I am so so worried that I have waited too long to do more research...
My 5-yr old daughter was diagnosed with psoriasis just over a yr ago. It started after a stomach flu... she got a couple of spots on her face, then a few more on her arms. I took her to a ped derm who prescribed steroid creams... they kind of worked for the first few weeks, but then stopped being effective. Then started a whole lot of other creams (tar, stronger steroids, tazorac, elidel), each one with little if any improvement. Her spots never go away, and she keeps getting more and more... She is now covered with round spots on her legs, arms, her back is awful, some on her chest and tummy, her scalp, ears... I feel so helpless I want to cry...
I recently started seeing a naturopath... we are seeing him tomorrow and he is going to recommend some homeopathic medications and dietary changes. My husband and I are also seeing the derm on Wednesday, I have been so so so disappointed so far with the treatment she has given us, and her indifference at the lack of results. Yet she is one of the few peadiatric derms her ein Toronto, and works out of Sick Kids hospital, which is well renowned in the field of research...
What I have learned from reading the numerous messages posted here tonight:
1. Ask for a strep test (culture, not quick-test) - Nicola was tested for strep, but don't know if it was a quick-test or not...
2. Try turmeric capsules
3. Avoid tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, egglplant, dairy; and probably wheat?
4. Moisturize a lot
5. Use "clear and free" laundry products, unscented products.
What else? Please tell me I haven't waited too long... Please help us!! Thank you...
Johanne

Hi Johanne,
Welcome to the Board! :cool: Nice to meet you. I'm sorry about the reason. I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is going through such a rough time. :( I'm not a parent, but I was diagnosed with psoriasis 41 years ago, when I was 7, so I have a pretty good idea about what your daughter is going through.
First, I read another post of yours where you mentioned that you had sent a private e-mail to another parent. We haven't heard from that poster in a very long time, so there's a chance that she might not see your plea for help.
Now that that's out of the way, it sounds like your on the right track.
I do, however, have a couple of quick suggestions:
About the strep test. It's possible that your daughter will still have strep even if a culture comes back negative. If she doesn't improve, you might want to ask her peditrician (or her pediatric derm) to order some blood tests to check for strep. Here's the links to two posts (including one from another parent) which discuss the need for blood tests when the psoriasis doesn't seem to respond to treatment and the cultures come back negative for strep:
and
.
Also, here's a link to a thread that was started by a mother from Ottawa. Her name is Kris (screen name: Kringle). Kris is another person who doesn't post here very often, but her experience (especially with regard to the Canadian health care system) my be helpful to you: . When you read Kris' story, you will see that she tried to get light treatments for her daughter. Light treatments can a pain because you have to go for treatments three times a week for several months and not everyone responds well to them (some people have been burned by them), but they can be a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis. Here's a link to the NPF's discussion of light treatments: and here's a link to a previous discussion about how to minimize the risk of getting burned: .
Another thing that may help your daughter is to have her take baths with an oatmeal based bath additive. That will help soften the scales and relieve the itch. Here in the US, there is a company called Aveeno that makes an oatmeal soak that a lot of people use. I have no idea if it's available in Canada, but I'm sure that there are similar products that you can use. So that you'll know what to look for, here's a link to some additional information: http://aveeno.com/detailAction.do?id=3640. At least on person who posts here makes her own oatmeal bath soak. Here's a link to her recipe: .
Finally, in addition to using "free and clear" laundry products, I find that the kind of soap that I use makes all the difference in the world. Antibactarial and deoderant soaps, for example, tend to irriate my psoriasis and make it drier and itchier then it already is. Here's a link to a previous discussion about psoriasis and soap (it links you to yet another discussion on the subject): .
I hope this helps in some small way.
Good luck. Keep us posted and please don't be a stranger.
Mike

Mike:
It has been a rough night for me, so you can't imagine how much I appreciate you taking the time to reply to me...
We stopped pretty much all creams about a week ago, as they weren't working and I was really getting concerned about the steroids. But what is happening now is that the spots are getting more "Angry" looking and they seem to be multiplying... and that is really scaring me. I will MOST DEFINITELY ask for the blood test when I see the doctor. Thanks for all the links also, I am in the process of reading through them.
After everything I have read here tonight, I just wish I had discovered this site months ago... I am terrified that by waiting too long I have jeapordized Nicola's chance of getting better...
I will for sure visit the message board daily from now on... so many good suggestions, and much much needed support. Thanks again, I will keep in touch.
Johanne

