How to Protect Your Feet from Psoriasis
Since August marks National Psoriasis Awareness Month, we want to help you better understand this condition. (Especially how it can impact the delicate skin on your feet.) People with psoriasis can develop scaly rashes anywhere on their bodies. Which is why even your feet can show signs of psoriasis.
Now, this condition is fairly common. As many as 7.5 million people in the United States are living with the autoimmune disease. Though not contagious, psoriasis can be uncomfortable—physically or emotionally—as patches of dead skin cells build up and form patches on your body.
Risk Factors and Complications
Anyone can develop psoriasis. But you may have a higher risk for this condition if other family members have been diagnosed. Your risk also increases if you’ve been diagnosed with another autoimmune disease.
Psoriasis can come and go in flares, with certain triggers making you more likely to develop symptoms. These include:
Stress
Infections or illnesses
Injuries
Dry weather
Some medications
If you have psoriasis, you may also develop psoriatic arthritis, which is another autoimmune disease that can hurt the skin and joints in your feet.
Psoriasis and Your Feet
There are several ways psoriasis appears on your body, and they can all impact your feet. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form, and it leaves you with dry, red patches of skin that may be itchy, painful or scaly.
Another, less common, form is palmoplantar pustulosis. This condition leaves you with tiny blisters on your palms and the soles of your feet. But, unlike other blisters, these are filled with pus instead of fluid.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Some people mistake psoriasis for a contagious fungal infection known as athlete’s foot. These conditions both change your skin’s appearance. But while athlete’s foot usually affects the areas between your toes, psoriasis more commonly impacts the soles of your feet. And, while fungal infections leave your skin feeling itchy, psoriasis patches are often painful. For that reason, a physical exam in our office should help you get the right diagnosis.
Unfortunately, we can’t cure psoriasis. But we can help offer pain relief during outbreaks. And we may be able to help you prevent future flares. When you have psoriasis symptoms, we can offer relief with medications and creams.
Changing your lifestyle may help you manage your psoriasis. If you’ve been diagnosed, you should stop smoking right away. Try to maintain a healthy weight and follow a regular exercise program. Work at managing your stress levels, limit your alcohol intake and always keep your skin moisturized.
Taking these steps, and sticking to regular appointments with our Westfield, IN podiatry practice, can help stop psoriasis from hurting your feet and limiting your mobility.