Hi Sashag,
Welcome to the Board! :cool: Nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear that you're going through such a rough time. :( You've come to a very special place. A lot of nice and helpful people post here. More important, it's great to
FINALLY be able to ask questions, vent, exchange info, or even share some laughs with people who
truly understand. :)
Since you don't have insurance, here's a couple of quick suggestions -- including several over the counter products and medications -- that you can try:
- MG217 (www.mg217.com) makes lotions, ointments, and shampoos. The shampoo and the ointment comes in two versions -- one with coal tar and one with salicylic acid. (The coal tar versions may not be available in California.) Coal tar has been used to treat psoriasis for many, many years and salicylic acid is one of the few doctor approved methods for removing the scales. Here in the New York area, the coal tar version of both the ointment and the shampoo are available in just about every chain type drug store. Depending on the store, the ointment is located either with the rest of the creams and lotions, with the first aid products or with the acne products. (Ask if you can't find them!) The shampoo is usually located with the other dandruff shampoos. The salicylic acid versions of both the ointment and the shampoo and the coal tar lotion seem to be available by special order only.
(BTW, some stores carry more then one coal tar psoriasis medication. One of the most frustrating things about psoriasis is that what works for one person, may or may not work for another. It couldn't hurt to try several different products.) - Dermarest (www.dermarest.com) makes a lotion and a shampoo that have salicylic acid in them.
- Taking a bath with a product like Aveeno Oatmeal soak can be very soothing. It will also help soften the scales and relieve the itch. Aveeno's website has been under construction for as long as I can remember, but here's a link to CVS' description of it: http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gatew...y/search?page=2. Store brands are available. They're generally cheaper.
- You can also try taking a bath with Balnetar. It's coal tar based. It stains and the stains can be impossible to get out. Use old towels, etc. and scrub the tub immediately after use. Despite these drawbacks, it can be very effective in the war against psoriasis. Balnetar is available over the counter, but it's not a stock item. It usually has to be special ordered. I've never been able to find a website for Balnetar, but here's a link to a site that sells it online: http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/br...8B2484F93 B%7D (NOTE: I've never ordered anything from them, so I don't know how reliable they are. However, their description of Balnetar is a good one.)
- For scalp psoriasis, you can try a shampoo with coal tar or salicylic acid, such as the MG217 and Dermarest that I've discussed above.) Neutrogena makes coal tar and salicylic acid shampoos that come in several different strengths. Here's a link for some additional information:
http://neutrogena.com/ProductsLine_7_3.asp. A shampoo with tea tree oil can help relieve the itch. A lot of people who post here use Paul Mitchell tea tree shampoo. (Here's a link for some additional information: http://www.paulmitchell.com/site/su...section=2,10,32.) I was told that Paul Mitchell products were available only a beauty supply stores, but I was able to find it a New York area chain type store. It's very expensive. I was able to find a cheaper tea tree oil shampoo by reading just about every bottle of shampoo in the store. Baker's P&S oil is another product that you can use. It's very messy. You have to wear it for a couple of hours covered by a shower cap. They also make a shampoo, but I've never tried it. Baker's also doesn't seem to have a website, but the website that sells Balnetar also sells Baker's products. Here's a link for some additional info:
http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/br...8B2484F93 B%7D. Again, I've never bought anything from them so I don't know how reliable they are, but their descriptions are good.) - I find that antibacterial and deoderant soaps tend to dry out and irritate my psoriasis and make it drier and itcher then it already is, so you also might want to avoid those. (I have similar problems with the dyes and fragrances in detergent and dryer sheets, etc. I haven't had any laundry related problems since I switched to "free and clear" laundry products.) Here's a link to a previous discussion about psoriasis and soap: .
- It also helps to keep your skin moist, so in the word of my dermatologist "mosturize, moisturize, mosturize". Which moisturizer to use is a matter of trial and error and personal preference. I find that it helps to rotatae brands. I also find that it helps to use only those moisturizers that are labeled "fragrance free", "non-irritating" and/or for "sensitive skin".
- For the itch you can use corn starch, ice packs, Benadryl, or anti-itch creams, lotions of powders such as Gold Bond. (I usually buy the store brands.) I recently discovered Eucerin Itch-Relief Moisturizing Spray. I like it because it's a spray. It's new so it might be hard to find. (I found it at a New York area chain type drug store. Here's a link for some additional information: http://www.eucerinus.com/skincare/m...ief/frame1.html.
Steve suggested that you look into www.needymeds.com since you don't have insurance. That's an excellent suggestion. As he said, it sounds like a scam site, but several people who post here were able to get help through www.needymeds.com. Here's a link a post that has two www.needymeds.com success stories in it: . Other posters have mentioned www.helpingpatients.org and http://www.uneedpsi.org. I know nothing about them, but it can't hurt to check them out.
I'm sorry that this turned into such a novel. You're probably suffering from information overload. :rolleyes: I hope that it helps in some small way.
Good luck. Hang in there! Keep us posted and please don't be a stranger.
Mike