New here Imapsomom

[Grizzly Bear]

Mom

As others have said, steriods are a last resort.

Moisturiser, raw virgin coconut oil is brilliant and you should be able to get that it Canada.

Because your son is 13, he’s still growing and so his skin, so, have a look Mom for something called Aveeno.

It’s got oatmeal in their products and they do things from bars of soap to shampoo, body washes etc etc which I think might be beneficial for your son.
Ask your doctor Mom and he / she says yes then you’re on a winner.

Try to get an appointment with the dermatology clinic, they also should have lots of ideas but on here, we too have lots of ideas too.

May I ask, does your lad get free prescriptions or does everyone in Canada has medical insurance like the USA ?

Well, I hope that you both enjoy yourselves on here and ask anything you wish Mom.

GB

[Fred]

 Fred I know you dont have a high opinion of sorion but we are going to try it an hope for positive results

You have done your homework on Psoriasis Club.    

No I don't and there isn't much I can add apart from to say whatever your Son tries, I do sincerely hope he gets some relief as it's bad enough as an adult. A Teenager doesn't need psoriasis, they just need to enjoy life.

[Imapsomom]

GB in Canada we have free access to basic medical services, prescription medications are not covered however many people (my family included) have extended health benefits thru work so luckily we are covered. 
Our GP had no idea what my sons skin problem was, eventually sent us to the first of two dermatologists we have seen. The first  said my son had what was probably a one time glutate flare up, prescribed the clobetesol and said 'guarantee it will be gone in two weeks', imagine the heartbreak when we discovered how wrong he was. The second dermatologist recommended Stelara on the first visit, which I feel is just to drastic at this point. My son does have P on most parts of his body, but tiny spots and only 1 or two per body part, except a couple patches on one of his legs that are about 2 inches in diameter. The scalp is probably what bothers him the most as he is very fair so its visible, and he has gotten a couple spots on his face. 'Luckily' the P on his face just blends in with his 13 year old boy pimples
I do have a question regarding using cream like aveno. If you apply after a shower can you then use the steroid cream (I have been using these for a couple weeks at a time to keep things under control somewhat) or should you wait until another time in the day? Its tricky to get him do do this stuff regularly....
Thank you again, all of you for your responses and guidance!

[Bill]

Hi Imapsomum,

My niece was covered as a little kid. Her dermatologist used a coal tar preparation which can be made at a pharmacy: It took a number of weeks, but it was eventually effective. My sister tells me this story with the inference that I did not manage my psoriasis properly. This narks me and I tell her that the topicals I used were excellent, but they failed because as my disease had worsened they were no longer up to the job. This became very apparent to me when I started systemic fumaric acid esters and reduced my disease by 90% within a few months.

Having had psoriasis for nearly thirty years, many of those years with a severe illness, I can assure you that I am only interested in treatments that work. Having the great fortune of being on a really effective treatment for nearly six years, I now view alternative therapies and dietary management with the contempt that they deserve. As for steroids I would not touch them.

My advice is to keep following the advice of your dermatologist. Psoriasis is not a disease to be on the wrong side of. It is certainly not a disease that you can treat unconventionally (true for at least 99% of sufferers). Find something that works!

Good luck.

[Turnedlight]

Hi imapsomom

I know a lad who had a guttate outbreak after an illness and it cleared up totally. I think it’s quite common to play out that way.
Having said that P is something you have for life, you don’t always necessarily have the same coverage all the time. I first broke out on my elbows at 18 years but got rid of it a couple of months later with the steroid creams and didn’t have another outbreak for 8 or 10 years. And then it was only a patch on my neck, or a patch on my leg etc. So there’s every possibility he will have a partial or total remission where he can forget about it for a while. In the meantime I’d probably do what you’re doing and try diet etc. I have not found it that useful but then I haven’t been dedicated enough to really go for it!

[D Foster]

Hi imapsomom ,Welcome to the club. I can't add a lot to what been said however for the scalp I used Cocois scalp ointment which contains three active ingredients, coal tar, salicylic acid and precipitated sulphur plus coconut oil.For me it worked very well however I would always check with a dermatologist before using anything like that on someone so young.
We are all different so what works for one does not necessarily work for another but I feel for your son and I hope that he finds something that keeps it well under control, I think that we have reached a point where there is a strong possibility that in the not too distant future a "cure" will be found.
Can I wish you all the best and I hope you find something that works for him.

[Imapsomom]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and advice!

[KyPrincess]

Hi. Welcome to the club.

[Imapsomom]

Hi. Welcome to the club.

Hi! Thank you

[Kat]

Welcome!

The scalp psoriasis bothered me the most too, not only with the itching, but having scaling that makes it look like you have a severe case of dandruff isn't any fun.

I hope you can find something that works and I understand you wanting to go as light on the treatment as possible. But it sounds like you know the direction you want to go and you'll get tons of good advice on this forum, I know I did.

Best of luck!
Kat