Mike:
One more thing, thank you so much for sharing your experience with me... A very good friend of mine has also been living with psoriasis since she was a child, I met this woman just over a year ago, and funny enough, Nicola's first spots came out the morning of the first time we were being invited for dinner at her house... She has been a great friend and source of support ever since Nicola's spots were diagnosed... It helps me to see and talk to people like my friend, and yourself, who have been living with this condition and have found a way to deal with it and have a normal life... That is my primary concern, to make sure to give my daughter the life skills she needs to live with this and be happy... of course in addition to doing everything possible to find treatments that help alleviate her symptoms... (I can't wait to get that blood test done)
I read a quote somewhere tonight (not sure if it was on this website... it must have been), that said: "It's not what happens to you in life that matters, it's what you do with it...." (well, something to that effect)
Thank you again, I will sleep better tonight because of you and all the people who have shared their insights on this message board...
Johanne

Johanne,
My suggestion would be to get your daughter in for UVB treatments. UVB has a very high success rate and almost no risks. Some incorrectly think that there is a skin cancer risk, but all the research contradicts that thought.
If the derm you are using does not have such equiptment let me know and will advise you of a derm in Toronto that does!
The great thing about UVB is that if it works you can get a unit for your home and do the treatments at your covenience and have the unit for a life time (I have a unit of my own and it is a god send).

Thank you very much for the suggestion... I am writing down all kinds of questions to ask the derm when we see her tomorrow, I am adding UVB treatments to my list...
Johanne (feeling somewhat better, but very tired, this morning)
Johanne,
My suggestion would be to get your daughter in for UVB treatments. UVB has a very high success rate and almost no risks. Some incorrectly think that there is a skin cancer risk, but all the research contradicts that thought.
If the derm you are using does not have such equiptment let me know and will advise you of a derm in Toronto that does!
The great thing about UVB is that if it works you can get a unit for your home and do the treatments at your covenience and have the unit for a life time (I have a unit of my own and it is a god send).

We saw the pediatric derm today... I asked for the strep test. She said she doesn't like to do blood test on a five yr-old, but she's ok with trying the antibiotic for 10 days anyways! So we are starting tomorrow morning.
We're also doing:
- turmeric (I hope I can find ways to feed this to her; she ate it in rice yesterday, but wasn't crazy about the taste... may have to go to capsules to make sure she gets enough...)
- fish oil (in her juice, she hasn't noticed so far)
- reduce dairy, wheat, red meat, sugar
- increase variety of grains (tapioca rice breads, ekeziel bread, kamut or spelt, brown rice)
- increase fresh fruits and vegetables (no tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, etc.)
- no processed foods (or very little)
My naturopath also told me eating cucumber (with the skin, preferably organic) is known in chinese medecine to be good for the skin... Plus he will be prescribing in the next few days some detox powder and multivitamin and possibly other homeopathic remedies.
I hope all this helps... Any other suggestions welcome. I'm so glad I found this site!
(As an aside, we have a pool in our backyard and Nicola was in it a lot last summer, but it unfortunately didn't help with the spots...)
Johanne

hello Johanne,
You are in the good way.
I am surprised about the blood test...
You don't ask for a new strep throat test?
Have a nice day
Sophie

The doctor didn't think a new strep test (lab culture) would show anything different... of course there is always the possibility that the first one was done incorrectly (like what happened to your daughter), and that a new test would come back positive... but since the doctor was willing to try antibiotics anyway, I didn't insist.
I'm praying... Thanks for your support...
Johanne

Johanna
Just a little note to say Hi. My name is Marielle and I have a 9 year old with severe P. She has had it for 3 years now. I don't have much time to talk but wanted to introduce myself and tell you a few things.
1. My daughter always had a negative quick test but the swab in her mouth (culture) has come back postive...Also 10 days of Antibotics might not be enough. Jessie was on them for over a month before the strep was out of her system.
2. We did not change Jessie diet at all. UVB was it.
3. Aveeno is the greatest. She takes Aveeno Oatmeal baths all the time...I need to buy stock in that company.
Well I have to go...
I will PM you Jessies story.
Also if you ever need anything I will always be here to talk...I know how hard it is to see your child like this.
Talk to you soon.
M