Psoriasis

[Sprgtime]

In December (before I started Atkins) I found a few red strange spots on my
skin for the first time. I thought they must be patches of dry skin or
something. Tried putting lotion on them and forgetting about it. Anyhow...
now it is February, and the couple of spots have turned into 30+ spots.

Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.

It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly since
I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better? Or
foods I can avoid to make it better?

I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely cleared
up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how much
worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts of
my body.


--
Spring
LC since 1/1/04
250/238/170

[Jenny]

A couple thoughts.

First of all, my experience with skin doctors is that some of them are
idiots. When his whole body was covered with weeping sores, my son was
diagnosed at the age of 8 with a "genetic skin condition" which the skin
doctor told us was told was incurable and that he'd have for the rest of his
life. We were devastated. It turned out to be, in fact, a poison oak
allergy!

A form of Genetic Psoriasis does run in my family--my son did not, it turns
out inherit it as at 18 he has no trace of it. The characteristics of this
genetic form are that it appears at puberty, correlates with high
testosterone levels and causes thickened "plaques" on the knees and elbows
and peeling skin on hands. Only the males in the family get it and it goes
away in old age when testosterone levels drop.

If yours is supposed to be genetic and appear in childhood, you have to
wonder why it is appearing now, in adulthood, suddenly. You might want to
get a second opinion from a different skin doctor. My son's problem was
actually diagnosed by an allergist who immediately recognized the rash for
what it was and cured it with high doses of cortisone.

Beyond that, I have read of many people whose psoriasis-like symptoms went
away when they stopped eating wheat, but the sudden emergence of your
symptoms doesn't sound like that kind of psoriasis either.

Good luck in tracking down the origin of your problem!

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.2.
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm



"Sprgtime" > wrote in message
...
> In December (before I started Atkins) I found a few red strange spots on
my
> skin for the first time. I thought they must be patches of dry skin or
> something. Tried putting lotion on them and forgetting about it.
Anyhow...
> now it is February, and the couple of spots have turned into 30+ spots.
>
> Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
> Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.
>
> It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly since
> I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
> psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better?
Or
> foods I can avoid to make it better?
>
> I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely
cleared
> up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how
much
> worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts of
> my body.
>
>
> --
> Spring
> LC since 1/1/04
> 250/238/170
>
>

[Sprgtime]

My grandfather had psoriasis. I found a picture online that looks identical
to my spots
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~thabif/weeklyclinic121701/pictures/08psoriasisgutt
ate1.html

Actually, I didn't even see a skin doctor about it. I saw a general doctor
(would have needed a referral from him to see a skin doctor anyway). When
he first saw the spots on my arm, he was thinking it was an allergy, but I
didn't. Then when I talked to him more about it, and after having to answer
that no I haven't changed soaps, shampoo, dryer sheets lately, he asked to
see my back.
So I showed him my back, and apparently it is covered in these spots. He
said it starts on your back and then spreads to surrounding limbs, so I
probably had spots on my back before the first one I spotted on my arm.
I'm 24 now, and my doctor believed that was a reasonable age for me to get
it for the first time. He didn't say it appeared in childhood, he said late
teen to early adult years.

He said the spots should go away on their own within the next 2 months. If
they don't, I'll get a second opinion.

> Beyond that, I have read of many people whose psoriasis-like symptoms went
> away when they stopped eating wheat, but the sudden emergence of your
> symptoms doesn't sound like that kind of psoriasis either.

Yeah, I know... I googled old posts from here to see if psoriasis had been
talked about in the past, and everything I found was people saying that
low-carb cleared up their psoriasis.


--
Spring
LC since 1/1/04
250/238/170

[Nancy Howells]

In article >, "Sprgtime"
> wrote:

> In December (before I started Atkins) I found a few red strange spots on
> my
> skin for the first time. I thought they must be patches of dry skin or
> something. Tried putting lotion on them and forgetting about it.
> Anyhow...
> now it is February, and the couple of spots have turned into 30+ spots.
>
> Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
> Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.
>
> It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly since
> I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
> psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better?
> Or
> foods I can avoid to make it better?
>
> I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely
> cleared
> up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how
> much
> worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts
> of
> my body.
>
>
> --
> Spring
> LC since 1/1/04
> 250/238/170
>
>

I can tell you a little bit about psoriasis - it generally isn't (and
your mileage may vary) related to what you eat. I doubt very much that
doing LC has brought it on - it was just "your time," as it were. I
have psoriasis - and was diagnosed at age 7. It's gotten a little
better since I've been doing LC, but mostly because I have felt more
comfortable spending time in the sun with fewer clothes on, and my body
has been responding to that. Additionally, walking, walking, walking in
the sun has helped (because of the sunlight, let me stress).

