Hello from Iowa

[Coffeeplease]

Hi everyone!  I'm happy to have found this forum while doing a  google search for natural remedies.  I was diagnosed around 1983 (about 10 years old) with a generic "psoriasis" diagnosis.  In the beginning it covered both of my legs.  I don't recall at the time if they gave me any treatment?  That was thirty some odd years ago....

In my twenties it emerged again on my scalp, a spot here and there on my arms, elbows, back, stomach.  Using various natural and over-the-counter lotions, creams, and sunlight/tanning beds have kept it pretty under control and felt very fortunate.

Two years ago, during an extremely stressful period of my life, it explodes on my scalp and I lost all of my hair. Well, half of my hair and then I cut the rest off because I was tired of handfuls coming out in the shower every day.  I'm happy to say my hair has grown back fuller and thicker than ever and my scalp has calmed down.  Currently, I use shea moisture coconut oil on my hair about every other day, massaging through hair and scalp and leave it on overnight.  Coconut oil has seemed to provide the best relief for my scalp.

But a year ago the rest of my skin went nuts with P.  Arms, elbows, torso, legs, back.  At that time, I'm guessing it was covering about 60% of my body.  I've been using a combination of prescribed steroid cream (Mometasone), coconut oil, UVB tanning bed 2-3x a week, CeraVe Psoriasis Cream, and now adding baking soda baths.  My family doctor prescribes the Mometasone and asked me if I wanted to be referred to a dermatologist however I don't have any health insurance right now.  I'm interested in natural/cost friendly treatments.

I've had many flares and remissions over my life.  It doesn't seem to be triggered by anything consistently other than stressful times.  Hangs around a year or a couple and then fades away again.  The baking soda baths have given me much relief from the itching, redness, scaling.  This flare has been going on exactly a year so far, but it is getting better and gradually clearing.  I would estimate it's down to about 30% of my body.

I've found so much great information here already, and it's a comfort to know there are people out there who understand.   

Glad to be here, this seems like a great group!
Lillie

[Raxyl]

Welcome to the club Lillie, I hope you can find relief soon.  There are plenty of friendly, knowledgable people here to chat with and bounce idea's off.  Have you had a referral to a Dermatologist for a formal diagnosis yet? That might be a good next step.

Craig

[jiml]

Hi Lillie and a big welcome to the club  I'm glad you have found us and have had a good look around  and have got some information
All of us here are in the same boat and suffer with psoriasis, we are a friendly group happy to share information and experiences there are no health professionals here but I think you will find more information here than anywhere else, if you have any questions just shout and someone should be able to help or point you towards the answer

I see you are thinking more of natural treatments so have a look through as we have some interesting threads  see here Natural Treatments For Psoriasis
Enjoy the forum and hope to hear more from you
Jim

[Coffeeplease]

Thank you for the welcome Jim! I keep looking through the natural treatments, there is a wealth of wonderful information there...and I will be sure to reach out and ask questions.  

Thank you again!
Lillie

[jiml]

Thank you for the welcome Jim! I keep looking through the natural treatments, there is a wealth of wonderful information there...and I will be sure to reach out and ask questions.  

Thank you again!
Lillie

You're welcome Lillie there are some good threads in there about healing the gut and I think thats a good idea to start with, if you have the will power which sadly I don't have I rely on drugs for clearance but if I relied on insurance I'm sure I would go the natural way but fortunately we have a free health service here in the U.K.

[Kat]

Welcome Lillie!

Yes there is tons of info here and it's a group of nice people who not only understand, but are also willing to help where they can.

I found that Coconut oil offered me some relief as well. I understand why you'd be hesitant to go to a dermatologist if you currently don't have health insurance. I know there are a lot of programs offered by manufacturers so if you don't find anything natural that helps perhaps keep that in mind. I'm not sure if they would require at least some type of insurance or not however. For example my last biologic was denied by my insurance, but my cost was only $25 per shipment. The two prior to that were at no cost to me, mostly due to the plans offered by the manufacturer. I do know that one of them required having commercial (non-government) insurance. At least on the plan I was on - Not sure about the others. I do know they had different plans for government insurance, I do not know if they had plans for no insurance. But if things don't improve for you it doesn't hurt to ask around.

Hopefully you will find a natural remedy to help deal with your psoriasis.

[Wooley]

Hi Lillie welcome to the club....

Lots of very knowledgeable and friendly people on here as well as lots of good information too!

Enjoy your time here 

Wooley 

[Fred]

Hello Lillie  to Psoriasis Club.

So pleased to hear you are finding our forum helpful, I can't offer much about natural but I see Jim has pointed you to the natural section and it sounds like you have already been reading. 

Looking at your username, you may be interested in this thread: [Group Specific] 

And yes we do have a great bunch of people that understand how you feel, and plenty willing to listen so just dive on in.

Regards.

Fred.

[Coffeeplease]

Thank you so much everyone!  I really appreciate all of your messages.

Since it seems to be healing slowly and making progress, I haven't had yet decided to ask for a referral to a derm.  If things would take a turn back to the worse, I'm not against self paying for a visit to a dermatologist.  My family doc said she would be happy to refer me.

I have considered food related/nutrition.  Over the many years, I've eliminated gluten, wheat, tried all organic.  I can't give up meat or my coffee unfortunately!  Like many others have said, there are things I just won't sacrifice.  It seems that I've not noticed much difference when making diet changes (for me anyway). For the few years I was eating a pretty clean diet but didn't see much difference in my P.  I do know that works for some people, we are all different!  I firmly believe that some treatments  help others, while maybe not someone else.  And that is ok.  W

I feel hopeful as I see the redness breaking up and healed new skin, so I find that encouraging.  I continue with baking soda baths, which have helped so much with the pain/irritation/redness.

And Fred, I will be voting for the coffee shop name!  My lifelong dream is open a coffee shop of my own someday (fingers crossed)!

Have a beautiful day everyone, and thank you again!
Lillie

[Caroline]

Hi Lilie,

You have found your way already nicely on the forum I see.

Did you ever try salt baths? Just something that jumps to my mind.
Over here in the Netherlands is a guy who created his own bathtub, with reusable salt, and that works quite well for him. But only if your skin reacts on salt water of course.

Cheers,
Caroline.