Psoriasis Doctor

Question:

I suffer from the chicken pox type P. rather than the common type.  I think it is called guttate or something similar.  My P. is mirror image. writes – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if > > a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my > > left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of > > my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I > > knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record > > it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to > > apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of > > fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet. > > Tracy N > I find that to be the case with me also.  Elbows, shins, ankles, back… > I don’t know why this is the case.  Have been having great success with > Dovonex ointment, though (on both sides!) >I’ve had quite a bit that was symmetric over the years, but some that >wasn’t. When I had a nasty case of fingernails, it was on both hands, >but not always the same fingers. >I’ve heard mention of 4 different forms, could it be some forms are >symmetric, some not?

– Liz

Response:

> > > > Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if > > > a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my > > > left side in like a mirror image.  

Hi, Tracy! To my knowledge, this is very common!!! I am also like this! Not easy to understand…. Have a nice day! Regards,

Response:

> I’ve had loads of you email me telling me that you too suffer from this > mirror image phenomenon.  has anyone had any response from their derm that > may help us or may explain it?  I feel very strongly that this fact is > important and should be looked into.  I know lots of you must agree from > the responses I’ve had to my previous posting.  come on, heads together! > Tracy N.

It’s the same way with my arthritis (though some people will tell you that asymmetry is a characteristic of PA), and with RA, I believe. Something’s definitely going on. Lisa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if > > a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my > > left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of > > my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I > > knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record > > it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to > > apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of > > fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet. > > Tracy N > I find that to be the case with me also.  Elbows, shins, ankles, back… > I don’t know why this is the case.  Have been having great success with > Dovonex ointment, though (on both sides!) > I’ve had quite a bit that was symmetric over the years, but some that > wasn’t. When I had a nasty case of fingernails, it was on both hands, > but not always the same fingers. > I’ve heard mention of 4 different forms, could it be some forms are > symmetric, some not?

Janet: I have NO mirror image with my p which is ongoing for more than 30 years-but now have an outbreak with my nails (first time) and they look terrible! Any suggestions as to how to deal with this? You must have some firsthand knowledge! Thanks-any hints would be appreciated! Terri — Please visit my site at: http://members.tripod.com/~Mylan/padsbubble.html

Response:

> Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if > a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my > left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of > my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I > knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record > it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to > apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of > fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet. > Tracy N

I find that to be the case with me also.  Elbows, shins, ankles, back… I don’t know why this is the case.  Have been having great success with Dovonex ointment, though (on both sides!)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if > a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my > left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of > my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I > knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record > it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to > apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of > fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet. > Tracy N > I find that to be the case with me also.  Elbows, shins, ankles, back… > I don’t know why this is the case.  Have been having great success with > Dovonex ointment, though (on both sides!)

I’ve had quite a bit that was symmetric over the years, but some that wasn’t. When I had a nasty case of fingernails, it was on both hands, but not always the same fingers. I’ve heard mention of 4 different forms, could it be some forms are symmetric, some not?

Response:

I’ve had loads of you email me telling me that you too suffer from this mirror image phenomenon.  has anyone had any response from their derm that may help us or may explain it?  I feel very strongly that this fact is important and should be looked into.  I know lots of you must agree from the responses I’ve had to my previous posting.  come on, heads together! Tracy N.

Response:

>Yup, I am another balanced P person but mine also moves around, for two

years I had it in my armpits and then it went.  Now I have it on my ears and eyebrows,  arms and legs are always there.  I too would be interested in any ideas as to why. — Liz

Response:

ditto!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Regarding mirror image psoriasis, is it too far out to speculate that >psoriasis, for whatever reason, follows certain meridian lines on the >body (I’m thinking Chinese acupuncture lines)? >I too have the bilateral effect, but I’d never tried the prevention >technique Tracy describes below of applying cream in advance of a spot >in the area it might appear.  My mirror-image spots are somewhat askew, >so my meridian lines (or whatever) are undoubtedly not text-book >symmetrical. >John Kender’s recent post about keeping a food log and zeroing in on >what triggers one’s p and his speculation that p might be a reaction to >an allergen or several, in his case lamb, plus my past experience with >acupuncture, diet and Chinese herbs, plus my exposure to Dr. Andrew >Weil’s ideas on our PBS channel last night described in an earlier >post, have got me wondering again about the mechanisms of our common >malady. >My dermatologist also did not have an answer when I asked why many >spots are symmetrical. >There’s gotta be a reason. >Theories anyone? >writes: >yes, i have also noticed this "mirror-image" effect with psoriasis. >My >dermatologist has also confirmed this behavior of psoriasis, athough >he is >not sure why. >tim cooper >And before that appeared the following: >Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that >if >a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my >left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any >part of >my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear > I >knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track >record >it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to >apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance >of >fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet.   >Tracy N>>

I have never considered this before, but I believe you are right.  I never has psoriasis on my side before but it started within a day on one side and then the other.  Ditto my shoulders.  Very weird. Charles London, England

Response:

>Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if >a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my >left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of >my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I >knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record >it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to >apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of >fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet.   >Tracy N

I too like many other P sufferers experience the symmetrical appearance of P patches on the body.    It is common in some ppl to have these patches appear on similar areas on the opposite  side or limb.   C.O.

Response:

yes, i have also noticed this "mirror-image" effect with psoriasis.  My dermatologist has also confirmed this behavior of psoriasis, athough he is not sure why. tim cooper

Response:

Regarding mirror image psoriasis, is it too far out to speculate that psoriasis, for whatever reason, follows certain meridian lines on the body (I’m thinking Chinese acupuncture lines)? I too have the bilateral effect, but I’d never tried the prevention technique Tracy describes below of applying cream in advance of a spot in the area it might appear.  My mirror-image spots are somewhat askew, so my meridian lines (or whatever) are undoubtedly not text-book symmetrical. John Kender’s recent post about keeping a food log and zeroing in on what triggers one’s p and his speculation that p might be a reaction to an allergen or several, in his case lamb, plus my past experience with acupuncture, diet and Chinese herbs, plus my exposure to Dr. Andrew Weil’s ideas on our PBS channel last night described in an earlier post, have got me wondering again about the mechanisms of our common malady. My dermatologist also did not have an answer when I asked why many spots are symmetrical. There’s gotta be a reason. Theories anyone? writes: >yes, i have also noticed this "mirror-image" effect with psoriasis. My >dermatologist has also confirmed this behavior of psoriasis, athough he is >not sure why. >tim cooper

And before that appeared the following: Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet.   Tracy N>>

Response:

Does everyone else have the same pattern with P that I do?  I find that if a patch erupts say on my right side, then soon a patch will begin on my left side in like a mirror image.  This applies to my scalp and any part of my body that is affected at the time.  Even when it began inside my ear  I knew before long it would be in the other ear and true to it’s track record it was there within a week.  I find that when a patch starts, I have to apply cream to the opposite side of my body also if I have any chance of fending it off.  I must admit I haven’t succeeded yet.   Tracy N

Response: