Question:

> We all have the need to be touched. > [snipped for space]

touch me baby!!

Response:

>The scar will give you character and be a handy subject of conversation to >help break the ice with all those women that will come your way. ‘-)

Chicks dig scars. – Dave W. http://psorsite.com/

Response:

Mr. Perry, I just want to thank you for the very thoughtful responses you have posted here.  I’m sure many people are reading this exchange who are too shy to respond as well. LadyAndy Chat live with me at http://ivillagehealth.com/community/aolusers/pages/1,12910,538426_539… 0.html  (my chats are on Sun evenings at 10 ET) Joint Replacement Board at http://boards.ivillagehealth.com/messages/get/bhivhjointreplace1.html

Response:

Well thank you Lady Andy. I am only trying to share what has worked for me and perhaps give some encouragement. I still say the Serenity Prayer every night just before I go to sleep. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mr. Perry, I just want to thank you for the very thoughtful responses you have > posted here.  I’m sure many people are reading this exchange who are too shy to > respond as well. > LadyAndy > Chat live with me at > http://ivillagehealth.com/community/aolusers/pages/1,12910,538426_539… > 0.html  (my chats are on Sun evenings at 10 ET) > Joint Replacement Board at > http://boards.ivillagehealth.com/messages/get/bhivhjointreplace1.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > > I’m going to put in my 2 cents worth for what it’s worth.  Hope I don’t start a flame war. > > > > Funny thing is we are as vain as the non-sufferers.  We often want a clear skinned person.  We look at > > > > ourselves and don’t like what we see…so how can we expect another to like it or even get used to > > > > it.  Hell, I’m not used to it.  I hate it.  It’s great if you can find someone who truly sees beyond > > > > the disease, but those persons are far and few between. > > > I could not disagree more! > > > Apparently you only know very shallow people. > > I’m afraid you may be right.  Where does one go to find non-shallow people? > Places where people congregate to do something other than drink and look for love in all the wrong places. Any > type of gathering where people of both sexes congregate and socialize that are not like the bar scene. Just a few > that come to mind: church, plays, I have heard that Laundromats are a good place, adult education classes. I’m > sure there are many more. I happened to meet my wife at a twelve step meeting. Since we were both there we already > knew we had at least one thing in common. > I know you’re only trying to help.  And I appreciate that.  The thing is I don’t drink or do drugs,

Good. You don’t need that problem or someone else that has it. You may have guessed the twelve step meeting that I met Laurie at was an AA meeting. We still go regularly. I have been sober for more than 23 years, she more than 22 years. Neither of us have ever seen the other take a drink and that’s the way we hope to keep it. > I go to church > regularly and volunteer for all sorts of things and I have taken a lot of courses.  I’m fresh out of ideas. > >> > > Seems all the good ones are truly taken. > > > You can’t be that bitter, can you? > > It’s hard not to be bitter.  I was very much covered.  It was difficult to even find some friends let alone > > partners.  I got kicked out of pools, > How and why could they do that? Were your lesions bleeding or weeping? > Nope, but 75% coverage is pretty ugly….and scary for kids.

What do your kids think of it? Are the embarrassed to have you meet their friends? I sincerely hope not. If I see someone staring at mine I try to use it as an opportunity to educate them at least a little about psoriasis. > > people would not shake my hand, > I have had that happen too. I asked a lady at a medical supply store that was trying to sell me something to help my > psoriasis to touch so she would know it is just ordinary skin that happens to be thick and crusty. She withdrew with > a horrified look on her face. This was after I had told her that it is not contagious in any way, and had > given her some other information about our disease. After she did that I told her that she needed to practice her > people skills and learn more about diseases like psoriasis or find another job. > Been there, done that.  I’m tired of educating the public.

I try to keep it short and simple and to the point. I have considered getting a T-shirt with "IT’S PSORIASIS" and the web address of the NPF on it. > > been passed up for jobs which deal with > > the public…etc…. Yes I believe I am quite bitter. > I understand, but you do know that bitterness will eat you alive like a strong acid, don’t you? > It’s a catch 22 situation.

Yep. When you are down that far it is impossible to see any light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t encourage you enough to convince you the the situation will get better, even though I believe it will. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > > It > > > > humbles us to suffer through this disease.  We can appreciate far more now what others take for > > > > granted.  But we > > > > still want what they have.  We don’t want to settle for any less. > > > Once again, I must disagree. My first wife had psoriasis and still does as do I. At that time neither of us > > > knew what it was. We just knew that we had similar scaly patches of skin and nothing seemed to clear it up > > and > we both were plagued by terrible cases of what we believed to be dandruff. Those conditions had nothing > > > whatever to do with the breakup of our marriage. > > Exactly my point.  Would you have dated each other had you or she been 75% covered?  I think not.  Let’s be > honest here. > I cannot answer that question since it never happened. Have you checked out NPF to see if there are any support > groups within driving distance of where you live? > There used to be but not enough people were going so they stopped.

Have you talked to a psychologist about your problems? When I was very depressed my doctor put me on Prozac and I told him the only way I would take it was if I also got some counseling. That helped me more than the drugs. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >> > >  And yet we expect others to settle > > > > in our case.  As for me, I have given up on finding that special someone (clear skinned or not).  He’s > > > > just not out there. > > > I hate to sound like a therapist, but I must say that it appears that you need to learn to accept and love > > > yourself first. > > Oh, I have been on a journey of self-discovery, self-improvement, self-love, etc….for over 2 years now.  I > > have changed dramatically from the suicidal, depressed individual I was then.  I do love myself.  I just can’t > > find anyone out there who will look beyond the 75% coverage long enough to find out I’m a good person. > Perhaps you should stop looking for a lover and try to become friends with people. Then let nature take its course. > Now this proves you’re not reading my posts.  As I said, I have loads of friends.  More than I can shake a stick at. > I am a great friend.  And that’s all anybody wants of me is a friend.  I’m tired of being everybody’s friend…I want > more…..I deserve more.

I read you post very well and I understand what you are saying. I was trying to make the point that if you act as if you are looking for a mate that alone will scare many men away. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > > I have had my beautiful skin days, got married, had 2 kids.  Now I’m divorced > > > > (because my ex couldn’t deal with the skin) > > > If those were the only reasons he left then you are much better off without him. > > I agree with you on that one.  But I could not know he was like that when we got married because I was a slender, > beautiful woman.  Once the skin started to change, so did his feelings for me.  That leaves a big whole in your > heart hon. > My second wife used to say to me, "You will tell me if I get too fat won’t you?" Talk about a loaded question. I > never told her that she was even when she went over 160 pounds and she was only 5′0" tall. I still found her > attractive until she became pregnant with another man’s child. > So you’re on wife #  ????

Laurie is my third and last wife. We have been married since 2/14/81. My first one lasted 7 years. We married when we were kids. My second marriage lasted 12 years. >    I hate to burst your bubble hon but maybe she went with another man because she found him > more physically attractive.

You could not be more wrong. He was obese, only 21 years old and not good looking at all. He was dumber than a box of rocks. She had, and continues to have, such low self esteem and emotional problems that she needed someone else to find her attractive. She thought I was drinking because I couldn’t stand to look at her which could not be further from the truth. After all she is the mother of five of our children and even though she had ballooned from 100 pounds when we were married to over 160 pounds I still found her physically attractive. I later found out she had been cheating on me for most of our marriage. By the way, the only place you could see any psoriasis on me when she and I were married was what appeared to be a terrible case of dandruff. Our kids have told me that she is still in love with me, but she threw all that away. >  It’s why most of them do.   They need a break from the ’skin’….. > > > > and I’m settling into middle-age (I’m 44- supposedly in my > > > > sexual prime) and trying to enjoy what’s rest of my ‘it sucks to be me’ life. > > > > That’s why they make such a wide variety of vibrators today. No, that is not a joke. > > I know.  I am well acquainted with the cornecopia of ‘toys’ out there.  Pretty much have to be.  But comes a  time > when you resent not being pretty enough to be touched by a man.  I haven’t been touched by a man in 5  years. > Meanwhile, my ‘toys’ and I have become intimately acquainted. > Great! At least you aren’t too bashful or ashamed to keep that part of your mental health in good shape.  We all > need to be touched and hugged every single day. > And your point is????

We all have the need to be touched. [snipped for space]

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->If you don’t like it the hair will certainly grow back. As a matter of fact I was >always told by barbers that my hair grows at about twice the normal rate. I have >often wondered if that is somehow connected to my psoriasis. > I joke with people all the time that my hair grows like a Chia pet. > >When I grew my hair long my shirts and jackets constantly looked like I had been in a >blizzard of dandruff. > I too have the same problem, tried diff dandruff shampoos but no > effect yet. >When I first shaved my head it looked as if Mother Nature had put one of those Jewish >hats into my scalp. The up side is that it cleared very quickly. I do have to shave >my head at least two to three times per week. If I let it go for a whole week the P >starts to return. I also have it in my eyebrows which I refuse to shave. I cannot >grow a mustache or beard because P will bloom in those areas within a week’s time. > You seem to have it in exact same spots as me, I have it on my > eyebrows as well, although it doesn’t seem to flare up as bad there as > it did before. Only other thing I considered about shaving my head is > I have a large scar on top of my head that will be very visible.

The scar will give you character and be a handy subject of conversation to help break the ice with all those women that will come your way. ‘-) > One question for you – do you still have to treat your psoriasis as > often as you used to or has it cleared up completely?

Oh, I wish that I could say that it has, but alas I cannot. I still have it in the crease on the back of my head, around and inside both ears, in my eyebrows, my left cheek, the jaw line just under my chin, the crease between my nose and my cheek, both elbows, small one on my chest, my navel, small ones on the front of both thighs, four of them on my back, my buttocks just around the tailbone area, my right knee, my right chin, my left ankle up onto the leg and inverse psoriasis in both creases between my groin and thighs and in the crease over the tailbone. This time of year since the days get shorter my lesions get larger. Right now the dermatologist has me using Tazorac 0.1% and Olux Foam on alternating days except for my face and the inverse p places I mentioned. I use Desowen and Polysporin on those. Taking antibiotic right now to fight off any secondary infection in the inverse areas and behind the ears. They were all cracked open, weeping and bleeding. That is usually a pretty good indication of a secondary infection. I take a Clariton every night to relief the terrible itching on my knee and calf so I can sleep. Isn’t psoriasis fun? Compared to what my diabetes could do to me the psoriasis is a cake walk. OTOH having the P gone on my scalp except for the crease is such a relief after those many years of every dandruff remedy imaginable with none of them working. I actually had more than one barber tell me that if I would only shampoo more often it would all clear up. I had a couple others tell me not to shampoo too often. Shows how much they knew. LOL Actually my psoriasis is much milder than many other people have, but when you are itching and scratching you really don’t care about that. My sister, who is four years older than me, also has psoriatic arthritis with hers. My doctor isn’t sure if mine is connected to my P or just degenerative arthritis from all the abuse I gave my body for so many years when I was an arborist (fancy word for professional tree trimmer and tree surgeon).

Response:

>If you don’t like it the hair will certainly grow back. As a matter of fact I was >always told by barbers that my hair grows at about twice the normal rate. I have >often wondered if that is somehow connected to my psoriasis.

I joke with people all the time that my hair grows like a Chia pet. >When I grew my hair long my shirts and jackets constantly looked like I had been in a >blizzard of dandruff.

I too have the same problem, tried diff dandruff shampoos but no effect yet. >When I first shaved my head it looked as if Mother Nature had put one of those Jewish >hats into my scalp. The up side is that it cleared very quickly. I do have to shave >my head at least two to three times per week. If I let it go for a whole week the P >starts to return. I also have it in my eyebrows which I refuse to shave. I cannot >grow a mustache or beard because P will bloom in those areas within a week’s time.

You seem to have it in exact same spots as me, I have it on my eyebrows as well, although it doesn’t seem to flare up as bad there as it did before. Only other thing I considered about shaving my head is I have a large scar on top of my head that will be very visible. One question for you – do you still have to treat your psoriasis as often as you used to or has it cleared up completely?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > I’m going to put in my 2 cents worth for what it’s worth.  Hope I don’t start a flame war. > > > Funny thing is we are as vain as the non-sufferers.  We often want a clear skinned person.  We look at > > > ourselves and don’t like what we see…so how can we expect another to like it or even get used to > > > it.  Hell, I’m not used to it.  I hate it.  It’s great if you can find someone who truly sees beyond > > > the disease, but those persons are far and few between. > > I could not disagree more! > > Apparently you only know very shallow people. > I’m afraid you may be right.  Where does one go to find non-shallow people? > Places where people congregate to do something other than drink and look for love in all the wrong places. Any > type of gathering where people of both sexes congregate and socialize that are not like the bar scene. Just a few > that come to mind: church, plays, I have heard that Laundromats are a good place, adult education classes. I’m > sure there are many more. I happened to meet my wife at a twelve step meeting. Since we were both there we already > knew we had at least one thing in common.

