Psoriasis Guru

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Where to Find Cheap T-Gel

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Ounce for ounce, Neutrogena’s psoriasis shampoos (T-Gel or T-Sal) can be a lot more expensive than standard shampoo (the kind I would consider standard anyway).   So it would be nice to save a buck or two on this item which, to me, is not a negotiable expenditure.

There is the option of waiting for it to go on sale at your local grocery store, at which time it might drop from 6 dollars and change to 5 dollars and change per bottle.  If you don’t want to wait for it to go on sale, you can usually find it at Walmart for sale at regular price for about half of what it normally sells for a standard grocery stores.   Whenever I go to Walmart, I try to stock up on it (though it is still expensive, even at 5 dollars and change).

There are also a variety of deals online for even less (and you don’t have to drive anywhere):

Click here to buy standard Neutrogena T-Gel for less than $5.

Click here to get larger sized bottles of Extra Strength T-Gel for about $9.

Another Day Battling the Psoriasis Itch

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Today was a regular shampoo day, which means I am giving my scalp a break from medicated psoriasis shampoos (I use only over the counter varieties such as Neutrogena’s T-Gel and T-Sal).  This is important to let all the “good” skin to recover as well as to do a general cleansing of any build up that of coal tar or other dirt that might have developed (the active ingredient to Neutrogena’s T-Gel is coal tar).  I am a firm believer in cleansing my scalp to help relieve the itch of psoriasis, while at the same time avoiding too much washing, which would dry out my skin and scrape off all traces of moisturizing, natural oils.

Having used only regular shampoo today, I can notice a slight increase in my scalp’s itchiness.

For the regular shampoo that you work into your rotation, I would recommend something that rinses off clean, leaving as little residue as possible.  A decent quality shampoo such as Fructis or TRESseme will do the trick.  I like to leave the shampoo on my head for a least a few minutes to let it cleanse thoroughly.  Conditioner can also help to moisturize your scalp (depending on the brand you choose), which can also help to ward off the itchiness of psoriasis.

In any case, you will have to decide for yourself what works best for you, including what is most affordable.  Of course, if you have an pressing issues with psoriasis (or something you suspect is psoriasis) consult a dermatologist ASAP.

Be Prepared for Your Dermatologist Visit

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

If you suspect that you might have Psoriasis then you should visit a dermatologist to find out for sure.  One you make your dermatologist appointment, I would recommend making preparations, especially by writing everything you need to remember on a piece of paper.  Your goal should be to get all your concerns and questions addressed.  If you don’t come with specific questions and concerns in hand, then there is a fair chance that the doctor will rush you out of the room in an attempt to get to his next appointment.

The last time I visited a dermatologist, I got about 3 minutes of face time, which ended up being completely useless to me.  This was partially my fault because I expected him to ask probing questions or do something proactive to see if my concerns were valid (this was expecting too much I guess).  The appointment ended as abruptly as it started, with him looking at me crossly the whole time as if I was interrupting him while he was doing something else that was much more important.  He listened for a minute, took a glance at my scalp, said it didn’t look too bad, then gave me a prescription for the equivalent of T-Sal, which, ironically, did not work as well as over-the-counter T-Sal (plus the copay was more than T-Sal would have cost by itself).

All this to say, be prepared for your visit.  Don’t be defensive, mind you, but if you are prepared you won’t have to be defensive.  Know what your concerns are, have a list of specific symptoms and don’t let yourself be rushed.  Keep in mind that there are bound to be at least a handful of dermatologists within a 10-15 minute drive of your house (if you live in a city), so if one is unhelpful, you can always make an appointment elsewhere.

Neutrogena T-Sal Review

Monday, September 21st, 2009

neutrogena t sal

T-Sal’s active ingredient is salicylic acid.  This is the same active ingredient present in many “warming” face washes.  That warm feeling is actually acid interacting with your skin.

T-Sal is great for deep cleansing.  It pairs well, in my opinion, with T-Gel since the active ingredient in that shampoo (coal tar) seems to create a build up on my scalp after awhile.  After using T-Sal my scalp can breath a sigh of relief.  Unfortunately, it isn’t nearly as effective at squelching itchiness as T-Gel.  But, like I said, it’s nice to give your scalp a deep cleansing every so often so it can recover from all that coal tar (a derivative from the fossil fuel).

When using T-Sal be sure to leave it on your scalp for a while to let the salicylic acid penetrate the skin.  I put the T-Sal on first, then wash, then rinse off the shampoo last.  It also has a conditioning effect on your hair, which you will notice as you rinse it out.

T-Sal Lather:

t sal lather