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  • Great Malvern, England
Health
Why I’m Choosing Medication Over Light Therapy

Why I’m Choosing Medication Over Light Therapy

For those that know me well, you’ll already know what I’m talking about. However, for those that don’t – I’ve suffered from psoriasis for over ten years now, and I’m constantly looking for new ways to relieve it or get rid of it. I’ve tried creams, soaps, steroid creams, change of diet, change of products such as laundry detergent and makeup and unfortunately, nothing seems to have worked.

I recently managed to have myself referred to see a dermatologist, and I was immediately offered light therapy. I know from seeing and reading many stories that this method can work for psoriasis, as it slows down the rate in which skin cells reproduce, therefore making the appearance of psoriasis much better. However, I recently went away to Portugal for a family holiday – and it was wonderful! I finally managed to relax, got myself a nice tan, and my skin even cleared up. So why am I choosing to take medication over going down the light therapy route for my skin?

Picture progress over the last few months

an image of my hand the night before we went to Portugal

Since I know that the sunlight can help psoriasis, I decided to take a picture of my hand before we went away, just so I could see the difference – if any!

my hand the night we got back from Portugal

As you can see, the sunlight definitely helped my skin!

one week after getting home from Portugal

Unfortunately, my clear skin didn’t last and in fact, it came back worse than it’s ever been. It’s not just my hands either, as I have patches on about 40% of my body, and there isn’t a part of my body that doesn’t have some sort of psoriasis.

Medication is the way forward

While I was at my dermatology appointment I was also offered a medication option called methotrexate. This would mean taking a tablet everyday to keep my skin clear, while attending blood tests to ensure that it doesn’t affect my liver and kidney functions every three months. While this is a scary thought, the worry of going through light therapy and then my skin getting aggressively worse is something that I don’t want to risk. I’m currently in more discomfort and pain than I’ve ever been with my skin – so what if I have to take a tablet each day?

I’m also aware that if and when I want to have another child that I cannot be on this medication. While this is another downfall in my plan, what’s stopping me restarting it after I’ve given birth?

If I were to wait for light therapy, I could be waiting for eight months or more, just to be seen initially. I feel that I could be waiting in pain and discomfort for longer than needed, just to have my psoriasis come back once I’m discharged.

So, this is why I’ve decided to choose medication over light therapy for the treatment of my psoriasis. I’m in no way saying that light therapy isn’t a viable option for those suffering. However, I don’t feel it will work for me. I’d love to hear about other people’s experiences with both light therapy and methotrexate, and indeed other forms of treatment for psoriasis! Let me know below!

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