Hi there. Waterfairy here. Do you have a rash on your feet? Top, bottom, back, sides? What have you found to be the most helpful for caring for your feet? Creams, lotions , soaks, meds., I would love to hear from you.
I used Dead Sea salt and Tea Tree (Melaleuca) oil soaks in my foot bath to loosen the dead skin. I followed up with a natural pumice stone to remove the loose dry skin? If you try this, be really gentle the first time around with the pumice stone. You can inadvertently hurt yourself, so it helps to see how much you can tolerate in small increments instead of being gung-ho. This method was great for my soles and heels. I never had any patches on the top of my feet, but instinct says to be gentle with whatever treatment you decide to use.
You could try coal tar. I imagine you could use the shampoo, and spread some over your feet and let it sit for however long the instructions recommend. I don’t know if you’ve used it before, but it stinks to high heaven and will stain, so if you decide to try it out, make sure you are on some towels that you can use for drop cloths. I used to use it while sitting on the edge of the tub. Rinse your feet, then follow with a moisturizing soap that smells nice. If you use coal tar, it has to be done several times a week to get any results. It helps the the plaques that build up, cracking and itching.
Before bed, I used to lotion my feet with a thick cream then top them with Eucerin, and put on a pair of socks. This is how I survived winter.
That’s it for my home remedies. They can be helpful, but the dermatologist can prescribe creams and ointments that are much more effective, and can provide longer and more dramatic results. I got lucky and my doctor was conducting a Humira trial. When I asked to be put on it, he said yes right away. I got all of my dermatology visits for free and the “moderate to severe plaque psoriasis” cleared within two weeks. Before that, I used Taclonex. It’s a steroid and salycitic acid/ vitamin D combo med. It works wonders, but you have to use it one week on and one week off. The steroid can cause thinning of the skin. On my off weeks, I used a drug called Dovonex ointment. It’s the non-steroid ingredient in Taclonex.
Good luck! I hope you find something that gives you some relief.
A pair of socks over the cream - what a great idea!
One thing I always make sure of (because I often work in hot weather with boots on) is that I use all-natural, breathable socks. Anything that holds the moisture in creates havoc with the skin on my feet.
Thank you so much Grumpycat. That is a lot of great information. I appreciate it. I have been having problems with with the splitting and deep crevices that are painful and make it hard to walk, My feet dry out mostly because I like to be barefoot as much as possible in summer warm weather. And I like to swim alot too. But I worry about getting infections. So far I am good. I have been on top of the foot care.
Hi Jen. I agree. I like cotton breathable everything especially socks! I am figuring out that at night before bed a good cream or lotion and a clean pair of socks works great. I have a huge load of socks so I can change them alot when I think its good idea. Some times 2-3 times a day. It may sound like alot of times but sometimes necessary for our foot problems.
Right now one of my favorite creams I got from a booth at the Flower and Garden show here in town. " Hawaiian Moon Aloe". I also found at Trader Joes a cream Trader Joes own brand "Coconut Body Butter" very reasonably priced and good sized jar of 8 oz. As always read the ingredients and make sure you have no allergies or sensitivities to any of them.
Hands and feet are hardest to treat from my experience, my doctor prescribes an evil smelling, tar coal combination cream, that has a tendency to stain anything it touches, but it works like a charm, and after a long search its one of the only things that work and so I tolerate it. I get mine prescribed because its a higher concentration, but you can buy it over the counter as MG-217.
I am sure that most of know that salicylic acid and products that contain it, removes the flakes on patches of psoriasis, it can be prescribed or bought over the counter as well, but what I found many people are not told is that if you use it first and then your other forms of gels and creams they actually will work better because they wont have to try and get absorbed through the thick layers of psoriasis first, a huge plus for those who are using gels that are a combination for pain and psoriasis, try it I know you will notice a difference.
Dead sea salt baths and soaks, oils, my doctor gave me a tip for using pumice stones for thicker stubborn areas, but because it can lead to inadvertent tearing which is painful, to wrap the stone in a thin wash cloth, for me moisturizing or as my husband calls it "creaming in" works best for my feet and now a days its part of an almost religious type of prep ceremony before I go to bed each night since during the day I seem to always forget to take care of me >.<. I just read the comments below and realized we are all saying the same things >.> and so I will conclude here with this small tip, always wearing socks can all be a huge help in itself.
Jen, you might also look at the technical fibres that are wicking. Apparently they do a really good job of transporting the moisture away from the skin and keeping it dry. The place to look would be a sports store that caters to runners.
Jen said:
A pair of socks over the cream - what a great idea!
One thing I always make sure of (because I often work in hot weather with boots on) is that I use all-natural, breathable socks. Anything that holds the moisture in creates havoc with the skin on my feet.
Lots of great ideas. Thank you so much! I have found shea butter to be really helpful this winter. At night 100% shea butter on my feet and then cotton socks on before bed. This works for me and my Humira has been helping this past year too. The website that sells really great products to try out at a very good price is
http://www.soapgoods.com/product_info.php?products_id=676
Check what they have to offer.
I used to have P between my toes. I found that thick cotton socks that made my feet warm and damp HELPED. I would put on my prescription ointment, then my socks. Alternating that with Aquaphor. My P was never dry or exposed. At any rate, I haven't had P between my toes for 15 years which is really awesome.
I don't think the P on my hands will ever go away, it's one of two remaining places I have it (other place is in my ear canals and behind my ears).
Ooo I have it in my ears too. Flaky itchy peeling and wet and oozy sometimes. An ointment with cortizone works for me and keeping my fingers out of my ears. Sometimes I am itching and peeling without even thinking about it. Bad nervous habit.