Psoriasis on My Hands – Clearing my Skin

For the last several months, I've been dealing with psoriasis on my hands. It's some sort of pustular psoriasis, possibly PPP (Palmoplantar pustulosis). At its most active, there are small blisters filled with white fluid in the affected areas, combined with flaking skin, oozing and itching. In this post, I'll share the home remedies for psoriasis I've tried, along with reader recommendations for other psoriasis treatments.

Note: I'm starting with some background to explain my situation and possible psoriasis triggers, so go ahead and scroll a bit if you want to get straight to the natural psoriasis treatments. This post shares my experience and the experience of readers, and is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness.

Some Background on My History with Psoriasis

Back in 2015-2016, I broke out with plaque psoriasis over large areas of my body. It was a miserable experience. I looked like a burn victim. It hurt to breath, smile, move – pretty much everything.

I went to the dermatologist. They told me what I had, and said I'd best get used to it, since there was no cure.

I told the doc I was making some diet changes to see if it would help. She said what you eat doesn't affect your skin. She gave me some prescriptions for topical treatments and sent me on my way.

Through a series of diet and lifestyle changes and some intense healing sessions, I cleared my skin completely. You can read the whole story in the series of posts listed below:

• Psoriasis – The Year My Face Exploded
• Toxic Skin – My Mother’s Nightmare
• Psoriasis Causes – Mainstream and Alternative Viewpoints
• Candida – Missing Link to Psoriasis and Other Chronic Illness
• My Anti-Candida Anti-Psoriasis Diet – MAY BE HELPFUL FOR OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
• Alternative Psoriasis Treatments – BodyTalk and EFT
• Topical Psoriasis Treatments – Relief for Dry, Flaking Skin

All was clear for the better part of three years – until recently.

Why the heck do I have psoriasis on my hands?

In March 2019, I noticed a small red irritated patch on my right palm. I ignored it for some time, thinking that I had simply gotten into something that irritated my skin.

It took me about a month or more to realize what it was – pustular psoriasis. My “old friend” is back to teach me another lesson.

The National Psoriasis Foundation notes the following about Pustular Psoriasis:

Symptoms

Pustular psoriasis is primarily seen in adults. It may be limited to certain areas of the body — for example, the hands and feet. Generalized pustular psoriasis also can cover most of the body. It tends to go in a cycle with reddening of the skin followed by pustules and scaling.

Triggers

A number of factors may trigger pustular psoriasis, including:

• Internal medications
• Irritating topical agents
• Overexposure to UV light
• Pregnancy
• Systemic steroids
• Infections
• Emotional stress
• Sudden withdrawal of systemic medications or potent topical steroids

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) causes pustules on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. It commonly affects the base of the thumb and the sides of the heels. Pustules initially appear in a studded pattern on top of red plaques of skin, but then turn brown, peel and become crusted. PPP is usually cyclical, with new crops of pustules followed by periods of low activity.

Going through the checklist, the most likely culprits are stress and sudden withdrawal of systemic medication.

I'm Off My Meds

I’ve been on Armour thyroid since 2012, but decided to discontinue use earlier this year due to a number of factors.

Last fall, I had a full body thermography scan, which showed no inflammation in the thyroid area. My thyroid tests have been largely stable for years. Antibodies were still high when last tested, but there was no growth in the lumps.

When I went to refill my thyroid prescription in January, the pharmacy switched me to Thyroid NP. It did not go well. I started having heart palpitations and my head was spinning and I just felt messed up. I tried half doses and still felt like crap.

German New Medicine and Hypothyroidism

About this same time, I discovered German New Medicine (GNM). GNM linked autoimmune thyroid issues with feelings of helplessness – which is exactly the circumstances under which my thyroid problems started.

From “Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Disease at New Medicine Online“:

Hashimoto’s is an inflammation of the thyroid ducts. In essence a ‘hanging healing’ (PCL-A) where the healing phase has got ‘hung up’ due to ongoing conflict relapse.

The hypothyroidism occurs when the efferent or outgoing thyroid ducts swell and occlude, thereby blocking thyroxin from entering into the bloodstream. If we can assist in a completion of the healing phase – thyroxin levels will return to normal. Otherwise, supplementation may be needed to avoid a condition known as myxedema, which involves a swelling of the skin and tissues.

During conflict activity, the ducts will ulcerate (cell loss, cell negative) along with an elevation of “fight-or-flight” hormones. Only a slight tightness or pulling may be noticeable at this juncture.