I know you’re only trying to help.  And I appreciate that.  The thing is I don’t drink or do drugs, I go to church regularly and volunteer for all sorts of things and I have taken a lot of courses.  I’m fresh out of ideas. >> > > Seems all the good ones are truly taken. > > You can’t be that bitter, can you? > It’s hard not to be bitter.  I was very much covered.  It was difficult to even find some friends let alone > partners.  I got kicked out of pools, > How and why could they do that? Were your lesions bleeding or weeping?

Nope, but 75% coverage is pretty ugly….and scary for kids. > people would not shake my hand, > I have had that happen too. I asked a lady at a medical supply store that was trying to sell me something to help my > psoriasis to touch so she would know it is just ordinary skin that happens to be thick and crusty. She withdrew with > a horrified look on her face. This was after I had told her that it is not contagious in any way, and had > given her some other information about our disease. After she did that I told her that she needed to practice her > people skills and learn more about diseases like psoriasis or find another job.

Been there, done that.  I’m tired of educating the public. > been passed up for jobs which deal with > the public…etc…. Yes I believe I am quite bitter. > I understand, but you do know that bitterness will eat you alive like a strong acid, don’t you?

It’s a catch 22 situation. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > It > > > humbles us to suffer through this disease.  We can appreciate far more now what others take for > > > granted.  But we > > > still want what they have.  We don’t want to settle for any less. > > Once again, I must disagree. My first wife had psoriasis and still does as do I. At that time neither of us > > > knew what it was. We just knew that we had similar scaly patches of skin and nothing seemed to clear it up > > and > we both were plagued by terrible cases of what we believed to be dandruff. Those conditions had nothing > > whatever to do with the breakup of our marriage. > Exactly my point.  Would you have dated each other had you or she been 75% covered?  I think not.  Let’s be > honest here. > I cannot answer that question since it never happened. Have you checked out NPF to see if there are any support > groups within driving distance of where you live?

There used to be but not enough people were going so they stopped. >> > >  And yet we expect others to settle > > > in our case.  As for me, I have given up on finding that special someone (clear skinned or not).  He’s > > > just not out there. > > I hate to sound like a therapist, but I must say that it appears that you need to learn to accept and love > > yourself first. > Oh, I have been on a journey of self-discovery, self-improvement, self-love, etc….for over 2 years now.  I > have changed dramatically from the suicidal, depressed individual I was then.  I do love myself.  I just can’t > find anyone out there who will look beyond the 75% coverage long enough to find out I’m a good person. > Perhaps you should stop looking for a lover and try to become friends with people. Then let nature take its course.

Now this proves you’re not reading my posts.  As I said, I have loads of friends.  More than I can shake a stick at. I am a great friend.  And that’s all anybody wants of me is a friend.  I’m tired of being everybody’s friend…I want more…..I deserve more. > > > I have had my beautiful skin days, got married, had 2 kids.  Now I’m divorced > > > (because my ex couldn’t deal with the skin) > > If those were the only reasons he left then you are much better off without him. > I agree with you on that one.  But I could not know he was like that when we got married because I was a slender, > beautiful woman.  Once the skin started to change, so did his feelings for me.  That leaves a big whole in your > heart hon. > My second wife used to say to me, "You will tell me if I get too fat won’t you?" Talk about a loaded question. I > never told her that she was even when she went over 160 pounds and she was only 5′0" tall. I still found her > attractive until she became pregnant with another man’s child.

So you’re on wife #  ????    I hate to burst your bubble hon but maybe she went with another man because she found him more physically attractive.  It’s why most of them do.   They need a break from the ’skin’….. > > > and I’m settling into middle-age (I’m 44- supposedly in my > > > sexual prime) and trying to enjoy what’s rest of my ‘it sucks to be me’ life. > > > That’s why they make such a wide variety of vibrators today. No, that is not a joke. > I know.  I am well acquainted with the cornecopia of ‘toys’ out there.  Pretty much have to be.  But comes a  time > when you resent not being pretty enough to be touched by a man.  I haven’t been touched by a man in 5  years. > Meanwhile, my ‘toys’ and I have become intimately acquainted. > Great! At least you aren’t too bashful or ashamed to keep that part of your mental health in good shape.  We all > need to be touched and hugged every single day.

And your point is???? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > I’m now taking Neoral (cyclosporine) and  it is working quite well.  But even if I clear 100%, I will not get > serious with anyone without first showing him my ‘before’ pictures (and man are they bad) and letting him know that > it could and may  well happen again. > > That sounds reasonable if you wait until you know the person and talk to them first so they know what to expect. > > > I refuse to invest myself emotionally in a relationship where my partner does an > > > about face because he can’t deal with it.  And believe me, there are more guys out there who will do > an > about face that there are who won’t. > > No, I do not believe you for even one nanosecond. Where are you meeting these clods? > What planet are you living on?  Even the guys on this newgroup are looking for clear skinned women.  That’s just > the point….I have stopped looking because I have been put off so many times.  Rejection is not one of  my strong > points.  If you know someone send him over hon. > As I said above perhaps it is time to stop looking for a lover and just try to be friends with people. That is what > I did. There are not easy answers — damn it I wish there were.

And as I said above, I have more friends than any one person needs.  I need a lover…. a mate…. a partner…..  And yes, I have given up (as I also said above)….. and that has not worked either.  So, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.  This is a superficial world we live in.  And I am going to have to get used to that fact and get over it. Someone out there could have a really wonderful mate in me but they will never know because they are too superficial. Their loss. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > > That’s my story and I’m sticking to it baby.  For what it’s > > > worth…. > > What it is worth from where I sit is a case of self loathing that needs to be addressed before anything > > constructive can be done. It sounds as if you are very depressed. Many of us have dealt with that at one > > time or another. Discuss your feelings with your doctor. Ask him/her if you might benefit from an > > antidepressant. > Just because I loathe my p. doesn’t mean I loathe myself.  I am a beautiful person.  And I love who I have > become.  Everyone wants to be my friend.  I am a great friend.  But no one wants to be my lover.  BTW, I have > been on anti-depressants since my divorce in 1997.  Realism is often confused with depression. > It may happen when you least expect it. That is what happened to me. As long as I was seeking another mate I > didn’t meet anyone except "ladies" that wanted a romp in my bed and nothing more. Not what I was looking for. > > Believe me when I say there was a time when I felt much the same as you do now. Once I learned to be > > comfortable in my own skin and by myself a beautiful woman came into my life. All I was looking for at that > > time was friendship. We now have been married for nearly twenty-two years. She has seen my psoriasis at its > > worst and when it was almost completely cleared. Her love for me did not change with the lesions on > > my skin. > Like I said, all the good ones seem to be taken.  I am glad for you.  You are the exception and not the rule. > You think so? Perhaps. I don’t think I am that unique. > > I wish you love of yourself and the best of

… read more »

Response:

> > > I’m going to put in my 2 cents worth for what it’s worth.  Hope I don’t start a flame war. > > Funny thing is we are as vain as the non-sufferers.  We often want a clear skinned person.  We look at > > ourselves and don’t like what we see…so how can we expect another to like it or even get used to > > it.  Hell, I’m not used to it.  I hate it.  It’s great if you can find someone who truly sees beyond > > the disease, but those persons are far and few between. > I could not disagree more! > Apparently you only know very shallow people. > I’m afraid you may be right.  Where does one go to find non-shallow people?

Places where people congregate to do something other than drink and look for love in all the wrong places. Any type of gathering where people of both sexes congregate and socialize that are not like the bar scene. Just a few that come to mind: church, plays, I have heard that Laundromats are a good place, adult education classes. I’m sure there are many more. I happened to meet my wife at a twelve step meeting. Since we were both there we already knew we had at least one thing in common. > > Seems all the good ones are truly taken. > You can’t be that bitter, can you? > It’s hard not to be bitter.  I was very much covered.  It was difficult to even find some friends let alone > partners.  I got kicked out of pools,

How and why could they do that? Were your lesions bleeding or weeping? > people would not shake my hand,

I have had that happen too. I asked a lady at a medical supply store that was trying to sell me something to help my psoriasis to touch so she would know it is just ordinary skin that happens to be thick and crusty. She withdrew with a horrified look on her face. This was after I had told her that it is not contagious in any way, and had given her some other information about our disease. After she did that I told her that she needed to practice her people skills and learn more about diseases like psoriasis or find another job. > been passed up for jobs which deal with > the public…etc…. Yes I believe I am quite bitter.

I understand, but you do know that bitterness will eat you alive like a strong acid, don’t you? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > It > > humbles us to suffer through this disease.  We can appreciate far more now what others take for > > granted.  But we > > still want what they have.  We don’t want to settle for any less. > Once again, I must disagree. My first wife had psoriasis and still does as do I. At that time neither of us > knew what it was. We just knew that we had similar scaly patches of skin and nothing seemed to clear it up > and we both were plagued by terrible cases of what we believed to be dandruff. Those conditions had nothing > whatever to do with the breakup of our marriage. > Exactly my point.  Would you have dated each other had you or she been 75% covered?  I think not.  Let’s be > honest here.

I cannot answer that question since it never happened. Have you checked out NPF to see if there are any support groups within driving distance of where you live? > >  And yet we expect others to settle > > in our case.  As for me, I have given up on finding that special someone (clear skinned or not).  He’s > > just not out there. > I hate to sound like a therapist, but I must say that it appears that you need to learn to accept and love > yourself first. > Oh, I have been on a journey of self-discovery, self-improvement, self-love, etc….for over 2 years now.  I > have changed dramatically from the suicidal, depressed individual I was then.  I do love myself.  I just can’t > find anyone out there who will look beyond the 75% coverage long enough to find out I’m a good person.

Perhaps you should stop looking for a lover and try to become friends with people. Then let nature take its course. > > I have had my beautiful skin days, got married, had 2 kids.  Now I’m divorced > > (because my ex couldn’t deal with the skin) > If those were the only reasons he left then you are much better off without him. > I agree with you on that one.  But I could not know he was like that when we got married because I was a > slender, beautiful woman.  Once the skin started to change, so did his feelings for me.  That leaves a big > whole in your heart hon.

My second wife used to say to me, "You will tell me if I get too fat won’t you?" Talk about a loaded question. I never told her that she was even when she went over 160 pounds and she was only 5′0" tall. I still found her attractive until she became pregnant with another man’s child. > > and I’m settling into middle-age (I’m 44- supposedly in my > > sexual prime) and trying to enjoy what’s rest of my ‘it sucks to be me’ life. > That’s why they make such a wide variety of vibrators today. No, that is not a joke. > I know.  I am well acquainted with the cornecopia of ‘toys’ out there.  Pretty much have to be.  But comes a > time when you resent not being pretty enough to be touched by a man.  I haven’t been touched by a man in 5 > years.  Meanwhile, my ‘toys’ and I have become intimately acquainted.

Great! At least you aren’t too bashful or ashamed to keep that part of your mental health in good shape. We all need to be touched and hugged every single day. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I’m now taking Neoral > > (cyclosporine) and > > it is working quite well.  But even if I clear 100%, I will not get serious with anyone without first > > showing him my ‘before’ pictures (and man are they bad) and letting him know that it could and may > > well happen again. > That sounds reasonable if you wait until you know the person and talk to them first so they know what to > expect. > > I refuse to invest myself emotionally in a relationship where my partner does an > > about face because he can’t deal with it.  And believe me, there are more guys out there who will do > an > about face that there are who won’t. > No, I do not believe you for even one nanosecond. Where are you meeting these clods? > What planet are you living on?  Even the guys on this newgroup are looking for clear skinned women.  That’s > just the point….I have stopped looking because I have been put off so many times.  Rejection is not one of > my strong points.  If you know someone send him over hon.

As I said above perhaps it is time to stop looking for a lover and just try to be friends with people. That is what I did. There are not easy answers — damn it I wish there were. > > That’s my story and I’m sticking to it baby.  For what it’s > > worth…. > What it is worth from where I sit is a case of self loathing that needs to be addressed before anything > constructive can be done. It sounds as if you are very depressed. Many of us have dealt with that at one > time or another. Discuss your feelings with your doctor. Ask him/her if you might benefit from an > antidepressant. > Just because I loathe my p. doesn’t mean I loathe myself.  I am a beautiful person.  And I love who I have > become.  Everyone wants to be my friend.  I am a great friend.  But no one wants to be my lover.  BTW, I have > been on anti-depressants since my divorce in 1997.  Realism is often confused with depression.

It may happen when you least expect it. That is what happened to me. As long as I was seeking another mate I didn’t meet anyone except "ladies" that wanted a romp in my bed and nothing more. Not what I was looking for. > Believe me when I say there was a time when I felt much the same as you do now. Once I learned to be > comfortable in my own skin and by myself a beautiful woman came into my life. All I was looking for at that > time was friendship. We now have been married for nearly twenty-two years. She has seen my psoriasis at its > worst and when it was almost completely cleared. Her love for me did not change with the lesions on > my skin. > Like I said, all the good ones seem to be taken.  I am glad for you.  You are the exception and not the rule.

You think so? Perhaps. I don’t think I am that unique. > I wish you love of yourself and the best of luck. > Chuck > Living with psoriasis for more than 62 years. > I do love myself Chuck.  It’s someone else’s love I need….not my own.  Thanks.

