Rash question- At my wit's end!

[Elaine]

My husband has a wicked rash, and has had it since late September. After 2 trips to the doctor and 3 trips to the dermatologist, we still didn't know what it was.

We recently googled and the best we can come up with is he has psoriasis. The symptoms are virtually identical. He is constantly scratching and even worse, flaking skin all over the house. Everywhere the man goes he leaves his DNA. I am torn between sympathy and being totally grossed out.:(

What can we do for psoriasis? We changed our laundry detergent, dryer sheets, soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream. I wash his clothes separate from everyone else's clothes. I launder the sheets every other day. I am losing steam here and want him to move out.:eek:

Seriously, I am trying to be as compassionate as possible because the man never complains. I need this to go away. He needs this to go away. Can anyone help us?

Please?

[Mx5]

Your husband is suffering even though he may not say it or act like it. My son has eczema; it is relatively mild, but he suffers from the itchiness, flakiness, and it is bludgeoning his self esteem. :( I know how frustrating it is to not be able to help them.

Enbrel may help. Has he tried this? www.enbrel.com by prescription

A helpful psoriasis website is here (http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/).

I hope you can find at least some ways in which you both can have some relief.

[Philothea]

My DH has severe eczema, he has had some success with Elidil.

However, I would stay away from anything with steriods in it, we think that a previous cream he was using may have caused his serious eye problems.

I feel so sorry for him, my husband suffers so much from it too.

[Jann in TX]

I really hope your DH has eczema instead of psoriasis. Eczema is a 'toxic reaction' (similar to an allergy) but psoriasis is a genetic disorder and a life-long battle.

I used Embrel (shots taken 1-2 times a week) for a year. I'm hoping that I will be able to go back on it (it is VERY expensive) soon as I'm starting to 'flake out' pretty bad again. I've become resistant to all of the topical therapies. The topical treatments are not without side effects--I can barely feel my fingertips due to permanent damage from them. They also thin the skin and most burn like crazy when applied.

Any medication (prescription or over the counter) that claims to 'cure' psoriasis is making a false claim--and believe me there are thousands of companies that make this claim to the expense and dismay of psoriasis sufferers. I get e-mails from 'caring' family members all the time with links to some gimmick lotion that will 'cure' me... THIS IS A GENETIC PROBLEM and currently cannot be cured any more than you can change your eye color permanently.

Psoriasis can make itself visible at any stage in life. My mother had psoriasis that started when she was 40. Mine has been visible since I was a teen. Before I went on Embrel you could not place a hand on ANY (and I mean ANY) part of my body besides my face without touching psoriasis. It is painful and it bleeds--not to mention the itching (and not itching will not help it go away or stop the flaking).

There is not an easy way to diagnose psoriasis...it may take visits to several Drs--and if it proves to be resistant to eczema treatments then it is probably psoriasis.

I know I have grossed out many people with my psoriasis. I've had people move their children away from me (you can't wear long sleeves in Texas in the HOT summer) in disgust. I laugh and politely take all sorts of advise (you need to try putting aloe vera on that...) most are well meaning... but I hate my disease becoming a topic of conversation.

I leave flakes where ever I go. It is a fact of life. I cannot do anything about it. I try to 'clean up' after myself. I have psoriasis under every finger nail and toe nail...it is VERY painful (imagine having a splinter PERMANENTLY up your finger nail!) and VERY unsightly. I cannot mask it with nail polish as even the nails have become disfigured and artificial nails HURT!

I'm just glad that my husband is understanding. It took him a while to get used to it--I only had a few tiny spots before I had children--then it went head-to-toe. Embrel was painful but it helped most of it go away...unfortunately the treatment cannot be taken on a permanent basis as it suppresses the imune system and your body will adujst to it over time.

I do NOT wear dresses--my legs are just too ugly with spots. Hosiery is like wearing sandpaper on scabs--no way.

If your DH does end up having psoriasis I hope that you and the rest of your family will be understanding.

[Elaine]

Oh, Jan! ((())) You poor thing!

This rash is so strange because it came out of nowhere. I get excema on the insides of my arms, near my elbows so I am familiar with what that looks and feels like. I am pretty sure that he does not have excema and so is the dermatologist.

I appreciate your honesty and your help. Believe me, I do have tremendous sympathy for him.

Again, thanks.

[Robin Hood]

I have had something like that for 15 years and sometimes it is worse than others. If the air is dry, it is worse. This winter I have been using a heavy duty lotion - Keri - and after EVERY shower I lather on it so thickly that I wear a robe while I dry my hair, make my bed, etc and wait for it to absorb. After 15 years it is clearing up with something that simple. I have always used that lotion because my skin seemed to need something heavy, but I hadn't used so much. I think it's the amount I have been using and it is a lot.

I have used prescription meds also for 15 years, but I hated that. It is expensive so I used it only when it was most severe and I wanted to wear shorts. I have been itch free for months now since I started the lotion therapy.

[mcconnellboys]

Derma E makes a cream called Psorzema that I've had good results with (health food stores). I also use Aquaphor during the winter months (Wal-mart) to help with all over dryness and itchies. A dermatologist can give him prescriptions for several different types of things, from Lidex (liquid), to various steriod creams, to Elidel. I use T-Gel (or T-Sal, if really bad) shampoo.

Don't shower too much and make the dryness worse during the winter. Oh, another thing I have started doing is bathing in Dead Sea Salts. I know it sounds as if it would make me more dry, but it has actually helped. I read about this on the package insert for the Psorzema lotion and decided to try it. My husband found a plain old (large) plastic bottle of these at Wal-mart.

Regena

[Jackie in AR]

Could it be eczema?

I had a rash/itching that constantly reappeared for about a year. I can't tell you the Dr. visits and creams/ointments I used.

Then one day I read on this board that dairy products can cause a flare-up of eczema. I had never had eczema a day in my life, or so I thought. :) I was desperate, and gave up my morning and evening nice, tall glasses of cold chocolate milk. And cheese. And ice cream. And all those other things that make life worth living. ;)

Within 4 or 5 days, my rash and itching had completely disappeared. And they only reappear when I'm not being careful.

Maybe it is something to do with his diet. Start eliminating some things and see if it helps.

Good luck!!