Internal and external updates

Internal
Footbones
Well, I have been to the orthopedic surgeon to find out about getting my bunions fixed. And I'm going to get the first one done this summer! After they break the long toe bones and realign them, they put you in cast for 6 weeks. Then there's 6 more weeks of gentle motion, and after that, things should get to a new normal. She also prescribed a shoe-fix to help the metatarsals, expecially in my right foot. My new shoes at are at the shoe expert's now. I'm getting the left bunion done first, because the bunion there, although less pronounced than the one on the right foot, accounts for more of the pain in that foot.

External
And the skin?
I have nearly no psoriasis on my feet, except below the ankle bone on my left heel, mostly. But it has been all over my shins all spring. Flaming red, bumpy shins are not nice in shorts weather! It's fading a lot on the left leg and a little on the right. I just keep treating it with Dovabet and the tarry-salicylic cream, and Vaseline if it gets too itchy between doses. I think I've kept it under control: no infections anyway. I have an appointment with Dr. Dossetor next week, so we'll see what she says.

Upward creep...

It's not the feet so much anymore: it's the shins!
My shins have red, bubbly patches and are quite itchy at times. My feet, except around the ankle bones, are pretty much clear!
Since there has been some spring sunshine, and it's occasionally warm enough to sit outside, I have been trying to sun my shins. Sure hope real spring comes soon, as that will make it much easier to get that natural light on them.
In the meantime, I apply the Dovobet in the daytime and the salacylic + vaseline at night, and touch up with plain vaseline when the itch gets too bad.
Strangely enough, several years before my feet became a problem, my shins were often itchy, but any problems were completely invisible.

January in Florida

I am in Florida, sunny Florida, and so my skin problems are greatly diminished. The bone problems (bunions, etc.) are no better.
Hooray for sunshine!

These are my feet after walking across Key West to Mallory Square.

Flaky feet and useless shoes

So, the feet have been pretty good--with respect to skin, at least--this fall. But in the last week or so, my ankes have neen inflamed. They are red, a lttle spotty, and itchy--terribly itchy at times. Mostly just the inner sides, and from the sole to just past the anke bone.
And my right foot has developed flakes, kind of post-blistery. On the arch and between the little and second-last toes. Weird!

The foot bones are another issue. The bunions are a big nuisance and all the other parts seem unhappy, too.
I bought a new pair of shoes a few weeks ago. They were perfect in the store. Clark's, soft leather, in a metallic shade, flats.  But the first time I wore them they were too big and floppy, until my feet swelled up and they were uncomfortable in other ways. I've tried to wear them once in a while, to get used to them, but it is very discouraging! And I thought they were going to be my dancing shoes.

May: allergy month

So, my feet have been pretty well-behaved lately. I keep up the creams and socks, and they don't give me much trouble. But I have noticed that as the spring allergy season approaches, perhaps combined with the long nights at work of the spring Parliamentary season, little bumps are popping up here and there, and not always on feet!
Soles are pretty good, with a few callouses. But around the sides and heels, there are spots and there are flaky bits, like old blisters. Nothing sore, and not very itchy.
My shins look as though I had been walking in brambles. Rather red and bumpy, but not awfully itchy. It actually helps if I keep them clean-shaven, although I once thought that irritated the skin. At least it's less itchy that way.
The itchiest part of me is my back, between my shoulder blades. It's in a spot I can just barely reach and certainly can't see. Sometimes I get Neil to put some cream there, but it's hard to get his attention at the appropriate moment.
The itchiest thing this week has been blackfly bites! I got quite a reaction to the 8 or 10 I got on Sunday, but the itching was over by Tuesday, mostly. May have some scars, though.

Winter may be over

The skin on my feet is in good shape, but the bunions are becoming a bigger problem, especially as I move out of comfy, wide winter boots and into "real" shoes for spring.
I had quite a spell a couple of weeks ago when the tops of my feet broke out in typical, itchy psoriasis bubbles. The red, itchy problem went way up my shins, too, and both right and left. The soles of my feet weren't affected this time!
I applied my night and day creams assiduously and tried to refrain from scratching, and it eventually subsided. Still a few red spots on the shins, but not itchy.
I'm learning how to deal with it, but it's still a nuisance. It is a good excuse to wear socks to bed, tho!

December checkup

Checkup with Dr. D. the Dermatologist yesterday. Feet and elbows passed inspection. Ankles have been itchy and red lately, so Dovobet is the answer (as for all these problems). Renewed prescriptions for Dovobet and tar cream. Sunshine and salt water in Cozumel seem to have done good things, too. Had the moles on my back checked, too, and nothing to report. Good.
See her again in June!