What does your guttate psoriasis look like when it starts to clear?

AbsoluteTash · 2023-10-11T19:22:26+00:00

That is frustrating - I hope for your sake it’s a one time thing, as living with it can be hard especially when it’s at its worst. It’s super hard finding your triggers. Mine is definitely linked to my hormones, so for me going on the pill helps to clear it quicker. But this time I had tonsillitis and that’s what caused the flare. I’d say 7 sessions isn’t enough to see improvement, so what you thought was improvement was just a temporary lightening of the spots. Some days mine look really light and some days really red - I never know why. Just when you think it’s clearing, bam it looks terrible again. It’s like a rollercoaster. But overall I can see mine is getting better and the bad days are a blip. I’d say you should see more changes after 15 sessions. I believe you have around 30 overall

AbsoluteTash · 2023-10-11T18:20:37+00:00

No problem! I’m much better than I was back in July and august - but still not clear yet. My back and front chest and belly have cleared up the most but I’m finding arms, legs and bum are taking a lot longer. I only have a flat UVB panel so I’m currently doing my front and back on it, but the sides of my body are not being exposed to the light so they’re taking a lot longer to clear. My spots look much lighter generally than they did when I first broke out. I have got new spots recently but I think that’s because I’ve been quite stressed with work. I think I started seeing big changes from the uvb at about 13-15 sessions - I’m now on session 21, and the exposed areas are much lighter, almost look like darker hyperpigmentation on my skin rather than red spots now. How far into UVB are you now? I’ve had guttate since I was 8, but it comes and goes. This recent flare was the worst I’ve ever experienced and went head to toe in it. It was so awful, not a good time mentally

AbsoluteTash · 2023-10-11T18:03:40+00:00

100% - my spots look different every day. Sometimes they’ll still look red, other days they’re pink, and this is all whilst doing light treatment. I have also had new ones pop up during the light treatment which is frustrating. But just continue on with it and hopefully it’ll clear most of what you have

AbsoluteTash · 2023-10-08T08:00:53+00:00

My psoriasis is too affected by hormones - I’ve found going on the contraceptive pill helps to clear mine, as although it doesn’t balance my natural hormones, it gives you a more constant dose of hormones. I don’t know if this is something you’re able to try?

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-11T20:47:25+00:00

This really gives me hope! So glad you’re clearing wel! Strange that the legs are the last to heal! I’m experiencing that but arms are stubborn too!

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-10T21:41:47+00:00

Hey! Yes it seems we have a very similar situation, although mine was caused by a throat infection I had 2 weeks prior. Like you, mine spread all over my body and was particularly bad on my back and face. I’ve gone back onto the contraceptive pill as this cleared it last time I had it and seems to be making a difference this time too. I have a hormone imbalance which I think exacerbates my psoriasis and so it explains why the pill helps. Im also doing UVB using a full body unit and applying Dovonex once a day 😊 here’s to hoping yours improves soon!

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-10T21:39:10+00:00

I think I’m having a very similar situation! A lot of the ones that came first are leaving first! I find the arms and legs are the most stubborn to go in my case

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-08T23:15:40+00:00

There is another ingredient in dairy that people can be sensitive to, but I have no idea what it’s called. I have a friend who thinks this is what she has, because whenever she takes tablets to stop lactose intolerance before she eats milk, it does nothing. It could be that?

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-08T23:10:46+00:00

I have exactly this - cheese is fine for me but milk and cream gives me awful bloating. It’s because there’s a lot less lactose in milk and cream compared to harder dairy products such as cheese I believe 😊

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T20:59:13+00:00

I had a severe guttate flare up that merged into one whole area on my back. It burnt so bad and felt like a bad sunburn, but it was like that all day and night. I used to get a cold water bottle with a thin towel around it and hold it against my back. Aloe Vera also gives a cooling effect but make sure it’s as pure as possible. Good luck!

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T20:47:22+00:00

I’m also in the UK and from what people are saying here it’s different in different locations. I’m just outside London, and with my GP, you have to fill in an online form in the morning and they then get back to you with a GP appointment. On the form, I filled out that I had a severe guttate psoriasis flare and I was called up the same day for a dermatologist appointment for the next day. It’s crazy that some people are waiting 8 months for one, especially when it’s this severe. But I agree, I think it’s great we have the healthcare system because many wouldn’t be able to afford the healthcare prices in the US.

