Lucy Jones

‘I thought my psoriasis would come back – but it didn’t’

Lucy Jones, 40, a full-time student from the New Forest, Hampshire, with her husband, Neil

I was just five when my first symptoms of psoriasis appeared. That was the start of 35 years with the condition. My mum first noticed scales on my scalp when she was washing my hair. And then it slowly went over most of my body.

They tried me on steroid creams and considered giving me light therapy but I also suffer from vitiligo [a skin pigmentation condition] so that wasn’t possible. By the age of nine I had been admitted to St Thomas’s hospital in London for three weeks during which time they tried cream after cream on me until my mum said enough was enough and took me home.

It was real hit-and-miss after that. For 15 years I was on Dovonex cream. When I used it, the psoriasis did go away, but it came back as soon as I stopped. My skin became paper thin, and even when the psoriasis wasn’t there, it was sore. I just felt grazed all over.

My GP’s attitude was that the cream was doing its job, but it didn’t feel like that to me.

All my life I had been self-conscious about my appearance. I would worry about dry skin on clothes, getting changed for PE at school. It affected me throughout my childhood and teenage years. I have two children of my own, aged six and seven, and I have avoided taking them swimming because I would do anything to avoid showing my skin in public.

 Lucy’s leg before and after using Soratinex

I was told the next thing I had to do clinically was have auto-immune suppressant injections and that could have a big impact on my life. I was worried about side-effects and what they might do, and I would constantly have to have blood tests.

But then my mum read about Soratinex in The i [in 2018]. I was concerned about the cost at first, but then I thought I would give it a go. The results have been inredible. Within the first seven days I could see and feel a difference. Then it started clearing up. It is the most amazing treatment I have ever used. I now have absolute confidence in it.

Lucy’s foot before and after Soratinex

I was worried that when I stopped using the treatment, my psoriasis would come back – the way it did with everything else I have tried – but it didn’t. I would say I am now about 95 per cent clear, and my concerns about cost have gone away. Considering the months I have been clear, it actually turned out to be very economical.

I still haven’t been swimming with my children because I haven’t become accustomed to having clear skin. It has come as a real shock to me and it will take some time to get used to it. But I’m now looking forward to the summer – I think I’ll be over the shock by then.