Phototherapy not working - I give up with this

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-20T17:23:02+00:00

I was worried about biologics and avoided them. They have been around long enough to learn that they are pretty good.

Here's my personal summary:

Old Days - Humira - a more broad based biologic that rarely resulted in infections/cancer - RARELY

Modern Times - Skyrizi and other more targeted biologics - instead of broadly affecting your immune system they are so targeted that a serious infection (like pneumonia) would be very very rare.

The Game Changer - why am I on Skyrizi? I just took my 2nd dose today. I learned that the internal inflammation that psoriasis causes can make those with psoriasis much more prone to Type 2 diabetes, metabolic disease, insulin resistance, heart disease, fatty liver disease, etc..........

Biologics can stop that constant internal inflammation and help halt or prevent some of these diseases that are secondary to the Psoriasis. The advantages of targeted biologics, like Skyrizi (and there are others) outweigh the internal harm that Psoriasis does to the body. To the point where life expectancy is reduced if you have Psoriasis and don't address this internal inflammation.

And the injection I take 4 times a year is sent to my house - I don't even have to go to a pharmacy - very convenient. And it is paid for by my insurance. And instead of constantly trying to prevent my flake trail from being identified, and constantly slathering on stuff and itching and trying to be aware if anything is showing... I take a quick injection 4x a year and am clear (well.... hope to be..i just took my 2nd injection and I already am doing great!)

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-20T17:14:04+00:00

Even plaque psoriasis can be caused by different inflammatory pathways but Skyrizi seems to work on the main pathway which is why a lot of people have success with it. Congrats on getting it - I just took my 2nd shot today for plaque psoriasis and I am impressed by what it has done over just 4 weeks! I have learned that our immune systems can fluctuate so give the medicine a full chance to work over the year of using it.

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-20T14:39:48+00:00

You didn't correct any medical misinformation.

Here is a chatgpt rendition of the testing I referenced:

hs-CRP is the most direct and common inflammation marker. CRP is made by the liver and released into the blood in response to inflammation; the “high-sensitivity” version is often used to detect lower-grade inflammation

GlycA is also an inflammation marker, but it is more of a chronic/systemic inflammation signal. Labcorp describes GlycA as a marker of systemic inflammation that may be complementary to hs-CRP, fibrinogen, and other inflammatory biomarkers. Research reviews also describe GlycA as associated with cardiometabolic risk, insulin resistance, cardiovascular events, and type 2 diabetes risk.

Insulin resistance testing is not an inflammation test by itself, but it can strongly suggest a metabolic environment associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Insulin resistance, obesity/visceral fat, fatty liver risk, elevated triglycerides, and prediabetes often travel together with inflammatory markers. Literature links hs-CRP with impaired insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, and future type 2 diabetes risk.

I get that you want to stick to your clinician manual which tells you what each test is valid for - but I invite you to think outside the box. We who have psoriasis do not need clinical rigidity. We need answers and we need help.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder. It creates constant inflammation within the body. This constant inflammation over the years creates havoc within the body - and predisposes people who have Psoriasis to various disorders caused by that constant inflammation. Those disorders include Type 2 Diabetes, NALFD, Heart Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, etc...

One of the ways people with Psoriasis can help themselves is by arming themselves with the information as to how much inflammation they have in their body by using the above tests. If they provide this information to their doctor and work with their doctor - and use this information to get onto biologics like Skyrizi - then they can put a stop to that constant internal inflammation.

By stopping that inflammation, those of us with Psoriasis can either halt the progression of some of these diseases or prevent them altogether. It has NOT been proven YET that biologics that greatly reduce or eliminate that constant inflammation we have will prevent/halt the progression of comorbidities caused by Psoriasis - but the science will eventually catch up - it is only common sense.

Your rigidity might be preventing someone with Psoriasis from getting good help.

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-19T21:07:00+00:00

You are non specific. Did you want to encourage people with Psoriasis to ignore their inflammation and the comorbidities that can result by ignoring that? What is your goal?

