How To Help Psoriasis On Feet

Symptoms Of Psoriasis On The Feet

The most common type of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis with red, dry patches of skin. The patches can appear anywhere on the body, including the feet. Usually, they are covered in silvery scales and can be sore and itchy.

A less common type of psoriasis is palmoplantar pustulosis, affecting the soles of the feet and the palms of the hand. Here you will find tiny, pus-filled blisters.

Its easy to confuse psoriasis with athletes foot, a common foot fungal infection that is very contagious. Athletes foot most often appears between the toes or under the nails, while psoriasis is found on the soles. While athletes foot is itchy, psoriasis on the foot can be painful and sore.

Psoriasis Diet Essential Oils & Supplements For Natural Treatment

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

• Precautions

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin disease that causes inflammation and scaling of the skin that affects approximately 2 percent to 2.6 percent of the U.S. population. Normal, healthy skin experiences cell turnover about once a month, but when you have psoriasis, the skin cells rise way too fast and actually pile up on top of each other. Thankfully, you can help combat this condition with by following a proper psoriasis diet treatment plan.

We know that psoriasis begins in the immune system and involves a type of white blood cell called a T cell. When you have psoriasis, the T cells are put into action by mistake and become overly active, leading to unhealthy swelling and fast turnover of skin cells.

A major dermatology focus in the realm of skin diseases, psoriasis symptoms can vary according to the form of psoriasis . You might be thinking psoriasis is just an annoying skin condition, but it can also result in psoriatic arthritis, an inflammation of the joints that affects approximately 30 percent of all psoriasis patients.

Conventional psoriasis treatment might work, but it often doesnt or is only a temporary fix that doesnt get to the heart of the issue. There are many natural remedies for psoriasis, with a psoriasis diet making the very top of the list.

What Is Scalp Psoriasis And What Causes It

Psoriasis can appear on any part of the skin, even the scalp. With scalp psoriasis, scalp plaques produce excess scales and can cause your scalp to itch.

Symptoms of scalp psoriasis appear as the following:

• A small bump, called a papule, with a scale on top.
• The plaque typically is covered by thick layers of horny scale. When the scale sheds, it can look like dandruff.
• Sometimes these plaques can itch.
• Scratching these plaques can worsen the condition and lead to what’s called the Koebner phenomenon, or isomorphic response, which can cause psoriasis to develop in areas where there’s inflammation and trauma.

The causes of scalp psoriasis, like all psoriasis, is related to genetic defects that affect the immune system. It is not known if stress causes or makes psoriasis worse.

In some severe cases, scalp psoriasis can cause alopecia, or a loss of hair, which is rare and may be controlled with treatment. Scalp psoriasis can be treated with topical medications, which can sometimes be difficult to apply when the scalp is covered with enough hair that can create a barrier.

Recommended Reading: How Long Does Psoriasis Outbreak Last

What Can I Do To Help My Feet

The most important action is to seek advice and help when you notice any changes in your foot, whatever they may be. You can talk to your GP or local pharmacist for advice. Some problems can be resolved simply. For issues that are more persistent you may be referred to a specialist, such as a dermatologist, rheumatologist, physiotherapist, surgeon or chiropodist/podiatrist.

For general foot care, personal hygiene is important, particularly in avoiding fungal and viral infections. Change shoes and socks regularly, avoid shoes which are ill-fitting or cause bad posture. If you are overweight, losing weight could relieve the pressure on your joints and improve your walking gait.

If you are diagnosed with psoriasis, develop a treatment regime that works for you often, applying treatment after a bath or shower, along with the use of an emollient, can make the process easier.

If you have nail involvement, keep nails trimmed and clean. If they are thick, try trimming them after soaking them in a bath or shower, as this makes them softer and easier to cut. Alternatively, seek an appointment with a chiropodist, which is often available via the NHS.

If you have psoriatic arthritis, it is important to rest inflamed joints. Sourcing footwear that supports the foot and helps to reduce the pressure on the inflamed areas can help, as can inner soles and orthotic supports. Once again, a chiropodist is best placed to advise you.

This article is adapted from The psoriatic foot leaflet.

Can A Diet Cure Psoriasis Naturally

• Avoiding environmental factors that trigger psoriasis, such as smoking, and stress, may help prevent or minimize flare-ups of psoriasis. Sun exposure may help in many cases of psoriasis and aggravate it in others.
• Alcohol is considered a risk factor for psoriasis, even moderate amounts of beer. People should minimize alcohol use if they have psoriasis. This is especially important if they are taking medications such as methotrexate or acitretin.
• Specific dietary restrictions or supplements other than a well-balanced and adequate diet are not important in the management of plaque psoriasis.
• Recently, some data has supported that an “anti-inflammatory” diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated and trans fats may help manage psoriasis, although the value in preventing its onset is less certain.