Give what you want to get. Damn! Almost everything I have written to you sounds like a bunch of clich

Question:

>Thank you evrybody…nizoral   i try it and my wead was worst than before >verry dry skin…ouch!!!!!

Didn’t do anything noticeable for me good or bad.   FWIW. YMMV. HTH. J.

Response:

>…Also in California we are >labeling all tar shampoos with a cancer warning.

Which doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not coal tar is safe to use, according to the AG who filed one of the lawsuits leading to the labelling. For more info, see:    http://psorsite.com/coaltar.html – Dave W. http://psorsite.com/

Response:

>>Others have found benefit from things like tea tree oil and neoral – >an antifungal shampoo. The scalp is often prone to yeast, which may >play into why those help. >That shampoo is Nizoral not neoral, just to clarify, right?

yeah, thanks. brain lock. The Psoriasis Newsgroup Resource FAQ can be found at               http://www.psoriasisfaq.com but will also be coming soon (twice a month) to a            newsgroup near you…

Response:

The scalp is very tricky.   One thing that helps remove some scaling, however, is a lice comb. If I went out of town and forgot it, I’d cry. During my shower I use T-Sal shampoo and leave it on a while. It helps remove scaley build-up. When I get out of the shower, I go through my scalp with my "fine-toothed comb" literally. When things used to get really bad, I’d soak my whole head in the tub while taking a bath. A good soak really helps loosen the caked scales. Then shampoo. Then use lice comb. Derma-Smooth is an oily compound for overnight use (I believe it had some steroid in it) I used that with success in the past. And here’s a very good tip for washing out any oily product from your hair…Neutrogena Anti Residue Shampoo!!!!  Otherwise your hair will be greasy. Erin

Response:

Don’t forget tar causes photo-sensitivity. Also in California we are labeling all tar shampoos with a cancer warning.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi   i have a lot of P over all my head  my scalp is verry >dry….itching….i don’t want to put some tar or corticoide on my >head….someone have a solution to help the P to go away??   i put some baby >thank you > I guess my first question is why not the tar or cortico-steroids. They > may not have realized it, but the other two responders both > recommended steroid based products. > If it’s for safety issues, both tar and steroids are fairly safe **so > long as they’re used properly** and they can be pretty effective. If > it’s because of the stink with the tar, some versions are less stinky > than others. I use a shampoo that isn’t bad, especially mixed with a > more normal one. > There are alternatives though: > Baby oil is a good start, but all it does is moisturize to sooth the > scalp and loosen up the scale a bit. BTW, do you use occlusion with it > to make it more effective – like sleeping with it on your scalp under > a shower cap or similar object. Anyway,  Salicylic acid is a > keratolytic, which means scale remover, and using something with that > in it along with the baby oil might make that more effective. Sal acid > and coal tar are the only OTC ingredients to treat P accproved by the > US FDA. There are some shampoos and other products available > containing it. Info about a few brands is available at Dave’s > Psorsite:  http://www.psorsite.com/salacid.html > In the prescription realm, there’s a scalp version of dovonex and > anthralin based preps for the scalp. Those are two of the safest > therapies for psoriasis there are. > Others have found benefit from things like tea tree oil and neoral – > an antifungal shampoo. The scalp is often prone to yeast, which may > play into why those help. > Honestly, the best approach for a persistant and more difficult to > treat are like the scalp is usually a mixture of things. One of the > better steroid preps for the scalp is dermasmoothe, which suspends the > steroid in peanut oil to get the benefit of both the steroid and the > sort of oil moisturization you’re using with the mineral oil (you > might try using a different rype of oil too – there’s no inherently > better one, but some have found one type of oil works better for them > than others). I use tar suspended in oil under occlusion and rotating > between sal acid and tar based shampoos on mine. You can find a lot of > individual hints through searching the ng archives using the links at > http://www.pinch.com/skin     and checking the wide range of info at > psorsite. There’s an entry for scalp psoriasis there with some > suggested links at http://www.psorsite.com/index/index_s.html > Also look into things like changing shampoos/conditioners along with > rotating among various ones. The ones you’re using now may be making > things worse through irritants like fragrance or further drying your > scalp. > Best of luck > Kim > The Psoriasis Newsgroup Resource FAQ can be found at >               http://www.psoriasisfaq.com > but will also be coming soon (twice a month) to a >            newsgroup near you…

Response:

>Others have found benefit from things like tea tree oil and neoral – >an antifungal shampoo. The scalp is often prone to yeast, which may >play into why those help.

That shampoo is Nizoral not neoral, just to clarify, right? J.

Response:

Thank you evrybody…nizoral   i try it and my wead was worst than before verry dry skin…ouch!!!!! bye jean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Others have found benefit from things like tea tree oil and neoral – >an antifungal shampoo. The scalp is often prone to yeast, which may >play into why those help. > That shampoo is Nizoral not neoral, just to clarify, right? > J.

Response:

Hi   i have a lot of P over all my head  my scalp is verry dry….itching….i don’t want to put some tar or corticoide on my head….someone have a solution to help the P to go away??   i put some baby thank you

Response:

> Hi   i have a lot of P over all my head  my scalp is verry > dry….itching….i don’t want to put some tar or corticoide on my > head….someone have a solution to help the P to go away??   i put some baby > thank you

Ask your doctor about Olux Foam. That is what it is made for. I have kept my head shaved since ‘93 because of my P, but my dermatologist prescribed it anyway. He said it is designed for areas where there is hair, but should help me anyway. It did wonders for the area around my ears on the wrinkle on the back of my head. I must tell you though that if you have been giving in to the urge to scratch the itch it will burn like fire when you put the foam on if that area is still raw. It only burns for a short time, but it will definitely give you a wake-up call. Best of luck to you. Chuck

Response:

Ask your dermato for Elocom lotion.  It works for me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi   i have a lot of P over all my head  my scalp is verry > dry….itching….i don’t want to put some tar or corticoide on my > head….someone have a solution to help the P to go away??   i put some baby > thank you

Response:

>Hi   i have a lot of P over all my head  my scalp is verry >dry….itching….i don’t want to put some tar or corticoide on my >head….someone have a solution to help the P to go away??   i put some baby >thank you

I guess my first question is why not the tar or cortico-steroids. They may not have realized it, but the other two responders both recommended steroid based products. If it’s for safety issues, both tar and steroids are fairly safe **so long as they’re used properly** and they can be pretty effective. If it’s because of the stink with the tar, some versions are less stinky than others. I use a shampoo that isn’t bad, especially mixed with a more normal one. There are alternatives though: Baby oil is a good start, but all it does is moisturize to sooth the scalp and loosen up the scale a bit. BTW, do you use occlusion with it to make it more effective – like sleeping with it on your scalp under a shower cap or similar object. Anyway,  Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, which means scale remover, and using something with that in it along with the baby oil might make that more effective. Sal acid and coal tar are the only OTC ingredients to treat P accproved by the US FDA. There are some shampoos and other products available containing it. Info about a few brands is available at Dave’s Psorsite:  http://www.psorsite.com/salacid.html In the prescription realm, there’s a scalp version of dovonex and anthralin based preps for the scalp. Those are two of the safest therapies for psoriasis there are. Others have found benefit from things like tea tree oil and neoral – an antifungal shampoo. The scalp is often prone to yeast, which may play into why those help. Honestly, the best approach for a persistant and more difficult to treat are like the scalp is usually a mixture of things. One of the better steroid preps for the scalp is dermasmoothe, which suspends the steroid in peanut oil to get the benefit of both the steroid and the sort of oil moisturization you’re using with the mineral oil (you might try using a different rype of oil too – there’s no inherently better one, but some have found one type of oil works better for them than others). I use tar suspended in oil under occlusion and rotating between sal acid and tar based shampoos on mine. You can find a lot of individual hints through searching the ng archives using the links at http://www.pinch.com/skin     and checking the wide range of info at psorsite. There’s an entry for scalp psoriasis there with some suggested links at http://www.psorsite.com/index/index_s.html Also look into things like changing shampoos/conditioners along with rotating among various ones. The ones you’re using now may be making things worse through irritants like fragrance or further drying your scalp. Best of luck Kim The Psoriasis Newsgroup Resource FAQ can be found at               http://www.psoriasisfaq.com but will also be coming soon (twice a month) to a            newsgroup near you…

Response:

Question:

Forgive me for mentioning this… you all might already know it but I overheard this and wanted to tell you about it. (I don’t have scalp P but I listened anyway.) The derm told this guy who has scalp P to go buy several different medicated shampoos. You all are probably familiar with the various name brands but I’m not. He said to buy 5 or 6 different kinds and use one kind for 2 days… then another for 2 days… then the next one for 2 days, etc. The guy has been doing this for several months and keeps his P at a minimum. The derm himself has scalp P also and he said this helped keep his scalp P at bay. Now, this might be common knowledge but I did want to share it in case anyone wanted to try it – maybe it will be effective. Bekki

Response:

> The derm told this guy who has scalp P to go buy several different medicated > shampoos. You all are probably familiar with the various name brands but I’m > not. He said to buy 5 or 6 different kinds and use one kind for 2 days… then > another for 2 days… then the next one for 2 days, etc.

Bekki, Yep, that works with non-scalp treatment as well.  As long as you aren’t mixing treatments together, it’s wise to use one, and then when you see it’s effectiveness dwindle, then you jump to the other one… …Wash, Rinse, Repeat. -Gary http://www.mypsoriasis.com/

Response:

just shave your head 2 or 3 times a years, keeps mine pretty much clear.

Response:

Some women don’t look so good bald – but thanks for the suggestion, really. Bekki

Response:

> Some women don’t look so good bald – but thanks for the suggestion, really. > Bekki

‘Nuff Said

Response:

Question:

> The whey in the form of formula feed SMA Gold is working great ! > Seborrheic rash and especially inflammation are non-existant after 1 > week. Need to give it a few weeks, just to be sure that it is not > placebo. I think this study is a key (I hope) to head and neck > dermatoses, and possibly others. The resolution of this must be a > factor in any treatment and whey and lactic acid cultures could be the > answer :

So, Randalls whey works faster. I don’t know how you did it sO, i’ll guess that you were only 4% afflicted? Don’t go constructing any crapazoids that you can’t get out of. Or should i say fungalzoids or thrush -y things either. randall… my whey works even without my whey.. what a whey. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Studies on the yeast flora in patients suffering from psoriasis > capillitii or seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp. > Senff H, Bothe C, Busacker J, Reinel D. > Universitats-Hautklinik Essen, Germany FR. > In 65 patients with scalp psoriasis or seborrhoic dermatitis of the > scalp, stool specimens, tongue swabs and scalp scales were examined > for yeasts. ****The stool specimens showed in 70.8% of the patient > group MASSIVE**** and in 7.7% moderate yeast colonization. Yeasts were > found in 47.7% of the tongue cultures and in 12.5% of the scalp > scales. Candida albicans was the predominant pathogen in the faeces > and on the tongue. In comparison with a control group, frequency of > yeasts in faeces and on the tongue in patients with psoriasis > capillitii and seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp could be shown to be > significantly higher.

Response:

The whey in the form of formula feed SMA Gold is working great ! Seborrheic rash and especially inflammation are non-existant after 1 week. Need to give it a few weeks, just to be sure that it is not placebo. I think this study is a key (I hope) to head and neck dermatoses, and possibly others. The resolution of this must be a factor in any treatment and whey and lactic acid cultures could be the answer : Studies on the yeast flora in patients suffering from psoriasis capillitii or seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp. Senff H, Bothe C, Busacker J, Reinel D. Universitats-Hautklinik Essen, Germany FR. In 65 patients with scalp psoriasis or seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp, stool specimens, tongue swabs and scalp scales were examined for yeasts. ****The stool specimens showed in 70.8% of the patient group MASSIVE**** and in 7.7% moderate yeast colonization. Yeasts were found in 47.7% of the tongue cultures and in 12.5% of the scalp scales. Candida albicans was the predominant pathogen in the faeces and on the tongue. In comparison with a control group, frequency of yeasts in faeces and on the tongue in patients with psoriasis capillitii and seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp could be shown to be significantly higher.

Response:

> Gosh, i almost miss having Davew and ED around to take > you task too. Now, that i think of it, again.

Oh, the TASKMASTERS ! LOL ! Those 11 (at least) peer reviewed studies that say psoriasis is associated with hyperinsulinemia are all wrong because 2 taskmasters on this group with zero math stats education say that they are. Is that now 3 people ? You’re rambling again. -g- Here’s my reply to the taskmasters (at the end of the text), want to add your 2c ? http://www.geocities.com/evetsm.rm/psoriasis_and_syndrome_x.html

Response:

> > Gosh, i almost miss having Davew and ED around to take > you task too. Now, that i think of it, again. > Oh, the TASKMASTERS ! LOL !