The intelligent purpose behind this widening of the duct is to allow for greater secretion of thyroid hormone into the blood stream in order to assist the individual to gain control of the conflict.

Once the individual has come to terms with the conflict, the swelling or edema  will occlude the duct preventing the expression of thyroxin into the body. It is believed that the thyroid gland has become hypoactive or even non-functional – this is a misinterpretation. It is the swollen ducts that are lowering the thyroid hormone bio-availability.

Letting My Body Heal

Given my results on Thyroid NP, the lack of hot spots on my thermography exam, the GNM information (I don't feel helpless anymore sine my husband has a job and I earn some income from the website) and the fact that my hormones are naturally shifting right now due to perimenopause, I decided to get off the meds and let my body do what it needs to do.

I have not taken thyroid medications since January, and have noticed no significant changes in general well-being – until March, when I got an itchy spot on my hand.

German New Medicine and Natural Psoriasis Treatment

After looking up what conventional medicine had to say about psoriasis on my hands, I decided to check out GNM.

According to “Understanding Skin Disorders by Caroline Markolin, Ph.D.” :

Based on thousands of patients' cases, Dr. Hamer found that a skin disorder is always linked to a “separation conflict” which a person experiences as if “my child, my parent, my partner, my friend … was torn from my skin”.

…

A Biological Special Program is in place to assist the organism in coping with this traumatic event. During the conflict-active stress phase, the skin loses epidermal cells causing a loss of sensitivity towards touch. The “sensory paralysis” is a natural form of protection from further traumas of this kind. As a result of the loss of epidermal cells, the skin becomes dry, rough, and may flake.

The resolution of the conflict is the turning point. Together with the healing that takes place on the psychological level, the skin also starts to heal by refilling and replenishing the ulcerated area with new cells. During this repair process, the skin becomes inflamed, itchy, blistery, and swollen. Skin disorders such as eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, hives, or herpes are therefore positive signs indicating that a natural healing process is running its course.

…

Dr. Hamer found psoriasis involves two separation conflicts. The active conflict shows as flaky skin, the resolved conflict shows red patches. The result is a familiar picture: silvery scales on a red surface.

Dr. Hamer discovered another biological rule: He found that if a right-handed person suffers a separation conflict over a child or his/her mother, the left side of the body will be affected; if the conflict is over a partner (everybody except our mother or our children), the right side will respond. For left-handed people, it is reversed.

Resolving Conflicts with Losing Loved Ones

Recently, I have been very conflicted/saddened by the thought of losing so many that I care for. My in-laws are aging. August (husband) has been working long hours at work and it's taking a toll on his health. My siblings are dealing with more and more chronic health issues.

I've been working with my BodyTalk friend to work through some of my emotional baggage. I think it's more than just loss of individuals, it's a loss of self. We're becoming the oldest generation, and that is a heck of a responsibility. So many times I've looked to elders for advice, and I'm not sure I'm ready to be the elder.

I have been using EFT to tap on my fears and sadness about losing those I love. I won’t say they are completely clear, but the rush of emotions has calmed a bit.

My Psoriasis Symptoms

For over a month (most of March and April), all I had was a small rough patch of skin on my right palm. Then something kicked it into high gear, and I spent much of May and the start of June with pus-filled blisters, red, scaly skin, flaking, itching and oozing. The palm of my right hand and inside of the ring finger of my right hand were the worst.

The left hand had a small patch on the palm and some rough spots at the base of the thumb (on either side).

Recently, with treatment, the ring finger is clear, the left hand is mostly clear, and the right palm was much improved. I have been pain free and functional, although something I did this past week caused a minor flare up with blistering and peeling again.

Natural Psoriasis Treatments

First off, I started watching my diet more closely, limiting sweets and potential trigger foods. Around 5/10/19 I started taking homeopathic thyroid support tabs to potentially help “bridge the gap” while healing.

5/16/19 I brewed up a batch of Four Herb Tea and started dosing again. (This helped with my last round of psoriasis.)

I’m also doing intermittent fasting, with nothing but a glass of green juice in the morning until around noonish (to give my body time to focus on healing instead of digesting), and taking Saccharomyces boulardii each morning on an empty stomach to crowd out any candida overgrowth and a good probiotic at bedtime.

The last week in May, my husband, youngest son and I went on a “reboot” diet where we ate nothing but veggies in various forms via the Grow a New Body system. I didn't notice a big difference, but my husband noticed changes in his health (first he felt worse, then better).

