Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesSeeking Medical CareTreatmentCovering Flares
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Seeking Medical Care
Treatment
Covering Flares
Psoriasis frequently appears on the arms, often on your elbow. Several types of psoriasis may affect your arms, but plaque psoriasis is the most common. The earliest sign may be a small bump, but the hallmark symptoms are inflammation and thick patches of skin covered in light-colored scales.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease without a cure. However, with medical treatment and consistent skin care, you can prevent or reduce flare-ups and extend periods of remission.
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPolygonal plaque psoriasis.Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand www.dermnetnz.org 2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand www.dermnetnz.org 2023.
Guttate psoriasis.Reproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Your arms, and especially the elbows, are one of the most common places forpsoriasisto take hold. The rash you develop appears differently, depending on the type.
When psoriasis appears on your arms, it’s usually one of the following three types:
Plaque Psoriasis
Plaquepsoriasisaffects 80%-90% of psoriasis patients.Though it can develop anywhere on your arm, it frequently appears on your elbows, often involving both arms at the same time. The skin lesions may develop gradually or suddenly.
You’ll notice plaques, which are raised, thick, scaly patches of skin. You may also have inflammation in the area, and the plaques may be itchy and painful.
The color of the lesions depends on your skin tone. With light to medium tones, the plaques appear red or pink with silvery white scales on the surface. With darker skin tones, the plaques may be purple or dark brown with gray scales.
Many people with plaque psoriasis on their arms also havenail psoriasis. As a result, their fingernails look discolored, dented, or pitted, and may have white or yellow spots. The nails can also become brittle or pull away from the nail bed.
Guttate Psoriasis
Guttatepsoriasisappears in 8% of people with psoriasis, causing small, pink, round, or tear-shaped bumps (papules).You may or may not have scales. The papules usually develop suddenly after a strep throat infection.
Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis affects 21%-30% of people with psoriasis.This type causes red, purple, or brown areas of inflamed, bumpy skin, usually without scaly patches. Inverse psoriasis develops in skin folds like the underarm area.
Psoriasis on Hands
In some cases, pustular psoriasis may only appear in a limited area. When it does, it develops on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. When pustular psoriasis covers your body, it’s a serious condition that can cause widespread inflammation, a fever, muscle weakness, and heart disease.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPustular psoriasis.Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023
In most cases, psoriasis symptoms flare-up in response totriggers, such as:
With treatment, your symptoms improve, inflammation disappears, and your psoriasis goes into remission, at least until it’s triggered again.
Is Psoriasis Contagious?Psoriasis is not contagious, and it will not spread just because you scratch it. However, scratching can leave you vulnerable to infection and trigger or prolong a flare-up. For this reason, it’s important to see your healthcare provider for effective treatments.
Is Psoriasis Contagious?
Psoriasis is not contagious, and it will not spread just because you scratch it. However, scratching can leave you vulnerable to infection and trigger or prolong a flare-up. For this reason, it’s important to see your healthcare provider for effective treatments.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have red, inflamed, or itchy patches on your arms, visit adermatologist(specialist in skin conditions). They candiagnose psoriasisand rule out otherskin conditions with similar symptoms, such as eczema, dermatitis, lupus, and skin cancer.
Though you may be tempted to treat your symptoms with over-the-counter medications, it’s essential to get medical care. Psoriasis is a chronic condition for which there’s no cure. Early, effective treatments help prevent flare-ups and keep the disease in remission.
Psoriasis treatments take several forms. It may take some trial and error to find one that works well for you. While psoriasis can’t be cured, it can be managed to reduce your symptoms.
Light treatment (phototherapy) uses ultraviolet (UV) light to slow skin cell growth and reduce inflammation and itch. This therapy is delivered in several ways, sometimes sensitizing the skin with medication.
Oral medications that work throughout the body may be prescribed. These may include:
Lifestyle changes and home treatments, like following a moisturizing routine and avoiding triggers are also crucial for preventing flares.
Psoriasis can have serious health complications, includingpsoriatic arthritis, which affects the joints in up to 30% of people with psoriasis.It’s important to work closely with a healthcare provider to manage these conditions.
In addition, psoriasis has been linked to mental health conditions.If you have psoriasis on your arms and are insecure about it, you may experience challenges to both your physical and mental well-being. Therapy can help you cope with the impacts of psoriasis.
Hiding Psoriasis Flares
Having psoriasis on your arms can make you feel vulnerable and embarrassed because others can see your skin symptoms. If you decide wear long sleeves, choose loose-fitting sleeves made of soft, breathable material to avoid irritating the psoriasis.
Body makeup may help hide the patches and skin discolorations, but it can make thick, scaly plaques look worse. Your healthcare provider can recommend products to help heal and hide psoriasis.
Summary
Psoriasis frequently appears on the arms, especially the elbows, most often in the form of plaque psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis can also develop on your arms. You can also have inverse psoriasis, which occurs in the armpit.
No matter where the inflammatory condition occurs or the type, psoriasis occurs in cycles. You’ll have flare-ups with mild to severe skin symptoms and periods of remission. Since psoriasis is a chronic, incurable condition, it’s vital to seek medical care that calms flares, prolongs remission, and prevents complications like psoriatic arthritis.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?National Psoriasis Foundation.Pustular psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Erythrodermic psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Guttate psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: phototherapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: biologics.National Psoriaisis Foundation.Causes and triggers.The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.Emollients and psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.Hedemann T, Liu X, Kang C, Husain M.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?National Psoriasis Foundation.Pustular psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Erythrodermic psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Guttate psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: phototherapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: biologics.National Psoriaisis Foundation.Causes and triggers.The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.Emollients and psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.Hedemann T, Liu X, Kang C, Husain M.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?National Psoriasis Foundation.Pustular psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Erythrodermic psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Guttate psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: diagnosis and treatment.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: phototherapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: biologics.National Psoriaisis Foundation.Causes and triggers.The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.Emollients and psoriasis.National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.Hedemann T, Liu X, Kang C, Husain M.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?
National Psoriasis Foundation.Pustular psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Erythrodermic psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Plaque psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Guttate psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.
Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis: diagnosis and treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: phototherapy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Psoriasis treatment: biologics.
National Psoriaisis Foundation.Causes and triggers.
The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.Emollients and psoriasis.
National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriatic arthritis.
Hedemann T, Liu X, Kang C, Husain M.Associations between psoriasis and mental illness: an update for clinicians.General Hospital Psychiatry. 2022;75:30-37. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.01.006
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