Alternative, Inexpensive Remedies For Psoriasis

April 17, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Please tell me what to do to get rid of my psoriasis. I’ve had it for a long time and just can’t seem to get rid of it. I do have a prescription for Taclonex that works well, but I don’t have health insurance to continue to fill the expensive prescription. What else can I do?

DEAR READER:
Most forms of psoriasis are cyclic, meaning symptoms flare up, subside, and then flare up again. An outbreak can present with red, scaly patches of skin, itching, painful joints, and more. Common forms can appear anywhere on the body, including the inside of the mouth.

Risk factors include a family history of the disease, immune disorders, stress, exposure to cold, certain medications, and more.

Treatment depends on the location of the outbreak. Some lesions might be controlled with an over-the-counter topical cream. [Read more...]

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Sunday Column

April 12, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Your recent article about the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was great. It was simply written so that the general public can understand.

I am writing to you now because I hope that you can explain psoriatic arthritis. This is a very painful, sometimes disabling, type of arthritis. Little is known about it, despite the fact that it affects a great number of people.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis so they are doubly affected. They have to put up with the constant skin lesions on top of the painful arthritis. It is treated with the same biological medications as RA. I am a sufferer and am tired of trying to explain the difference so I hope you will be able to help get the word out in your column.
[Read more...]

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Steroids Can Cause Bone Loss

March 23, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Most of my life my doctors have prescribed steroids for my eczema and psoriasis. Now a bone density test shows that I have the bones of an elderly woman (I am only 50). I am 5’ 5” and 110 pounds and this greatly concerns me. I will never take osteoporosis medication because the side effects are terrifying. How can I reverse this? Will sunshine and calcium help?

DEAR READER:
Chronic use of steroids can lead to osteoporosis. I assume this is the cause of your problem. I urge you to start taking 1000-1500 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D daily immediately.

For added benefit I recommend you discontinue the steroid medications. Ask your dermatologist about non-steroid, alternative treatments. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

March 17, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My son developed eczema at the age of two months. He then developed psoriasis at one year. A friend of mine told me to give him fresh goat’s milk. Within six months, his eczema was gone and his psoriasis was under control.

My son is now 54 years old. He continues to drink goat’s milk. He purchases ½ gallon of the unpasteurized variety, and a quart of goat’s milk yogurt once a week from a local farm. This simply remedy has continued to keep his psoriasis in check and eczema at bay all these years without any doctor’s medicine.

DEAR READER:
This is a new treatment to me for two common skin ailments. I am glad to hear that your son has benefited from this simple remedy for so many years. [Read more...]

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Could Itchy Skin Be Due To Rare Type Of Cancer?

March 3, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
You have written about itchy skin several times in the past and on occasion indicate that it might be due to serious condition. Invariably, I get excited thinking, “Oh, yes, he’s finally going to talk about mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome!” Each time, however, is a let down. Let me share my experience.

My father suffered unnecessarily, I think, because he was misdiagnosed for several years with psoriasis when it was actually Sezary syndrome. Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome are two forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (cancer).

I believe my father died because a surgeon operated on his back without realizing how fragile his skin was from the Sezary syndrome. I think that a lack of information created a situation that could have been handled differently, and perhaps, my father would still be here. [Read more...]

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Rash Is Form Of Eczema

January 5, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an 86-year-old male and approximately two years ago was diagnosed with nummular dermatitis. This disease causes spots of rashes which appear on all parts of my body after the areas get very itchy. I trust my diagnosis because my dermatologist is a professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine. He said there is no cure and very little research because very few people have this disease. I am currently taking triamcinolone acetonide which I have to apply to all affected spots twice a day.

Do you know anything about this condition? Can you offer any suggestions?

DEAR READER:
Nummular dermatitis (ND) is a form of eczema. It usually occurs on the arms and legs but can appear anywhere on the body. The rash generally starts as papules (raised areas of skin) that then turn into plaques (flattened patches, such as those associated with psoriasis). These areas are generally very itchy and are frequently accompanied by abnormal dryness. The areas are prone to infection, cracking, bleeding and so forth caused by scratching.

There are two peak ages of occurrence. Those between 60 and 70 are most commonly affected with a predominance in men. The second group is individuals between the ages of 20 and 30. Those in this group tend to be female and many also have atopic dermatitis (common eczema). This disorder is rare in children.

Symptoms often come and go with winter. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 12, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to share with you and your readers something that has helped me with dandruff and rosacea problems.

For many years I was embarrassed by problems with dandruff and flaking on my clothes. I would also have facial skin problems related to rosacea. My dermatologist gave me several different prescriptions but none ever seemed to give me any long lasting relief.

Somehow or another, I found a very simple solution that has helped me tremendously. I use a product called Brass, ZP-11 Anti-Dandruff Hairgroom. I rub it into my scalp after shampooing and then rub a light application onto my face and eyebrows. Something in the formulation works for me. It is a very inexpensive product at about $6 a bottle. Perhaps some of your readers will benefit from it as I have. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 68-year-old female and about midsummer I developed psoriasis on my scalp. I treated it with T-gel shampoo but it just got worse with large thick patches over most of my scalp. I then started losing my hair. I made an appointment with my family physician to see if he thought I should see a dermatologist. He said yes and made an appointment, but it was nearly a month a way.

The next day while reading your column I saw something about using Vicks to treat psoriasis. I figured I had nothing to lose so I tried it on a small section of my scalp. I massaged it in and wore a shower cap for a few hours. The buildup disappeared so I then applied it to my entire scalp, massaged it in and put the shower cap back on. About five hours later the psoriasis seemed to have dissolved! [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 18, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My 30-year-old daughter has had eczema since birth. She has tried just about everything possible. Do you have a simple remedy like your banana skin for psoriasis?

DEAR READER:
Eczema is often extremely difficult to control. It stems from a malfunction of the body’s immune system. The condition is known as an itch that rashes. When the uncontrolled urge to scratch occurs, further skin irritation results, often causing rash, scaling and crusting lesions.

There are many triggers causing eczema. They include animal dander, dry skin, harsh soaps, showering too frequently, using too hot water, and more. The most effective control is to keep the skin moisturized. A good moisturizing lotion with vitamin E is recommended. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 9, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would appreciate any information you can give me about granuloma annulare. I would like to know what it is, what causes it, what treatments are available, if it is contagious and if it is an infection.

I am an 85-year-old female who first developed this condition one year ago. It shows no signs of improving and my doctor told me he didn’t know what it was so he sent me to a specialist. The specialist told me not to worry about it but I do and really hope that it can be cleared up somehow.

DEAR READER:
Granuloma annulare is a chronic skin condition that causes red or flesh-colored raised lesions that form ring patterns. It most often occurs on the hands and feet. [Read more...]

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