New Psoriasis treatment for me
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in psoriasis treatment on May 4, 2011
So went to see my dermatologist today and we decided to up the methotrexate to 8x 2.5 mg tablets.
Further he replaced my beta cream (betamethasone valerate) with diprosone (betamethasone dipropionate) now the beta cream didn’t do anything to me so i hope this one will help.
After a couple of days now of taking a daily bath my back looks like in the picture (next picture will be a bit more light
)
I hope I can handle the methotrexate and it won’t give me any of the naty side effects it can have.

See the IMPORTANT WARNING:
Methotrexate may cause very serious side effects. Some side effects of methotrexate may cause death. You should only take methotrexate to treat life-threatening cancer, or certain other conditions that are very severe and that cannot be treated with other medications. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking methotrexate for your condition.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had excess fluid in your stomach area or in the space around your lungs and if you have or have ever had kidney disease. Also tell your doctor if you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as aspirin, choline magnesium trisalicylate (Tricosal, Trilisate), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), magnesium salicylate (Doan’s), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or salsalate. These conditions and medications may increase the risk that you will develop serious side effects of methotrexate. Your doctor will monitor you more carefully and may need to give you a lower dose of methotrexate or stop your treatment with methotrexate.
Methotrexate may cause a decrease in the number of blood cells made by your bone marrow. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a low number of any type of blood cells or any other problem with your blood cells. Your doctor may tell you not to take methotrexate unless you have life-threatening cancer. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: sore throat, chills, fever, or other signs of infection; unusual bruising or bleeding; excessive tiredness; pale skin; or shortness of breath.
Methotrexate may cause liver damage, especially when it is taken for a long period of time. If you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol or if you have or have ever had liver disease, your doctor may tell you not to take methotrexate unless you have a life-threatening form of cancer because there is a higher risk that you will develop liver damage. The risk that you will develop liver damage may also be higher if you are elderly, obese, or have diabetes. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: acitretin (Soriatane), azathioprine (Imuran), isotretinoin (Accutane), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), or tretinoin (Vesanoid). To decrease the risk of developing liver damage, do not drink alcohol while you are taking methotrexate. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: nausea, extreme tiredness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or flu-like symptoms. Your doctor may order liver biopsies (removal of a small piece of liver tissue to be examined in a laboratory) before and during your treatment with methotrexate.
Methotrexate may cause lung damage. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lung disease. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: dry cough, fever, or shortness of breath.
Methotrexate may cause damage to the lining of your mouth, stomach or intestines. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had stomach ulcers or ulcerative colitis (condition in which part or all of the lining of the intestine is swollen or worn away). If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking methotrexate and call your doctor right away: mouth sores, diarrhea, black, tarry, or bloody stools, or vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds.
Taking methotrexate may increase the risk that you will develop lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system). If you do develop lymphoma, it might go away without treatment when you stop taking methotrexate, or it might need to be treated with chemotherapy.
If you are taking methotrexate to treat cancer, you may develop certain complications as methotrexate works to destroy the cancer cells. Your doctor will monitor you carefully and treat these complications if they occur.
Methotrexate may cause serious or life-threatening skin reactions. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, rash, blisters, or peeling skin.
Methotrexate may decrease the activity of your immune system, and you may develop serious infections. Tell your doctor if you have any type of infection and if you have or have ever had any condition that affects your immune system. Your doctor may tell you that you should not take methotrexate unless you have life-threatening cancer. If you experience signs of infection such as a sore throat, cough, fever, or chills, call your doctor immediately.
If you take methotrexate while you are being treated with radiation therapy for cancer, methotrexate may increase the risk that the radiation therapy will cause damage to your skin, bones, or other parts of your body.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests before, during, and after your treatment to check your body’s response to methotrexate and to treat side effects before they become severe.
Tell your doctor if you or your partner is pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you are female, you will need to take a pregnancy test before you begin taking methotrexate. Use a reliable method of birth control so that you or your partner will not become pregnant during or shortly after your treatment. If you are male, you and your female partner should continue to use birth control for 3 months after you stop taking methotrexate. If you are female, you should continue to use birth control until you have had one menstrual period that began after you stopped taking methotrexate. If you or your partner become pregnant, call your doctor immediately. Methotrexate may harm the fetus.