You May Like: Body Surface Area Assessment Psoriasis

What Are The Clinical Features Of Palmoplantar Psoriasis

Palms and soles affected by psoriasis tend to be partially or completely red, dry and thickened, often with deep painful cracks . The skin changes tend to have a sharp border and are often symmetrical, ie similar distribution on both palms and/or both soles. At times, palmar psoriasis can be quite hard to differentiate from hand dermatitis and other forms of acquired keratoderma. Plantar psoriasis may sometimes be similar in appearance to tinea pedis. There may be signs of psoriasis elsewhere.

Palmoplantar psoriasis tends to be a chronic condition, ie, it is very persistent.

Compared to chronic plaque psoriasis on other sites, palmoplantar psoriasis is more commonly associated with:

• Psoriatic arthritis

Treating Psoriasis On The Feet

Since psoriasis on the feet can resemble other skin problems like athletes foot, please come in for a professional assessment and the right treatment.

There is no cure for psoriasis, but there are treatments to relieve symptoms and lessen flare-ups. Treatments can include:

• Topical cream, ointment, or oil prescription medication.

• Light therapy where the patient is exposed to ultraviolet light in a clinic or hospital.

• Oral and injected prescription drugs.

You can make lifestyle changes to help reduce or prevent psoriasis flare-ups. These include maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol, exercising, keeping the skin moisturized, keeping a symptom diary to identify triggers, using yoga or meditation to reduce stress.

Read Also: Is Lemon Good For Psoriasis

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed And Treated

Psoriasis often has a typical appearance that a primary care doctor can recognize, but it can be confused with other skin diseases , so a dermatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriasis usually depends on how much skin is affected, how bad the disease is , or the location . Treatments range from creams and ointments applied to the affected areas to ultraviolet light therapy to drugs . Many people who have psoriasis also have serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Some people with psoriasis also have an inflammatory condition which affects their joints, called psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis has many of the same symptoms as other types of arthritis, so a rheumatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis usually involves the use of drugs .

Psoriatic disease may be treated with drugs or a combination of drugs and creams or ointments.

How A Dermatologist Can Help

With so many products, it can be difficult to know what to use. If you dont see the results you like with OTC treatment for psoriasis, you may want to see dermatologist. Dermatologists are the skin disease experts. They know how to tailor psoriasis treatment to the type of psoriasis you have. Sometimes, this requires combining treatments. You may also need one treatment plan to gain control over your psoriasis and another to maintain the results.

ImagesGetty Images

ReferencesMenter A, Korman NJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Section 3: Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 60:64359.

Paghdal KV, Schwartz RA. Coal tar: Back to the future. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Aug 61:294-302.

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology

The American Academy of Dermatology gratefully acknowledges the support from Amgen and .

You May Like: Mejor Tratamiento Para La Psoriasis

How Long Do You Need To Give It

If you try a gluten-free diet, it can take several months for the inflammation to subside. It is recommended that you remain completely gluten-free for at least three months, being sure to remove all sources of gluten from your diet. After three months, if you are unsure if youâve seen a benefit from eliminating gluten, try adding it back into your diet. Over the next three to four days be sure to make note of increased itching, joint pain, headaches etc. If you donât notice any benefit, you may choose to add gluten back into your diet permanently.

Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist before your try a gluten-free diet.

Clinical Trials For Psoriasis

Before a new treatment can be registered in Australia it must undergo extensive testing. Clinical trials are used to determine the safety and effectiveness of new treatments for psoriasis. The regulations governing clinical trials in Australia make the process as safe as possible for clinical trial participants. People with psoriasis may consider volunteering to participate in a clinical trial. Participation provides volunteers with access to cutting edge treatments that are not otherwise available. General information about being part of a clinical trial can be found here. Internationally, ClinicalTrials.gov provides patients, their family members, and the public with easy and free access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, talk to your doctor.

You May Like: Is Baby Oil Good For Psoriasis

What Else Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider

If you have psoriasis, ask your healthcare provider:

• How can I prevent outbreaks and control symptoms?
• What medication will work best for me?
• What else should I do to improve symptoms?
• What are my options if creams dont work?
• Will psoriasis ever go away?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Psoriasis, an itchy skin condition, can come and go throughout your life. Its related to an overactive immune response and is not contagious. If you have skin changes that arent going away, talk to your healthcare provider. There is no cure for psoriasis, but psoriasis treatments can improve symptoms. Your provider may prescribe a special cream or moisturizer or medications. Other therapies are available if creams or medicines dont work. Maintaining your overall health will also help improve symptoms.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/17/2020.

References

Is Psoriasis Curable

Psoriasis is more of an inconvenience in most cases than it is threatening. However, it is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease for which there is no true cure. The itching and peeling of skin can lead to significant pain and self-esteem issues. By far, the patient’s quality of life is affected most with plaque psoriasis. Self-consciousness and embarrassment about appearance, inconvenience, and high costs of treatment options all affect one’s outlook when living with psoriasis.

It has recently become apparent that many patients with psoriasis are predisposed to diabetes, obesity, and premature cardiovascular disease. It is important that such patients seek good overall medical care aside from simply treating their skin disease. Anxiety, depression, or stress may worsen symptoms and increase the tendency to itch. Most patients can expect significant improvement from the treatment of their psoriasis.

