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Home > Archive > Psoriasis support > September 2005 > Scalp Psoriasis
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| M Jones 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| Hi all,
I have a very mild form of psoriasis that is probably stress induced and
aggravated. I have 2 tiny persistent spots on my body but my main problem
is my scalp. I live in the UK and have been prescribed Betnovate
(Betamethasone Valerate) in liquid form by my GP to treat the problem and
have been using it a couple of years to keep the Psoriasis at bay with a
view to eventually curing the problem for good.
At first it worked very well to cure the minor plaques on my head but in the
last year i've noticed the treatment is not as effective as it once was.
The psoriasis also seems to have moved about my head and got considerably
worse since I started treatment. I also noticed about a year ago that if I
ran out of Betnovate or didn't apply it for a number of days the condition
would flare up considerably.
I'm considering discontinuing the Betnovate and tackling the problem in
other ways. Does anybody on this NG have any ideas how to effectively
tackle scalp psoriasis without resorting to steroids? I can't keep applying
Betnovate in larger doses all the time because I feel this isn't a way to
deal with the problem in the long term.
Thanks.
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| You could try Cocois ointment and polytar shampoo it worked for me.
John.
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| Mathias Mildenberger 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| Hello Mr/Mrs Jones. ;)
From my experience with my scalp Pso, I 'd recommend Daivonex solution
(in the US named Dovonex). Use it daily until the Pso lesions there
vanish. I also use some shampoos: Tarmed, of course containing tar, once
or twice a week and Terzolin once or twice a week.
Daivonex/Dovonex is of the vitamin D3 family of Pso preparations,
containing calcipotriol as main indegrient. There are cheaper
preparations than Daivonex solution, but I think it's well worth its
price - 60ml for about 50 Euros. I don't know how high your copayment
will be for it in th UK. Over here in Germany, i usually would have to
pay 10.- Euros - but not anymore for this year, as I 've exceeded the
maximum overall copayment. ;)
Daivonex doesn't contain any corticoids at all. Its brother Daivobet
does, which is a mixture of calcipotriol and betamethason. This is a
very potent stuff I have very good experiences with. Alas, it is not
available as solution for scalp treatment.
Also think about about keeping your scalp skin moisturised. I use a
simple method sometimes: rub in some olive oil before going to bed -
protecting the pillow case by an old towel - and remove the remainders
by washing your hair the next morning.
Best regards,
Mathias
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| M Jones 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| Thankyou.
I'll consider what you suggested. I stopped using the Betnovate about 2
weeks ago and have been getting very thick plaques on my head which i've
been attempting to treat with coaltar based T-Gel shampoo with some minimal
results. I'm considering purchasing some T-Sal shampoo for the plaques and
asking my doctor for some polytar shampoo when I see him in a couple of
weeks. I'll also ask about Daivonex.
"Mathias Mildenberger" <usenet@m-mildenberger.de> wrote in message
news:3nrubcF311hqU1@individual.net...
> Hello Mr/Mrs Jones. ;)
>
> From my experience with my scalp Pso, I 'd recommend Daivonex solution (in
> the US named Dovonex). Use it daily until the Pso lesions there vanish. I
> also use some shampoos: Tarmed, of course containing tar, once or twice a
> week and Terzolin once or twice a week.
>
> Daivonex/Dovonex is of the vitamin D3 family of Pso preparations,
> containing calcipotriol as main indegrient. There are cheaper preparations
> than Daivonex solution, but I think it's well worth its price - 60ml for
> about 50 Euros. I don't know how high your copayment will be for it in th
> UK. Over here in Germany, i usually would have to pay 10.- Euros - but not
> anymore for this year, as I 've exceeded the maximum overall copayment. ;)
>
> Daivonex doesn't contain any corticoids at all. Its brother Daivobet does,
> which is a mixture of calcipotriol and betamethason. This is a very potent
> stuff I have very good experiences with. Alas, it is not available as
> solution for scalp treatment.
>
> Also think about about keeping your scalp skin moisturised. I use a simple
> method sometimes: rub in some olive oil before going to bed - protecting
> the pillow case by an old towel - and remove the remainders by washing
> your hair the next morning.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mathias
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| JXStern 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| On Fri, 2 Sep 2005 19:32:13 +0000 (UTC), "M Jones"
<mjonesNOSPAM@west.com> wrote:
>I'm considering discontinuing the Betnovate and tackling the problem in
>other ways. Does anybody on this NG have any ideas how to effectively
>tackle scalp psoriasis without resorting to steroids? I can't keep applying
>Betnovate in larger doses all the time because I feel this isn't a way to
>deal with the problem in the long term.
Have you tried sunshine? UV light is frequently effective to reduce
or eliminate symptoms, especially smaller ones.
If it's under the hair, you might consider a short haircut or even
shaving the hair to get clear, after which maybe something else can
keep things under control while the hair grows back.
J.
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| Mathias Mildenberger 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| Please consider that Daivonex solution is prescription-only. Over here
it is, and so it should be in the UK. So I think you need an appointment
with your Derm to get it.
The last 3 times in hospital - dermatology dept. of the Jena University
Hospital - I got rid of my scalp lesions by application of a mix they
call "head cap ointment". Its main content seems to be lots of vaseline.
This is applied for 2 or 3 days, then a single day of break, the
reapplied till the flakes are gone. After removing most of the flakes
and so getting "open" lesions, treatment with Daivonex & Co. starts.
Best,
Mathias
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| M Jones 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| I'm considering this as a last resort if other treatments don't work
effectively in the long run. This is only because i'll look terrible with
no hair. Like I said above, I have mild psoriasis and only have about 5
major lesions on my head and little bits elsewhere. When I had some
psoriasis in the frontal area near my hairline it went away in about a week
when I applied the Betnovate so shaving my head and applying that will
probably cure it for good.
"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:n2qhh19bdn92j4q5nkahu336q6rcdi47re@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 2 Sep 2005 19:32:13 +0000 (UTC), "M Jones"
> <mjonesNOSPAM@west.com> wrote:
>
> Have you tried sunshine? UV light is frequently effective to reduce
> or eliminate symptoms, especially smaller ones.
>
> If it's under the hair, you might consider a short haircut or even
> shaving the hair to get clear, after which maybe something else can
> keep things under control while the hair grows back.
>
> J.
>
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| Cocois ointment is available off prescription in the UK but might be cheaper
on prescription if you can stand the smell for a few weeks I think it might
be worth a try.
I used it for 2 months applied every night and washed off each morning with
polytar shampoo.
Then polytar shampoo every day to keep it at bay.
My scalp has been clear for 2 years after 30 years of head picking!
Wish it worked on my legs....
John.
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| brianlanning 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| Here in the US we have a coal tar based shampoo called T-Gel. Before
enbrel, I had to use it every day. It was probably 90% effective. I
could wear black shirts while using it. Going three days without it
cause my symptoms to come back. Now with the enbrel, I still use it
for the last 10% that enbrel hasn't cleared yet. ymmv
brian
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| brianlanning 2005-09-24, 1:40 pm |
| Ah, i see you've been using t-gel. I also keep my hair cut very short,
as my scalp used to get worse as my hair grew out. Sunlight seems to
have an effect for me. Also, putting vaseline on the plaques at night
will make them fall to pieces in the morning. I know the meds have a
hard time getting through the plaques sometimes. I never had much
success with T-Sal.
brian
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