Please tell me about hands !

Question:

Hello, Dr.Joe Maybe I wasn’t very presise in my posting, but I’ve had P for about 15 years. I know it’s P and nothing else. I have P on my scalp (that’s where everything started) and lots of tiny spots everywhere. But it’s never been hands and fingers. What I wanted to know was if I have P on my fingers just in the pleces near joints does it mean that I’ll have PA? Will P from the skin go inside? And if ONE joint is affected by P, does it mean that ALL joints will get involved in the process? Thanks a lot for your answers. Alla in Moscow (and Watsie-the-doxie by her side) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Alla, >There are indeed many, many causes for redspots on the hands.  Some >of these involve psoriasis and some do not.  It would naturally be >important to ask several most important questions: >Do you have psoriasis otherwise on your skin? >How long have you been getting them? >Good health otherwise? >Medications (oral and topical) that you take? >And many others.  You can see why it’s almost impossible to diagnose >the problem over the internet.  You really need to get an opinion >from a Board Certified Dermatologist, but I realize there may be >problems obtaining such a consultation. >A general look at the websites proffered by Kim Malo will help, but >never substitute for a dermatologist looking at the spots >themselves, when they are active. >Hope this at least points you in some direction. >Dr. Joe >Lexington, KY >U.S.A.

Response:

Hi all. About a month ago I noticed some red spots (from 3 to 5) on my fingers. These spots are just red (no flakes) and tough (as if the skin is more thick there) and are itching like hell !! Sometimes they disappear, and then come back. Is it P starting on my hands??? (((( If these spots are situated near the joints does it mean that the joints will be affected, too?? And if joints on hands are affected, does it mean I may have PA in all other joints?? Oh my, I’m really worried. Please, tell me, how it happened with YOU. I’d like to know more about personal experience. Can I stop these spots while they are "newbies" or not? Waiting for your answers. Alla from Moscow. (and Watsie-the-dachsie by her side )

Response:

Alla, There are indeed many, many causes for redspots on the hands.  Some of these involve psoriasis and some do not.  It would naturally be important to ask several most important questions: Do you have psoriasis otherwise on your skin? How long have you been getting them? Good health otherwise? Medications (oral and topical) that you take? And many others.  You can see why it’s almost impossible to diagnose the problem over the internet.  You really need to get an opinion from a Board Certified Dermatologist, but I realize there may be problems obtaining such a consultation. A general look at the websites proffered by Kim Malo will help, but never substitute for a dermatologist looking at the spots themselves, when they are active. Hope this at least points you in some direction. Dr. Joe Lexington, KY U.S.A.

[ Psoriasis Weblinks Explained.txt 12K ]

