Foot itch has many causes

Dr. Gott — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:01:45 +0000

DEAR DR. GOTT: Recently, after being on my feet for up to 10 hours, I got a rash around my ankles and the tops of my feet, and sometimes it goes up my legs. Tender to the touch, it is more noticeable the longer I am on my feet. It disappears after a few days if I’m not on my feet constantly.

DEAR READER: Common causes of foot rash are dry skin, heat exposure, fungus and spider-vein itch. If your feet are dry, rub them with a lanolin-based cream. If heat could be the culprit, change to footwear such as sandals or canvas sneakers, and wear light cotton socks. Fungal infection might be treated with a topical medicated product or a trip to your physician for a prescription. Spider-vein itch is treated with elastic stockings and alternative remedies.

Daughter needs attentive physician

Dr. Gott — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:01:15 +0000

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.
When this first started, my daughter suggested to one of her doctors that perhaps her birth-control pills were the problem, but the physician refused to change them until my daughter quit smoking, which she did. She also suggested that my daughter get her tubes tied instead. My daughter, 41, has no children but hopes to some day.
This new doctor did an ultrasound and found a black mass on one of her ovaries that he is watching, but he does not respond to her repeated calls about her lab results. The lab has said it sent some of the results to him and that they cannot help her. She just graduated college and is trying to find a job, but it is being made hard by the fact that she has this rash and is losing her hair. She is getting very discouraged and depressed, and cries all the time. She also doesn’t have insurance, so this whole thing is costly.
Please help.
DEAR READER: Based on your description, the first thing that comes to mind is psoriasis or some other type of dermatitis. However, if she has seen four dermatologists, this common skin condition should have been recognized and diagnosed quickly.
Psoriasis causes the body to overproduce skin cells, which it then cannot flake off as normal. It results in skin plaques that are red with silvery-white scales. When scratched or picked at, the plaques may come off but will result in bleeding.
Scalp psoriasis typically starts within the hairline and may present as nothing more than dandruff. Mild cases may even respond well to over-the-counter dandruff-control shampoos or treatments. More severe cases eventually spread beyond the hairline, down onto the neck, ears and forehead.
Psoriasis may also appear on other areas of the body. It commonly affects the arms, elbows, knees and lower legs. There are several types of psoriasis, and each carries its own distinct appearance. For example, psoriasis of the nail can cause thickening, pitting and ridging of the fingernails that may, at first appearance, resemble a nail fungus.
Psoriasis also carries complications. Scratching can lead to bleeding and increased risk of skin infections. In severe cases, it can cause feelings of social isolation, anxiety or depression because of the sufferer’s reaction (or that of others) to their appearance.
As for her diagnosis of PCOS based on her rash, I cannot comment other than giving general information about the condition.
The Androgen Excess and PCOS Society developed criteria for the diagnosis of androgen excess to include PCOS. The criteria currently consists of having excess male hormones, ovarian dysfunction and the exclusion of related disorders. However, newer determinations find there are forms of PCOS without overt evidence of increased male hormones. Additional research results are pending with regard to clarification.
PCOS may also be associated with obesity, infertility, pre- or type 2 diabetes, and a skin condition known as acanthosis nigricans (AN), which causes darkened, velvety patch of skin, commonly on the nape of the neck, armpits, inner thighs or under the breasts. It may occur on any part of the body where folds or creases are present, such as the fingers. AN is not a rash but a simple darkening of the skin. It may itch, but this is rare, just as it does not typically affect the scalp or other areas of the body that do not bend or crease.
I believe your daughter needs to find a physician who will work with her to determine the cause of her problems. There is a saying among doctors and other healthcare providers that goes something like, “If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” It seems to me that her physicians have been looking for zebras.
To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dermatitis, Eczema and Psoriasis.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Yet another use for vinegar

Dr. Gott — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:01:33 +0000

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.
Finally, my daughter had a rash on her abdomen so bad that she could barely function at her job. She rubbed vinegar on it, and, for the first time since she developed the rash, she slept through the night. After two or three more applications, it disappeared completely.
I don’t know why vinegar works when everything else fails, but it does.
DEAR READER: Vinegar is quickly becoming a useful medicine-cabinet product and quickly approaching mentholated-chest-rub status. Vinegar also has the distinction of being able to create tasty vinaigrettes for healthful salads.
Readers, let me know of your success or failure in treating a malady with vinegar. I will print a follow-up column when I have received a number of replies.

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Foot itch has many causes

Daughter needs attentive physician

Yet another use for vinegar