I have eczema on my scalp and behind my right ear. it is far better than it used to be. I use T Gel shampoo and find it very good. You have to leave it on for a few minutes though for it to be effective.

Here is a link that might be useful: T Gel

I have psoriasis on my scalp. I've had it since I was about 10. It seems to flair up in the winter. I can't wash my hair every day, because it itches so bad about 2-3 hours after I shampoo. I used Neutrogena T-Gel and T-Sal is also pretty good. I'm not sure if they make it anymore, but I used to use P&S Liquid/shampoo. You applied to the scaly patches for 10-15 minutes, then washed. That used to work fairly well for me, but it's very greasy stuff! I used a Q-tip to apply to my hair. I've never had any luck with Head and Shoulders.

I've never used Dovonox, but some steroids can be pretty powerful. I think it was cyclosporin cream. I guess it was okay, but it listed a bunch of side effects too. Talk to yor doc again, there must be other treatments out there! There are laser or heat treatments, depending on how bad your DD's case is.

I try to be gentle with my hair, I usually air dry, no blow-drying, and don't brush with a stiff brush. And TRY not to scratch-I know it's hard!

Also, a random note of warning. Because I have psoriasis, I once had a severe reaction to getting strep throat (Gutteral psoriasis) literally a rash from head to toe that lasted months. It was horrible-almost looked like chicken pox.

Good Luck!!

It's called moonface - if you take steroids for a long time it's not unusual for the face to appear rounder. I can't say if that is the reason your daughter's face looks fuller.

Thanks everyone. After I posted this, I called my sister back home in Big D, and we had both pretty much came to the same conclusion. She is a makeup artist and had clients who suddenly had puffier faces and it was then she learned about steroids. As we talked she looked the drug up on drugs.com and checked the side effects and it also explained something my daughter mentioned yesterday. She told me when she runs her legs hurt. (she's 7). And the website mentioned muscle weakness.

I have Seborrheic dermatitis  the patches appear on my face, neck, chest and on my scalp. It behaves and looks much like psoriasis. The dermatologist said it is caused by "yeast, and yeast is everywhere. I used a steroid (cortisone) on my face- like one would for psoriasis for a while, but now have switched to "Fluocinolone" ( for all I know it is a steroid as well.) No flare-ups recently on my face or body.
On the scalp I use "Loprox Shampoo". You leave that on 3 min. and then shampoo out. With insurance it is $22. It is made in Canada, so you canÂt get a complete break through insurance- but at the moment the Company is reimbursing if you send them a receipt. I donÂt know if it would help with psoriasis. But it is worth asking your Dr. I also use "Olux Foam" for the itching- it dries instantly on the scalp, applied with a Q-tip to the irritated areas of the scalp. I understand this is good for psoriasis too. It is very expensive without insurance- but $9. with mine, and it lasts a long time. In the beginning I washed my hair with the shampoo every other day. Normally I only need to wash my hair about every 5 days or sometime once a week. Now I alternate between regular shampoo and the Loprox every 5-7 days. When I feel a flare up coming on I use the P.&S liquid- at night, going to bed wearing a shower cap- not very glamorous, but it works.In the am. I use the P&S shampoo- one washing to remove most of the P&S liquid then the Loprox, and leave it on while I soap up my body.

At the moment no patches on my body and my scalp is fairly clear. At least I can wear black without flakes on my shoulders!

Find some Organic(preferable, but not totally necessary) Virgin Coconut oil...start oiling her down with it. Rub into her scalp 15-20 minutes before you wash her hair..or even better let it sit overnight. Then wash as usual..put it anywhere else her skin bothers her. Use it everyday for a week and see what kind of difference you notice..then....once the problem is totally gone, use it once or twice a week for "upkeep"...Could be immediately better...could take a few weeks to a month.

I'd also be checking her for wheat or gluten allergy/intolerance.

I've also heard that almond oil used as Terri described is good also. At least these things don't have the bad side effects of steroid meds.

I dont think that the concentration in topical steriod is the same as an oral steriod. I use diprolene ointment for my eczema & occasional psoriasis. I have never had a problem with weight gain from the topical meds, unlike when I was on oral steriods as a kid.

I do think that eczema can cause puffiness in the face. I have that problem more often in the winter than the summer & thought it was due to dry winter air.

Just as a note, my eye doctor told me to be careful of breakouts on the eyelids. He said that I could use a small amount of a topical steriod, but not to use it around the eyes on a regular basis. He said that it could cause problems.

Thanks, y'all. I appreciate all the suggestions - I'm going to try something. I bought the Tgel already.

I grew up with bad eczema. I have to be careful with what I use as some products make it worse, and some foods did too. So carefully watch what you use on her in the way of bath soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, deoderants, bubble bath, lotions, hair spray, etc. I could not wear wool, and I wash all new clothing before wearing it to remove the fabric treatment from the manufacturer.

My poor mother finally used only pure olive oil castile soap for our baths and then grated it and cooked it with water to make a shampoo. Kiss My Face makes an olive oil bar soap on the market.

