Over a period of many years, numerous patients with psoriasis have remarked about the difficulty of rubbing oils or ointments into their patches. Early in 1954 we began advising patients to employ a pumice stone to massage in the prescribed application on all areas except the scalp and face. This procedure not only has the advantage of increasing the amount of oil or ointment that can be rubbed in, but it also removes loose scales and does not irritate the fingers. Furthermore the desire to scratch is lessened.
While the patients are in the office or clinic, the method is demonstrated, care being taken to emphasize that the pumice stone must not be used too forcefully because it might result in pinpoint hemorrhages. They are further instructed to wipe off any oil or ointment not absorbed, thus lessening the damage to clothing and bed linen.
Since this