Any help for Psoriasis on fingers??

[Animal Lover]

My husband takes MSM....I think I'll go read the label to see if it interacts with heart, hernia (stomach). I just got some iodion (sp?) today just because....if these two things I bought this week don't work....I am running out of what do I try??? I think I have had just about everything there is or at least it seems like it. I hope the MSM help you Summerthyme. Hubby says it helps him. AL

P.S. I looked for tumeric capsuls again today at two pharmacies and did not find any. I know I can buy the spice....what to put it in?? 2 Teaspoons each day? Thanks again everyone.

[TEA Party Moma]

Hi, first I want to tell you that I feel for you. I have had psoriasis for 18 years. It had gotton so bad that I had three of the five different types of psoriasis at one time. I had the type with the placques that you normally see. I also had eurithrodermic (sp) which is a type where there are no plaques. Instead the area is raw and weeping, like when you get scalded. It is hot and very painful and you get it in the folds and creases. I also had pustular on the soles of my feet, also very painful. I did all the topical steroidal creams perscribed by various doctors, light therapy, dead sea salt soaks, OTC creams etc. I only got worse. It finally came to a "head" 5 years ago. I was being laid off, the stress at work was almost unbarable. My psoriasis seemed to be everywhere and most of the areas either bled or wept. I was desperate. I saw an add in a magazine for a new drug at the time, Embrel. It was so new that most doctors did not know how to perscribe it and how to do the follow up. There was a tel number to call to find a Dr in your area. I called and was given the name of a doctor who was the head of dermatology at the local hospital. I went to him. He took one look at me and said that I needed to start Embrel. I was more than 10% covered with psoriasis. Embrel is an imunosupressant. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, caused when your immune system goes haywire and attacks your healthy skin. Embrel dampens this attack down. It is an injectable that you inject once a week. The syringes come prefilled and the whole process is quite easy. Within four weeks of starting Embrell, I was completely clear of my psoriasis. This had mever happened in the previous 13 years. Now that you have heard the up side of the drug, here is the down side. It is expensive but is covered by most perscription plans with prior aproval. This drug dampens down your immune system and this may make you more suceptable to diseases and infections. You will have to have your blood tested every 3-4 months and have a TB test once a year. For me, I accept these risks and inconvieniences because my psoriasis controled my life. My life revolved around the disease and the pain and chance for infection that it caused. I dont know if this would be right for you. Ask your doctor if Embrel or Humira (similar drug) would be right. One other thing, Go on line and research the things that can be triggers of a flair. I found that stress is a big trigger for me. I need to destress my life as best as I can and meditate to help with controling my disease. Find your trigger. It wont cure you but it can make the flairs less frequent and less dramatic. Sorry this post is so long.


Blessings

[Ferris]

Hi Mr. & Mrs. Ferris. I have done the gluten free thing for a long time as my DD is celiac and a vegetarian who does eat organic eggs and fish. Thankfully. It didn't seem to help. I am going to try the tumeric and also I am going to get some anti-fungal on Thursday when we go into the city. I cannot think of anything else to do. I am not worried about the looks...It is the splitting and bleeding which of course, I keep covered. It is not nice to see anyone with this problem. Tho' I recognize it on others (my face is starting up again too but olive oil does seem to work on that). I spent a lot of money on dermatologist and medicines that have not helped. So the last thing I can think to do is the anti-fungal route just in case the Dr. was not right. I will let you all know if that works. I truly appreciate everyone trying. I remember my mother having it when I was a very small child but she got over it. My grammy had it on her arms and I put salve on for her every day and bandaged her with gauze daily. It went away all on its' own when she was about 65 and she was still working at her regular job so that wasn't the problem. Thanks all. AL

Sorry that it has taken me sooo long to see this response but I think that an antifungal would be beneficial to you and your problem. Modern medicines really do not seem to follow the logic that problems around the body can start in the gut....... Go figure.

GOOD LUCK AL!!! Prayers up to you!

Ferris

[Animal Lover]

Thank you Tea Party Mom & Mr. & Mrs. Ferris. I have an anti-fungal and using it constantly with bandaides covering them (to keep things clean that I might touch). It seems to be helping. (PLEASE GOD). Also am using a tripple antibiotic cream OTC. I don't know if it helps, but I am trying anyway. I bought iodione (cannot get the blooming top off of it!!). I had not tried a Dr. for Arthritus (sp?) I don't think I have it, but I am a person who can tolerate an awful lot of pain and not realize it. I KNOW the stress level right now is over the moon, so if I can just get that calmed down, maybe these other things will help. I do take vitamine D3 and Fish Oil too. Thanks everyone. I really am grateful for everyone's help. AL

[cache]

AL, I know this has been rough for you! Don't give up! I think you are doing the right thing by taking vit D and fish oil, they are good for you even if it does not directly solve your problem. And, making sure you don't have a secondary fungal or bacterial infection is also probably a good idea, IMO.

