Bassists with Psoriasis, a journey.

[fenderhutz]

Howdy folks.

In the past 3 years after living 31 years of my life psoriasis free I have been getting nasty outbreaks every winter when the weather starts to dry and turn cold.

Currently the doctor has me on a very small dose of Methotrexate (15mg week or 6 2.5 mg pills) until the psoriasis clears up and then I am free for usually about 7-9 months. I don't like the idea of being on what is effectively a small dose of cancer medicine but it is the only thing that helps.

I used to only get it on my legs but recently I have been getting it on my scalp, back, and small spots under my eye every once and a while.

All creams I have tried failed and the side effects of the pills are heavy sometimes.

Just curious if anyone here has this and found any changes in diet, soaps, etc. have helped.

Call it a support group if you want, but it seems like many skin problems aren't cut and dry and dietary changes don't work the same for everyone that's why I am asking these questions in a public forum.

[Bassguy61]

Man, I feel you on that. I have pretty severe psoriasis, and have had for about 10 years. I've done all the creams, and the only one that worked well is Protopic (topical immuno suppressant). Tried the methatrexate, but too worried about the long term impact to do it for long (mine never really goes completely away, unlike yours). The thing that works best? For me, either tanning bed, or lots of time in the sun. Put that together with Protopic, and it's as close as I ever get to clear. Of course, that has it's own risks...

I have yet to find anything other than medication that worked at all. For me at least, changing what I eat, or soap, or detergent has no impact at all. Now, I am a pretty chunky guy (ok... fat... LOL!), so I don't know if losing weight would impact it at all.

[GoesThump]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Call it a support group if you want, but it seems like many skin problems aren't cut and dry and dietary changes don't work the same for everyone that's why I am asking these questions in a public forum.

Hello Fenderhutz & others...

An all new "P" bass club in the works here?

I've been down this road for the last 15 years. I have psoriatic arthritis (hey, double the fun!) Mostly it has been the arthritis part that has impacted my playing. I stopped playing professionally about 10 years ago, as I can't really play well anymore from the pain.

I shifted over to short scale basses - it helps - and abandoned doublebass completely.

As for the meds : be careful w/methotrexate & be sure you and your MD keep a close watch on your liver. You mention side effects w/pills, this one had quite the kick for me (and didn't help that much.) I went off it years ago & just decided to deal w/pain & skin troubles rather than deal w/the side effects, which I found worse.

The creams were all utterly useless for me.

There's a number of different types of psoriasis - perhaps treatment varies by type. (Guttate, pustular, etc.) Last I heard biologics were the "in" thing vis-a-vis treatment. Some MDs seem keen on lightbox treatments too.

There's a number of bits about diet out there, which seem to be hotly debated. I haven't looked at the research of late, so I'm not up-to-date on this, but a search of a good academic database (EBSCO or something) should net you some papers that may illuminate what's going on now research wise.

Lifestyle does have something to do with outbreaks psoriasis for many folks. Mine goes crazy when stressed/overworked. (As in, "most of the damn time" ) Our not-so-nice Canadian winters don't help either the psoriasis or the arthritis.

Forgive me if I'm being too forward here, but don't just monitor your skin - keep track of your mental health as well. The psoriasis depressed the hell out of me when it spread rapidly (about 5 years in to having it) and really got me down. It does change the way you look at yourself when you see yourself covered in sores that weren't there just a few months ago.

Hopefully it won't get to that in your case, but being mentally prepared can't hurt. That said, there is life after psoriasis. Trust me.

Good luck & great idea for a thread.

- GT

[fenderhutz]

Goesthump I hear you. I never had psoriasis until I had kids. Our oldest has allergies to citric acid and food dyes and when he gets them becomes a monster for a couple days. I think stress is a big trigger for mine.

[MakiSupaStar]

Ok. Don't go google imaging this folks. Not if you want to have an appetite for lunch later. But I did find something interesting. Have you seen/tried this?

Psoriasis Fish Treatment Photos

Number 9 my particular favorite for reasons that should remain obvious.

[Tituscrow]

Near where I live, there are a few of these walk in salons where you can dip your feet and be nibbled for 20 mins between shopping. Very much a fad, but as a 'treatment' this has been touted for years. Not sure of it's empirically proven success rate though.

My wife suffers from psoriasis on her elbows and knees, with patches erupting behind her ears and round her eyes during times of stress or illness. When our daughter was ill, it blossomed like you wouldn't believe, so yes, stress seems to be a major trigger. She's tried pretty much anything and everything. However, the one thing she swears by is a product derived from the silica mud found in Icelands geothermal pools. I think the brand is called Blue Lagoon and she discovered it when we honeymooned in Reykjavik years ago.

http://www.bluelagoon.com/Shop/

This isn't the usual alternative quackery peddled by charlatans and frauds. I know that because I've seen it work.

[GoesThump]

Strangely the one huge remission I had involved spending a week drunk on the beach in Cuba.

I told my Dr. about it - and he agreed it might help: sun, sand, rum and doing nothing in the middle February, which is usually when it's the worst for me.

Regrettably, he wouldn't write me a prescription for drinking in the tropics. The nerve of some people.

GT

[Wookiee]

I am new to basses, new to this forum, but not new to Psoriatic arthritis. I am retired spec ops AF, and after 20 years, my hands have taken a beating. I have a hard time with movement in my left hand, and I hoped learning an instrument would help limber it up some. I have lost a lot of strength in both hands, but refuse to give up. I build hot rods and still lift engine blocks, transmissions, and such around the garage but have noticed a pronounced loss of feel and strength in my fingers. Sometimes I drop things and don't know why.

I am 45 in a couple months and am looking forward to retirement and playing music. I just hope my hands will let me...