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Psoriasis On Feet: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
07/18/20228 min read
Psoriasis can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and even painful. And when you get psoriasis on your feet, it can be hard to do everyday activities. While psoriasis flare-ups can be caused by many different things, the good news is there are treatment options available.
If you’ve developed psoriasis on your feet, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll share common causes of this skin condition and ways you can heal your skin.
Table Of Contents
- Symptoms Of Psoriasis By Type
- Causes Of Psoriasis On Feet
- Treatment And Prevention Of Psoriasis On Feet
Symptoms Of Psoriasis By Type
Psoriasis is a common autoimmune disorder that can develop anywhere on your body. While any area is fair game when it comes to this skin condition, you may experience localized flare-ups on places like your feet and hands.
Read on to learn about the different types of psoriasis that develop on feet and some treatment options.
1) Regular Psoriasis
All forms of psoriasis show up as dry, red, purple, itchy, and painful skin patches. As we mentioned above, a psoriasis flare-up can happen on any part of the skin, and some types have specific names based on their location or the different appearances and symptoms.
2) Plaque Psoriasis
One of the most common types of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis occurs when dead skin cells build into raised and scaly patches called plaques. These discolored areas can be flaky and rough.
3) Palmoplantar Psoriasis
A more severe type of psoriasis, palmoplantar psoriasis is only located on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet and can make mobility and daily tasks extremely difficult or uncomfortable.
It can cause your skin to become so irritated that it cracks and bleeds, which impedes walking and standing when the flare-up is on your feet.
Note: Some forms of psoriasis can be life-threatening if they cover a large percentage of skin. This can easily lead to infections that are difficult to fight and require immediate medical attention. If your psoriasis is rapidly spreading, contact a qualified medical professional.
Also, if you suspect you have psoriasis but haven’t gotten an official diagnosis, see your doctor before beginning any treatments. If your skin condition is actually something else, you could have unexpected and harmful outcomes.
Causes Of Psoriasis On Feet
Why the feet? It may seem like a strange spot for a flare-up, but feet are actually one of the most common areas to be affected by psoriasis. They’re very sensitive and sometimes heal more slowly than other body parts because the distance from the heart reduces blood flow.
They also carry you throughout the day as you walk, stand, exercise, shop, clean, etc., so it’s important to care for psoriasis on your feet quickly to keep the condition from worsening.
Outside Triggers Of Psoriasis On Feet
Psoriasis flare-ups can be triggered by physical irritation to your skin, including:
- Burns
- Cuts
- Blisters
- Dryness from weather
- Bug bites
- Irritation from socks and shoes
Anything that irritates your skin and causes redness and itchiness can lead to a psoriasis flare-up as your body tries to heal from the injury. It can take weeks or months for the flare-up to eventually calm down.
Lifestyle Habit Triggers
Other causes of psoriasis can be personal lifestyle factors. Stress, diet choices, lack of sleep, and medications can all be triggers.
Stressful life events, for example, can lower your body’s defenses and sound the alarm bells for your immune system to find the source of the problem. With psoriasis being an autoimmune disorder, your body will turn on itself and cause issues, such as a skin flare-up.
Genetics And Medical Conditions
Although many factors that contribute to psoriasis symptoms are within your control, some are not. Genetics play a role in who develops psoriasis, and some sicknesses or ongoing medical conditions can cause it, too.
Knowing the psoriasis on your feet may have been triggered by an illness or a genetic predisposition can help you understand your condition and find the best ways to combat your symptoms.
Treatment And Prevention Of Psoriasis On Feet
When you develop psoriasis on your feet, you want to tackle the symptoms as quickly as possible because of the discomfort. Psoriasis on any part of your skin can be difficult to contend with, but especially somewhere as sensitive as your feet.
Luckily, there are many treatment options available, ranging from medical interventions and injections to simple adjustments in diet and natural remedies.
Here are a few of our favorites.
1) Topical Treatments
It’s common to start psoriasis treatment with a topical steroid or steroid cream.
These can calm down a mild flare-up, but the risk of steroid use is that it can cause your symptoms to come back even stronger when you discontinue use. Also, the misuse of steroids can lead to further skin and health issues.
Your healthcare provider will help you determine if steroids are right for you and help you avoid any side effects.
If steroids aren’t your first pick, what other topical solutions can you try?
Bodewell Psoriasis Calming Cream helps soothe psoriasis and is formulated to help improve your skin’s appearance over time. Our Psoriasis Soothing Spray is also a great way to help relieve psoriasis irritation throughout the day without adding any oiliness to your skin.
Trying different treatment options is OK, but only add one new thing at a time so you can identify what is working and what isn’t.
2) Avoid Triggers
Inflammatory Foods
Some people find that flare-ups are caused by inflammation in their body. This can be especially true if your diet triggers flare-ups, as some foods are known to cause inflammation.
Try to avoid inflammatory foods as much as possible, including:
- Processed foods
- Food high in sugar
- Red meat
- Acidic foods
Individual food sensitivities can also play a role in your psoriasis symptoms. So, if you suspect you may have food sensitivities, try cutting out known allergens, like dairy, wheat, eggs, soy, or nuts.
Physical Irritation
Protecting your feet from physical irritations can help slow or reduce psoriasis flare-ups, too. If you often get injuries from walking barefoot, try keeping a pair of indoor shoes on in the house.
In addition, make sure that your choice of shoes is not contributing to psoriasis on your feet. Overly tight and uncomfortable shoes — no matter how good they look — can cause blisters and irritation that may lead to psoriasis.
Cute but uncomfortable shoes are not worth the pain, so look for a pair you love that also feels great.
Lack Of Moisture
Having appropriate skin hydration is crucial in preventing psoriasis. Unfortunately, as the seasons change and the weather gets cold, it’s easy for dry skin to go unnoticed until it’s too late.
Any time you bathe or wash your feet, make sure to use a moisturizer right afterward to prevent dryness and cracking.
3) Try UV Light Treatment
Ultraviolet rays, found in sunlight and UV light treatments, can help slow down the over-reproduction of skin cells that is causing your psoriasis.
Your healthcare provider can determine if UV treatment is right for you and help you find clinics specifically trained in this treatment method, or you can get more UV exposure by spending time outdoors.
4) Seek Further Medical Treatment
If you use any of the above methods and still aren’t seeing improvements, consult your doctor about your symptoms and further treatment options. If left untreated, psoriasis can sometimes become a serious health issue.
Often, injections and systemic treatments can be an effective step up in treatment. But these more serious medications require supervision from a qualified medical professional.
Getting Back On Your Feet
Because psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder, treating psoriasis on feet can look different for everyone.
Any type of psoriasis can be very uncomfortable and irritating, but there is hope! We recommend topical treatments, like Bodewell Psoriasis Calming Cream and Psoriasis Soothing Spray, as well as avoiding known triggers.
With the right combination of treatments, lifestyle changes, and prevention measures, psoriasis can be a thing of the past. Soon, you’ll be on your way to better skin days!