The doctor to see for arthritis type stuff would be a rheumatologist. A rheumy can check to see if you have psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other things that are inflammation/autoimmune related. He/she can prescribe Embrel, or one of the other medicines that calm down the auto-immune response, like TEA Party Moma mentioned. Sometimes a steroid such as prednisone can be tried to see if you can get it under control. If you have one of the conditions in this group of diseases, it's possible to have more than one, making you even more miserable! The rheumy will check for things like chronic inflammation and may even test for some of the other auto-immune conditions, some of which don't even seem related to the problem but might be.

I have had recent experience with a rheumatologist and he helped me quite a bit, even though I didn't get completely diagnosed. He diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, but I have so many other things that he actually called me a "conundrum." I have a high rheumatoid factor, but no arthritis, dry eyes so bad they plugged my tear ducts but no antibodies for the disease that's a symptom of (Sjogren's), etc. But he was very thorough and worth the visit!

Also, wanted to mention, sometimes tumeric is sold as "cucurmin" so you might look for that.

[ChristieAcres]

Two years ago, I became internet buddies with a Fibromyalgia researcher. She suffers from it herself, and became impassioned to come up with dietary guidelines to help all of us with FMS. Since I have suffered from it for twenty years, she wanted to help me.

I was sent Milk Kefir Grains, told to go sugar free, limit my simple carb intake dramatically, drink Kefir Smoothies every day, eat organically only, no processed foods, eat five times/day, and drink plenty of water. I lost 20#s that first month and then upped my complex carb intake to stop the weight loss. I experienced great results and a dramatic decrease in FMS symptoms. I didn't gain that 20#s back, either.

While reading information about Kefir Grains, I read it was used both internally and externally for Psoriasis. Has anyone tried this?

[Animal Lover]

Hi Cache, I had been on Prednisone for 10 days just before I came down with this because I had a lung infection (I take meds for asthma...I got pneumonia and did not go to the Dr. and ended up with permanent lung damage)...Yeah, I know I am not too swift...I try so hard to take care of myself without extra meds. Anyway I was hoping this hand stuff would go away. It IS getting slightly better and I put all three of these things on several times a day. Now as to Kefir Grains? I don't do milk/cheese very often and I use Almond Milk for smoothies with strawberries and bananas. NO SUGAR at all only Truvia in my coffee. In fact sugar tastes tooooo sweet to me. Hubby uses sugar. I make almost everything from scratch even all our bread once it gets warm enough for the yeast to let things rise. Ok. christie, I need to know about the Milk Kefir Grains....where do I get that??? Actually is it a type of yogurt??? I drink bottled water as our water is so full of chlorine that I can smell it before it gets near my face. (Yuk). Because I have severe spinal problems (lose all feeling). And I haven't been to a specialist yet because of funds....I am trying not to go to any other Dr.s right now. But I am not opposed to a Rheumatologist at all. I thank you for the info. Thanks again everyone...I am very appreciative truly. AL

[ChristieAcres]

Since you mentioned yogurt, we can start there. It is a Pro-biotic, which is great. The difference between Yogurt and Kefir Milk? Night & day! Kefir Milk is a much more powerful Pro-biotic, is 5 times more beneficial for you than Yogurt, and has approximately 30 vitamins and minerals. Dom's Kefir Website is very informative! If you are interested in trying them...

Where to buy? It is best to find a local or US source for Kefir Grains (will be fresh then, not freeze dried...). Or, I will have an order ready one week from tomorrow. Mine are $10 including postage, sent 1st class w/Delivery Confirmation.

[Animal Lover]

I got my fingers cleared up almost and that was by using all three products at once and keeping bandages on when I went outside. Or in the kitchen. I am very allergic to something on potato skins (even when they have been scrubbed) peeling them and my hands are on fire. Now I peel with gloves on. Also have found that my clay for sculpting is an allergy happening too. within minutes I had a literal hunk out of one thumb. Groan. So, I put all the stuff on and add a rubber cot over my thumbs while sculpting. I am trying to learn something new (and I am awful at it) but I don't quit easily. I should look up what is in potatoe peels. thank you all very, very much. AL

[Animal Lover]

Well low and behold...I looked up peeling potatoes and skin itchy and on fire...I am not alone...I have lots of company. It appears that it is the sulphur in the skins (not the potato itself). I am allergic to sulphur (cannot take meds with sulphur in it). Who in the world would have thought of that?? That explains why eggs make me sick most of the time unless they are hard boiled too. Duh. I feel like such a dummy. I never in a million years would have thought sulphur was in the peel of potatoes. I wonder what else. Now I am on the search. thanks again everyone. AL