"Arguments from authority require scientific authority to rebut" Since all parties to this Hypothesizing and theorizing are two bit players expect the same in return. To your credit you have wandered into a grey area and cited many nebulous PPAR-ious sources. And that doc dermo that sees 90% diabetic P’s is not correlative as that is his specialty. And if you raison de’etre is to locate diabetic p’s here in a p ng, i ain’t seeing many pony up to your specious theory. > Those 11 (at least) peer reviewed studies that say psoriasis is > associated with hyperinsulinemia are all wrong because 2 taskmasters > on this group with zero math stats education say that they are. Is > that now 3 people ? You’re rambling again. -g- > Here’s my reply to the taskmasters (at the end of the text), want to > add your 2c ?  NO. i’ve asked you many times what PPARS do

exactly as far as P is concerned. I’ve even posted the ligand.com site to help you find the info. Remember? You sent me an email claiming you didn’t have time to do the research. Remember? You may be right on this one. I hope you are. Same with Mike111 and Jr. I need more then ancedotes. As i’ve already figured out how to incorporate most of my p theories into a simple little few dietary rules. That provides me with enough clearings to bolster my empirical needs. So, put your sugar and meat and limpids on the table. They just don’t add up as well as www.thewholewhey.com to stop the p insanity. > http://www.geocities.com/evetsm.rm/psoriasis_and_syndrome_x.html

Ok,  i’ll go get it.. you said..(evestm): from that url right there ^. In conclusion, until Davew understands the difference between a linear, uni-directional, cause and effect and the interchangeable cause and effects of a positively disturbed feedback control loop, he will always search in vain for IR as an absolute cause or effect of diseases of Syndrome X. Understanding the Thrifty-Genotype hypothesis will help him grasp how this feedback control loop is originally disturbed and what people are likely to be susceptible. Second, until Davew stops thinking in absolutes and starts thinking statistically and probabilistically, and until he graps the implications of the phrase "statistical significance", he will forever believe that I have to be either completely wrong or completely correct. I won’t go into the rest of his document, because based on the spuriousness of what he has said up to this point, the rest is moot. If this is true. Then what is the P trigger that determines severity and age of onset? While 14-35 is the average onset of P, some of us feel a little cheated to start much earlier. So, go ahead and have your theory-X account for my trigger. Or, i can just eat my whey and watch the snow flurries abate. Because, what is truly counterintuitive in all these musings, is that a high carb low fat diet feeds the beneficial flora that grows the bacterial compost and that flys in the face of many of your syndrome X beefs. Be my guest account for my clearings in your X. And while your at it, toss in why Jr and Mike111 clear with borage and primrose. I’ll be waiting outside in the sunshine for an answer. Not holding my breath. You could just blame it on DNA. As that isn’t known yet, either. Or, when someone does find something just say your page predicted it. randall… p is a labyrinth. Why make it an enigma? I’ll do it my whey for now.

Response:

I guess 0% cholesterol cannot be oxidized ! I have been doing the baby formula whey feed for 4 days now (SMA Gold brnd), I’m sure it is conjuring the relevant images for some of my erstwhile sparring partners here ! It’s cheaper than Immocal etc (not sure about Webster’s prices)  and I don’t want to jinx it or jump the gun on the placebo effect, but it seems to be doing the trick. Holding thumbs. Doing the bacterial gardening does make sense. IMO

Response:

> I guess 0% cholesterol cannot be oxidized ! > I have been doing the baby formula whey feed for 4 days now (SMA Gold > brnd), I’m sure it is conjuring the relevant images for some of my > erstwhile sparring partners here ! It’s cheaper than Immocal etc (not > sure about Webster’s prices)  and I don’t want to jinx it or jump the > gun on the placebo effect, but it seems to be doing the trick. Holding > thumbs. Doing the bacterial gardening does make sense. IMO

Hi, You are a trick. Does your mother know? How do you hold  both thumbs at the same time without falling out of your tree? Don’t get me wrong, like everything else in your orb, i do want to see you get clear for once in your life. As to the url posted previously i’m working on it. And snail mail is involved so don’t hold your breath. The 48oz container of Proflora form Advanced Health Solutions is around $18 US. And at the rate of two tablespoons a day lasts me around a month and a half or so. Of course if i varied my not as hedonistic diet a few degrees i’d need less no less. Yes, maybe we can get DaveW and ED back to the p ng to see you eat babyfood. I miss em more then you. Yet fatherhood takes time and i may take a lesson form daveW. Doing the "bacterial gardening" makes sense in your opinion? I’ve only pounded you and everyone else over the head with this since i got here. That and a 1:1 ratio of w6 vs w3’s in the diet. And of course avoiding high gluten and glycemic foods within a two and a half to three hour minimun of consuming good fats or bad ones for that matter. As either will promote inflamation. I will give you credit, some, for you Syndrome X. As it does promote a small awareness of inflamation and its pathwhey. Furthermore, I don’t share your parsimony for a whey that works. You could get a goat and clabber your own milk to avoid oxidized fats. Make sure he gets grass to eat, to up the w3 fats. Or you can pretend to be the goat and just do a tablespoon of flax seed oil everyday. Just my whey, IMO. And every scientific post i’ve cited in this p ng that deals with fats. Or haven’t you read them? Gosh, i’ve read all of yours and gone back and read the ones before i got here to know exactly where and whey your coming from. And i’ve never seen another post that explains the PPAR’s better then the one you cited in 1998 or 1999. Did you mention the PPARS and then just think that your hypothesis was done? The investigators are still ferreting them out, so your theories are on hold? Or you could get your fats tested & include a C reactive protein test if your still worried. Yup, PPAR’s be damned. If you have gingivitis you will have markers for c reactive proteins and it won’t be the fault of some oxidized limpids from fat. Or did you think  that all superoxide radicals only came from funky meat and dairy? Lets see, as i recall, free radicals are generated in life in vivo as a process of life itself. Gosh, i almost miss having Davew and ED around to take you task too. Now, that i think of it, again. Maybe all those arguments from zero scientific authority, other then what one misconstrues on the web or ng’s has gotten to you? YOu could go and get a PHd to try to figure out what your trying to say on any given topic. That would be a nice break if nothing else randall… he knew that but will walk backward his whey. Its his whey. Goo Goo

Response:

> I have been trying to find a way around taking powdered milk products > such as whey that will probably contain dangerous oxidized > cholesterol. One method may be to use whey based baby feeding formulas > containing only lactose as the carb. I assume that infant feeds are > not rancid !? Plus they contain many antioxidant vitamins and > minerals. There are a few products available.

Dear Evetsm, I am holding the 48oz. (1359gms) of ProFlora-Sweet Dairy Whey in my hands. And am now looking at the label on the back…Total Fat=0% Saturated fat= 0% and Cholesterol=0% <G> they must have taken that stuff out. Ya think? And or if you want to take whey from raw sources for higher Glutathione potential. look for immunocal or immunopro. i’d opt for the latter as the former spent a sh*t load of money to get into the PDR with tons of expensive studies that are just maybe reflected in the price. For my taste if i wanted one for high GP activity due to cancer and i only wanted a food product and not NAC i’d choose www.imunepro.com and work for a discount on volume and automatic orders. > This article appears to confirm that not all strains of lactic acid > bacteria implant in the bowel, and what is more only L. Acidophilus > implants, according to him. He shares the wholewhey view that specific > food and nutrients must be supplied to make any implant viable, but > this may be done without whey. Interesting that if this is true , then > all these probiotic supplements are a big waste of money. I suppose it > is reasonable to assume that makers of probiotics would rather have > you as an ongoing customer for life ! There IS another way : > http://www.bibkit.com/flora.html

It is my humble opinion as i’m now looking at the book (one of em from this url) Tissue Cleansing Thru Bowel Management by Bernard Jensen DC Copyright 1981 (6th edition) that I’d rather go with Achieve Maximum Health (Colon Flora-the missing link in immunity, health & Longevity) by David Webster. As a matter of fact Bernard may have lifted most of his salient facts from David Webster. As i’ve read and done the protocols from both men. David wins hands down. so www.thewholewhey.com is where  one who is serious about flora should go. I know. I’ve fought this focal point in my P health forever. Over thirty years trying to re jigger my flora. Of course i hesitate to mention Robert Gray and his book "The Colon Health Handbook" and The Bowel Book by DAvid Ehrlich. Getting my colon re-breast fed was a task that only one of these had the true insight to provide first, David Webster. Of course, i have to commend B. Jensen for jumping on the BAndwagon. A little late as he pushed that other worthless damaging crap for a long long time, till he found the Master-David Webster. I’m so glad that David Webster put one alternative straight as Bernard Jensen is a heavy weight in the Irridology and other alternative methods movements. Hehe.. Now Bernard can relax in heaven as he found one person to put him straight. He only went around the world to find the truth (David Webster) right in his own  backyard. BTW, irridology is as worthless as most alt crap-O-la. You can dress up a pig in Versace or ISL and no one will notice the dress, now will they? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> As already hinted, with the exception of the lactobacillus > acidophilus, all other species of bacillus acidi lactici are not > viable; that is, when imbibed, when taken by mouth, they are digested > and destroyed in the stomach and small intestine, and, therefore, do > not reach the colon or, if they do, their number is negligible. L. > Acidophilus is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract and under > the influence of the ingestion of lactose or dextrin can be made to > predominate the intestinal flora. The ingestion of L. Acidophilus milk > with or without added lactose brings about the transformation of the > intestinal flora more quickly and is generally conceded to be the most > logical and practical method of bringing about the preponderance of L. > Acidophilus type of bacteria in the intestines. By administering L. > Acidophilus milk implantation the proliferation of the organisms in > the intestinal tract are more rapidly accomplished for then there is > direct implantation of large numbers of viable organisms. The lactose > of milk induces the multiplication of the desired type of bacteria. It > is necessary that large quantities of very active cultures should be > taken, and special measures must be adopted to supply to the B. > acidophilus, when in the colon, the carboyhydrates which it requires > for efficient growth.

Why for the love of God, don’t you just ask me when i tell you this stuff? Instead you find the guy who copied the one true living master of this stuff. Go buy Davids book and do his WIT kit. That bib kit at the end of the url site for jensen is a clone. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The growth in the large intestine of lactobacillus acidophilus depends > solely on starch and sugar, but more so on milk sugar. In order to > change the intestinal flora, it is best to adopt the following rules. > For fifteen days, about eight ounces to sixteen ounces of culture of > lactobacillus acidophilus, in which three large tablespoons of lactose > is dissolved, should be taken daily thirty minutes before breakfast; > and for the same length of time, three large tablespoons of lactose > should be dissolved in any kind of fruit juices, milk, soups, broth or > water, and taken daily thirty minutes before supper. After this, four > ounces to eight ounces of lactobacillus acidophilus culture, in which > three tablespoons of lactose have been dissolved, should betaken every > morning for fifteen more Jays. The lactose, however, should be taken > as before. After this, the quantity of the culture of the > lactobacillus acidophilus can be reduced to four ounces every day for > fifteen more days. For the remainder of the time, the ingestion of the > culture of the lactobacillus acidophilus, two ounces every day, may be > sufficient to keep the required amount of lactobacillus acidophilus > present in the large intestinal tract. One must remember that the > amount of the daily requirement of lactose, should continue to be > about three tablespoons, morning and evening, as the daily > requirement.

Well, having done the Webster whey, i’d say i know best as to eating the RIGHT whey. Now, wouldn’t you? You know, my BP is going up and my blood is boiling now…. Jensen is a cheap rip off fraud. He most likely has done more damage with his alt BS then he did good while alive. Maybe now dead he can atone for his sins. And David Webster can be recognized as the ONE who lite the pathwhey to healthy viable good FLORA to stay Healthy. Steve, evetsm or whatever you now have one strike against you. Unless i see a email that you will not make this mistake again. I will now take a deep breath and breathe and deeper to down. randall… god! don’t you love it… i’m totally relaxed now.

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I have been trying to find a way around taking powdered milk products such as whey that will probably contain dangerous oxidized cholesterol. One method may be to use whey based baby feeding formulas containing only lactose as the carb. I assume that infant feeds are not rancid !? Plus they contain many antioxidant vitamins and minerals. There are a few products available. This article appears to confirm that not all strains of lactic acid bacteria implant in the bowel, and what is more only L. Acidophilus implants, according to him. He shares the wholewhey view that specific food and nutrients must be supplied to make any implant viable, but this may be done without whey. Interesting that if this is true , then all these probiotic supplements are a big waste of money. I suppose it is reasonable to assume that makers of probiotics would rather have you as an ongoing customer for life ! There IS another way : http://www.bibkit.com/flora.html As already hinted, with the exception of the lactobacillus acidophilus, all other species of bacillus acidi lactici are not viable; that is, when imbibed, when taken by mouth, they are digested and destroyed in the stomach and small intestine, and, therefore, do not reach the colon or, if they do, their number is negligible. L. Acidophilus is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract and under the influence of the ingestion of lactose or dextrin can be made to predominate the intestinal flora. The ingestion of L. Acidophilus milk with or without added lactose brings about the transformation of the intestinal flora more quickly and is generally conceded to be the most logical and practical method of bringing about the preponderance of L. Acidophilus type of bacteria in the intestines. By administering L. Acidophilus milk implantation the proliferation of the organisms in the intestinal tract are more rapidly accomplished for then there is direct implantation of large numbers of viable organisms. The lactose of milk induces the multiplication of the desired type of bacteria. It is necessary that large quantities of very active cultures should be taken, and special measures must be adopted to supply to the B. acidophilus, when in the colon, the carboyhydrates which it requires for efficient growth. The growth in the large intestine of lactobacillus acidophilus depends solely on starch and sugar, but more so on milk sugar. In order to change the intestinal flora, it is best to adopt the following rules. For fifteen days, about eight ounces to sixteen ounces of culture of lactobacillus acidophilus, in which three large tablespoons of lactose is dissolved, should be taken daily thirty minutes before breakfast; and for the same length of time, three large tablespoons of lactose should be dissolved in any kind of fruit juices, milk, soups, broth or water, and taken daily thirty minutes before supper. After this, four ounces to eight ounces of lactobacillus acidophilus culture, in which three tablespoons of lactose have been dissolved, should betaken every morning for fifteen more Jays. The lactose, however, should be taken as before. After this, the quantity of the culture of the lactobacillus acidophilus can be reduced to four ounces every day for fifteen more days. For the remainder of the time, the ingestion of the culture of the lactobacillus acidophilus, two ounces every day, may be sufficient to keep the required amount of lactobacillus acidophilus present in the large intestinal tract. One must remember that the amount of the daily requirement of lactose, should continue to be about three tablespoons, morning and evening, as the daily requirement.

