Hand and Foot Psoriasis

Psoriasis that affects the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet is called palmoplantar psoriasis. It may appear as chronic flaky patches that crack and bleed. The nails may be affected as well. In severe cases the condition can be disabling. Palmar-plantar psoriasis: Psoriasis of the palms, of the hands and the soles of the feet, characterized by erythema, thickening and peeling of the skin, blistering is often present. It may prevent patient from opening and closing hands thus leading to a disability. The palms and soles can also be affected by pustular psoriasis. In this condition small, deep, pus-filled blisters appear on the palms and soles. They may have a copper-colored hue on a background of red, flaky skin. This condition may also be called palmoplantar pustulosis or acropustulosis.Red, scaling plaques with small pustules that develop on the palms and the soles of the feet are called palmolatar psoriasis. The pustules are 1–10mm (pin- to dime-sized) in diameter and are often painful, interfering with daily functioning. It predominately affects women.This condition looks very different from common plaque psoriasis and flexural psoriasis, and usually only appears on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Instead of inflamed and scaly patches, there are weeping, cracked lesions that can look like masses of tiny yellow blisters. These can be quite painful and look infected, even though there is no infection present. Over a period of days, the pustules turn a brownish color and fall off, often only to be quickly replaced. The production of new pustules to replace the ones that have been shed can go on over a period of years. Psoriasis can affect the feet causing thick scaling and redness. The feet can occasionally be the only area to be affected by psoriasis with no rash elsewhere on the body. When psoriasis is found elsewhere on the body, the feet can also be the area involved with thick scaling, redness and sometimes pustules. The pustules are known as sterile pustules as they do not have infection within them.