Vitamin C can worsen psoriasis

September 12, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a healthy and active 67-year-old male. Several years ago I developed psoriasis on my right forearm, left ankle and other minor places on my chest and back. I went to my family doctor who prescribed a cream (hydrocortisone). The irritations receded but did not go away. I also went to see a skin specialist who prescribed a stronger cream which also did not improve the problem much.

About four months ago I started counting my vitamin C intake. Since I exercise a lot (usually 16-20 hours of vigorous exercise per week by climbing, swimming, biking and cross-country skiing), I became concerned about taking enough vitamin C. After counting my amount, I was surprised to find that it came out to 3000% of the recommended daily dose. I decided to cut back to 1000% and within five days all my skin irritations were gone.
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A simple cure for psoriasis

July 7, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had psoriasis for about 55 years. During that time I have tried many different types of treatment and many years I have just lived with it. Always I have had significant involvement in my scalp, knees and elbows. Other times I have also had varying degrees of involvement on my trunk, legs, arms and buttocks. About 9 years ago due to a significant flare-up, I began receiving UV light treatments 2-3 times per week, along with topical steroids. The results, during the six years I continued this treatment, were moderate improvement but I still had red scaly patches scattered over most of my body.

A conversation with a person at the gym who has psoriatic arthritis led me down a different path. He mentioned taking various natural substances, in addition to eliminating coffee and caffeine. The coffee/caffeine seemed easy to do, so I started with that. [Read more...]

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Hand condition requires diagnosis

February 6, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My hands are dry and cracking, like my skin is flaking. It is very painful. What can I do and what is it?

DEAR READER: Unfortunately, without being able to see your hands, I cannot determine what the possible cause may be. My first thought was some form of eczema. However, closely behind that was psoriasis, infection, allergic reaction, and more.

I recommend you make an appointment with your doctor who can examine you and order testing or refer you to a dermatologist (skin specialist). Appropriate treatment cannot begin until the cause has been determined.
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Visual exam needed for cause of skin rash

May 7, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m an 87-year-old woman with a circle about the size of a quarter on my right thigh, about four inches above my knee. All the skin around it is very smooth, but it is rough to the touch and appears to be flaking. Sometimes it is pale pink; other times it is an angry, dark pink. Occasionally, it itches. Neosporin and other creams don’t help. Can you?

DEAR READER: I don’t know without seeing it, but my first thought is eczema or psoriasis. My recommendation is that you see your primary-care physician or a dermatologist for a diagnosis. Once the lesion is examined, appropriate medication can be prescribed.

While you are waiting for your appointment, be sure to keep your skin moistened. Treat the area with a petroleum-based product. If you bathe in a tub instead of shower, add Epsom salts or bath oil to the water.

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More options for treating psoriasis

May 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: To the reader who wrote in to your column regarding her grandson’s psoriasis: Try a naturopathic doctor who focuses on diet. I went to a dermatologist for years with a horrible case of psoriasis. I have used steroidal creams, took cortisone injections (one time directly to the soles of my feet, one of my more painful experiences), and gave myself weekly shots in the abdomen. I even had an infusion treatment and countless “trial medications” in trying to reclaim normal skin that would not crack and bleed. When my dermatologist suggested I save my sperm and go in for light chemo, I went looking for other opinions.
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Psoriasis caused by strep throat

June 16, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 10-year-old grandson has had guttate psoriasis for more than a year. His dermatologist said it was caused by strep throat. Although the strep throat is no longer a problem, the psoriasis definitely is. Last summer, it faded with exposure to sunlight. Until February, it wasn’t too bad, but for the past several months it has been terrible. The red spots are literally all over him, even on the bottoms of his feet. He is using a steroid cream, which seems to have little or no effect, and takes Concerta for ADHD.

Can you offer any suggestions? Can diet, clothing, detergents, stress and/or animals affect this problem?

DEAR READER: Guttate psoriasis is a noncontagious, uncommon form of psoriasis that presents with small, red spots that resemble teardrops appearing on the arms, legs, trunk and other skin surfaces. [Read more...]

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Daughter needs attentive physician

February 14, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I hope you can help my daughter, as I am worried about her. She is not getting the help she needs. In February 2009, she started suffering from a skin condition on her scalp, which flakes. She also started losing large amounts of hair. She then developed a rash on her face and body.
She has been seen by three doctors and four dermatologists all connected to a local medical center, which is part of a college. One of them said she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and another said she didn’t. She has had nine lab tests, including a CA-125, a testosterone test and a DHEA test. She is still waiting for some of the results because the doctors and medical center are being lax about sending the information to her new off-campus physician. [Read more...]

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Yet another use for vinegar

February 4, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have three new uses for vinegar that I am sure you have not heard of before. I enjoy your common-sense approach to medicine and thought that you would enjoy these.
First, for years, I suffered from the itching and pain of psoriasis. I used every over-the-counter cream and lotion I could find, but nothing helped. On a whim, I started rubbing the affected areas (my arms, legs and hands) with distilled white vinegar. It hurts like the dickens for a few seconds, but it clears up the scaly patches. I now use it regularly to clear up spots as they appear.
Second, I had warts under my eyes that I couldn’t get rid of. I carefully applied it with a cotton swab. In a few days, the warts came off. [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

March 17, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have used several of your home remedies with success. The “drunken raisin” for gout, the soap under the sheets for leg cramps, castor oil for arthritis and more. My husband thought I had finally “gone off the deep end”, when I went after him with a handful of banana peels.

We have been using a prescription medication on his psoriasis, every day, for more than two years. It has had very little effect. I rubbed the inside of the banana peels on the affected patches (his head, neck, face and back) once a day. After three days the psoriasis had nearly cleared up (about 90% was gone). My husband now uses the peels once a week to keep his skin clear.

Thank you, from both of us, for passing along all these helpful hints.

DEAR READER:
Other readers have had marvelous success treating their psoriasis with the banana peel therapy. It is cheap, easy, safe and — apparently — effective. For those unfamiliar with this therapy, all you do is rub the inside of the banana peel on the affected patches of skin once a day. Remember not to waste the banana. It is nutritious and delicious.

The other therapies you mentioned have also had positive results for many of my readers. Aside from the drunken raisin (raisins soaked in gin), cherries have proven useful in preventing or treating gout. Purple grape juice and liquid pectin have been equally successful in the treatment of arthritis. I have even had some readers write to me about its positive implications in relieving IBS symptoms.

To give you more information on these conditions and other home remedies, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “About Gout”, “Eczema and Psoriasis”, “Understanding Osteoarthritis” and “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 (per report) to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

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