psoriasis?-long
Question:
>I have been diagnosed with plaque psoriasis but from what I read on various >net sites and this news groups I have some doubts. It started off with what >I thought was sunburn on my face and the upper chest ,( which was exposed >with a V neck shirt. I then noticed what was all over pinkish becoming >splotchy. After a month or so I started developing spots on my arms and >legs , almost symetrically.
Well, the symmetry is a characteristic of psoriasis. Starting as redness on the face, … I hadn’t heard that one before. But these auto-immune thingies have all sorts of variations. Maybe you have a brand new variation, can get it named after you! Did they try antibiotics, just out of curiosity? After they do that, I suppose it would be interesting to try Enbrel/Remicade/Amevive to see what the results are. Heck, if they can make it go away without ever learning exactly what it was, wouldn’t that be OK? J.
Response:
>From what I read psoriasis is supposed to be raised patches of skin,
Not necessarily, although a lot of descriptions say that. Guttate tends not to be, and my own plaque isn’t particularly raised. > Mine >are not raised at all just red with minor flakng on arms. It looks like >pictures of guttate psoriasis I have seen but Dr calls it plaque?
Yup, mine is much the same most of the time. I’ve never worried particularly about which kind it was, because I have enough family history and other reasons to know it’s definitely P. And after the better part of a year on antibiotics know for dead sure that they aren’t the answer as if it was an infection triggered guttate outbreak. You however, might have diagnosis issues, making that a bigger concern. Seriously, where the biopsy didn’t show P and he’s got you playing around with serious meds like mtx I think you really really want to get another opinon. Preferably with a P expert derm. Not all derms have the same areas of expertise. BTW, did you ask him why he was so sure it was P when the biopsy showed seb derm? A P biopsy has a pretty distinctive profile for one thing, and knowing his thinking might help you and whomever you might go to for another opinion evaluate how likely he is to be able to help you. > I wonder also if my 20 >years as an industrial chemist being exposed to all sorts of nasties has had >something to do with it?
Absolutely possible, whether in providing a psoriasis initial triggering event, a little DNA alteration making you susceptible in the first place (not all P has a family history), or the basis for some sort of non psoriatic dermatitis. Doesn’t mean it definitely is the issue, but definitely something to discuss with your doc and again find out why he thinks yes/no. Good luck and sorry can’t offer more definite info. Kim The Psoriasis Newsgroup Resource FAQ can be found at http://pfaq.cjb.net but will also be coming soon (twice a month) to a newsgroup near you…
Response:
Hi I have been diagnosed with plaque psoriasis but from what I read on various net sites and this news groups I have some doubts. It started off with what I thought was sunburn on my face and the upper chest ,( which was exposed with a V neck shirt. I then noticed what was all over pinkish becoming splotchy. After a month or so I started developing spots on my arms and legs , almost symetrically. GP thought it was psoriasis but referred me to a derm. He requested all sorts of tests including skin biopsy from lower back. Biospsy came back as seb derm but Dr decided it was psoriasis anyway. Tried UVB , elocon, daivonex but nothing seemed to help, although it does not seem to be getting worse either , no new spots for months but existing spots change daily from pale ( almost dissapearing )to brightish red without any apparent trigger ( except maybe stress). There is no real itch except scalp from time to time and a lot of flaking from the scalp. I am now on methotrexate ( 4 weeks since started) and no real change. If it wasnt for the red splotchy face I wouldnt even worry about treating the rest. From what I read psoriasis is supposed to be raised patches of skin, Mine are not raised at all just red with minor flakng on arms. It looks like pictures of guttate psoriasis I have seen but Dr calls it plaque? I have read that infections can cause guttate and I was tested negative for strep throat, but wonder if I could have an infection somewhere else. the reason I suspect this is I have had this dull sort of pain in the armpits ( not swollen though) for some weeks now. I have had the spots for nearly 6 months now. I am otherwise in very good health for a 41yo. and it is not really effecting my life that much, which makes me wonder whether I should really be taking the methotrexate ( and the pain of giving up alcohol!). Is this guttate or plaque psoriasis or something else? I wonder also if my 20 years as an industrial chemist being exposed to all sorts of nasties has had something to do with it? Terry
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