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Question:

> Try this site www.deadsea.co.il it will give you all the information abut >the DeadSea

That didn’t help me, either, unfortunately.  I’m looking for a breakdown of the components of Dead Sea water, in terms of specific amounts of the different substances, and not as vague "relative" numbers comparing them to ‘normal’ sea water. Oh, and "The water of the Dead Sea contains 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, bromime and potassium. 12 of these are found in no other sea or ocean…" has got to be false.  There’s a little bit of *everything* to be found in all sea water.  There’s even uranium floating around in there. – Dave W. http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

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>salt-to-water ratio is pretty high, but how high compared to avg. >seawater?

That’s an excellent question, and one for which I’m still looking for an answer.  I’ve got some good info on "normal" sea water (at home) at:    http://members.aol.com/psorsite/docs/homeseawater.html But I can’t find a good, unambiguous reference on the Dead Sea. – Dave W. http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

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re: your post to alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis I’m sure many of us would like to hear more.  So please do translate.  And post in the newsgroup. Suzanne * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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> >salt-to-water ratio is pretty high, but how high compared to avg. >seawater? > That’s an excellent question, and one for which I’m still looking for an > answer.  I’ve got some good info on "normal" sea water (at home) at: >    http://members.aol.com/psorsite/docs/homeseawater.html > But I can’t find a good, unambiguous reference on the Dead Sea. > – Dave W. > http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

This was in my local newspaper so I don’t know where the information for the article came from…. Dying Dead Sea The Dead Sea is shrinking and one of the worlds rarest ecosystems is seriously threatned,according to a leading environmental organization. Gidon Bromberg, head of the Middle East Chapter of Friends of the Earth, told reporters, "the Dead Sea is the crossroads of biodiversity, particulary of plant life". He said the sea has already shrunk from a length of about 47 miles to 34 miles. Hotels that once sat on the shore are now hundreds of feet inland .Almost one-third of the sea, which is 10 times saltier than any ocean, has been lost to overpumping, mining and development. This years drought and last years scant rainfall have worsened the situation.    The end. Jean  ( using Freds’ machine )

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> ratio is pretty high, > but how high compared to avg. seawater?

Scott, Some of us have reported improvement from soaking in a simulated Dead Sea salt solution. On the other hand, I think it would be difficult to accurately duplicate the combination of Dead Sea salt/mineral water and the uniquely filtered UV levels of the sun found there. That’s not to say that part of the formula is better than none, but in nearly every Dead Sea visit report I can recall, the long hours in the sun are mentioned. I know that the extra atmospheric depth lowers the overall level of UV there. I wonder what it does to the balance of UVA, UVB, and UVC in comparison to the "normal" levels at higher elevations. For instance, if the normally quite low UVC component is reduced even more than the UVA, UVB components, is that a factor? Just some thoughts….. Rocky

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>This was in my local newspaper so I don’t know where the information >for the article came from…. >… >…Almost one-third of the sea, which is 10 times saltier than any >ocean…

Yup.  That’s the kind of ambiguous number I’m used to seeing.  Thanks for posting the article, but here’s the problem:  10 times saltier in what way?  For example, a lot (if not all) alcoholic beverages are labeled as being "such-and-such percent alcohol, by volume."  You’d get a different percentage for alcohol content if you measured the weight of the alcohol. So, is the Dead Sea 10 times saltier by weight or volume?  It does make a difference.  Plus, is the salt content different?  Ocean water has your everyday table salt, plus smaller amounts of other stuff that are "salts." Are the ratios of one salt to another different in the Dead Sea than they are in average sea water?  Dunno. But somebody *must* know.  If you happen to run into that person, let him/her know of my distress.  :) – Dave W. http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

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You should go to the dead sea it really helps Afz Jop Rockytop heeft geschreven in bericht … – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> ratio is pretty high, > but how high compared to avg. seawater? >Scott, >Some of us have reported improvement from soaking in a simulated Dead Sea >salt solution. On the other hand, I think it would be difficult to >accurately duplicate the combination of Dead Sea salt/mineral water and the >uniquely filtered UV levels of the sun found there. That’s not to say that >part of the formula is better than none, but in nearly every Dead Sea visit >report I can recall, the long hours in the sun are mentioned. I know that >the extra atmospheric depth lowers the overall level of UV there. I wonder >what it does to the balance of UVA, UVB, and UVC in comparison to the >"normal" levels at higher elevations. For instance, if the normally quite >low UVC component is reduced even more than the UVA, UVB components, is that >a factor? >Just some thoughts….. >Rocky

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This will be my 20th year at the Dead Sea.  Feel free to write to me and ask whatever you like. Regrds Alison

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 Shalom  from Israel  Try this site www.deadsea.co.il it will give you all the information abut the DeadSea                                          Dani

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->This was in my local newspaper so I don’t know where the information >for the article came from…. >… >…Almost one-third of the sea, which is 10 times saltier than any >ocean… > Yup.  That’s the kind of ambiguous number I’m used to seeing.  Thanks > for posting the article, but here’s the problem:  10 times saltier in what > way?  For example, a lot (if not all) alcoholic beverages are labeled as > being "such-and-such percent alcohol, by volume."  You’d get a different > percentage for alcohol content if you measured the weight of the alcohol. > So, is the Dead Sea 10 times saltier by weight or volume?  It does make > a difference.  Plus, is the salt content different?  Ocean water has your > everyday table salt, plus smaller amounts of other stuff that are "salts." > Are the ratios of one salt to another different in the Dead Sea than they > are in average sea water?  Dunno. > But somebody *must* know.  If you happen to run into that person, let > him/her know of my distress.  :) > – Dave W. > http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

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>> ratio is pretty high, > but how high compared to avg. seawater? >Scott,

My pen-doctor (if I may say so, for he lives in Israel and I’m in Moscow) told me there are special chambers (units? I don’t know the proper word) now that imitate the atmosphere of the Dead Sea. I can’t say exactly, but if I’m not mistaken there are lots of useful things in the air inside this chamber, and maybe some insolation, too. I saw an explanation about these chambers on a russian psoriasis conference , if anyone is interested to know, I may try to translate it. BTW, has anyone seen my message about scalp psoriasis? It looks like nobody has  Am I an invisible man? Please, respond to me. Alla.

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hi! anyone been to the dead sea? i need help. bye.

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I went to the Dead Sea last year.  I cleared completely.  It’s a lot of hours in the sun and you shouldn’t go unless you plan to stay at least three weeks. The psoriasis stayed away for the summer but I hit a pretty stressful time and it’s back as usual now.  I wanted to return to the Dead Sea again this year but I couldn’t get the time off of work.  The Dead Sea is VERY theraputicin many aspects and worth it if your psoriasis is bad enough (or arthritis).  Please feel free to ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer them.  

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ratio is pretty high, but how high compared to avg. seawater? tia, scott —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I went to the Dead Sea last year.  I cleared completely.  It’s a lot of hours > in the sun and you shouldn’t go unless you plan to stay at least three weeks. > The psoriasis stayed away for the summer but I hit a pretty stressful time and > it’s back as usual now.  I wanted to return to the Dead Sea again this year but > I couldn’t get the time off of work.  The Dead Sea is VERY theraputicin many > aspects and worth it if your psoriasis is bad enough (or arthritis). Please > feel free to ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

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It is my understanding that the use of body oil or other increases the effect of the sun’s UV penetration into the surface layer of the skin.  It also softens the scaling. Irv—>in Alabama

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> What is YMMV?

Your Mileage May Vary.  There’s an entire lexicon of such online abbrs. >I personally use about a pound of plain table salt per bath. > I really don’t get this….salt in the , what bood? or whats that clear stuff > called? Is 3% you said… And the water is ~ 30% Sodium Chloride.. and where > there is P there is no acid/skin barriers.. so there is osmosis? Now, whats > happening here?

There must be many factors involved with even such a simple treatment as soaking in salt water. I thought that there might have been some osmotic effect (higher density solutions migrating to lower through a membrane) until I looked up the details. Besides the actual pressure in our sack of precious bodily fluids, the osmotic pressure is also high due to dissolved proteins. Any speculation as to why salt baths are effective is bound to be wrong in some regard. It’s sufficient to know that they work to some extent, and it’s been verified clinically. Lots of debates here stem from wild and controversial theories. It’s probably best to just let the facts be known, and to share our personal experiences. > Are you Pickling yurself? Is that what you meant… in a previous post?

You can’t really want me to spoil… the pfun. > so what your saying is a nice warm bath > with salt will kill the candida on the skin?

Nope, cuz I dunno.  Salt is one of the oldest preservatives, though. The rest of your speculations are entertaining, but I think it underscores why it’s silly to try to create new theoretical explanations here. Or, was that your intent? If so, Bravo! I’ll be more careful from now on. — Ed "is it soup yet?" Anderson

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Steve. signed: >Steve. -g-

Is this a clue? I almost missed it…. Randall.-x-

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I took the plunge, went to the Dead Sea last month with my brother. Does it work? Yes!!!! But not in the way you think. Here I was, in Canada, leading my life….work, family, kid, dog, lawn care, house/car maintenance etc. i would be hard pressed to spend an hour a day treating my p/pa. Then, I am transported to the dead sea ( granted my cost was CAN$8000 for 3 and sun.Here is the regiment he prescribed: 1. Dead sea water for 20 mins ( max 3 times a day ) 2. Apply petroleum jelly. 3. Sun 4. Shower 4. Repeat steps 1-4, 4 times a day until I reach a max of 6 hours a day in the sun. Yes, the scales were reduced, yes, the itching was reduced, yes, I felt human again. I am back home now. Within a week, I am back where I was with the p. The question that begs to be answered…… If if applied petroleum jelly x number of times a day, and went for UVB, would I not have the same net effect? My point Steve…..anything will work, if you can afford the time for it.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello > I’ve read various reports about how wonderful the dead sea is for clearing > p.  On my budget, going there isn’t really an option but how about the packs > you can get that claim to have dead sea minerals & nutrients.  Has anyone > ever tried these? > What about just plain old dead sea salts from the local body shop, are they > worth a try? > any info appreciated.

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> Hi ED. > I just deja’ed over and checked the thread.. and you were nice.. thanks.. pure > poetry.. i must have found my calling.. and Robin King is a new troubador.. got > goofy for a minute with the subtle subconcious meanings…

For a *minute*?! Heh. Keep up the great poetry. Some of your insight that spills out, I couldn’t begin to put into words. > all that stuff is fun.. did you stop examing x syndrome yet?

Wheee… Slap!   Let’s try to contain that spill. — Ed "just hit my thread drift limit" Anderson

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Steve said:> >Please return the script you stole to : c/o Monty Python’s Flying Circus. >Thank you.

I wondered where i found that.. its high up here…. lions, tiger and beers…oh my.. And , i could solve the problem with the spy plane….easy.. go to mexico and buy all the china made fireworks and tell them we don;t want your inferior stuff..and will send it back..and drop it on Hianan..and just send in a cruise missle and blow the plane to smithereens… hey..its all spin isn;t it? What are those ten old geezers going to do with that…we can lie better then those old fools…. heck maybe we can get some pointer..s   are you willing to jump in   steveM? Randall…free secret spy advice….till d-day

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >ED quoted SteveB: >I really don’t get this….salt in the , what bood? or whats that clear stuff >called? Is 3% you said… And the water is ~ 30% Sodium Chloride.. and where >there is P there is no acid/skin barriers.. so there is osmosis? Now, whats >happening here? Are you Pickling yurself? Is that what you meant… in a >previous post? Now is that Kosher salt? and Sauerkraut or Kimchee? >Should i use some chile peppers to cool the skin? Or can i grind up some >japalenos? ouch… maybe just a little topical…first… wait, i tried all >this sans salt… no.. i did use epsom… boy did i look red…. like a >tomato.. or a ferrari.. big fire truck…. thats it. and i know that the sea >water helps… because when its summer and the water is warm enough like >60-70’s p is on the decline, anyway…. so what your saying is a nice warm bath >with salt will kill the candida on the skin? or thePytiriassis lichenoides?   or >does the Kif-1 gene react to the leaky epidermal dike and make new skin? To >stop the disruption to the water/salt balence..first homestaisis to protect >heart muscle? So while the body is in primary mode..survival… the t cells are >thrown off gaurd? And the tnf says ok…i’ll just go back into balence too?   Or >a funky bcl-2 gene turned on all the time? Or the Methylated CG pairs are

Randall, Please return the script you stole to : c/o Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Thank you. Steve. -g-  Get your FREE web-based e-mail and newsgroup access at:                 http://MailAndNews.com  Create a new mailbox, or access your existing IMAP4 or  POP3 mailbox from anywhere with just a web browser.

