anyone have psoriasis?

I have had it for a long time, 15 years... it stays pretty much the same, though i get new small patches here and there... been on corticosteroid creams for years and years... not sure how this will go when i get there.  i have had some pretty serious flare-ups, none in UK, but i was only there for a week at a time.  i am wondering how that cold, wet weather might affect my skin condition, or what docs do to treat it over there...
any word on that?

Yes, I do. I think mine has gotten slightly better since I came here, but I think that is due more to the fact that I was on the pill when I moved here, which cured it completely, and then when I went off the pill it came back, but not as strong. Although I have a very mild case, patches on both of my knees before the pill, a smaller patch on only one knee after.

Another thing that I think helps is that I tend to spend a lot more time walking outside, and exposure to sunlight is good.

I've never seen a doctor for it here. You can get hydocortisone over the counter - although not very strong.

Regarding the weather, other than in the summer, which is more like a New York autumn, it's not really any colder or wetter than New York, where I'm from.

I've had it for about 25 years now, and it's getting worse. I've only been in the UK for five years, though, so I think the worsening is just due to the disease itself and some current stress, rather than any climate related stuff. I see my GP here and have been given a cream (Dovonex - which is calcipotriol) for my elbows and other patches, and a liquid for my scalp (Betnovate - which contains corticosteroids). They both work OK, but I have to use a hell of a lot of the Dovonex for it to have any effect at all. I find the treatments I'm using are no more and no less effective than what my doc prescribed in the US, to be honest. I mean, my psoriasis never goes away completely and never has. The meds just seem to keep it at bay a bit.

It sucks. 

One of the girls I work with has it pretty bad.  If she has a special occasion coming up she goes to the dermatology unit and has phototherapy and that clears it up amazingly well.  I know it's not an everyday thing, but might be something to keep in mind.

A family member of mine finds going abroad somewhere hot helps a treat...the different climate here can be quite damp at times and he finds it gets worse for him.

A family member of mine finds going abroad somewhere hot helps a treat

It's the sun, not the heat, that does it. 

It's the sun, not the heat, that does it. 

Oh there you go, I knew there was some reasoning to my ramble! 

It's the sun, not the heat, that does it. 

That's not true. It's the UV rays from the sun. I've had it on my knees and it clears up when I go barelegged. I would be warmer if my legs were covered up.

That's not true. It's the UV rays from the sun.

Yes. From the sun. Isn't that what I said?

Yes. From the sun. Isn't that what I said?

Oh, I read you backwards. Duh. 

Sorry.

So does that mean a short dose on a sunbed might help?  Not that I am advocating them..but if it helps ??

So does that mean a short dose on a sunbed might help?  Not that I am advocating them..but if it helps ??

The phototherapy Kathleen mentioned above is the recommended treatment for that sort of thing.

hmmm.... well i live in dallas, and it is very sunny here, and it doesn't help me one bit.  its just as bad here in winter as in summer!  i wear t-shirts all summer long, and long pants, but my knees are actually better than my elbows.  weird, huh?  also tried the tanning bed, but i am pretty paranoid about sun damage, and i found it didn't help much either.  the phototherapy thing at the dermatologist never helped very much, only the cortisone shots they occasionally give me.  i have been on dovonex and clobetasol for years, and they do help, but my skin is so dry already that those creams tend to dry it out more, and then the psoriasis is gone, but i have painfully dry, red skin in those areas anyway... it really does suck...i also have it on my feet, which makes them painfully dry and cracked, but there isn't much that helps that other than lots of ointment or heavy creams... (cant use the topical meds on them because it makes them peel, which is even more painful!) basically, i expect to get the same treatments overseas as i do here, as i know they frequently prescribe the same creams.  the major difference, is that i will actually be able to afford to buy the creams over there, as they cost a fortune over here without insurance... and i can never afford to go to the dermatologist either, so maybe i can see one over there on NHS... so maybe it will stay the same, as it seems the weather doesn't make much difference to me... that is weird about the pill, btw, it has never changed mine at all!  i wish it helped me at all...
thanks for the replies, though... i guess i will just have to see how it goes...

the major difference, is that i will actually be able to afford to buy the creams over there, as they cost a fortune over here without insurance... and i can never afford to go to the dermatologist either, so maybe i can see one over there on NHS... so maybe it will stay the same, as it seems the weather doesn't make much difference to me... that is weird about the pill, btw, it has never changed mine at all!  i wish it helped me at all...
thanks for the replies, though... i guess i will just have to see how it goes...

You'll find all of those creams and ointments VERY affordable on the NHS! Just register at your local surgery once you move, and that's it! I was living in Wales where all prescriptions were free. That was great! But now I'm in England so I'll be paying a bit, but it's still not much. (I've only been here for three weeks, so haven't been to a GP yet. I'm sure someone else will let you know how much prescriptions are.)

Either way, you'll be surprised at how cheap it is! 

Its roughly about £6-£7
Birth Control Pills are free.