Thrifty psoriasis help

I have had psoriasis since I was 21.  It runs in my family on my dad's side so I probably would have inherited it anyway.  It started shortly after I crashed my motorcycle.  I got staph infection through a bruise on my leg (it was a HUGE bruise) and once that healed I was left with psoriasis.  For a long time I saw a nurse practioner who helped me find some herbal help and gave me some prescriptions.  The herbal stuff helped with the itchy but didn't clear me.  The prescriptions would help somewhat with clearing but I was never fully clear. 

I have probably spent thousands of dollars trying to find a remedy for this.  People think I am either badly burned, got into poison oak, or I am diseased and they will catch it.  Psoriasis is NOT contagious, ask my husband.  We have been married almost 8 years and he has yet to "catch" my psoriasis.  If anyone were to "be infected" from me, it would be he. 

I go in phases looking and trying different things.  I was recently in another research phase when I came across an article regarding the use of glycerin to clear psoriasis.  I was intrigued.  Glycerin had never been recommended to me by any medical staff, even though it is readily available at any pharmacy.  It is safe, non toxic, and used in food prep, body lotions, even soap! 

I decided to try it. Then I found a site for psoriasis sufferers where others had tried it and their psoriasis was clear!  Clear?!?!  I haven't had normal skin since before my motorcycle accident, almost 11 years ago.  I couldn't imagine being clear!  Many things have helped but have never cleared me.  The only thing that came close to completely clearing me was being pregnant. 

On Thursday April 14th, I started treatment with glycerin.  Today is day 5.  Since I started treatment, I no longer have flaking, I am not as itchy and the biggest shock of all, I am actually starting to clear!!!  I was able to shave my legs without bleeding on Sunday.  I haven't been able to do that since I was pregnant with my youngest child who is now 3 1/2.

This pic is a spot of psoriasis on my stomach.  It is one I have not been treating so I could determine if the glycerin was helping.  This is flaky and pretty representative of what my legs looked like daily before treatment.  The only difference is that my legs have much larger patches and the flakes were much larger...sometimes as big as a quarter most were the size of a dime or nickel.

The next series of pics was taken this weekend.  It is after I started treatment. I didn't think to take any before I started so these will have to do for now.  I want to post pics once a week or so as I clear. My goal is to have this post for future reference so I can hopefully help other psoriasis sufferers by showing my results.

back of right leg

back of left leg

elbow

left leg front

left knee

right leg

right knee

I apply glycerin 3-4 times per day.  I apply it straight from the bottle, using a cloth.  I just wipe it on and let it soak in. 

The downsides to using glycerin are that I am thirsty alot.  I crave water (which really isn't a down side if you think about it). The worst con to the glycerin is that I feel sticky. I am not actually sticky but I feel like I am sweaty when I a not sweaty.  You know that feeling of being drenched in sweat, yeah, that feeling.  I just wipe myself down with a damp cloth 10-15 minutes after treatment and I feel better.  I can handle the sticky feeling as long as I am seeing results.  If I wasn't seeing results it might be too much to handle. 

I found glycerin at 2 local (not chain) pharmacies.  One had it for $6 for 6 ounces and the other had it for $7 for 6 ounces.  I also found it at Walmart for $3 something and I am not sure of the bottle size.  It is located near the epsom salts, peroxide and rubbing alcohol.  If you can't find it, ask.  I asked at Walgreens but they didn't carry it and would have to order it for me.  It comes in a plastic bottle.  The liquid is clear and has the consistency of karo syrup, just a bit more runny than karo though.  Application only take a couple minutes.  Then I sit on the computer for a few minutes while it soaks in. 

After buying the original bottle and a spare, I ordered 2 more bottles online for $6.20 each. They are vegetable based.  The others I have do not specify this.  If it's working, I don't mind but I prefer to know what I am putting on/in my body so I decided to order the vegetable based version.

I hope to be able to update on Thursday with new pics and more info.  Thursday will be a week of application. 

~Jess~