Severe psoriasis linked to major adverse cardiovascular events
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in Symptoms for psoriasis on April 24, 2011
— Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease, and if severe, has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease. However, the degree to which psoriasis is associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE), such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death has not been defined. Now, new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has revealed an increased incidence of MACE in patients with severe psoriasis.
In a cohort study analyzing data from a general practice research database, Penn researchers reviewed the case histories of over 3,600 patients with severe psoriasis and 14,300 controls. Lead author Nehal N. Mehta, MD, MSCE, Director of Inflammatory Risk in Penn’s Preventive Cardiology program, and colleagues found that patients with severe psoriasis have a 53 percent increased incidence of MACE compared to the general population. They also found that having a diagnosed case of severe psoriasis confers an additional ten-year risk of 6 percent on MACE. The study results were reported at the 2011 American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans.
Previous work from Dr. Mehta and senior author Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, from the Department of Dermatology at Penn found that the risk of death from cardiovascular disease increased by 57 percent in patients with severe psoriasis. In addition, the relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease was even higher in younger patients, who were as young as age 40.
Dr. Mehta and colleagues conclude that this new estimate of increased ten-year MACE may warrant more aggressive strategies for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis.
via Severe psoriasis linked to major adverse cardiovascular events.
Symptoms for Psoriasis – Dead sea salt and what it does to me
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in Symptoms for psoriasis on April 24, 2011
I am going to try a new regime and see what it does to my Symptoms for Psoriasis
04/24/2011/
tomorrow there will be another picture and show the state of my psoriasis on my back. I will shoot some psoriasis pictures of the other body parts as well but those I can make myself
.
The psoriasis pictures of my back I will ask my wife to make.
The new regime I am implementing is just take a plain bath every day put on daivonex where i can ( obviously not on my back) and see what that does to my psoriasis.
Further to the daivonex daily I will take 6×2.5mg weekly every Thursday.
What are the benefits of Dead Sea Salt?
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in Psoriasis Information on April 23, 2011
There are many benefits to bathing in baths with Dead Sea salts. Some of these benefits have been documented through clinical research while others have been reported by users of the salts:
Bathing in mineral rich bath salts from the Dead Sea:
- Helps to soften and deeply moisturize dry, flaky skin.
- Helps to relieve certain symptoms of Psoriasis (see video below)
- They are rich with over 21 minerals which are essential for proper skin function and cell to cell communication between the skin cells.
- High concentration of Magnesium helps to reduce muscle and joint aches.
- Replenishes minerals which are essential for skin health, and which can be depleted during our daily lives.
- Deeply hydrates skin and provides the minerals needed to maintain a natural moisture balance
- Helps reduce redness and irritation caused by various skin conditions.
- Helps to relieve certain Rheumatologic Conditions – the minerals are absorbed into the blood stream helping to stimulate circulation.
(Harari, M. and Shani, J. (1997), Demographic evaluation of successful antipsoriatic climatotherapy at the Dead Sea (Israel) DMZ Clinic. International Journal of Dermatology, 36: 304–308. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.1997.00204.x) - Research into bathing with Dead Sea salt has shown to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles (this is mostly with facial product with Dead Sea minerals)
Ehrhardt, Proksch; Nissen, HP; Bremgartner, M; Urquhart, C. “Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution: follow-on review”. International journal of dermatology 46 (2): 177–179 - It’s a deeply relaxing way to take off some stress after a long day at work and get into “sleep-mood”
100% Pure Genuine Dead Sea Salt Click Here
10 Lifestyle Recommendations to Psoriasis Patients
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in Psoriasis Information on April 2, 2011

The appearance of thick red patches on the skin covered with silvery white scales in different parts of the body is indicative of the presence of psoriasis, a non-contagious, recurrent and lifelong skin disease which is particularly common among light skinned people of European descent. In comparison, the incidence of this disease is much lesser in case of African-Americans, the dark skinned West Africans, Eskimos, Japanese and the Native Americans. This observation has led the researchers in the field to conclude that apart from genetic factors, environmental and geographic factors may also contribute significantly to the occurrence of this disease.
