Theseplaquescan crack open and bleed as you walk or perform manual tasks.
Palmoplantar psoriasis can occur on its own or in addition to psoriasis elsewhere on the body.
What Does Psoriasis on the Hands and Feet Look Like?
Suthep Wongkhad / EyeEm / Getty Images
Palmoplantar psoriasis specifically affects the palms and soles.
Even so, it manifests with the samesymptomsasplaque psoriasisanywhere else.
Routine tasks like washing dishes can dry and inflame the skin.
Working on your feet can also generate heat, friction, andinflammationthat can make the condition worse.
It is a subtype ofpustular psoriasis.
Palmoplantar co-occurs withnail psoriasis(also known as psoriatic onchodystrophy) in more than 50% of cases.
Similarly, around one-third of people with palmoplantar psoriasis will experience psoriasis on other parts of their bodies.
Think of all of the aspects of your day that involve use of your hands and feet.
All of them can be made more difficult by the discomfort of palmoplantar psoriasisor even make your condition worse.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which theimmune systemwill suddenly target and attack normal skin cells, known askeratinocytes.
The inflammatory attack causes the skin cells to grow at a vastly accelerated rate.
This is in when plaques spontaneously develop along the line of a trauma.
Under the microscope, psoriatic skin cells will appear compressed.
What Else Could It Be?
Adifferential diagnosisis a process used to rule out all other possible causes of your symptoms.
Moderate-to-Severe
Moderate-to-severe palmoplantar psoriasis may require aggressive therapies that target inflammation in specific ways.
The options include:
How to Cope
Psoriasis usually requires lifelongmanagement.
It is more treatment-resistant than other types of psoriasis, but newer options show promise.
Symptoms include red, scaly patches, itching, and cracking, which can worsen with friction.
Diagnosis relies on physical symptoms and ruling out similar conditions like eczema.
Treatments range from topical creams for mild cases to biologic drugs and phototherapy for severe cases.
Lifestyle changes, such as moisturizing, avoiding hot water, and managing stress, help reduce flares.
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