Psoriasis Creams and Other Topical Treatments

I’ve been testing different topical psoriasis treatments on my hands, to see what helps – and what doesn't.

Calendula creams seems to calm the skin down, but it also made it tender and a bit sore. Comfrey salve and plantain salve made the skin more bumpy, red and oozing. I had to stop with both. I tried neem oil, but it stunk and didn't seem to help.

Colloidal silver salve with aloe vera, plain CBD oil,  EM-1 microbes and witch hazel all seem to help.

I'm not 100% sure about coconut oil this time around. Last time when I had psoriasis all over, it was one of the few things I could use. I coated my hands in it after working in the garden this week, and the next day I had blisters again. I'll be carefully doing more testing.

I'm also taking Epsom salt baths 1-2 times per week to help with detox.

Home Remedies for Psoriasis from Readers

After I posted photos of the psoriasis on my hands, our readers chimed in with home remedies for psoriasis that they use. I've gathered a number of them below. (Thank you to everyone who reached out.)

Natural Topical Treatments

Candice M. – “Looks like the stuff that's on my mom's hands. She used jojoba oil to help prevent breakouts.”

Tom – “I have psoriasis that forms on top of my ears and in my scalp near my ears. I have been using a product called MG217 for psoriasis. It is a tar based ointment that works just GREAT. It doesn't cure my psoriasis but it clears it up it's very soothing.”

Pattie – “Cortisone covered with Aquaphor and gloves will truly heal you faster. The Aquaphor softens and sides in healing. Do especially at night, put white socks on your hands. I cut off the toe and a place for my thumb.”

chancie_cole (Instagram) – “I have suffered from psoriasis for 16 years and I have found relief with a new skin care line that has cbd/hemp in the formula and it’s changed my skin… BIG TIME!”

Sylvia – “Try Neem oil. It stinks, but it’s supposed to help.”

Maureen – “Look into Satya exzema and psoriasis cream…organic and all natural…Canadian!”

Diet and Supplements

Meghan M. – “I'd purchase some MSM powder and add it to my morning smoothie. It's a bioavailable sulfur that will get the inflammation of the hand problem under control.

My daughter had a hand that looked just like that, despite the fact that we were very healthy eaters. A friend, that is also a veterinarian, gave her some MSM cream and within days it was almost gone (previously it had taken at least weeks to end a flare-up). MSM is really cheap so it's certainly worth a try :-).”

Karon – “I realized while at a beach house in Florida for my mom's 95th B'day was that my psoriasis cleared up in the week and a half. All I'd done different was take short walks on the beach, so when I feel a flare up coming on I pop a 5,000 or 10,000 Vit D3 capsule for a day or so and it goes away before it gets bad. My doctor said it works for some but not others.”

mamamystic (Instagram) – “Have you read healing psoriasis the natural alternative by John pagano? The diet he speaks about cleared me up so quickly.” (Note – yes, I have tried this.)

Shannon – “The only relief I have found is cutting out all white sugar, all grains, and white potatoes. Lydia Shatney put me on zinc and vitamin A which has also helped with healing. My skin would break out before and then not heal. Now it may flare a little bit, but I see it healing up really fast.”

Lisa Marie – “Detox, clean protein and veggie diet, and address digestive/gut health/microbiome optimization.”

Jeannie – “Drink a gallon of distilled water in a day it will go away in 3 days. “

Everything Else

Maureen M. – “I too have palmar-plantar psoriasis. I make my own goats milk and aloe soap and a whipped shea butter moisturizer which I use every night. At that time my husband and I went on an Alaska cruise. My hands and feet were cracked and bleeding and all I could think of was I will never enjoy this trip.

I tried steroid creams and phototherapy and finally started Humira which put me in the hospital with cellulitis in 2015.

On one of our stops, my husband bought me a Philip Stein bracelet with natural frequency technology and I have been wearing it since. Could it be coincidence, maybe, but all I know is I am no longer in pain. The dermatologist even suggested I continue to wear it. I sincerely hope you read this and look into this technology, I truly believe it has helped me.”

There are over 100 comments on Facebook alone, so I was unable to include every suggestion here, but hopefully these home remedies will help others.

If you deal with psoriasis pain and have found a solution that works for you, please share in the comments.

Now available in kindle or print, “Psoriasis Healing – From Curse to Blessing“.

Released in 2020, this book shares my story and other tips for healing.