Life for psoriasis patients is not so easy and even though the disease is categorically stated as being non-contagious, victims usually face a high degree of social isolation and therefore tend not to leave a single stone unturned with regards to treatment. Since there is no permanent cure, some of the lifestyle recommendations which could benefit the sufferers in controlling the manifestation of this disease in the long run are listed as follows:
- Following a desirable health regimen featuring good nutrition, adequate exercise and sufficient amount of sleep every day tends to reduce the flare-up of psoriasis symptoms because it establishes a healthy internal equilibrium and promotes mental calmness.
- The severity of psoriasis symptoms has been found to be in direct proportion to smoking which implies that the symptoms aggravate if the patient smokes and remain in check when he refrains from smoking. Therefore, psoriasis patients are strongly recommended to quit smoking if they are desirous of getting rid of the red scaly patches dotting their skin.
- Certain medications are known to trigger psoriasis and an individual who is aware of the presence of psoriasis in his lineage must definitely make efforts to find the names of these drugs and avoid them as far as possible.
- Since psoriasis as a disease causes a lot of itching, it is but natural for the psoriasis patient to be tempted to itch, scratch and pick at his lesions. However, this can prove to be extremely harmful as any injury, irritation or forcible removal of scales is likely to worsen the condition and cause it to spread to hitherto unaffected areas.
- Alcohol consumption must be completely avoided in case of psoriasis as imbibing it even in small quantity is likely to result in severe flare-ups.
- Many people prefer to ignore the presence of the disease during its initial stages due to which it often reaches a point when aggressive treatment methods need to be employed to control its symptoms. A wiser course of action would be to refer to a dermatologist when the first break-out of symptoms is observed so that they can be prevented from getting worse or spreading.
- Stress has been strongly linked to all forms of psoriasis due to which it is imperative for psoriasis patients to learn stress management techniques like progressive relaxation, yoga and counseling.
- There are some infections which are known to trigger psoriasis and this is particularly true in case of children. Hence any infection related to mouth, throat, gall bladder, urinary bladder or sinusitis should be treated at the outset lest it aggravates and lingers to the point of causing psoriasis.
- It is the foremost responsibility of the psoriasis patient to take good care of his skin and this can be achieved by soaking in lukewarm oatmeal bath, applying moisturizers, using sun screens and wearing appropriate clothing.
- A psoriasis patient has to learn to live with psoriasis and although there is no permanent cure, it is worthwhile to remember that 70% of the treatment stems from lifestyle changes while the remaining 30% can be attributed to medications.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in What causes psoriasis on March 26, 2011
Normal skin has two layers: an outer layer called the epidermis and an inner layer called the dermis. Skin cells are created in the dermis and move up through the epidermis to the skin surface. Skin cells are continually dying and being replaced. Normally, skin cells mature and shed in about a month.
In psoriasis, however, the normal cycle of replacing old skin cells with new ones becomes unbalanced. Skin cells reproduce many times faster than normal and live only three to four days. The dead cells build up on the skin, forming thick, flaky patches called plaques. The redness in skin plaques is caused by increased blood supply to the rapidly multiplying skin cells.
Why skin cells begin to multiply abnormally is not well understood. Heredity is one factor, however. In about one third of cases, psoriasis is inherited. It is estimated that if a child has one parent with psoriasis, the child’s chances of getting the disease are between one in 10 and one in four. If both parents have psoriasis, a child’s chances of getting the disease are about 50-50.
Evidence from recent research studies also strongly suggests that psoriasis is a disorder of the immune system. Normally, the immune system defends the body from infection by bacteria, viruses, and other invaders. Sometimes, however, the immune system makes a mistake and attacks the cells, tissues, and organs of a person’s own body. When this happens, the resulting disease is called an autoimmune disease. Many autoimmune diseases run in families.
The theory that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease is based on the fact that scientists have found abnormally large numbers of t cells (a type of white blood cell) in the red, flaky skin patches of people with psoriasis. T cells are the infantry of the immune system. When the body senses a need to defend itself against infection, it first makes and then releases millions of t cells to fight off the invaders. Some t cells are normally found in skin. The presence of abnormally large numbers of t cells in skin affected by psoriasis suggests that the immune system is attacking the skin by mistake.
Do do have an alternative to the below on how to treat psoriasis?
