What Does Psoriasis Look Like on Your Hand?

Psoriasis on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet is called palmoplantar psoriasis. Symptoms of psoriasis on the hands may include patches of skin on the hands (red or dark, thick and dry, or silvery-white scales). It may also cause the fingernails to appear pitted, thick, ridged, crumbly, or discolored.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition that causes skin to be red, thick, scaly, and flaky. When it occurs on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, it’s called palmoplantar psoriasis, and it affects about 40% of people with psoriasis. 

In addition, fingernails and toenails may be affected. Psoriatic nail disease can cause symptoms in the nail bed and the area where fingernails and toenails start their growth. 

Palmoplantar pustular disease (pustulosis) occurs in about 5% of patients who have psoriasis and appears as small, pus-filled blisters on reddened, tender skin. It can also cause painful cracking and fissuring.

Symptoms of psoriasis on the hands may include:

• Patches of skin on the hands 
  • Look red or dark
  • Are thick and dry
  • Silvery-white scales that itch or burn 
  • Small, pus-filled blisters on reddened, tender skin (palmoplantar pustular disease)
  • Painful cracking and fissuring (palmoplantar pustular disease)
• Nail changes – nails may look
  • Pitted
  • Thick
  • Ridged
  • Crumbly
  • Discoloration
    • Yellow-brown or yellow-red color
    • Darkening 
  • White or reddish spots
  • Separation of the nail from the nail bed (onycholysis)
• Painful swelling of fingers (may also occur in the toes) (dactylitis, often called “sausage digits” because fingers may look like sausages)
  • Often a sign of severe more joint damage and more severe psoriatic arthritis