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Advice for teenager with Psoriasis...

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Psoriasis
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Posted 6/23/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
My 16 year old son was diagnosed with psoriasis about a year ago after being told for years it was eczema. When it flares up, he has a patch on one knee that's about 2X4 inches. A small patch used to occasionally appear on his other knee but we haven't seen that one for years.

He has a prescription cream that he puts on his knee when it flares, usually after I've noticed it and bugged him about it. Right now it doesn't seem to be a problem for him. I think it bothers me more than it bothers him. I've told him that he has an auto-immune disease and he needs to remember to tell doctors. I've also told him to let me know if it spreads, changes, appears in any other places, or if he has any pain especially in his joints. His dermatologist said we only need to come in if it spreads or changes so we don't have regular follow-ups. He sees his PCP for a physical every year.

What advice do you have for a teenager? Is there anything you wish someone had told you? Is there anything you think we need to know?

I'd love ANY advice anyone would care to share, we really don't know much beyond the basics.

Thanks!!!!
Posted 6/23/2009 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
My first advice is not to worry about this too much. Remember that the vast majority of people with psoriasis never get arthritis. Those of us with PsA often had the skin diseases for a long time -- 20 years in my case, before getting joint disease. Next, remember that the treatments for skin and joint disease have improved greatly in the past few years, so during his lifetime it may not be a problem if this does get worse. So message one, don't worry.

Message two, a little more specific, is that he should know that the ointment he uses for his knees should never be used on the face or genitals. If he ever gets psoriasis there, he needs a different, and much milder medicine. Kids are shy, and might be tempted to self-treat sensitive skin with the medication he has, or even try out his knee medicine on a facial pimple.

My third suggestion is, to the extent you're both worried about this progressing, keep a watch on the finger and toe nails. Joint pain can be from many things, and it doesn't make sense to run to rheumatologist because his knees are sore one day. Most people I know with PsA had changes in the nails first.

Good luck, and don't worry. It sounds like his case is very mild.

 

Posted 6/25/2009 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. I did a little research when he was first diagnosed so I'm not too worried about him now. I've talked to him about the small possibility of getting PsA so that he is aware of it in case he ever starts to have symptoms when he is older. He's a smart kid and I didn't want him finding out about it on the internet so we checked a few reliable sites and discussed what we learned.

I appreciate the heads up on the meds, I told him to always tell me if he gets a rash anywhere else. He is shy and he probably wouldn't have used the ointment anywhere else, but I hadn't thought about warning him NOT to.

Could you please give me some more details on the nail changes?

Thanks again.
Posted 6/25/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah i have had it for like 20 years..they used to give me all sorts of new creams when I was a teen. They never worked. about 3 years ago I got bored and went old school with the coal tar. At first, nothing then about 4 weeks later just disappeared quickly. 20 years in the same spot and gone just like that. Popped up somewhere else but luckly it was in ankle area lol.
Posted 6/27/2009 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
Great advice !

I am glad your son has only a mild case and we can hope it stays that way !!

I hope to find someone who will be open to help me deal with my P. I am dealing with not only plaque P on my arms and legs but I also have inverse P on my butt and my genital area. It is so sad and it hurts and I am on meds but it takes awhile for them to work and it really affects my life. I am in pain most of the time and itch like crazy !

I no longer cover up though with long sleeves, at least not all the time !

I have P and I also have the desire to be normal, so I just act like it is ok, and when someone asks me , oh my what happened to your arm or whatever they say, I say oh, its nothing, just my P !

I am so glad that  we now have this forum here, I could cry.

When I joined HW three years ago or so, I wanted to find that here but all the forums were taken and that is ok, they are all needed, so I went to the Gerd forum, I have that fairly bad as well. Gee, aint life grand !!

 

Posted 8/2/2009 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
I know exactly how you feel about the itching. My family gets upset with me when i scratch my psoriasis all  the time. But they don't have it so they don't understand how bad it itches. I really hate it when i wake up in the night because it itches so bad. It is bad that i have it but now my oldest son is getting it now in his hair. I have had problems with kids in his class teasing him saying that he has head lice. I was furious and called the school. But what am i supposed to do i cant protect him 24/7.
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