 |
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
|
|
|
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
|
Skin Care and Diseases |
Guttate Psoriasis01/21/2000 |
I have a friend who is suffering greatly from psoriasis. When I say greatly, I mean it is over 85 percent of her body.It appeared suddenly 3 mos. ago after a bout with Strep Throat. Our research leads us to think it is "Guttate Psoriasis" since it came about right after the strep.
The docs have filled her with steroids, to no avail. Twice they have given her antibiotics, and differing skin ointments.
Now, the problem is in her scalp, on her hands, chest, back, and the worst is on her legs. They are horrible, with little or no break in the rash.
This disease has turned my healthy 36 year old friend into a discomforted, self-concious person whose treatments have done nothing. In the past thirty days it has gotten worse.
Please offer us a suggestion! She will go to any lengths to eliminate this problem.
Your inquiry regarding your 36 year old friend and her extensive guttate psoriasis is of some concern. It is true that guttate psoriasis may follow bacterial infection, particularly Strep; and the story that you have given is one that we recognize. The extensiveness of her disease is frequent. The disease rarely responds to antibiotic therapy, although it is induced to try to remove the Streptococcal infection in this case. The use of steroids is a two-edged sword and you are seeing the problems associated with that group of drugs. They can be lifesaving and very helpful, but may not be the final drug to use.The most important thing that you can do is have your friend seek the care of a qualified dermatologist to evaluate her in every way. There are numerous drugs that might be used to treat her other than those that you have mentioned but that will depend on a thorough evaluation of her current health. You may wish to ask your primary care physician for a second opinion so that your friend can be thoroughly evaluated from all health stand points, and that her psoriasis can come under expert management.
If you are interested in learning more about psoriasis I would refer you to the National Psoriasis Foundation Web Site.
|
Charles L. Heaton, MD Professor Department of Dermatology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
|
|
Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) 
|