You need to avoid strep infections. You need to avoid stress - some
relaxation/bio-feedback will help. Sunlight helps some people.

It is definitely genetically-based, and you just need to ride it out.
It will ebb and flow, and you need to follow your doctor's
recommendations. If it gets really bad, s/he may give you a medication
to take orally.

In the interrim, keep the skin from getting too dry, and take a
multivitamin - because *sometimes* Vitamin D (or a lack thereof) is
implicated in the eruptions. Keep in mind that you can also get Vitamin
D from sunlight, and that you shouldn't take it in large amounts.

I'm sorry for your diagnosis... it's not fun.

347/260/180
Since 8/5/02

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send mail).

[DJ Delorie]

"Sprgtime" > writes:

> Does anyone here have experience with diet and psoriasis?

Nothing I've ever done diet-wise affected my P. Neither low fat nor
low carb, no changes in dietary fat type, nothing. In fact, no
medications even touched it until they put me on Remicade.

> Or foods I can avoid to make it better?

Any food that may trigger allergies should be avoided.

> I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely
> cleared up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried
> about how much worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to
> spread to visible parts of my body.

Have you been to alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis ?

[Emil Luca]

I have found that my psoriasis has diminished since starting the LC diet. I
still have lesions on the hands [knuckles] and one on each forearm. The
left forearm is on the top and the right forearm is on the bottom. It is
gone from the knees and elbows and was particularly bad in these places
before LC.
I use Temovate cream to keep it somewhat under control.


--
Emil Luca
08-12-03
369/314/200
"Nancy Howells" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "Sprgtime"
> > wrote:
>
> > In December (before I started Atkins) I found a few red strange spots on
> > my
> > skin for the first time. I thought they must be patches of dry skin or
> > something. Tried putting lotion on them and forgetting about it.
> > Anyhow...
> > now it is February, and the couple of spots have turned into 30+ spots.
> >
> > Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
> > Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.
> >
> > It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly
since
> > I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
> > psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better?
> > Or
> > foods I can avoid to make it better?
> >
> > I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely
> > cleared
> > up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how
> > much
> > worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts
> > of
> > my body.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Spring
> > LC since 1/1/04
> > 250/238/170
> >
> >
>
> I can tell you a little bit about psoriasis - it generally isn't (and
> your mileage may vary) related to what you eat. I doubt very much that
> doing LC has brought it on - it was just "your time," as it were. I
> have psoriasis - and was diagnosed at age 7. It's gotten a little
> better since I've been doing LC, but mostly because I have felt more
> comfortable spending time in the sun with fewer clothes on, and my body
> has been responding to that. Additionally, walking, walking, walking in
> the sun has helped (because of the sunlight, let me stress).
>
> You need to avoid strep infections. You need to avoid stress - some
> relaxation/bio-feedback will help. Sunlight helps some people.
>
> It is definitely genetically-based, and you just need to ride it out.
> It will ebb and flow, and you need to follow your doctor's
> recommendations. If it gets really bad, s/he may give you a medication
> to take orally.
>
> In the interrim, keep the skin from getting too dry, and take a
> multivitamin - because *sometimes* Vitamin D (or a lack thereof) is
> implicated in the eruptions. Keep in mind that you can also get Vitamin
> D from sunlight, and that you shouldn't take it in large amounts.
>
> I'm sorry for your diagnosis... it's not fun.
>
> 347/260/180
> Since 8/5/02
>
> --
> Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send
mail).

[Sprgtime]

I have never had a strep infection in my life.
Even when my husband had strep throat (twice in 4 years) I didn't catch it
from him. I thought I must just be immune to it. :)

My skin has always been really moist, super soft and silky. Which is why
these dry red spots are so weird, I would have thought they would soak up
some of the extra moisture from the surrounding skin cells.

I've never been on a beta blocker.

I'm not a very stressed person, I'm quite laid back and mellow.

I will go to alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis - thanks for telling me
about it - didn't think to look for a newsgroup about it.


--
Spring
LC since 1/1/04
250/238/170

[Emil Luca]

5 out of 7 dermatologist say it is heredity. Most of the people in my
family managed to die before they reach their 50's so I don't know who may
have passed it.
When it is bad it is a curse. I was starting to get lesions in my scalp and
behind my ears.
Then started LC and those areas stopped, Praise God.