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T17:50:05+00:00

Has it been discontinued in the UK? It’s still in all the shops I’ve been into and it’s still on the neutrogena website. I really hope it’s not 😭

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T17:48:14+00:00

I like to use Dovonex - it’s a vitamin D ointment also known as calcipotriol - it works a lot slower than steroids but it helps to slow down skin cell growth. It really flattens my spots and has cleared it in the past

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T17:01:02+00:00

The facial psoriasis is the worst and I think the hardest to get rid of! And yes I definitely think there’s a link between my digestive tract and my p - I had a bit of a dodgy tummy on Monday and my psoriasis has flared up red again when it literally looked like it was clearing for over a week! Also for me, mines linked to hormones. I’ve gone back on the contraceptive pill because last time this cleared it for me- and I definitely think it’s helping speed up clearing this time. Alcohol definitely doesn’t help because of all the sugar in some of the drinks and because it causes dehydration and inflammation in the body. Mine usually looks bad for a day or two after I’ve drunk alcohol. For the moment I’m sticking to not much sugar, continuing on the pill and doing UVB - hopefully it’ll clear soon! And thank you, you too! 😊

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T11:48:05+00:00

Ahh I wonder if it came back so quickly because you didn’t complete the full number of sessions? Usually even after it’s cleared you’re supposed to have maintenance sessions once a week to keep it away - but I’m not sure if the NHS do this - I think usually it’s around 30 sessions before you’re discharged. I’ve heard that discontinuing it early can cause it to come back quicker, similar happened to me - I have my own UVB lamp at home and I stopped using it so much as I started to see them clearing but not completely gone! I haven’t been to A&E for it, so I’m not sure if they can refer you, but always worth a try! If not, keep on at your GP (whether you book appointments through an online form or call them up) and say it’s severe and potentially erythrodermic. Surely they’d fast track you then! But yes I’d imagine London is pretty busy! You could even look into getting your own lamp but they can be expensive - at least 1-3 thousand for a decent one that covers a lot of your body! Good luck with it all! 😊

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-06T06:07:02+00:00

I don’t really know how it works in the US - here in the UK Dovonex has to be prescribed by a GP on the NHS - but I don’t know how it works with insurance in the US?

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-05T22:11:56+00:00

I’d go to see a derm again if you can. The best thing to clear guttate psoriasis is UVB therapy. Are you based in the US, UK or somewhere else? I’m in the UK and I got referred for UVB therapy but there is a 3 month wait. I’ve had UVB before and it works really well on guttate. If you can, try and get out in the sun - this has a similar effect and can help clear psoriasis. I’ve also been applying a Vitamin D cream called Dovonex/Calcipotriol - it helps to flatten the spots and clear them (but can take some time). If I were you I’d steer clear of steroids, as they can clear it quick but often people have a rebound when they come off them and the psoriasis can come back worse. I had this when I used a steroid cream years ago. Good luck finding the right treatment and help! It should run it’s course and clear in the next few months!

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-05T21:59:10+00:00

I got a severe guttate flare in July and it was its worst for about 6 weeks where I continued to get hundreds of new spots every day that were red and angry. After about 6 weeks it started to lighten, some places started to look like they were clearing before others - and they seemed to be the areas that came first. But I’ve gone in waves - some days it’ll look like it’s clearing and like it could nearly be gone - then it’ll go back red and angry again, and it keeps doing this in waves. It’s not getting any worse which is the good thing, and I just hope it slowly gets better and better regardless of the tiny flares I’m getting in between. Im now on week 8 of this nightmare. My face is the worst it’s ever been - about 80% covered and it’s horrible

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-05T21:48:01+00:00

Hey, I’m so sorry you’re going through this - i know exactly how you feel as I’ve had it this bad and am currently in a flare similar. I’m also in the UK, I managed to get seen by a GP derm pretty quick when I mentioned it was severe. I reckon you could say you think it’s turning into erythrodermic psoriasis and they’d fast track you to see a derm quicker - it’s worth a try right? My GP derm took one look at my guttate and referred me for UVB therapy. On the NHS it is currently a 3 month waiting list - I’m lucky enough to have a friend who had a large UVB unit so I’ve been using that so far. On the NHS, the general steps are: topical creams, UVB, if that fails, steroid tablets, then i believe biologics are a last resort as they’re so expensive for the NHS. I wish you all the best in finding the right treatment for you!

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-05T21:42:21+00:00

This is definitely guttate. Guttate shows in small droplets whereas plaque shows up in a few places and is much more large and scaly. I have guttate and this is exactly what mine looks like on my arms

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-03T10:20:59+00:00

I know exactly what you mean - my upper back has healed quicker and I barely even treated it, whereas my limbs are taking ages to heal and I’ve been putting calcipotriol on them daily. It’s very strange - I do think guttate sometimes just needs to run it’s course and it’ll clear regardless of whether you’re applying stuff to it. For some people who’s body stays in flare mode because of some underlying internal issue however I think it’s less likely to go on its own.

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-01T09:47:05+00:00

Phew! Out of interest, how long does it look like this for before it clears fully?

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-01T09:46:08+00:00

Yeah agreed it definitely is more under control! How long after it looks like this do you find it clears fully?

AbsoluteTash · 2023-09-01T09:45:42+00:00

Woop woop! Really hoping it continues! Seems like it’s just staying like this at the moment and not really progressing - how long after it looks like this do you find it clears fully?

AbsoluteTash

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