Response:

Hi ED. I just deja’ed over and checked the thread.. and you were nice.. thanks.. pure poetry.. i must have found my calling.. and Robin King is a new troubador.. got goofy for a minute with the subtle subconcious meanings… all that stuff is fun.. did you stop examing x syndrome yet? Did have some fun with this thread.. oh well … being seeing ya.. around the Dead Sea.. Make mine a Salton Sea.. or Salty Dog.. BTW seen Lots wife lately? hehe Randall – one cascade to many-

Response:

ED quoted SteveB: > I’ve read various reports about how wonderful the dead sea is for clearing > p.  On my budget, going there isn’t really an option but how about the >packs > you can get that claim to have dead sea minerals & nutrients.  Has anyone >What about just plain old dead sea salts from the local body shop,

ED said:>e major benefit from the >spa therapy comes from the sun exposure

The sun god lives! RA RA ED:>e standard deviation, > 5 lbs per bath would suffice >reach the (35%?) salinity of the Dead Sea. >lain table salt (probably not the iodized kind) is a much cheaper >equivalent. You can also use epsom salts, but the effect will likely be >the same. YMMV.

What is YMMV? ED:>Our bodies are about 3% saline, that’s an isotonic sodium >chloride solution used for cleaning contact lenses. In a fresh salt 3% >bath, >I’ve never seen any research done on the Dead Sea mud, or any claims made >by anyone but mud vendors. I think it’s a recent phenomenon. Anyone who >can sell imported mud at botique prices has really found a golden goose. >(O >r maybe the philosopher’s stone.) O the pstone? >I personally use about a pound of plain table salt per bath.

I really don’t get this….salt in the , what bood? or whats that clear stuff called? Is 3% you said… And the water is ~ 30% Sodium Chloride.. and where there is P there is no acid/skin barriers.. so there is osmosis? Now, whats happening here? Are you Pickling yurself? Is that what you meant… in a previous post? Now is that Kosher salt? and Sauerkraut or Kimchee? Should i use some chile peppers to cool the skin? Or can i grind up some japalenos? ouch… maybe just a little topical…first… wait, i tried all this sans salt… no.. i did use epsom… boy did i look red…. like a tomato.. or a ferrari.. big fire truck…. thats it. and i know that the sea water helps… because when its summer and the water is warm enough like 60-70’s p is on the decline, anyway…. so what your saying is a nice warm bath with salt will kill the candida on the skin? or thePytiriassis lichenoides?  or does the Kif-1 gene react to the leaky epidermal dike and make new skin? To stop the disruption to the water/salt balence..first homestaisis to protect heart muscle? So while the body is in primary mode..survival… the t cells are thrown off gaurd? And the tnf says ok…i’ll just go back into balence too?  Or a funky bcl-2 gene turned on all the time? Or the Methylated CG pairs are protected and the nonmethylated CG pairs are detected as microbial dna.. and attacked… and salt water some how stops the interactions? The microbial DNA is not protected by the methylated raincoat…. and the salt is doing what? Stopping growth hormone? Lets see, epidermal growth factor binds to a receptor. The receptor transfers phosphate ( my pstone in a previous post..hehe) (from sodiom and gomore ah and sulfur…alchemy, pstone…. brimstone etc ad nauseum) (oh and lite my fire-fame)  to other proteins in the cell… triggering a chain reaction.. theory-a defective tyrosine kinase unleashes a nonstop flood of chemical signals.. hence cascading cells.. and of course a defective gene will produce a defective protein… so.. 2000 protein kinases in only one cell or does the salt water bring in something from sea or dead sea water that is in the oceans?  Or is there a problem from the other 10,000 types of proteins in the cell? Calling the great Googlist stevem please… Dear Stevem i know there is a bit to ruminate on here…. can you plug in your mysterious X syndrome and make some hypothesis to salt water… maybe its the hydrogen atoms? goofy polarity in the Mag. field… and rife zapper acts on the hydrogen bonds changing protein structures.. After all… SunGod RA.. over 90% pure hydrogen fusing into helium. creating light photons captured by plants to be burned in the carbon dioxide cycle..got a high school bio chem book?

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Guys, As one who lives in the country where the Dead Sea is a fact and not just "stories", I wish to emphasize that Dead Sea’s minerals ARE NOT the cure for P for sure! It’s a good cure for rheumatic disorders! Tanning in the sun of the Dead Sea area (about 392 meters below sea level) gives a good and substantial RELIEF but unfortunately no cure was discovered so far. Take my words as I suffer of P for more than 20 yrs and live about 2.5 hrs away from the Dead Sea area. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve read various reports about how wonderful the dead sea is for clearing > p.  On my budget, going there isn’t really an option but how about the packs > you can get that claim to have dead sea minerals & nutrients.  Has anyone > ever tried these? > What about just plain old dead sea salts from the local body shop, are they > worth a try? > From reading lots of Dead Sea research reports, the major benefit from the > spa therapy comes from the sun exposure.  Soaking in the sea there may > also have a slight photosensitizing effect. Studies that added Dead Sea > soaks to the phototherapy showed only minor improvement. > I know of one double blind controlled study of just the balneotherapy, > conducted in Israel. The comparison was between a bath of Dead Sea salts, > and common salt. After three weeks, all the patients improved. The > averaged improvement was 34.8% (+/- 24%) for the DS salt, and 27.5% (+/- > 18.3%) for the plain salt group. Given that the study only used 25 people, > the difference between the groups was insignificant, and the researchers > stated so. From the standard deviation, it looks like a dramatic result in > the DS salt group could have accounted for the difference. > Now consider the cost difference of the imported salts at about $16/lb vs > plain table salt at around 10 cents/lb in 25 lb bags. A 16000% markup! > I don’t know how much salt was used in that study, but one DS product > wholesaler confided to me at a trade show that the optimal concentration > would be that of the Dead Sea, but that 5 lbs per bath would suffice. > By my napkin calculations, it takes about 70 lbs of salt per typical > bathtub to reach the (35%?) salinity of the Dead Sea. > Plain table salt (probably not the iodized kind) is a much cheaper > equivalent. You can also use epsom salts, but the effect will likely be > the same. YMMV. > Our bodies are about 3% saline, that’s an isotonic sodium > chloride solution used for cleaning contact lenses. In a fresh salt 3% > bath, you can comfortably open your eyes under the water. (But try it > before the water gets all mucky.) > I’ve never seen any research done on the Dead Sea mud, or any claims made > by anyone but mud vendors. I think it’s a recent phenomenon. Anyone who > can sell imported mud at botique prices has really found a golden goose. > (Or maybe the philosopher’s stone.) > I personally use about a pound of plain table salt per bath. > — Ed "because hamster licks take longer" Anderson > Cite: http://pinch.com/skinny/medline=9828878  Halevy, Sukenik 1997

Response:

> I’ve read various reports about how wonderful the dead sea is for clearing > p.  On my budget, going there isn’t really an option but how about the packs > you can get that claim to have dead sea minerals & nutrients.  Has anyone > ever tried these? > What about just plain old dead sea salts from the local body shop, are they > worth a try?

From reading lots of Dead Sea research reports, the major benefit from the spa therapy comes from the sun exposure.  Soaking in the sea there may also have a slight photosensitizing effect. Studies that added Dead Sea soaks to the phototherapy showed only minor improvement. I know of one double blind controlled study of just the balneotherapy, conducted in Israel. The comparison was between a bath of Dead Sea salts, and common salt. After three weeks, all the patients improved. The averaged improvement was 34.8% (+/- 24%) for the DS salt, and 27.5% (+/- 18.3%) for the plain salt group. Given that the study only used 25 people, the difference between the groups was insignificant, and the researchers stated so. From the standard deviation, it looks like a dramatic result in the DS salt group could have accounted for the difference. Now consider the cost difference of the imported salts at about $16/lb vs plain table salt at around 10 cents/lb in 25 lb bags. A 16000% markup! I don’t know how much salt was used in that study, but one DS product wholesaler confided to me at a trade show that the optimal concentration would be that of the Dead Sea, but that 5 lbs per bath would suffice. By my napkin calculations, it takes about 70 lbs of salt per typical bathtub to reach the (35%?) salinity of the Dead Sea. Plain table salt (probably not the iodized kind) is a much cheaper equivalent. You can also use epsom salts, but the effect will likely be the same. YMMV. Our bodies are about 3% saline, that’s an isotonic sodium chloride solution used for cleaning contact lenses. In a fresh salt 3% bath, you can comfortably open your eyes under the water. (But try it before the water gets all mucky.) I’ve never seen any research done on the Dead Sea mud, or any claims made by anyone but mud vendors. I think it’s a recent phenomenon. Anyone who can sell imported mud at botique prices has really found a golden goose. (Or maybe the philosopher’s stone.) I personally use about a pound of plain table salt per bath. — Ed "because hamster licks take longer" Anderson Cite: http://pinch.com/skinny/medline=9828878  Halevy, Sukenik 1997

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i would definately say, give it a try.. mix salt in your bath, and see if it helps.i also have dead sea mineral mud from AHAVA.. this might help you, too. and get out in the sun whenever possible. even just bathing in the ocean should be good. we used to go to holland all the time, and i would get sea water in a bottle and wash myself with it daily. and yes, i did see a difference. the only thing thats bad about salt water, it burns. but after you get used to it, the buring stops. i persoanlly had good expereince using salt baths, and the mud. it just makes the skin smooother, even if it doesnt make the p go away. and you might not even have to buy the expensive dead sea salt, but just use regular salt. hope this helped you a lil and good luck tamara

Response:

Hello I’ve read various reports about how wonderful the dead sea is for clearing p.  On my budget, going there isn’t really an option but how about the packs you can get that claim to have dead sea minerals & nutrients.  Has anyone ever tried these? What about just plain old dead sea salts from the local body shop, are they worth a try? any info appreciated.

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Question:

>Other medications will probably be needed.  Email me privately and >I’ll send you our usual regimen that helps a lot.  The powers that >be here on the SIG get tired of me uploading it to the news board.

All you’ve gotta do, though, is post the link to it, really:   http://www.dermconsultants.com/new/articles/scalp_psoriasis/default.htm If, that is, your Web site is up-to-date.  :) – Dave W. http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

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Hi, This is my first time reading this p support group and I want to thank you for all the input. My scalp is covered with the  nasty p any way my derm dr.suggested I use mineral oil.Well I have treated my scalp for about a year and it has helped me. I just put in in my hair at night and the next day when I shower I wash it out,I also use a cream rinse after I shampoo.I hope this will help you also. Thanks,                                                       Teresa

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You would do well to wet your scalp at bedtime every other night with Baker’s P&S liquid.  It’s just a scale remover, but you should be cautioned NOT to pick off the scales in the scalp plaque areas. This will induce worsening of the psoriasis. Other medications will probably be needed.  Email me privately and I’ll send you our usual regimen that helps a lot.  The powers that be here on the SIG get tired of me uploading it to the news board. Dr. Joe Dermatology Consultants Lexington – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Does anyone have any good suggestions for > a good scalp moisturizer? > I’m in Maine, and it’s DRY here in the house. > My scalp is very dry, and the psoriasis is really > dry and crusty.  I need to soften it up a bit, but > I need some ideas. > Thanks for any help.

Response:

Does anyone have any good suggestions for a good scalp moisturizer? I’m in Maine, and it’s DRY here in the house. My scalp is very dry, and the psoriasis is really dry and crusty.  I need to soften it up a bit, but I need some ideas. Thanks for any help.

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>Does anyone have any good suggestions for >a good scalp moisturizer? >I’m in Maine, and it’s DRY here in the house. >My scalp is very dry, and the psoriasis is really >dry and crusty.  I need to soften it up a bit, but >I need some ideas. >Thanks for any help.