Organization: MindSpring Enterprises Newsgroups: alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis,alt.support.psoriasis Followup-To: alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis                 Psoriasis Newsgroup Resources FAQ Summary: This is a collection of links to information sources about psoriasis and the alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis (ASSDP) newsgroup (NG). It is posted to the newsgroup on a semi-monthly basis and is available on the web at the URL given below. The website itself is intentionally rather bare bones to make it accessible to the most people. Sorry, no flashy falling flake effects…. Archive-name: medicine/psoriasis Posting-Frequency: Semi-monthly Last modified: 2000/07/05 Version: 1.02 URL: http://www.mindspring.com/~kimmalo/PFAQ.htm Copyright: c2000 Kim Malo Rather than a traditional Q&A FAQ you’ll find here an annotated collection of links to information resources. There are a number of reasons for setting things up this way. Probably the most important one to you is that it gives great flexibility in covering the widest range of questions with the most complete answers possible. Life with psoriasis and in the psoriasis newsgroup tends to be a matter of multiple choice questions, with multiple answers. This resource guide is intended to stay a work in progress. Listed links will change to reflect available resources or apparent issues of concern. Suggestions for changes should be posted to the newsgroup. They will probably not receive a direct response, but may be incorporated in future revisions. Basic newsgroup/net tools, rules, and info: Newsgroups Although two different psoriasis newsgroups appear on some newsfeeds, alt.support.skin-diseases.psoriasis was long ago established as the sole active group. Users are encouraged to only post to ASSDP. Since this FAQ appears in both groups, you should take a moment now to verify that you are in the active group. For the story behind why two groups exist, see Krauster’s story at http://home.earthlink.net~krauster/psoriasis/frust.htm To go to the active group, if you are reading this from the webpage or with an HTML enabled newsreader, click on The Psoriasis Newsgroup Posting Guide at http://www.pinch.com/skin/guide.html offers guidelines to civil newsgroup life. It’s derived from basic netiquette sources, but specifically oriented towards the needs of a support group. Newsgroup participants are encouraged to read it and return to it periodically for refreshers. DejaNews The Deja website offers searchable archives of newsgroup postings for all of usenet. Click on the following link: to browse the ASSDP newsgroup using DejaNews instead of through a direct newsgroup feed. However, if you’re looking for newsgroup postings on a specific subject, you’ll do better using the pre-set search links on The Skin Page at http://www.pinch.com/skin/  Anyone with specific questions is strongly encouraged to begin by searching previous discussion before posting to the newsgroup. You’ll broaden your pool of responses, while helping to keep the newsgroup from getting bogged down in the same answers to the same questions. Broad-based psoriasis information and support sources The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF)’s site at http://www.psoriasis.org/npf.shtml provides upfront information, along with instructions for further contact. Available information ranges from answers to basic questions -e.g. is psoriasis contagious- to reports on cutting edge research. There’s also a place to email for clarification or answers to questions not covered at the site. While the organization is an American non-profit, it really is a resource for everyone, not just US citizens. I’ve requested information from the NPF about membership for non-US citizens, in case anyone is interested. Their response should be available for inclusion in the next FAQ posting. The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations, of which the NPF is a member, IPFA website at http://www.ifpa-pso.org/ gives contact information for the member organizations. DaveW’s site at http://members.aol.com/psorsite/ is probably the most comprehensive resource out there. Subjects range from a short list of important misconceptions (that still pop up regularly on the newsgroup) to information about alternative treatments and reviews of other sites. EdA’s Skin Page at http://www.pinch.com/skin/   includes links to a variety of psoriasis-related subjects at Ed’s own site, including the often controversial Hall of Pshame page dedicated to scam/misinformation de-bunking. But one of the site’s best virtues is an impressive set of links for psoriasis related searching at places ranging from US government resources to Merck Medical Dictionary, all gathered together on one page. The Psoriasis section at http://dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/Skin_Disorders/Psoriasis/ of the DMOZ Open Directory project has about 60 psoriasis-related listings, with reviews. It’s part of the popular trend for more effective browsing through web indices based upon having human experts do the initial filtering for you instead of just randomly searching. This can be especially helpful for those relatively inexperienced at finding information for themselves on the net. Psoriatic Arthritis related links DrDoc Online at http://www.arthritis.co.za/psoriasis.html is the noncommercial informational site of a practicing rheumatologist in South Africa. The link brings you directly to the PA section of his site, which includes the basics on how to diagnose PA and the discussion of the usual methods of treatment.         Some other topics of frequent interest covered at the site include:                 The first appointment checklist at http://www.arthritis.co.za/consult.html  is worth reading for anyone facing a new doctor, not just those with PA.                 Methotrexate at http://www.arthritis.co.za/methotrexate.htm                 is another section worth reading for those who may be considering it for psoriasis itself, rather than just PA Arthritis NG The support newsgroup for arthritis in general is alt.support.arthritis. You can browse it at Dejanews at Arthritis mailing list There is also an email list "for those who have Psoriatic Arthritis, or their family members and loved ones…to share information, help, hope and feelings" available at http://www.egroups.com/group/PsoriaticArthritis AOL AOL has a number of member-only resources available. LadyAndy, one of the P newsgroup regulars, hosts several live online chats and has kindly posted to the newsgroup that people could email her for info on AOL specific resources. You can contact her through the newsgroup, or use the link to my email below to submit a message for forwarding to her. More specific info sources Rxlist at http://www.rxlist.com/  is a searchable database of information about medications. Current Drug trials For those interested in new treatment research, the NPF gives a listing of psoriasis research programs seeking volunteers at http://www.psoriasis.org/volunteer/index.html  while the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides a searchable database of private and government clinical drug trials at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui Corticosteroid side effects Corticosteroids are already one of the most commonly prescribed psoriasis treatments, and are turning up as the hidden ingredient in a number of OTC preps. They’re often misunderstood, with viewpoints ranging from a belief that their use carries no risk/side effect to those who consider any use of them as pure evil. An overview of potential side effects at http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9409/htm/steriods.htm  is worth reviewing by anyone who has used them or intends to use them. Alternative Treatments This is another consistantly controversial subject. There’s an amazingly broad range of things with claims made that they’ll help psoriasis. And while some certainly do help some people, many others range from active scams to honest confusion over cause and effect. With broader issues of concern around the natural/alternative health industry in general, as illustrated by a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/200… Anyone interested in alternative treatments should search previous newsgroup discussion via http://www.pinch.com/skin/   Look for other sources without a commercial conflict of interest such as the treatments part of DaveW’s site at http://members.aol.com/psorsite/treatments.html  or an NPF reprint on the subject from their members’ Bulletin at http://www.psoriasis.org/bulletin/30-1/alternative.html Children with Psoriasis The NPF’s Just4Us page at http://www.psoriasis.org/just4us  was the only really good resource I could find that made much effort to properly differentiate between concerns about psoriasis in kids vs psoriasis in adults. Scalp Psoriasis The scalp is one of the most common places for psoriasis to appear. Dr Joe Bark, a dermatologist who participates in the newsgroup, has posted an essay on some suggested readily available basic approaches. While this doesn’t appear on Dr Bark’s website at http://www.dermconsultants.com   clicking on the following link will take you to one of the newsgroup repostings of the essay: http://www.pinch.com/skinny?deja=Dr+Bark+Scalp+Treatment Where to find a dermatologist Word of mouth from a reliable source is always the best. Or look for a local teaching hospital -they tend to be one of the best sources for medical specialties.  Another US alternative is The NPF’s (  http://www.psoriasis.org/  ) Physician Resource

… read more »

Response:

Related Posts