Teenager who lives in agony with severe psoriasis is ‘cured thanks to cancer drugs’
A TEENAGER left covered in bleeding "scales" has been cured by a chemotherapy drug, typically used to treat cancer.
Elizabeth Wigmore, 18, couldn't walk or sleep due to the severity of the pain caused by the skin condition psoriasis.
At her worst, the only thing that could offer even a slight relief was having three baths a day.
She struggled to sleep and the peeling scales - a symptom of the itchy condition - left her with blood-stained sheets and writhing in agony.
But after being prescribed chemotherapy drug, methotrexate, which is typically used for neck, lung and breast cancers, her condition has vastly improved.
Describing the medication, which she takes once a week on a Friday, as a lifesaver, the trainee counsellor said: “The psoriasis was all over my body, it was severe.
“It felt awful. I was in excruciating pain, I could barely walk.
“I couldn’t sleep because lying down hurt.”
Little patches of rough skin first started appearing on her elbows when Elizabeth, of Aberdare, South Wales, was 14.
As her condition spread, the teenager was diagnosed with psoriasis, a recurring skin disease that causes red, flaky patches on the skin.
After various lotions for the condition proved ineffective, she was prescribed UV light treatment, which helps slow the spread of the disease.
It felt awful. I was in excruciating pain, I could barely walk. I couldn’t sleep because lying down hurt
Elizabeth Wigmore
But this treatment failed, too, and in December 2014, a major psoriasis attack saw the scales spreading like wildfire across her body.
She said: “I’d just bleed without me touching it – it was just awful.
“I never want to go through it again.
“It took my independence away, because I couldn’t do anything.”
The unsightly patches spread across her legs, arms and torso, and would catch on wool clothes, like jumpers, and bleed.
Even walking was difficult, as the sores would react to the climate and ooze.
“I was in college doing A-levels at the time and the cold weather made it worse,” Elizabeth recalled.
“I had to wear several layers to keep my body insulated.
“I couldn’t wear dark clothes, because I’d get flakes on my t-shirt from my scalp.”
Terrifyingly, the psoriasis spread to Elizabeth’s face and left it red, flaky and raw.
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She struggled to conceal the patches with make-up and her battle severely knocked her confidence.
She said: “I was in so much pain and it lowered my confidence a lot.
“I went through it by myself.”
Curious classmates would frequently ask about her peeling skin.
Distraught, Elizabeth posted pictures of her psoriasis on Instagram, also explaining her condition.
She said: “I was never bullied for it, but I could see people wondering. I thought if they knew what it was, they’d stop looking at it.
“It did help, massively. At college, people didn’t ask any questions, because I had already answered them.”
Through Instagram, she has connected with other psoriasis sufferers around the world and swapped tips and tricks to keep the condition under control.
She added: “My page helped me, because being able to help other people boosted my confidence.
“That’s why I want to become a counsellor – I love helping people.”
I’d just bleed without me touching it – it was just awful. I never want to go through it again
Elizabeth Wigmore
After seven months battling psoriasis, it began to clear up, thanks to a dose of 7.5mg of methotrexate, a drug used to treat cancer, and UV light treatment.
And while Elizabeth still has flare-ups, she has learnt how to deal with them.
She said: “I know how to reduce the pain, so when I had my flare-ups I’d bathe in E45 bath oil three times a day, so my skin wouldn’t rip and bleed.”
And in December she met her current boyfriend, quantity surveyor Scott Pritchard, 19, who has helped to boost her confidence.
She said: “I didn’t date when I had my flare-ups. I lacked the confidence and I didn’t want people to touch me.
“I get so frightened the psoriasis will come back as severely as before.
“It’s so nice knowing that Scott’s there for me, though, and that he’ll support me through it.”
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