Tips For Soothing Foot Psoriasis

When people think self-care, they often forget the importance of foot care. Healthy feet are the key to a healthy and active life because our feet help us balance and serve for stability, mobility, and support. In short, our feet are highly sensitive so when a condition like foot psoriasis strikes; it can be extremely dangerous.

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What is foot psoriasis?

According to Everyday Health, foot psoriasis is a type of psoriasis, which causes painful, itchy, red, dry patches of skin on the bottom or soles of your feet. A more rare form of the condition, called pustulosis, involves small, pus-filled blisters in the same area.

The most common type is plaque psoriasis, which occurs in around 85 to 90 percent of people with psoriasis.

Forty percent of people who have psoriasis experience palmoplantar pustulosis psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF).

A study found that people with palmoplantar psoriasis are six times as likely to have mood disorders — likely due to problems with mobility — than those with psoriasis affecting other parts of the body.

“In some cases, people with foot psoriasis can’t even walk,” says Abby S. Van Vorhees, MD, chair of dermatology at Eastern Virginia Medical School and emeritus chair of the NPF Medical Board. “But the good news is that there are treatments available and there’s a lot that can be done to make patients feel better.”

A person’s feet can also be affected by a rare type of psoriasis, which is known as erythrodermic psoriasis, according to Medical News Today.

Erythrodermic psoriasis causes red, scaly patches on much of the body. This condition is often a reaction to sunburn or certain medications, such as corticosteroids.

This rare type of psoriasis can be very serious and requires immediate medical attention

Triggers

Triggers may vary from person to person, but essentially they include:

a recent injury to the skin, such as a cut, insect bite, or sunburn
emotional stress
weather changes, especially when they cause skin dryness
an illness or infection
certain medications

Treatments for foot psoriasis

The American Podiatric Medical Association offers suggestions for treating the condition:

Soak your feet in an oatmeal bath to soothe the itch.
Regularly apply a hypoallergenic moisturizing lotion.
Avoid stress.
Don't drink alcohol.
Consider light therapy if your doctor recommends it.

Dr. Van Vorhees also suggests choosing your shoes wisely. To avoid foot trauma, you should opt for shoes that are round instead of triangular. You should also avoid shoes that are loose and cause friction or rub against your heels. Additionally, she advises using caution when wearing flip-flops or sandals because they can expose your toes to possible injuries.

A healthy diet and exercise can also help, according to Mark Lebwohl, MD, professor and chair of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

“Exercise and diet that specifically lead to weight loss can help,” Lebwohl notes. “There are many studies that have shown that weight loss in combination with therapy improves psoriasis.”

Weight loss has also proven to make psoriasis medications more effective.

When to see a doctor

You should see a podiatrist if your psoriasis doesn't improve with at-home care. Seeing a doctor is an essential part of managing your foot psoriasis symptoms because it is often mistaken for something else, such as a fungal infection like athlete’s foot.

You should also consider consulting with your doctor before beginning any treatment, especially if you haven't been officially diagnosed with foot psoriasis. The wrong treatment for the wrong condition can worsen symptoms and lengthen their duration.