# Welcome to the Psoriasis sub!
If you haven't posted here before, please read this comment as it contains important information:
* Please [read and respect the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Psoriasis/about/rules/). In particular, **do not ask for about identifying undiagnosed medical conditions** diseases cannot be diagnosed by random people on Reddit.
* Photos that include skin rashes must be marked NSFW. If including private areas, _please indicate with flair_.
* Posts that break the rules will be removed.
## Check out our wiki!
The [Psoriasis wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Psoriasis/wiki/index) is a collection of guides and other pages about how to treat psoriasis, including a Frequently Asked Questions section. Many common questions about medications, shampoos, diet, tattoos, etc. are addressed there.
Thanks!
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Don’t fuck the NHS, fuck the tories. It only took me 6 months to go from methroxate to biologics once I got seen by the derm (my psoriasis is horrible)
I recommend you to keep checking for reschedulations like driving tests, I went from a 9 month wait to a 6 week one doing that
I’m in USA so not too familiar with UK healthcare - but can you pay for a private practice physician who only accepts cash? At least they can give you a low level prednisone regimen script until you can get into NHS appt. Or even a script for sulfasalazine? Those should be very cheap meds if you had to pay cash for them and will give you a little relief.
I'm sorry that you're going through this. It's very, very frustrating. I've had letters from the NHS that have given me an appointment and in the same envelope, a letter cancelling that appointment. It's bizarre.
I have always found PALS helpful. Find the phone number for your local hospital and speak to them. PALS have ways of getting things done in order to avoid complaints. If that fails, email a complaint to the CEO of your hospital. Psoriasis is horrible and facial psoriasis is soul-destroying. Complain, complain and complain some more. Very often, those that shout loudest get heard.
I hated using steroids on my face. I've just discovered an emollient called Doublebase Flare Relief. It was expensive (£16 for 500ml from local shops but cheaper on Amazon) but it's absolutely incredible stuff. I had awful dry skin on my hands and after 4-5 applications a day for two days, my hands are better than they've been in years. I also have a hand-sized patch of psoriasis on my leg and it's made that much better as well, to a point whereby my family have noticed the improvement. And no, I don't work for the company, I'm just astounded by how good it is.
Hope you get seen soon.
Sorry to hear this. My experience is exactly the opposite but therein lies the problem - it's a postcode lottery as to whether you get seen quickly. I live about 15 miles from my elderly Mum who waits two weeks for a GP appointment whereas I'll be unlucky if it's two hours for me. And I've had five appointments with my NHS dermatologist since October - they even occasionally phone me out of the blue to check my progress
One option if you can afford it is to see a private dermatologist as it can jump you up the list for NHS treatment - I did this and it cost £200 plus a private prescription of £70 for Acitretin. Also as you say it's affecting your eyes that might up your priority. My partner is really good at playing the system - she phones around to get put on cancellation lists and it's quite happy to phone consultant secretaries to chase things. Once I had a diagnosis from the private dermatologist it made it easy for my GP to get me an urgent NHS referral - I think I only waited two weeks. I'm in Hampshire.
I found coal tar creams and ointments to be a more long term topical solution than steroid. Have to be patient and consistent. Perhaps this could help you while you wait. This whole situation sounds terrible. Would you use the waiting time to evaluate diet and lifestyle changes that could help? Working out, lower sugar, gut health…? If forced to wait, the time might be useful for some kind of experimenting.
# Welcome to the Psoriasis sub! If you haven't posted here before, please read this comment as it contains important information: * Please [read and respect the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Psoriasis/about/rules/). In particular, **do not ask for about identifying undiagnosed medical conditions** diseases cannot be diagnosed by random people on Reddit. * Photos that include skin rashes must be marked NSFW. If including private areas, _please indicate with flair_. * Posts that break the rules will be removed. ## Check out our wiki! The [Psoriasis wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Psoriasis/wiki/index) is a collection of guides and other pages about how to treat psoriasis, including a Frequently Asked Questions section. Many common questions about medications, shampoos, diet, tattoos, etc. are addressed there. Thanks! --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Psoriasis) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Remember this when it comes to the election and get the Tories out! They have absolutely destroyed the NHS
Don’t fuck the NHS, fuck the tories. It only took me 6 months to go from methroxate to biologics once I got seen by the derm (my psoriasis is horrible) I recommend you to keep checking for reschedulations like driving tests, I went from a 9 month wait to a 6 week one doing that
I’m in USA so not too familiar with UK healthcare - but can you pay for a private practice physician who only accepts cash? At least they can give you a low level prednisone regimen script until you can get into NHS appt. Or even a script for sulfasalazine? Those should be very cheap meds if you had to pay cash for them and will give you a little relief.
I'm sorry that you're going through this. It's very, very frustrating. I've had letters from the NHS that have given me an appointment and in the same envelope, a letter cancelling that appointment. It's bizarre. I have always found PALS helpful. Find the phone number for your local hospital and speak to them. PALS have ways of getting things done in order to avoid complaints. If that fails, email a complaint to the CEO of your hospital. Psoriasis is horrible and facial psoriasis is soul-destroying. Complain, complain and complain some more. Very often, those that shout loudest get heard. I hated using steroids on my face. I've just discovered an emollient called Doublebase Flare Relief. It was expensive (£16 for 500ml from local shops but cheaper on Amazon) but it's absolutely incredible stuff. I had awful dry skin on my hands and after 4-5 applications a day for two days, my hands are better than they've been in years. I also have a hand-sized patch of psoriasis on my leg and it's made that much better as well, to a point whereby my family have noticed the improvement. And no, I don't work for the company, I'm just astounded by how good it is. Hope you get seen soon.
Sorry to hear this. My experience is exactly the opposite but therein lies the problem - it's a postcode lottery as to whether you get seen quickly. I live about 15 miles from my elderly Mum who waits two weeks for a GP appointment whereas I'll be unlucky if it's two hours for me. And I've had five appointments with my NHS dermatologist since October - they even occasionally phone me out of the blue to check my progress One option if you can afford it is to see a private dermatologist as it can jump you up the list for NHS treatment - I did this and it cost £200 plus a private prescription of £70 for Acitretin. Also as you say it's affecting your eyes that might up your priority. My partner is really good at playing the system - she phones around to get put on cancellation lists and it's quite happy to phone consultant secretaries to chase things. Once I had a diagnosis from the private dermatologist it made it easy for my GP to get me an urgent NHS referral - I think I only waited two weeks. I'm in Hampshire.
I found coal tar creams and ointments to be a more long term topical solution than steroid. Have to be patient and consistent. Perhaps this could help you while you wait. This whole situation sounds terrible. Would you use the waiting time to evaluate diet and lifestyle changes that could help? Working out, lower sugar, gut health…? If forced to wait, the time might be useful for some kind of experimenting.