--
Emil Luca
08-12-03
369/314/200
"Sprgtime" > wrote in message
...
> I have never had a strep infection in my life.
> Even when my husband had strep throat (twice in 4 years) I didn't catch it
> from him. I thought I must just be immune to it. :)
>
> My skin has always been really moist, super soft and silky. Which is why
> these dry red spots are so weird, I would have thought they would soak up
> some of the extra moisture from the surrounding skin cells.
>
> I've never been on a beta blocker.
>
> I'm not a very stressed person, I'm quite laid back and mellow.
>
> I will go to alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis - thanks for telling me
> about it - didn't think to look for a newsgroup about it.
>
>
> --
> Spring
> LC since 1/1/04
> 250/238/170
>
>

[tcomeau]

"Sprgtime" > wrote in message >...
> In December (before I started Atkins) I found a few red strange spots on my
> skin for the first time. I thought they must be patches of dry skin or
> something. Tried putting lotion on them and forgetting about it. Anyhow...
> now it is February, and the couple of spots have turned into 30+ spots.
>
> Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
> Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.
>
> It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly since
> I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
> psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better? Or
> foods I can avoid to make it better?
>
> I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely cleared
> up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how much
> worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts of
> my body.

I read about some skin conditions can be caused or made worse by the
absence of one of the essential fatty acids in your diet. This fatty
acid is present in pork. Do you eat any pork? maybe you should and see
what happens.

TC

[Tom]

Do you by some chance have a water softener? Or swim in swimming pools that
are kept bacteria free by using salt? A friend of mine had suffered for
years with Psoriasis and no amount of creams or prescriptions helped him.
Someone else we both know, had recently bought one and found that his and
his son's skin was drying out and getting "Psoriasis like" patches. They
removed the softener(salt based) and their skin cleared up within a week. He
told our mutual friend, and his condition cleared up as well. But took about
a month to totally disappear. Hope this helps.
Tom

"Sprgtime" > wrote in message
...
> In December (before I started Atkins) I found a few red strange spots on
my
> skin for the first time. I thought they must be patches of dry skin or
> something. Tried putting lotion on them and forgetting about it.
Anyhow...
> now it is February, and the couple of spots have turned into 30+ spots.
>
> Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
> Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.
>
> It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly since
> I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
> psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better?
Or
> foods I can avoid to make it better?
>
> I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely
cleared
> up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how
much
> worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts of
> my body.
>
>
> --
> Spring
> LC since 1/1/04
> 250/238/170
>
>

[Nancy Howells]

In article >, "Sprgtime"
> wrote:

> I have never had a strep infection in my life.
> Even when my husband had strep throat (twice in 4 years) I didn't catch it
> from him. I thought I must just be immune to it. :)
>
> My skin has always been really moist, super soft and silky. Which is why
> these dry red spots are so weird, I would have thought they would soak up
> some of the extra moisture from the surrounding skin cells.
>
> I've never been on a beta blocker.
>
> I'm not a very stressed person, I'm quite laid back and mellow.
>
> I will go to alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis - thanks for telling me
> about it - didn't think to look for a newsgroup about it.
>
>
> --
> Spring
> LC since 1/1/04
> 250/238/170
>
>

The reason you want to avoid strep is that it will cause a worsening of
the condition - though it has been linked to the first flare in some
people. Stress as well. As I said, I've had psoriasis since I was 6,
inherited from my father's side of the family, but I had a major flare
six years ago. My father died, I flew to Michigan, and came down with a
strep infection shortly after, while there. I began to flare, it began
to subside with my medication, and then, less than two months later, my
mother died. I got sick *AGAIN* and that was it - I had a flare over
90% of my body.

My doctors said that it's very common for the combination of
stress/strep to make psoriasis worse.

You might also check the on-line resources of the National Psoriasis
group - www.psoriasis.org. They have quite a bit of information.

Best of luck with it - it's no fun at all. I developed gutate during
that time of stress/strep flare. I had plaque (and have still) prior to
that.

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send mail).

[brian lanning]

"Sprgtime" > wrote in message >...
> Went to the doctor to get it checked out, turns out I have Guttate
> Psoriasis, a genetic skin disorder which surfaces in early adulthood.

My first spot was when I was 12. It didn't become a real problem
until my early 20s.

> It did appear before I started Atkins, but has become worse quickly since
> I've been on Atkins. Does anyone here have experience with diet and
> psoriasis? Could there be certain foods I could eat to make it better? Or
> foods I can avoid to make it better?