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in psoriasis treatment on March 26, 2011
Topical medications, such as creams and ointments and other products applied directly to the skin, are often the first treatments doctors prescribe for mild to moderate psoriasis. People with more severe psoriasis also use topicals to reinforce systemic or biologic medications they are taking.
Please leave your alternative treatment to psoriasis as a comment below
Psoriasis Diet
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in What is Psoriasis and what kind do you have on March 23, 2011
Psoriasis Free for Life Information go Here
Diet Suggestions for Psoriasis
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in Psoriasis Information on March 22, 2011
Our diet plays an important role in determining the state of our health due to which one of the earliest learning lessons imparted to human beings concerns the cultivation of good eating habits. It has indeed been observed that healthy eating habits which are ingrained and built during childhood remain with the individual right till his last days and are the main reason behind his longstanding good health and over-all well being. This truth stands vindicated by the evidence that the propensity towards fast food which is the hallmark of the present generation has been responsible for the burgeoning of many unexpected health maladies among people. Based on this observation, people are being strongly advised to revert back the healthy eating habits of the past which would not only improve their physical health but boost the immune system as well thus enabling them to ward off unwanted diseases and disorders.
A good diet is particularly imperative for psoriasis patients as it is one of the natural remedies which make a significant contribution towards the treatment of this repulsive skin condition. Although the occurrence of psoriasis is mainly attributed to genetic factors, the possibility of the occurrence of this disease due to the high concentration of toxins acquired through the consumption of food is not completely ruled out. Toxins are known to suppress the immune system of the body eventually causing it to malfunction and the outcome presents itself in form of red scaly patches of skin, medically termed as psoriasis. Therefore, one of foremost diet suggestions pertaining to psoriasis is to eat wisely by selecting food stuffs which would not load the body with poisonous and harmful toxins.
Being a non-contagious skin condition, psoriasis is directly related to the function of liver and due to this psoriasis patients are strongly advised to take good care of their liver. Since malfunctioning of liver interferes with the effective and complete elimination of toxins from the body, care should be taken not to place undue stress on this particular internal organ by consuming as pure and unrefined a diet as possible. An ideal diet in this regard would be one which is rich in raw fruits and vegetables and completely prohibits the inclusion of alcohol, red meat, tea, coffee and to a certain extent citrus fruits.
Dietary suggestions for psoriasis patients also recommend the consumption of supplements like cod liver oil, certain varieties of fish, evening primrose, kelp tablets for acquiring vitamins and minerals, herbal teas and foods rich in vitamins B6and B12.
Psoriasis may be caused due to food allergy as well as some food groups which are suspected for playing the role of allergens are wheat and dairy products. This can be ascertained by the patient by trying an elimination diet under the able guidance of a certified and qualified naturopath.
Ultimately, transforming one’s diet in accordance with the dietary suggestions laid down for psoriasis patients is a personal decision which can be put into practice by paying close attention to labels while shopping and giving preference to fresh and organic products which are relatively free from chemicals and toxins.
Psoriasis and Seasons
Posted by Me and my psoriasis in What is Psoriasis and what kind do you have on October 17, 2010
The problem can become severe and if nothing is done about the situation, the initial symptoms can lead to more serious problems.
Thankfully the solution is both simple and inexpensive! The first thing you need to do is invest in a humidifier. There are a number of different types for all living and working conditions. They are relatively inexpensive, simple to use, and can keep your skin healthy by naturally moisturizing it.
Yesterday I ordered filters for the unit I purchased last year so I’ll be ready as winter approaches. The unit I have I bought from amazon and can be found here. Prices change all the time and there is a lot of variety in units mine was $34.95
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ADL1SG?ie=UTF8&tag=voiceoverip-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B001ADL1SG
Increasing the humidity during the winter time will make a huge difference in your skin and comfort level, automatically!
The other step you need to take is even easier! All you have to do is drink MORE WATER. Not sodas or beer, just good, clean water. You need to hydrate your body from the inside too and water is #1.
I recommend you drink half an ounce for each pound of body weight daily. If you weight 100 pounds, 50 ounces of water. 150 pounds 75 ounces. 200 pounds 100 ounces.
Do these two simple things and you will notice a significant difference in just a few days.







