hello all - anyone have any luck with calamine lotion ?

[michael]

Hello everyone. I am 57 and I had my first sign of psoriasis when I was 22. I woke up one morning and looked in the mirror and seeing about 50 brand new red spots spread out around my stomach and the sides of my chest and on my thighs scared me, I had no idea what was wrong. My first visit to a dermatologist confirmed that I had guttate psoriasis and I was given a prescription for a topical creme or ointment and told that it would clear but it would eventually come back. Less than a year later I was taking PUVA treatments - that's where I would take one or more green pills before my appointment, then stand naked in a UVA light box wearing a special pair of dark goggles several times a week. My skin would always eventually clear with the light treatments but it would return sooner or later. Reading the warning about the pills I was taking for this treatment scared me and I quit taking them in the late 1970's. I haven't taken any light treatments or other medication for it in almost 30 years and have just learned to live with the occasional flare ups for the most part until now. My psoriasis never really itched much most of my life, but that has changed steadily over the last couple of years. The itching has become almost unbearable and I'm scratching so much It feels like I'm scraping my skin off. Some nights I dream of using a grinding wheel to scratch with. Bathing with Dove soap seems to help for a little while after I shower. My wife recommended using her Lubriderm but that and other moisturizing lotions seems to do nothing for the itching and turns the spots bright red and makes them even more tender and sensitive and irritated looking. Tonight I'm trying a heavy application of calamine lotion. So far (about 30 minutes) the itching has subsided but I'm keeping it close by when I go to bed tonight.

[Fred]

Hello Michael and

Good intro, I'm 57 too and and first got psoriasis around 25. like you I also gave up on any treatment and just used to cope with it. That was until I got Psoriatic Arhtritis and in the end I just had to seek help as I couldn't hardly move. I'm now back to no treatment at the moment and waiting to go onto a trial treatment.

Some nights I dream of using a grinding wheel to scratch with

I also know that feeling so well. Have you tried Coconut Oil ? I'm a great fan. For instant itch relief Ice is good, and a pack of frozen Peas works well.

Re Calamine lotion. I haven't used it for psoriasis but do remember it helped a lot when I had Chicken Pox which was around the same time I got psoriatic arthritis, now I think about it.

Calamine is a mixture of zinc oxide (ZnO) with about 0.5% ferric oxide (Fe2O3). It is the main ingredient in calamine lotion and is used as an antipruritic (anti-itching agent, attributed to the presence of phenol in the formulation) to treat mild pruritic conditions such as sunburn, eczema, rashes, poison ivy, poison oak, chickenpox, and insect bites and stings. It is also used as a mild antiseptic to prevent infections that can be caused by scratching the affected area, and an astringent to dry weeping or oozing blisters and acne abscesses.

So worth a try, please keep us informed on your test as it could help others.

Regards.

Fred.


 

[michael]

Calamine is giving me very good results so far. It's inexpensive so I can afford to apply it heavily. It keeps my itching at bay for hours. It also seems to calm and sooth the redness and sensitivity and the spots seem to fade some what after calamine has been on the skin for a few minutes. I've only used it a few days now so Ill give some feedback on how it's working as more time goes by. So far so good.

[KyPrincess]

Hi Michael! Welcome to the forum!

[Lady Bugley-Ah]

Hi Michael
I have never tried calamine lotion so it will be interesting to see how you get on. I had a bout of itchiness at the beginning of the year and used Sudocrem which soothed my skin. I've also tried Fred's coconut oil which helps too
All the best
Lady B

[Troll]

Hello

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