There's a psoriasis news group, have a look there. I've been on
atkins (or something) since last july. It's had no affect on my
psoriasis. The things that affect my psoriasis are stress, dry air,
and viral infections. A virus exposure will cause a flair every time.
Everyone is different though. Some people claim that diet has an
affect on them. Nightshades seem to be a suspect. But no one can pin
it down. Diet seems to have no affect on me. Some people have
reported a clearing of P once they've lost weight. No such luck for
me yet, but I have 20lbs to go.

As for treatment, i use moisturizers and topical steroids. When I was
in high school, I used something called lidex (fluocinonide) which
kept me clear. I now have a resistance to it though so I can't use it
any more. I've been through dozens of topical steroids and vitamin D
derrivatives of varying strengths and side effects. I dumped them all
and now just use vaseline and over the counter cortizone 10 ointment
when the itching gets bad. The vaseline keeps the crusties away and
keeps my skin flexible enough so that it doesn't crack and bleed. It
does nothing for the redness though. I also use the neutrogena T/Gel
shampoo with great success. Most P sufferers have scalp problems,
like that is their hardest area to clear. My scalp is totally clear.
I believe sunlight and short hair (i'm almost completely bald) has a
lot to do with that also. I'm probably going to be moving back to
florida shortly. More sunlight and sea water should help my
situation.

> I'm happy about my weight loss on Atkins, and my acne has completely cleared
> up and I'm looking so much better... but I'm getting worried about how much
> worse my psoriasis will get, I don't want it to spread to visible parts of
> my body.

Losing weight also releases toxins into your system. I've heard that
people who use LSD sometimes get flashbacks when they lose weight
because the drug is absorbed by the fat cells. You may have a similar
affect going on. I would suggest using moisurizer. The thicker the
better. Get some sunlight. And visit a dermatologist.

brian
290/230/210
July 8, 2003

[brian lanning]

(I have moderate plaque psoriasis)

"Jenny" > wrote in message >...
> First of all, my experience with skin doctors is that some of them are
> idiots.

Mine too.

>When his whole body was covered with weeping sores, my son was
> diagnosed at the age of 8 with a "genetic skin condition" which the skin
> doctor told us was told was incurable and that he'd have for the rest of his
> life. We were devastated. It turned out to be, in fact, a poison oak
> allergy!

Doctors are not clairvoyant. A lot of skin disorders look the same.


> A form of Genetic Psoriasis does run in my family--my son did not, it turns
> out inherit it as at 18 he has no trace of it.

He may still develop it. It's not uncommon for P sufferers to get
their first symptoms in their 30s. Then again, he may not. Also, he
may carry one or more of the genes responsible for P and may pass it
on to his children. You don't inhereit the disease, only a
predisposition for it.

>The characteristics of this
> genetic form are that it appears at puberty,

For me, it was 3 years before.

>correlates with high
> testosterone levels

I have virtually no body hair. I doubt I have high testosterone
levels. I've never heard this one before.

>and causes thickened "plaques" on the knees and elbows

This is where it starts and ends for most people.

> and peeling skin on hands.

Only for some people. I almost never have hand and feet problems. My
major problem area is my legs below my knees, but not my feet.
There's a form of arthritis associated with it also. Then there's the
pitted finger and toe nails. Or nails that fall off because of P
under the nails. I've lost toenails this way before.

>Only the males in the family get it

This one is way off. I'd say it's even male/female for getting this.


>and it goes
> away in old age when testosterone levels drop.

wrong again. While spontaneous remissions do happen, most people have
it for life once they get it.


> If yours is supposed to be genetic and appear in childhood, you have to
> wonder why it is appearing now, in adulthood, suddenly.

Because that's how it happens to most people.

>You might want to
> get a second opinion from a different skin doctor.

Good advice.

>My son's problem was
> actually diagnosed by an allergist who immediately recognized the rash for
> what it was and cured it with high doses of cortisone.

Of course, that's a treatment for psoriasis also.

> Beyond that, I have read of many people whose psoriasis-like symptoms went
> away when they stopped eating wheat, but the sudden emergence of your
> symptoms doesn't sound like that kind of psoriasis either.
> Good luck in tracking down the origin of your problem!

Some people report that their diet has an affect, but not for most
people.

brian
290/230/210
july 8, 2003

[Jenny]

Nancy,

Are you aware that a medical study showed that Rezulin, a diabetes drug that
is of the same family as Actos and Avandia showed dramatic results in
countering plaque psoriasis?