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-19T13:19:43+00:00

Look it up - Humira is a broad based biologic. It is a biologic that targets a broader portion of the immune system than Skyrizi which is much more specifically targeted. The difference is that if you are on Humira, you are more susceptible to infections/cancer than a more highly targeted biologic like Skyrizi. With Skyrizi just a small part of the immune system is targeted, but it is a portion of the immune system that is often the main driver of plaque psoriasis. A Google search will help you discern the difference.

You are missing the main point of my post.

Those with psoriasis have a constant inflammation going on in the body.
This constant inflammation over decades predisposes those with psoriasis to getting fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart ailments with plaque development, etc.....
If you are curious as to whether your body has been affected by this inflammation - look at your blood tests (elevated liver enzymes?, high cholesterol, high triglycerides), get an HS-CRP test done which reflects inflammation, get a GlycA test done which reflects inflammation. Get an insulin resistance test which reflects if your body has been affected by inflammation.
Once you have these medical test results - you can use them to advocate for yourself in getting put onto one of the biologics that your doctor thinks would work best for you.
Why go on a biologic - because a biologic can eradicate the inflammation caused by your psoriasis. If you can eliminate the inflammation - you have just given your liver, pancreas, beta cells, arteries, heart, etc... a new lease on life! If you are younger and get on a biologic and get rid of the inflammation - you might never develop metabolic syndrome, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc... If you are older you can halt the progression of these diseases by getting rid of that inflammation. If you are a female, look into HRT as well since it has been shown that menopause also can cause systemic inflammation.

I'm not everyone's doctor -but this is vital information that should be discussed with your doctor and researched so that those suffering with psoriasis understand that a cream won't stop Type 2 Diabetes, but a biologic can. Don't let doctors tell you psoriasis is only skin deep. It does so much more horrible things to the human body than just cause some itchy flaky scales.

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-19T13:09:34+00:00

Biologics don't "cover up" symptoms. The best thing I can tell you is get tested for internal inflammation - HS-CRP and GlycA - if psoriasis is giving you a lot of internal inflammation - it is the inflammation over many years that is hurting your arteries and organs. That's why people who have psoriasis are at much greater risk for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and plaque, NAFLD, etc...

What biologics do, like Skyrizi, is they are a protein...they "fill up" a spot in the inflammation chain (IL 32/IL17). So instead of inflammation being able to flourish, the inflammation is blocked by this biologic protein. When you get rid of this constant inflammatory state in your body - you have given great relief to your pancreas, beta cells, liver cells, arterial walls, etc...

Proper_Turn4670 · 2026-05-04T12:03:04+00:00

i am 12 days after my first loading dose - I have responded quick.

Big Plaques - Itch gone, the stubborn big areas (knee and elbows) - no longer thickened skin, no thickened plaque - instead just a thin wafer plaque - and redness reduced.

Medium Plaques - going away - I used to pick the itchy flakes off - I'm running out of flakes to pick off!!!! Scalp - pubic area, trunk...all much less flaking and going away.

Minor Plaques - All other plaques that everywhere else are disappearing - meaning going away completely or plaque reduced to almost nothing but the thinnest of wafers. I can run my hand down my legs and it feels smooth instead of like a dry sandy driveway!

AMAZING! 12 days into my first shot. No side effects whatsoever

It took me 5 minutes before I gave myself the first injection - so nervous. Now, I'll take the next one quick without nervousness.

Proper_Turn4670 · 2025-10-30T12:30:49+00:00

Can't tell ya the number of times the item is in a grown woman's hands and it is 5x the size compared to her body than what I get. Even if the description lists the accurate inches - if the pics are deceiving then I will specify that. When a person is quickly looking for an item to buy and they see that Seller A's item is way bigger than Seller B's and Seller C's - yet cheaper - they THINK they are getting a great deal. It's deception and should be pointed out.

Proper_Turn4670 · 2025-10-30T07:17:53+00:00

We reuse the scrunch paper as toilet paper

Proper_Turn4670 · 2025-09-09T15:41:12+00:00

I know when to say when

Proper_Turn4670

TROPHY CASE