Dean Tootell

'After my experience of the treatment, I would highly recommend Soratinex to anyone with plaque psoriasis'

Dean Tootell, 30, from Colchester, Essex with wife Kristen.

After serving nine years in 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery as a bombardier, I was given a medical discharge from the army last year due to psoriatic arthritis as I was unable to perform to the high standards that were required of Airborne forces.

Since 2014, I have been receiving treatment for psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis which have included Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, steroid injections and Dovobet. Out of all the treatments I have received, the steroid injections and Dovobet were the only ones to provide short term relief, but they are not solutions for the long run due to the steroid element within the treatments. I believe the next step will be biologics, so we will see how that goes.

In the meantime, I heard about some trials last year of a treatment for plaque psoriasis which I was keen to take part in and seeing as I suffer from that too, I applied to take part. The trials were for Soratinex and they were conducted by Professor Antony Chu in London. I began the trial but had to drop out as I wasn’t able to attend all the assessments, so I am not included in the results.

I had psoriasis around my belly button, my right calf and some minor areas on my scalp, ears and round the eyes. Even though I couldn’t finish the trial, I did complete the course of treatment and it was fantastic.

My plaques disappeared and I have stayed clear for around about a full year. Only now is it reappearing in a very small way and so I have ordered some more of the treatment to take care of it again. 

I have never worried too much about the plaques – I just try to get on with things. But before I started using Soratinex I did find it had stopped me from wanting to take my three children to the swimming pool - they are 11, four and two - as I would be spending a lot of time in the shallow end with my two youngest and my patches are easily seen.  

Nobody made a direct comment to me about my psoriasis but I have seen people taking a look and talking among themselves which can be awkward at times. But I can totally understand as public awareness about psoriasis isn't so great and some may worry it could be contagious. It’s not their fault; it’s just one of those things. After my treatment in 2017 I don’t have to worry about that now. We’re back in the pool and I’m enjoying being clear.

After my experience of the treatment, I would highly recommend Soratinex to anyone with plaque psoriasis.