Unfortunately, the study was published after Rezulin was taken off the
market because it caused liver failure in a small number of people.

The article seems to have not been noticed by any doctors I've visited,
including the M.D. Ph.D who treated my melanoma, but since plaque psoriasis
runs in my family, along with diabetes, it caught my eye. Avandia is very
similar to Rezulin (troglitazone) except that it does not appear to cause
fatal liver damage.

Archives of Dermatology, May, 2000. Page 609.

: Arch Dermatol. 2000 May;136(5):609-16. Related Articles, Links


Troglitazone improves psoriasis and normalizes models of proliferative skin
disease: ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma
inhibit keratinocyte proliferation.

Ellis CN, Varani J, Fisher GJ, Zeigler ME, Pershadsingh HA, Benson SC, Chi
Y, Kurtz TW.

Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
48109-0314, USA.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is often treated with agents that activate nuclear
hormone receptors for glucocorticoids, retinoids, and vitamin D. The
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a related
nuclear hormone receptor that can be activated by its ligands, including the
thiazolidinediones. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether treatment with
troglitazone, a currently available thiazolidinedione used to treat diabetes
mellitus, has an effect on psoriasis in normoglycemic patients and whether
ligands for PPARgamma have an effect on models of psoriasis. DESIGN:
Open-label administration of troglitazone in patients with psoriasis and
evaluation of drug actions in cellular, organ, and transplant models of
psoriasis. SETTING: University and community hospital outpatient departments
and university laboratories. PATIENTS: Patients with chronic, stable plaque
psoriasis and control subjects. Five patients with psoriasis received
troglitazone (none withdrew); 10 different untreated patients and 10
controls provided tissue samples. INTERVENTIONS: Oral troglitazone therapy
at various dosages in patients with psoriasis; also, use of troglitazone,
ciglitazone, and 15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandinJ2 in psoriasis models.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Investigator-determined clinical results in patients
and cell counts and histological evidence in models. RESULTS: All patients'
psoriasis improved substantially during troglitazone therapy. Peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor-gamma was expressed in human keratinocytes;
ligands for PPARgamma inhibited the proliferation of normal and psoriatic
human keratinocytes in culture. Troglitazone treatment normalized the
histological features of psoriatic skin in organ culture and reduced the
epidermal hyperplasia of psoriasis in the severe combined immunodeficient
mouse and human skin transplant model of psoriasis (P<.05 compared with
untreated controls). CONCLUSIONS: Peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor-gamma might be a useful intracellular target for the treatment of
psoriasis; further study is needed to assess the clinical value of ligands
for PPARgamma, including troglitazone.



--
Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c
5.2.
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm



"Nancy Howells" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "Sprgtime"
> > wrote:
>
> > I have never had a strep infection in my life.
> > Even when my husband had strep throat (twice in 4 years) I didn't catch
it
> > from him. I thought I must just be immune to it. :)
> >
> > My skin has always been really moist, super soft and silky. Which is
why
> > these dry red spots are so weird, I would have thought they would soak
up
> > some of the extra moisture from the surrounding skin cells.
> >
> > I've never been on a beta blocker.
> >
> > I'm not a very stressed person, I'm quite laid back and mellow.
> >
> > I will go to alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis - thanks for telling me
> > about it - didn't think to look for a newsgroup about it.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Spring
> > LC since 1/1/04
> > 250/238/170
> >
> >
>
> The reason you want to avoid strep is that it will cause a worsening of
> the condition - though it has been linked to the first flare in some
> people. Stress as well. As I said, I've had psoriasis since I was 6,
> inherited from my father's side of the family, but I had a major flare
> six years ago. My father died, I flew to Michigan, and came down with a
> strep infection shortly after, while there. I began to flare, it began
> to subside with my medication, and then, less than two months later, my
> mother died. I got sick *AGAIN* and that was it - I had a flare over
> 90% of my body.
>
> My doctors said that it's very common for the combination of
> stress/strep to make psoriasis worse.
>
> You might also check the on-line resources of the National Psoriasis
> group - www.psoriasis.org. They have quite a bit of information.
>
> Best of luck with it - it's no fun at all. I developed gutate during
> that time of stress/strep flare. I had plaque (and have still) prior to
> that.
>
> --
> Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send
mail).

[brian lanning]

Nancy Howells > wrote in message >...
> It will ebb and flow, and you need to follow your doctor's
> recommendations. If it gets really bad, s/he may give you a medication
> to take orally.

