Re: Finger and Toenail problems

[Guest guest]

I know what it is like have a pool in do not even swim with others because my

skin condition.the nails are awful had this for 24 years and mine has spread

patrick

[Guest guest]

HI Suzanne,

I have trouble with my fingernails and toenails. My toenails break off and crack

right down the middle all the time. My fingernails have pits on almost every

nail and my nails often peel and are thin and weak. I know that when my toenails

crack and break I don't even feel it but it does look horrible. I wear flip

flops all the time, I find regular shoes uncomfortable due to the swelling and

pain I constantly feel. You can use polish on your nails, I am unsure if their

is a way to avoid it, maybe vitamins for nails, skin and hair. Sorry I can't

offer any answers but know you are not alone.

Lori in AZ

[Guest guest]

When my rheumy was trying to confirm diagnosis, he looked at my nails, since the

vertical ridges and pitting is supposed to be a sign of psoriatic arthritis.

Dena

[Guest guest]

I have had psoriasis since I was 10. When I was 30 I saw a foot doctor because

I thought it was a fungus under my toe but of course it was psoriasis. I

watched it get looser and was scared I was going to loose the toenail. I don't

bother seeing a derm and I didn't know I had PsA yet...I asked my family doctor

to inject cortizone under my big toenail...and he did! It stopped it from

cracking. The pain was worth it for sure. That was 6 years ago and all is

still fine.

Susie

[Guest guest]

Hi Dena,

My rheumy did the same thing, I have the ridges and the pitting along with

peeling and breaking of my nails. I have had this for years and never new that

it was from PA I thought it was damage from using fake nails. You learn

something new everyday.

Lori in AZ

[Guest guest]

Hi Susie,

OMG, that makes me shudder. I had 2 cortizone injections in my hip, it was so

painful and did not work either time, I will never get another injection again.

Just the thought of getting it under the nail, eeewww. My toenails always crack

all the way from front to back and break off. it doesn't hurt any it just looks

ugly. The heels of my feet are bad, my husband keeps saying it is callouses but

my heels are cracked, I actually have cracks in my heels and they hurt, I don't

know if it is PA or what, I have to ask my rheumy or pcp next appointment.

Lori in AZ

[Guest guest]

Hi Susie and Lori

There's a product on the market called Gehwol. It has a lot of different things

one of which is a treatment for cracked heels. I used to be plagued with this

all the time but since I started it it went away very quickly. Now I just use it

to dab on at the first hint of a crack and that's all I need to do. I highly

recommend it.

Chiara

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori...you made me laugh this morning...thanks. I took a lesson from my

husband and I try to remember to wear socks all of the time...his heels are so

soft and once I asked him why and he thinks it is because he doesn't go

barefoot. Granted he doesn't have the same challenges as us but for " normal "

skin it helps so makes sense it would for ours too.

I hate this time of year...time to show off my ugly elbows, knees and toes! I

have had it for so long I am used to the questions...did you burn yourself? did

you wipe out?? I like that one...I say it is road rash. hee hee

Susie

-

[Guest guest]

Re: gehwol, is it generally available at most pharmacies?

Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

I believe so. I found it in the foot care section of my pharmacy. There is a

website to order it also. Just google gehwol.

Chiara

[Guest guest]

I took a lesson from my husband and I try to remember to wear socks all of the

time...his heels are so soft and once I asked him why and he thinks it is

because he doesn't go barefoot.

An inexpensive skin softening trick for your feet is to apply Vaseline to your

feet and then put your socks on before bed. Buying this product and that can

get soo expensive! Someone always has the newest and latest " cure. " I get

reeled in by them sometimes and eventually revert to this tried and true method,

for me anyway.

-Eileen

[Guest guest]

Come to think of it, my heels are much softer than before, because since having

PsA , I cannot go barefoot, must have supportive shoes 18/7, which also means

socks.

Kinga

[Guest guest]

Eileen, Funny we both learned about the socks from our husbands (here I sit

barefooted!!!) Vaseline...thanks. I have many, many, many creams. I will try

this. The latest thing I saw which is not expensive is to use the peel of an

avocado. It fits nicely on your heel but it is messy!

Susie