My grandson has eczema too. Someone here suggested almond oil, which I buy in the cosmetics department of the health food store, and it works nicely to lubricate his skin too.

I think you may have a daughter who is putting on weight for a growth spurt too. Moon face is a side effect of taking cortisone internally I think. None of us had that problem with topical application.

Eczema does not tend to clear up and never come back. It can be a years long battle.

The Old Lad(now exhusband) has it..severely--we were to the Psoriasis Int. of Canada with him years ago.

There isn't a lot that you can do to get rid of it,other than the cancer drug Methotrexate;which for him,at the time worked..but after one year,we/he went off of it due to future liver complications.

I've doctored with him since he was 13 yrs of age,and now he's 52.

She will in time likely show patches on either her joints,or various skin places.

She will *possibly*in time be affected by rheumatoid arthritis..again,there are treatments now that werent available when he was younger,but none seemed to really help much--even to this day

Have her shampoo and bathe in good quality oils to keep the skin supple.

An oatmeal (using real oatmeal) bath works wonders too.

Keep her diet as red meat and yeast free as possible,and have her try to lead as stress free life as possible

Good luck

Thanks everyone!

Missindia

I don't know if this will help but I drink Lipton White Tea with Raspberry. I have psorisis on my legs and since I started drinking White Tea it has cleared up by 80%. I drink a half bottle a day. Give it a try..who knows it might just work well for your daughter. BTW..the topicals my dermatoloigst gave me only give me bruise marks.

Also...the tea is an acquired taste. It tastes like flat 7-Up with raspberry

SamKaren
your resident DJ

A real oatmeal bath really does make your skin soft and lovely. Cook oatmeal without any salt and put it in a sock and knot the neck of the sock or knot it in a baby's pillowcase. Throw the sock in the tub as it fills with warm water. Do not use soap to scrub. Instead, scrub with the oatmeal filled sock. Be sure the oatmeal does not escape from the sock to clog your drain.

I don't have any experience with psoriasis, but this caught my eye on CNN today...a drug used to treat psoriasis that may lead to deadly brain infections. How sad!!

Here is a link that might be useful: CNN story

I have psoriasis on the scalp and it is driving me crazy! I use T-gel every night like my dermatologist tells me to do. If I don't, the scales just keep getting harder, thicker and I'm so embarrassed by it. My hair has got a little thinner in places. I can't go one day without washing my hair. I have the psoriasis also on my elbows, one knee and some on my back. I also have it in my ears and behind them. I don't have it bad over my body but my scalp!!! Oh my, I think there isn't a clean spot on my head. I drench my head in olive oil...really any oil I can get. Put a shower cap on and leave it on during the day. If I use the cap at night the krinkle of it keeps me awake...LOL
There is another psoriasis called Inverse psoriasis. You can get that under your breast, groin areas, arm pits, just anywhere there is a crease in the skin. It looks like a burn, feels like a burn and hurts!
Psoriasis is inherited and my Daddy had it really bad. I didn't come down with it until I was 40 years old...after I quit smoking. I guess the stress of that brought it on. I pray my daughter doesn't inherit psoriasis. So far I don't have any arthritis. My doctor told me that some people get psoriasis arthritis and some don't. I don't believe everyone with psoriasis get rhuematoid arthritis. I know several people with psoriasis and they don't have it either.

I just wish someone would find a cure for it. It is the T cell 1 that is the cause of it all. T cell 1 causes your body to attack its own skin, thinking there is an infection or other ailment going on. If they could just turn off the T cell 1 without turning off the other T cells perhaps the internal medicines would help more without doing damage. We would have all the other T cells to keep infection at bay.

I hope your child can get some relief from her psoriasis. I hate to see a child suffering from this. As an adult with it I can handle peoples comments or stares. If they are brave enough to make smart aleck comments to me I hope they are big enough to handle what I will say to them! But a child is just so vunerable and self conscious. God love her...I hope something helps her soon.

Deb

We went to the dermatologist today. I'm exhausted from it all. He took some cultures of her flakes - I have no idea what that will show. Dr. doesn't think she is having any side effects (I guess it's all being made up!) but I don't know. I still don't feel comfortable with a longer usage of this stuff. He did prescribe Nizoral 2% which I hope will do some good. We go back to see him Monday morning.

I appreciate all your help and ideas.

Yes,thats right Deb...the old lad has rheumatoid,psoriatic and osteo arthirits'..I had forgotten...

Poor old lad....he seems to have gotten it all didn't he? I hope someone, somewhere can find a cure or some "miracle" pill to help...a lotion would be really nice...LOL

Deb

I use Denorex shampoo. For me, it works better than T-Gel. Dunno why.
Di

You may want to consider having your daughter's thyroid levels checked. Normal is 1 to 3. It's a simple blood test and that could be the problem. A slowdown of the thyroid can cause psoriasis, It can also cause changes in the appearance of a person, fuller face, weight gain etc. I hope you find a solution soon.