. Less itchiness would be great too!! I will try Acitretin a bit longer then wil need to talk again to the dermatologist.

Morning KP
Mine was sorted with a truck wash. Being wax it was easily sorted and once sluiced out the inflammation died down fairly quickly without any further treatment.

I can understand you wanting  your face clear and hope you see better clearance soon. Chilling out on your holiday will help a lot. Enjoy!

Thank you. I saw a GP at urgent care today and have got an ear infection so am on antibiotics. Hoping it improves before I fly. My psoriasis just seems to be spreading. The first bits to pop up are improving but new patches are appearing all the time. Not sure if that's the Acitretin ? I'm 2 weeks 4 days in. Have peeling fingertips and palms but headaches have stopped. Can't wait to see some real results.

I'm not sure the acitretin would be the culprit for your infection it doesn't normally drop your immunity levels like mtx will. The antibiotics will kick in quickly and I should imagine you will be fine flying. I've done the same with an awful lot worse. 

Welcome to the wonderful world of fraying. It will wind you up no end. Keep your hands well moisturised it will help. Next stop peeling feet  .

Sadly you will still get some small flair ups but they will die down as you load up on acitretin.

It is good the headaches have stopped.

Now my advice is go and pack

[Kentpatient]

Update on Aciteretin 
Day 27 now.
Had a good break in the sun....after going completely deaf in both ears post flight and having them syringed by a Greek ENT doctor who has increased my oral antibiotics and added antibiotic and steroid drops. Said the infection in my left ear was extensive despite the dose of antibiotics I was already on.  Hearing better in both ears but not 100 per cent and left ear remains sore. Couldn't believe the amount of skin that came out. Am going to ask GP for ENT referral as I'm not sure my dermatologist can deal with it. 

As for the rest of me...it's better news. A mix of sun (well lots of lying in the shade and using factor 30 sun cream) and Aciteretin. The psoriasis on my fore arms has gone flat and pink, same on front of shins, back of legs still quite bad but thighs almost normal as are backs of hands. My back is almost clear, my front is getting clearer by the day. My scalp is still itchy but no longer feels as as if I have ants under my skin so slight improvement. And my face looks more like regular sunburn rather than a fire or chemical burn. People definitely staring less and only slight swelling  around my eyes. Still using protopic. 

As for side effects. Well my hands and feet are well and truly peeling. I'm very itchy, so much more than before. I still have insomnia. One little toe nail is starting to detach. My hair does come out more when I wash it but that could be the scalp psoriasis. Had bloods done today ready for dermatologist appointment to review the medication .

So all in all feeling more positive   Hoping bloods OK and ears sort out and improvements can continue.

[Caroline]

That's looking good Kentpatient. Heading for improvement.
Most important of course is that you are feeling better, which has also a positive impact.
Keep on going !!

[jiml]

Good news that the mix of sun and acetretin has worked well for you so far. I hope it continues to improve for you so you can enjoy the summer flake and pain free.
I hope you get your ears sorted out, that must have been scary going deaf while on holiday, but it sounds as if you had good treatment in Greece

Good luck

[Wooley]

So pleased that you are feeling a bit more positive.  Looks like the holiday did you good and raised your spirits a little......Scary about your ear infections though, hope you get them sorted soon......... 

[Fred]

Good to hear you are feeling more positive. Hope you get your ear problem sorted soon.

[Kentpatient]

Thank you all for your encouragement. I am seeing an ENT doc tomorrow about my ears so hoping they will get sorted out. Saw the dermatologist today who said to stay on current dose of Aciteretin for another 28 days and then can assess my face and see if need an increased dose or move to methotrexate .