Hand Psoriasis Treatment

[drummerboy8081]

Hi all, I'm new to this site but not new to psoriasis.  I'll try  to keep this as brief as possible.  I've had psoriasis on the palms of my hands and ONLY the palms of my hands for  over 10 years.  I face the typical thick, cracked, bleeding skin.  Seen many dermatologists and have used many, many topicals AND the X-Trac laser treatment but nothing works.  (the laster treatment certainly affected my skin but ultimately just made my hands burn and itch but didn't stop the thick skin from forming). Well, prednisone mostly clears it up but only for a few weeks.  For almost a year I've been gluten free and I have noticed a difference in that I have a sensitivity to gluten and certain foods but my hands are still pictures of typical psoriaisis.  The irony of ironies is that I'm a drummer/percussionist and a music teacher so my hands are my life!  I've thought that this could be a reaction to the lacquer on the drumsticks but I'm convinced that this is NOT a contact dermatitis situation.


If anyone has any thoughts it would be much appreciated!

[drummerboy8081]

Hi there and thank you for your reply.  I've tried many treatments, as I said, but the gluten free diet has made the most significant change in my hands. The more serious meds (that is, the meds with serious side effects) I'm not interested in taking.  My insurance probably wouldn't pay for it anyway.  

Cheers!
MD

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
There are many treatment options for psoriasis, chief ones being cognitive behavior therapy, creams containing coal tar, dithranol (anthralin), corticosteroids like desoximetasone, fluocinonide, vitamin D3 analogues and retinoids and phototherapy and photochemotherapy. Psoriasis that is resistant to topical treatment and phototherapy is treated by medications that are taken internally by pill or injection. The three main traditional systemic treatments are methotrexate, cyclosporine and retinoids.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.