child suffering from psorasis of hands and feet

Jane - posted on 07/04/2011

I had eczema as a child and have guttate psoriasis as an adult, as well as psoriatic arthritis. However, I met a woman who has five(!) different types of psoriasis, including psoriasis of the nails.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder where the skin does not shed correctly but builds up, causing scales, itchiness and pain. Because of the autoimmune nature, steroids help slow the development down and can even make it go away by reducing inflammation. Sometimes treatment for other allergies will help lessen the load on the immune system and it relaxes so the psoriasis gets better. However, it can come back when the body is hit by illness, stress, or allergies.

Coal tar compounds (what we always called the yucky goo) were the traditional treatment but they may be carcinogenic, they smell, and they make a mess. I'm not sure they helped me, but they sure were disgusting.

Also, we never use soap to clean the skin. We use a noncomedogenic (non-drying) substance called Cetaphil, that seems to help reduce the scaliness. You can get it in some drugstores in a generic version that is less expensive.

There are also salicylic acid compounds, such as Psoriasin, that can help remove the scales, leaving the skin more supple and less likely to itch or hurt. Some dermatologists like to have you alternate steroids and salicylic acid creams to get a faster result.

Sunlight and formal UV treatments can help also.

I don't know what MooGoo is actually made of but it probably moisturizes the skin to keep it supple, and may help reduce the development of scales to begin with. It may have something in it that treats inflammation. It was original made to treat cow udders, but has made the transition to a human medication.

Finally, a lot of times psoriasis of the scalp isn't actually psoriasis. It is actual a form of seborrhea. I had that quite badly in my late teens an I have found that using a good dandruff shampoo not only on my scalp but anywhere the dermatitis happens really knocks it out.

And my friend with the five different types of psoriasis? She takes Enbrel by injection once a week. Enbrel works by blocking the activity of TNF, a substance in the body that causes inflammation, thereby reducing the immune system's aggressiveness. It is a last resort for folks who have proriasis over much of their body or who have psoriatic arthritis.

Personally, I HATE psoriasis!

Kellie - posted on 07/03/2011

Hi my son has psorasis of the scalp and we use MOO GOO products from the health store and some pharmacies they are great and really helped with his confidence. Once we stopped using it though it came back, he had it on his skin once and we used the cream and noticed a difference overnight

Fiona - posted on 01/12/2011

Thanks Shannon for replying, glad to hear your scalp psorasis cleared. We have seen the Dermatologist in the hospital and she has prescribed a cream called Fucibet with is an anti-bacteral cream with a steroid, being bathing her hands in emulsifying ointment twice a day and using the prescribed cream, seems to be working as her hands are improving. So were good at the moment. Thanks again for your concern.

Shannon - posted on 01/05/2011

I have psorasis of the scalp as a child and after seeing a derm dr. it cleared. My 2 year old has excema and it gets bad in summer. We use a over the counter cream called
aquaphor and it helps. I noticed I get one of them on my right hand and never did before. Have u seen a doctor?