Also Check: Shampoo For Eczema And Psoriasis

How Can Parents Help

For some children, psoriasis is just a minor inconvenience. For others, it is a difficult medical condition.

To manage symptoms and make outbreaks less likely, your child should:

• Wash hands well and often and stay away from people who are sick to prevent infections.
• Manage stress through exercise, yoga, or meditation.
• Not smoke or drink alcohol.
• Keep a healthy weight. People who are overweight tend to have more severe psoriasis symptoms.

Kids and teens with psoriasis may feel uncomfortable with the way their skin looks. Help your child understand that psoriasis is common and treatments can help.

Whether your child’s psoriasis is mild or severe, learn about the condition together. Offer to help find a therapist or join a support group if that might help. Talk to your doctor or check websites like:

Understanding Psoriasis On Your Feet

The amount of skin affected by palmoplantar psoriasis differs from person to person.

Sometimes you can have psoriasis on your feet and hands, just your hands or just your feet, and nowhere else on your body, notes Bruce Strober, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University and founder of Central Connecticut Dermatology Research in Cromwell, Connecticut.

When your hands and feet are involved, your nails are likely affected, too, he says. Symptoms of nail psoriasis include white, brown, or yellow nails denting or pitting in the nails and crumbling.

Though foot psoriasis may not cover a whole lot of your bodyat least compared with other forms of psoriasisit can be more debilitating.

People with foot psoriasis are almost twice as likely to report problems with mobility as those with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to a 2018 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Theyre also almost 2.5 times more likely to say they had trouble completing daily activities.

Whats more, these folks fare worse on quality-of-life measures, even though they typically have less affected body surface area than people with psoriasis on other parts of their body, the study showed.

Also Check: Short Course Of Prednisone For Psoriasis

How Successful Are The Treatments

Anti-inflammatory drugs can help to reduce pain, swelling and stiffness. Unfortunately, however, they can make skin symptoms worse in some people. Steroid injections to joints may give relief. Disease-modifying drugs such as methotrexate can damp down both skin and joint symptoms, as can targeted biologic agents.

In some cases, surgery to remove a thickened synovial membrane , realign a joint or to fuse a joint may stop pain which results from movement.

Sometimes it is possible to remove the painful end of a bone .

Remember: All treatments may have unwanted side effects or require special precautions . Always make sure you have all the information before embarking on any course of therapy this includes reading the patient information leaflets provided with your medicines.

What Is The Treatment For Palmoplantar Psoriasis

Improvement in general health can lead to an improvement in palmoplantar psoriasis.

• Weight loss, if overweight
• Investigation and management of associated health conditions

Mild psoriasis of the palms and soles may be treated with topical treatments:

• Emollients: thick, greasy barrier creams applied thinly and frequently to moisturise the dry, scaly skin and help prevent painful cracking.
• Keratolytic agents such as urea or salicylic acid to thin down the thick scaling skin. Several companies market effective heel balms containing these and other agents.
• Coal tar: to improve the scale and inflammation. Because of the mess, coal tar is often applied at night under cotton gloves or socks.
• Topical steroids: ultrapotent ointment applied initially daily for two to four weeks, if necessary under occlusion, to reduce inflammation, itch and scaling. Maintenance use should be confined to 2 days each week to avoid thinning the skin and causing psoriasis to become more extensive.

Calcipotriol ointment is not very successful for palmoplantar psoriasis. It may also cause an irritant contact dermatitis on the face if a treated area inadvertently touches it. Dithranol is too messy and irritating for routine use on hands and feet.

More severe palmoplantar psoriasis usually requires or systemic agents, most often:

Read Also: Skin Care Routine For Psoriasis

Hydrocortisone Creams And Ointments

You can buy a mild corticosteroid like hydrocortisone without a prescription. For a few small patches of psoriasis, a mild hydrocortisone works well. If you have more than a few small patches, youll likely need a prescription corticosteroid to see results.

Whether OTC or prescription, this medicine works quickly to:

• Reduce the itch

If you have cracked or bleeding skin, an ointment will likely feel better than a cream. Ointments tend to be more soothing and less irritating than creams.

MoisturizerThis may help anyone who has psoriasis because psoriasis makes the skin dry and scaly. Moisturizer helps to seal water in the skin, which can:

• Relieve dryness

• Help your skin heal

Dermatologists recommend applying moisturizer once a day, and more often when your skin is really dry. When shopping for a moisturizer, you want to select a:

• Heavy cream, ointment, or oil rather than a lotion

• Fragrance-free product

• Product that you like and will use

Oil can be especially healing, but its also messy. To reap the benefits of oil, try applying it before bedtime.

Moisturize before washing

For best results, you want to apply your moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing and after washing your hands.

Scale softenersYoull find OTC products and prescription medicines that contain salicylic acid. This active ingredient helps to:

• Remove and soften scale

• Reduce swelling

Removing the scale helps other medicine that you apply to your skin to work better.

• Lactic acid

• Urea

Scale softeners