And if you’re heating with a woodstove you have my deep sympathy. I’m still trying to get over spending about a week near one with my family over the holidays. There are a range of things that can help. Honestly, just putting oil on with a shower cap or something like that over the top for occlusion and to keep it from rubbing off for a while or overnight while you sleep can help. Most any kind of oil, BTW, although different people have claimed more benefit from one over another. Cheap, easy and can be surprisingly helpful. If you already use corticosteroids on your scalp, there’s one called DermaSmoothe that is suspended in peanut oil to get the added benefit of moisturization in easing symptoms and in making the med part penetrate more effectively.There’s something called Bakers P&S liquid that’s an OTC for scalp psoriasis that helps moisturize among other things. It’s usually found behind the pharmacy counter even though it’s an OTC, and you can ask a pharmacy to order it if they don’t carry it. Some people have reported help with aloe on the scalp. Some of the topical tar ointments come in a greasy base that can help moisturize to go with the benefit from the tar, if tar helps you. You also might want to look at your shampoos. You may already use a tar shampoo, but Salicylic acid based ones are specifically targeted at reducing scale build up. And some shampoos are just generally harsher on the scalp than others. I usually rotate among a variety of types regularly, including salicylic and tar based ones mixed with moisturizing shampoos. I find that both the rotation itself and varying the treatment means help things. Best 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…

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DermaSmoothe has been wanderful for me also.My scalp had several P bumps when I was diagmosed with it in June. My psoriasis is so spread and severe that I was put on MTX as well. Anyway DermaSmoothe is great and i now use occasionally a shampoo called Psoriasin just to keep things under control. Best of luck

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I just use a bit of peanut or any other vegetable oil once a week.  Leave it on for a bit and then shampoo with a mild shampoo. We also use humidifiers in the house for the winter and evaporate about 10 – 12 gallons a day. Irv—>in Alabama

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Question:

Suzy, In that Case you should DEFINITELY use Nizoral Shampoo. Go for the 2% and not the 1% OTC. I use it at least once a week and it keeps the scales, scratching and the misery at bay. Without doubt, you should give it a try. Rob – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’m not sure how long I’ve had psoriasis but I get it now and then in my >scalp. I currently have it and a couple spots are pretty thick.  It’s >getting looser from the scalp but when I try to pull the lose piece out I get >clumps of hair, my hair is pretty thick but it still bothers me to see that >much hair coming out with the P.  I was prescribed DermaSmooth a couple years >ago by a derm i was seeing but it’s difficult for me as I need help in and >out of the shower and it needs to be on so long.  My question is are there >other alternatives or ways of letting the pieces of P slide off the hair >shafts?  This is driving me crazy and I want it gone  Thanks in advance >for any help or suggestions. >Suzy

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I’ve just seem to have developed some scalp psoriasis from lysine supplementation.    I really thought it was a good idea due to the anti-imflamatory aspects of lysine but, it was too much of a good thing ~1500mg/day.  A real problem recycling those excess aminos. Restriction of excess amino acids may be one route.  But it seems balancing (ie arginine)them is more desirable.  I am otherwise symptom free, eating a high n3:n6 ratio unsaturated fat/monosaturated(olive oil), it really improves the lipid bari tossed out 90% refined wheat products and increased vegetable matter.  Ascorbic acid ~5000mg/day.  Got sloppy through the holidays tho!    I really think the only way out is diet. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Suzy

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I’m not sure how long I’ve had psoriasis but I get it now and then in my scalp.  I currently have it and a couple spots are pretty thick.  It’s getting looser from the scalp but when I try to pull the lose piece out I get clumps of hair, my hair is pretty thick but it still bothers me to see that much hair coming out with the P.  I was prescribed DermaSmooth a couple years ago by a derm i was seeing but it’s difficult for me as I need help in and out of the shower and it needs to be on so long.  My question is are there other alternatives or ways of letting the pieces of P slide off the hair shafts?  This is driving me crazy and I want it gone  Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions. Suzy

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I found olive oil left on over night helps and is a good conditioner for the hair. Tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m not sure how long I’ve had psoriasis but I get it now and then in my > scalp. I currently have it and a couple spots are pretty thick.  It’s > getting looser from the scalp but when I try to pull the lose piece out I get > clumps of hair, my hair is pretty thick but it still bothers me to see that > much hair coming out with the P.  I was prescribed DermaSmooth a couple years > ago by a derm i was seeing but it’s difficult for me as I need help in and > out of the shower and it needs to be on so long.  My question is are there > other alternatives or ways of letting the pieces of P slide off the hair > shafts?  This is driving me crazy and I want it gone  Thanks in advance > for any help or suggestions. > Suzy

Response:

Hi, I started of with P on my scalp in 1995. I now have a patch on my elbow plus the additional curse of the accompanying arthritis. My advice is to leave the P on your scalp more or less alone. I just live with it whilst using Dovenex lotion to attempt to control it if it seems partcularly bad. I believe it is here until the end. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m not sure how long I’ve had psoriasis but I get it now and then in my > scalp. I currently have it and a couple spots are pretty thick.  It’s > getting looser from the scalp but when I try to pull the lose piece out I get > clumps of hair, my hair is pretty thick but it still bothers me to see that > much hair coming out with the P.  I was prescribed DermaSmooth a couple years > ago by a derm i was seeing but it’s difficult for me as I need help in and > out of the shower and it needs to be on so long.  My question is are there > other alternatives or ways of letting the pieces of P slide off the hair > shafts?  This is driving me crazy and I want it gone  Thanks in advance > for any help or suggestions. > Suzy

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>I’m not sure how long I’ve had psoriasis but I get it now and then in my >scalp.

Suzy, "Picking" at the scales does a lot of harm to the skin tissue.  Many of us "pre-treat" the scalp with Baker’s P&S which loostens the scaling and is easy to remove with a mild shampoo.  (I use a mixture of SalAC, water and oil.)  Rub it in carefully, cover with a plastic cap for an hour – or so and then shampoo out.  If you have any reservations, try just a small spot. Irv—>in Alabama

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Question:

I’ve been diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis (Reiter’s) and the arthritis presents as psoriatic. I have major problems with finger and toe-nail deformation, including build-up of dead skin under the nail beds as the nails seperate. Does anyone have any recommendations for nail care? My doctor is usually unresponsive to my concerns over this, although not to other more serious elements of the disease. It may be a minor part of the whole picture but from a self-esteem perspective it’s terrible.

Response:

I had similar nail problems.  The original diagnosis was nail fungus, and the topicals (Spectrazole and Oxistat) didn’t appear to affect the condition, although one never knows whether it might have gotten worse without them.  The second diagnosis was Ps, and the prescriptions were Dovonex (calcipotriene) and Ultravate(halobetasol proprionate).  These made a difference within a couple of weeks, and after several months, I have nearly normal nails.  The meds are outrageously expensive (>$50 US per ounce), but it is nice having nails again.  Never even thought about them until they went south; then I tried to pick up a couple of small objects and realized the importance of thumbnails.  From reading this and other groups, I understand that individual response varies; these meds may not work for you.  Good luck. arjay – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ve been diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis (Reiter’s) and > the arthritis presents as psoriatic. I have major problems > with finger and toe-nail deformation, including build-up of > dead skin under the nail beds as the nails seperate. Does > anyone have any recommendations for nail care? My doctor is > usually unresponsive to my concerns over this, although not > to other more serious elements of the disease. It may be a > minor part of the whole picture but from a self-esteem > perspective it’s terrible.

Response:

Hi, Joaquin… and welcome to the group!   I have psoriatic arthritis (PA) as well as psoriasis (Ps) and can sympathize with your problem. First of all, I hope the doctor who is caring for your arthritis is a rheumatologist.  In addition, for the nail problems (and any other skin manifestations you may have), you probably should also have a good dermatologist. Now to the ways to help Ps of the nails.  In my own case, I find it helps the most to protect the nails from the slightest injury.  Although this may sound a bit ridiculous, the nails with psoriasis will tend to respond to the slightest of injury with formation of plaques under the nail, which causes the deformity of the nail a separation from the nail bed that you describe.   To protect the nails from these perceived injuries, I clip them very, very short, especially anywhere they are deforming.  I try to avoid using the nails as tools, which means don’t pick up coins or credit cards using the nails (slide them to the table edge into your palm instead).  Don’t open packages or envelopes using your nails.  Don’t peel stickers or tape using your nails. I also use Eucerin moisturizing creme (original formula, thick and sticky in the tub) after bathing and, if the nails are particularly bad, also before bed. Make sure your shoes don’t rub against the nails of your toes, especially if they are even slightly longer.  The minute my nails begin to rub, I have to clip them or they start hurting. There are more drastic treatments if your nails become truly painful and are not responsive to the usual treatments, but you should hold off on them until you try easier and safer things.  If it comes to that, there are topical corticosteroid cremes that may help massaged into the cuticle for a period of time.  An extremely painful and not always successful treatment is a form of injections directly into the nail beds… not something I would ever do.  And the final answer if necessary is to surgically remove the nail, something that I understand is not as bad as it sounds from the point of view of how it looks, as there appears to be a sort of indentation in the nail shape that remains. The following newsgroup will have many more people with Ps and experience along these lines for you:  alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis You might also try:  http://www.psoriasis.org/   which is the Natl Psoriasis Foundation, a very good group with excellent quality information on their website. Another good site is:  http://www.psorheads.com    This one is very new, but the people posting there are good folks with lots of collective experience to share. And this one also has excellent information: http://w1.2380.telia.com/~u238000263/flaker/docs/ I shall also add a reprint of a post on the topic from the newsgroup above that may be helpful (hope it isn’t too long!).  The poster is a practicing and very experienced dermatologist:  Nails are notoriously difficult to treat.  I have found dovonex helpful, applied to the top of the nail, and around it, not pushed under. The following is from an old post by Dr. Joe, a respectable dermatologist who posts here occasionally.  Perhaps you will find it helpful. Also, you might search the archives yourself for more discussions of nails at: http://www.pinch.com/skinny?deja=nails Amy Dearest forum members, I have recently received a very interesting question about a troubling problem, nail psoriasis.  I decided to put a few thoughts down, explaining a few concepts, in order to help, if I could. Nail Psoriasis Nails are MUCH tougher than almost any other psoriasis lesions. It is thought that nail psoriasis lesions result from an actual psoriasis lesion under the nail, in the area where it separates. It is also thought that this is largely a  manifestation of the Koebner phenomenon, that peculiar reaction of certain skin conditions to trauma on the skin surface.  For this reason, one of the chief modes of therapy involves close trimming of the nails, so almost no free, white edge remains. The second premise in the treatment of nail psoriasis which works fairly well, but of course not perfectly, is to refrain from using these magnificent little tools (which fingernails are, actually), AS tools.  This means that, for instance, you should SLIDE a coin off the edge of a surface,  rather than the usual method of picking it up, which is to "finger nail pry" it off the table top.  Every usage of nails in this manner, as tools, adds to the cumulative weight of trauma resultant in aggravation of the psoriatic lesion beneath the nail. Also, it is thought that the "pits" in nail psoriasis, which are so common, are the visible expression of actual tiny psoriasis lesions in the MATRIX of the nail — that blue/pink semilunar area we know as the "lunula."  In fact, sequential biopsies have traced out those pits to such lesions. Treatment of pitting and "distal onycholysis," as the undermining of the free edge is called, is extraordinarily difficult.  We generally like to avoid internal agents for treatment of psoriasis if possible, but they do tend to help.  Still, avoiding using the nails as "tools" is the best approach.  We have tried topicals, topical steroids under plastic occlusion, injection of steroids around the nail (painful!!), various light therapies, and none of them are as effective as we’d like.  Usage of high powered steroids under plastic occlusion have even been noted to cause partial resorption of the distal digit (the bone at the end of the finger). I realize I haven’t given you much positive in terms of treatment.  That will definitively await a cure of this condition.  But in the meantime, treating your nails gently and keeping the free edge short will help some. Thanks for a great question.  I wish I had a better answer. My best, Dr. Joe Best regards,

Response:

> I’ve been diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis (Reiter’s) and > the arthritis presents as psoriatic. I have major problems > with finger and toe-nail deformation, including build-up of > dead skin under the nail beds as the nails seperate. Does > anyone have any recommendations for nail care? My doctor is > usually unresponsive to my concerns over this, although not > to other more serious elements of the disease. It may be a > minor part of the whole picture but from a self-esteem > perspective it’s terrible.

    As a person who went through high school with heavy scalp psoriasis, I know it can be tough.  My nails are a wreck these days, but I just remind myself that at least I’m not back there in high school.  A long time ago I learned that if I allowed my self-esteem to be dictated by my appearance then I was doomed.     I realize that "learn to love it" probably isn’t what you were hoping to hear, but just give your Reiters a little time to get rolling and before long you’ll see that your fingernails are the least of your troubles… — Nathan Engle               Shop Steward               Electron Juggler’s Guild, Local #1 "Some Assembly Required"

Response:

>I’ve been diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis (Reiter’s) and >the arthritis presents as psoriatic. I have major problems >with finger and toe-nail deformation, including build-up of >dead skin under the nail beds as the nails seperate.

 I don’t have personal experience in this area but it sounds like you have the skin and nail problems that are more psoriatic related. We have many psoriactic netlinks at: http://arthritis.about.com/msub10.htm Rick http://arthritis.about.com

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Question:

Jennifer Most teaching hospitals have clinical research departments. I had registered several years ago with Mass General in Boston. Periodically they sent me news of new studies. Am currently restarting the Biogen Protein Fusion study which looks very promising. Also, they tend to advertise (at least in Boston) these studies under "healthcare" want ads..looking for participants. good luck

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>Can you >tell me how I can search for Phase II and Phase III trials.  I would like to >possibly participate in one … I’m in Ontario, Canada.

