A great article on dealing with hand and foot psoriasis put out by the National Psoriasis Foundation
Treating psoriasis of the hands and feet can be particularly challenging. Following are five tips from Cynthia Trickett, physician assistant for Texas Dermatology Associates in Dallas.
- Protect hands with gloves. Trickett recommends her patients use cotton gloves under vinyl or nitrile gloves when cleaning, cooking or washing dishes. Avoid latex gloves because they could trigger an allergic reaction.
- Keep hands and feet moisturized. Use fragrance-free and dye-free moisturizers, such as Cetaphil Restoraderm, CeraVe or Vanicream products. You can apply moisturizer and cover your hands or feet with plastic bags for several hours – known as occlusion – to enhance absorption.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to fissures before applying corticosteriods. Very shallow fissures usually don’t need an antibiotic treatment. For a deep or painful fissure, use a toothpick to apply antibiotic ointment and put the topical steroid on top.
- Seal fissures with super glue. You may develop fissures or cracked skin on your hands and feet. Sealing those fissures with super glue can alleviate pain and help prevent infection. If you fear you may have an allergy to super glue, do a patch test on the inside of your bicep first.
- Explore remedies for relieving itch. The chronic itch of psoriasis can have a big impact on your quality of life. Oral Benadryl, Atarax or Dovonex can help prevent itching at night. Applying ice packs to itchy areas also can help.