Yeah, the oral ones are kind of dangerous. One is cyclosporin,
another is methotrexate. Both can cause liver and/or kidney damage.
They work by supressing the immune system. There are some new drugs
for psoriasis now. One is called raptiva, the other is called
amevive. Both are injected weekly with slightly different precedures.
There's also embrel which I believe is for psoriatic arthritis, but
supposedly clears psoriasis also. I haven't gotten to the
dermatologist for the new drugs yet.

brian
290/230/210
july 8, 2003

[Thotful560]

My husband age 49 has psoriasis AND psoriatic arthritis. He uses ointment
called Clobetasol on his skin and methotrexate tablets for the arthritis.
As an aside his skin/nail problems have virtually disappeared on the
methotrexate, but it's a potent drug and you must be monitored while taking it.
Make sure you see a dermatologist who knows what to do for you.
As far as diet, the MD's have told hubby nothing, he is normal weight and eats
a variety of foods.
teresa

[Nancy Howells]

In article >,
(brian lanning) wrote:

> Nancy Howells > wrote in message
> >...
> > It will ebb and flow, and you need to follow your doctor's
> > recommendations. If it gets really bad, s/he may give you a medication
> > to take orally.
>
> Yeah, the oral ones are kind of dangerous. One is cyclosporin,
> another is methotrexate. Both can cause liver and/or kidney damage.
> They work by supressing the immune system. There are some new drugs
> for psoriasis now. One is called raptiva, the other is called
> amevive. Both are injected weekly with slightly different precedures.
> There's also embrel which I believe is for psoriatic arthritis, but
> supposedly clears psoriasis also. I haven't gotten to the
> dermatologist for the new drugs yet.
>
> brian
> 290/230/210
> july 8, 2003

My HMO won't provide any of the above. I have to use the creams, or
nothing at all. I opted for the "nothing at all" approach, and am using
a sunlamp.

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send mail).

[Nancy Howells]

In article >, "Jenny"
> wrote:

> Nancy,
>
> Are you aware that a medical study showed that Rezulin, a diabetes drug
> that
> is of the same family as Actos and Avandia showed dramatic results in
> countering plaque psoriasis?
>
> Unfortunately, the study was published after Rezulin was taken off the
> market because it caused liver failure in a small number of people.
>
> The article seems to have not been noticed by any doctors I've visited,
> including the M.D. Ph.D who treated my melanoma, but since plaque
> psoriasis
> runs in my family, along with diabetes, it caught my eye. Avandia is
> very
> similar to Rezulin (troglitazone) except that it does not appear to cause
> fatal liver damage.

Nope... hadn't heard that. I do know that my HMO won't give me anything
but creams (or methotrexate, but only if I have my tubes tied first, a
ludicrous thing in my opinion, as i can't carry to term anyway). Gargh.
NOt a biggie - the sunlamp therapy is getting things under control.

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send mail).

[Jenny]

Nancy,

If your blood sugar is abnormal, you might be able to get the HMO to pay for
a course of Avandia. Show the study to your doctor and see what she thinks.
I can't understand why this slipped by everyone, as it is so interesting.

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.2.
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm



"Nancy Howells" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "Jenny"
> > wrote:
>
> > Nancy,
> >
> > Are you aware that a medical study showed that Rezulin, a diabetes drug
> > that
> > is of the same family as Actos and Avandia showed dramatic results in
> > countering plaque psoriasis?
> >
> > Unfortunately, the study was published after Rezulin was taken off the
> > market because it caused liver failure in a small number of people.
> >
> > The article seems to have not been noticed by any doctors I've visited,
> > including the M.D. Ph.D who treated my melanoma, but since plaque
> > psoriasis
> > runs in my family, along with diabetes, it caught my eye. Avandia is
> > very
> > similar to Rezulin (troglitazone) except that it does not appear to
cause
> > fatal liver damage.
>
> Nope... hadn't heard that. I do know that my HMO won't give me anything
> but creams (or methotrexate, but only if I have my tubes tied first, a
> ludicrous thing in my opinion, as i can't carry to term anyway). Gargh.
> NOt a biggie - the sunlamp therapy is getting things under control.
>
> --
> Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the ;) to send
mail).

[Jean B.]

Nancy Howells wrote:
>
> My HMO won't provide any of the above. I have to use the creams, or
> nothing at all. I opted for the "nothing at all" approach, and am using
> a sunlamp.
>
That's crummy. MY sort-of SO is on methotrexate and Embrel, and I
do believe they are covered by his HMO Blue (BC/BS).

--
Jean B.