The following websites have information on clinical trials now ongoing or in the planning:  http://www.centerwatch.com/ Although the above seems mostly about US locations, this page had a number of places in Canada that specialize in dermatology research: http://www.centerwatch.com/procat3.htm  (go down the list to the end) I didn’t explore the entire site, so there may be more Canadian information somewhere.   The National Psoriasis Foundation has a web page that lists information on clinical trials, but I didn’t see anything on Canada: http://www.psoriasis.org/volunteer/index.html You might try writing to them to see if they have a corresponding organization that can help you in Canada. This page has other psoriasis organizations listed all over the world, but I didn’t see any for Canada.  http://www.psoriasis.org/ifpa.html Weird… if Estonia and Hungary have them, you’d think Canada would certainly have something as well.  Gee, maybe you should start one!   Here is the National Institute of Health’s clinical trials listing: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui You can search by condition… lots of trials came back under "psoriasis", but I didn’t explore further to see if anything was mentioned about Canada. Here’s another one:  http://www.drugstudycentral.com/ Again, didn’t see anything about Canada. And another link: http://www.allhealth.com/centerwatch/clinic/gen/0,4260,7458_168906,00… I suspect this one goes back to the same listing service, Centerwatch… but tried it anyway.  Does have some good introductory information for anyone considering participating in a clinical trial. Another obvious resource would be your own physician, especially a specialist, as they should have information about any trials being conducted in your area. Good luck! Best regards,

Response:

Hi Lady Andy, I think I’ve asked this question before but I forget the answer.  Can you tell me how I can search for Phase II and Phase III trials.  I would like to possibly participate in one … I’m in Ontario, Canada. Thanks in advance Jennifer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Following press release doesn’t thrill me particularly, but thought I’d post it > anyway for those who are interested. > What I find more interesting is that this release is from the American Academy > of Dermatology annual meeting now being held (March 10 -15, 2000).  We should > be seeing a number of other interesting press releases coming out of this > annual conference, including the current data on Enbrel’s use in psoriasis. > I’ll report the releases as I get them. > Release on Clobetasol Propionate Foam follows: > Phase III Data on a Low-Residue Clobetasol Propionate Foam Used in the > Treatment of Scalp Psoriasis Is Presented at the American Academy of > Dermatology 58th Annual Meeting > SAN FRANCISCO, March 11 /PRNewswire/ — Phase III clinical trial data, on > OLUX(TM) (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%, an investigational low-residue > foam formulation used to treat scalp psoriasis, were presented today at the > annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.  Scalp psoriasis, a > difficult-to-treat condition affecting more than 3.2 million Americans, is > marked by redness and scaling of the scalp, severe itching and irritation. A > new drug application for OLUX for the treatment of

corticosteroid-responsive – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> scalp dermatoses is pending review by the Food and Drug Administration. > At the end of the 14-day study of twice daily treatments, 74 percent of the > patients treated with OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%, were clear or > almost clear of their scalp psoriasis, versus 63 percent of those treated with > the clobetasol propionate (CLO) solution, 0.05%.  Additionally, only 10 percent > and 6 percent of those treated with placebo foam and placebo solution, > respectively, showed similar improvement. > Efficacy was evaluated by grading the signs and symptoms of scalp psoriasis, > including plaque thickness, scaling, erythema and pruritus, and by assessing > the overall response to treatment at the end of the study.  The difference > between OLUX and CLO solution for scaling was statistically significant, > favoring OLUX. > In the study, OLUX and CLO solution treatments were equally well tolerated. > "This new data indicates that OLUX was successful in treating moderate-to- > severe scalp psoriasis, was well tolerated and moves Connetics closer to > providing low-residue treatments for all degrees of the condition," said Ken > Washenik, M.D., Ph.D. a clinical investigator in the trial.  Dr. Washenik is > Director of Dermatopharmacology at New York University Medical Center. "If > approved, OLUX has the potential to complement Luxiq in a continuum of care for > scalp psoriasis." > Luxiq(TM) (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%, another topical drug from > Connetics using the foam delivery system, was approved for marketing by the > Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1999, for the treatment of > corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses of the scalp.  Luxiq is a mid-potency > steroid. > Connetics Corporation, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is focused on > the acquisition, development and commercialization of marketed and late-stage > products.  Connetics currently markets Ridaura(R) (auranofin), a treatment for > rheumatoid arthritis, and Luxiq for the treatment of

corticosteroid-responsive – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> dermatoses of the scalp.  Besides OLUX, another investigational product under > development is ConXn(R) (recombinant human relaxin) for the treatment of > scleroderma, infertility, peripheral vascular disease and other fibrotic > diseases.  For more information on Connetics, you may visit the Connetics Web > Site at http://www.connetics.com. > CONTACT:  Danine Summers of Connetics Corporation, 650-843-2834; > or Lori Green of Ruder Finn Healthcare, 212-593-6478, for > Connetics Corporation >  SOURCE  Connetics Corporation > CO:  Connetics Corporation > ST:  California > IN:  MTC > SU: > Best regards,

Response:

Following press release doesn’t thrill me particularly, but thought I’d post it anyway for those who are interested. What I find more interesting is that this release is from the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting now being held (March 10 -15, 2000).  We should be seeing a number of other interesting press releases coming out of this annual conference, including the current data on Enbrel’s use in psoriasis. I’ll report the releases as I get them. Release on Clobetasol Propionate Foam follows: Phase III Data on a Low-Residue Clobetasol Propionate Foam Used in the Treatment of Scalp Psoriasis Is Presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 58th Annual Meeting SAN FRANCISCO, March 11 /PRNewswire/ — Phase III clinical trial data, on OLUX(TM) (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%, an investigational low-residue foam formulation used to treat scalp psoriasis, were presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.  Scalp psoriasis, a difficult-to-treat condition affecting more than 3.2 million Americans, is marked by redness and scaling of the scalp, severe itching and irritation.  A new drug application for OLUX for the treatment of corticosteroid-responsive scalp dermatoses is pending review by the Food and Drug Administration. At the end of the 14-day study of twice daily treatments, 74 percent of the patients treated with OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%, were clear or almost clear of their scalp psoriasis, versus 63 percent of those treated with the clobetasol propionate (CLO) solution, 0.05%.  Additionally, only 10 percent and 6 percent of those treated with placebo foam and placebo solution, respectively, showed similar improvement. Efficacy was evaluated by grading the signs and symptoms of scalp psoriasis, including plaque thickness, scaling, erythema and pruritus, and by assessing the overall response to treatment at the end of the study.  The difference between OLUX and CLO solution for scaling was statistically significant, favoring OLUX. In the study, OLUX and CLO solution treatments were equally well tolerated. "This new data indicates that OLUX was successful in treating moderate-to- severe scalp psoriasis, was well tolerated and moves Connetics closer to providing low-residue treatments for all degrees of the condition," said Ken Washenik, M.D., Ph.D. a clinical investigator in the trial.  Dr. Washenik is Director of Dermatopharmacology at New York University Medical Center.  "If approved, OLUX has the potential to complement Luxiq in a continuum of care for scalp psoriasis." Luxiq(TM) (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%, another topical drug from Connetics using the foam delivery system, was approved for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1999, for the treatment of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses of the scalp.  Luxiq is a mid-potency steroid. Connetics Corporation, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of marketed and late-stage products.  Connetics currently markets Ridaura(R) (auranofin), a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, and Luxiq for the treatment of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses of the scalp.  Besides OLUX, another investigational product under development is ConXn(R) (recombinant human relaxin) for the treatment of scleroderma, infertility, peripheral vascular disease and other fibrotic diseases.  For more information on Connetics, you may visit the Connetics Web Site at http://www.connetics.com. CONTACT:  Danine Summers of Connetics Corporation, 650-843-2834;   or Lori Green of Ruder Finn Healthcare, 212-593-6478, for   Connetics Corporation  SOURCE  Connetics Corporation   CO:  Connetics Corporation ST:  California IN:  MTC SU: Best regards,

Response:

Question:

<< Repeat all you want It takes a while to sink in for me.  >> Joe, I would love to see it repeated also.

Response:

Dear Dr. Joe,       I’ve just stumbled upon this page!  What luck! Would you please send me your three pronged regimen for control of scalp psoriasis?  (to disease, too, on scalp, elbows and knees.  Do you have any more advice for him I can pass on?  Bless your helpful heart… Gwen > Michelle, > Would be glad to send you the treatment info that we use in our > office about scalps and psoriasis.  Our aim is to make the patient > not think about her/his scalp constantly.  I don’t have any cures, > but I’ve posted several regimens here from time to time that I can > send you (and anybody else) by email.  (they don’t like repeat posts > here, and I don’t know how to make these "sheets" as I call them, > clickable links.) > Dr. Joe

Before you buy.

Response:

Michelle-so sorry to hear about your brother’s problem,that itching can make you nuts! I have used the regular coal tar shampoos for a long time and had some success with them,but not completely happy with any one of them. I recently have been using a new(at least for this area) Neutrogena shampoo that is specifically for itchy scalp-it contains a menthol product and,at least for me,has been a big relief. My scalp is no longer itchy,my chunky,yucky flakes are 99% gone-the only thing that you have to be careful with is trying to keep it off of your face when using it,it doesn’t really hurt or sting but you DEFINITELY know that it has menthol in it. I apply it as soon as I get in the shower and make sure that I leave it on for at least 5 minutes. I just hope that I can continue to find it in the store! Tell your brother good luck with whatever he decides to try! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My brother has had a scalp problem for more than two years.  He went to the > dermatologist and was given salacidic acid which doesn’t seem to work.  The > derm couldn’t diagnose the problem.  These are some of his symptoms, if someone > else has any of these and can help him I’d really appreciate a reply. > His scalp and hair are extremely sensitive and hurt to the touch. When his > hair is wet it doesn’t hurt but as soon as it dries it gets itchy and hurts > again. He has tried tar shampoo’s and T-gel.  He’s so desperate for relief he > has tried oatmeal on his scalp, eggs beer, all kinds of homemade remedies. lol. > He is a truck driver and is out of state alot he told me he sits in his motel > room scratching his head like a mad man.lol  I feel so bad for him. Does anyone > have any answers?

Before you buy.

Response:

My brother has had a scalp problem for more than two years.  He went to the dermatologist and was given salacidic acid which doesn’t seem to work.  The derm couldn’t diagnose the problem.  These are some of his symptoms, if someone else has any of these and can help him I’d really appreciate a reply. His scalp and hair are extremely sensitive and hurt to the touch.  When his hair is wet it doesn’t hurt but as soon as it dries it gets itchy and hurts again. He has tried tar shampoo’s and T-gel.  He’s so desperate for relief he has tried oatmeal on his scalp, eggs beer, all kinds of homemade remedies. lol. He is a truck driver and is out of state alot he told me he sits in his motel room scratching his head like a mad man.lol  I feel so bad for him. Does anyone have any answers?

Response:

> I don’t have any cures, > but I’ve posted several regimens here from time to time that I can > send you (and anybody else) by email.  (they don’t like repeat posts > here, and I don’t know how to make these "sheets" as I call them, > clickable links.)

Like this: http://www.pinch.com/skinny?deja=Dr+Joe+scalp Thanks for your consideration. The reason to avoid reposting is so that when someone searches the archives, they aren’t overwhelmed by duplicates with minor changes. The formatting often gets mangled in the process, too. Feel free to contact me for help in putting the articles online at your web site, although it looks like your webmaster has been busy recently: — Ed "not playing a doctor on TV" Anderson The above link led me to exactly 179 posts. I personally would consider that overwhelming but no one asked me.

Response:

> I don’t have any cures, > but I’ve posted several regimens here from time to time that I can > send you (and anybody else) by email.  (they don’t like repeat posts > here, and I don’t know how to make these "sheets" as I call them, > clickable links.)

Like this: http://www.pinch.com/skinny?deja=Dr+Joe+scalp (See http://www.pinch.com/skinny for more details and options.) Thanks for your consideration. The reason to avoid reposting is so that when someone searches the archives, they aren’t overwhelmed by duplicates with minor changes. The formatting often gets mangled in the process, too. Feel free to contact me for help in putting the articles online at your web site, although it looks like your webmaster has been busy recently: http://www.dermconsultants.com I see you now have a private web board: http://www.dermconsultants.com/new/board/ I didn’t see it on your web site, so others may not know that they can probably find your book in a local library. "Your Skin: an Owner’s Guide" Thanks for steering visitors towards this group, too. Looking forward to more of your posts, and more psoriasis articles on your web site! — Ed "not playing a doctor on TV" Anderson

Response:

Michelle, Would be glad to send you the treatment info that we use in our office about scalps and psoriasis.  Our aim is to make the patient not think about her/his scalp constantly.  I don’t have any cures, but I’ve posted several regimens here from time to time that I can send you (and anybody else) by email.  (they don’t like repeat posts here, and I don’t know how to make these "sheets" as I call them, clickable links.) Dr. Joe

Response: