Maddy — Palmoplantar Pustulosis Psoriasis
Maddy dealt with an undiagnosed skin condition for years. When she finally had a name for it, she knew she was on the right path.
Palmoplantar pustulosis psoriasis (PPP) — try saying that three times fast. For Maddy, a passionate skin nurse and clinic owner, it's her life.
Six years ago she was in the worst relationship ever (her words), and feeling very depressed when she noticed a teeny little bubble on her right palm. She brushed it off as contact dermatitis, coz, hospital nurse life. Doctors at her work watched it grow into painful pustules, and put it down to dyshidrotic eczema.
“They said ‘dump that loser, stress less, treat it with topical steroids and it will go away’. That led me to YEARS of cycling steroids, and it spreading.”
When 2020 hit, as a nurse on the frontlines, her immune system gave up. Cue countless months of begging doctors for any supplement, gel, antibiotic or cream that might work. She didn't come any closer to a diagnosis.
“I feel something broke inside of me, never to be healed again. I met my beautiful husband in 2020 who healed my soul and helped so much to wash my hair as my hands couldn't anymore, find doctors for me and made my bleach baths for a year.”
She worked with a skin surgeon who told her enough was enough — and did a punch biopsy. The results came in, and she finally had a name for it. Palmoplantar pustulosis psoriasis.
The ACD says PPP presents as crops of itchy or sore pustules on the palms and/or soles. It can occur on one or both hands and/or feet. Scaly red patches may also be seen in association with the pustules.
The exact cause of PPP is unknown as it’s quite uncommon DermNet says it might be to do with a disorder of the eccrine sweat glands.
Well, a diagnosis was good, but she was still living in flight or fight mode from nursing during the pandemic. She made the leap to move in with her now-husband, and things were looking up. Until she immediately became bed bound for two weeks.
When she finally felt safe, loved, and ready to heal, her immune system threw a tantrum. We’re talking cold sores, mouth ulcers, face eczema so severe she couldn’t eat, and her PPP so painful she had to bandage up her hands and feet for weeks.
“I now know, your body keeps scores.”
Maddy is still dealing with PPP and dermatitis, but she owns her own skin therapy clinic, and gets to help other people with their health journeys. She educates her followers on TikTok about all-things skin. In terms of product, she loves COAT — it’s the only moisturiser her and her patients will use.
“Yours Only COAT is the only moisturiser I’m using everyday — it has saved my life. I buy this myself and recommend it to my impaired skin barrier patients.”
@skinovateclinic My LIFE saver @Yours Only 🧡 Coats will be the moisturiser I use everyday! Not sponsored AT ALL, i buy this myself & recommend to my imapired skin barrier patients. I will wait however long it takes for them to wholesale to my clinic! 🧡 #thetantest #yoursonly ♬ original sound - YOUR SKIN NURSE MADDY
“In my clinic I see so many people daily, it's about connecting and supporting someone's hard time. I wish everyone could just be a little kinder and nicer, no one's life is perfect.”
