Managing Psoriasis on Arms
Having psoriasis on your arms can be uncomfortable and embarrassing
Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD
Having psoriasis on the arms, a part of the body that is often visible to others, can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflamed, scaly patches or plaques on the skin. Some people are insecure about the appearance of psoriasis on the arms, psoriatic bumps on elbows, or psoriasis on the hands.
This article will discuss types of psoriasis and provide answers regarding what psoriasis looks like, its causes, its treatments, and how to feel better, both physically and emotionally, with psoriasis on the arms.
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images
Psoriasis on Arms: What It Looks Like
There are several types of psoriasis. The most common is plaque psoriasis. If you have psoriasis on your arms, you likely have plaque psoriasis. In fact, it's responsible for up to 90% of psoriasis cases.
Plaque psoriasis can develop anywhere on the body, but it’s more common in certain areas, including the elbows. If you have bumps from psoriasis on your elbows, plaque psoriasis is likely to blame. It can appear as dry, raised, thickened bumps or patches that are scaly. The areas are often very itchy and even painful.
The color of the lesions vary by skin tone. With light to medium skin tones, the plaques tend to be red or pink, with a silvery scale. With darker skin tones, the plaques can appear violet or dark brown, with a gray scale.
Guttate psoriasis is another type that can appear on the arms. It often presents with small pink, tear-shaped bumps that can arise after an infection like strep throat.
Overlap of Psoriasis on Hands
Other types of psoriasis appear more often on the hands than other body parts. For instance, pustular psoriasis appears on the hands and feet; it is characterized by painful pus-filled blisters. The skin around the blisters is often red and inflamed. In rare cases, pustular psoriasis can be widespread on the body, which is a serious medical concern.
While many forms of psoriasis can affect the fingernails and toenails, about half of people with nail psoriasis experience signs of psoriasis on their fingernails. The symptoms include dents or discoloration on the nail, including white or yellow spots. Nails can also become brittle or rise up and pull away from the nail bed.
Cause of Psoriasis on Arms
Psoriasis on the arms, like other forms of psoriasis, is caused by irregular immune function. In people with psoriasis, the immune system causes the cells that affect skin and nails to behave abnormally. These cells grow faster and are replaced more quickly than they are in people without psoriasis, resulting in symptoms like inflammation and plaques.
Psoriatic bumps on the elbows happen because elbows are extensor surfaces—areas of skin covering a joint. Extensor surfaces are more likely to have psoriasis than skin areas not around a joint, although it is not known why. One theory is that the skin in these areas is under a lot of strain as the joints stretch, move, and are leaned on.
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, so try to treat itchiness with a cold compress or cream rather than scratching.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have red, inflamed, or itchy patches on your arms, visit a dermatologist (specialist in skin conditions). They can diagnose psoriasis and rule out other skin conditions with similar symptoms, such as eczema, dermatitis, lupus, and skin cancer. With the right diagnosis, you’ll have access to more effective treatments.
Treatment for Psoriasis on Arms
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.
Treatments include creams that you apply to your skin, such as topical corticosteroids, Zoryve (roflumilast), and Vtama (tapinarof 1%) cream, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022. Topical treatments also include the synthetic vitamin D3 medication Dovonex (calcipotriene), coal tar, tazarotene, and salicylic acid.
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:
Non-biologic immune system suppressors such as methotrexate, cyclosporine
The inflammation reducer Otezla (apremilast)
The retinoid medication Soriatane (acitretin)
The inflammation-inhibiting biologic drug Sotyktu (deucravacitinib)
The following biologics may be given by injection or infusion:
Enbrel (etanercept)
Remicade (infliximab)
Cosentyx (secukinumab)
Ilumya (tildrakizumab)
Siliq (brodalumab)
Taltz (ixekizumab)
Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa)
Tremfya (guselkumab)
Lifestyle changes and home treatments, like creating a moisturizing routine and avoiding triggers, can also help.
Psoriasis can have serious health complications, including psoriatic 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. If you're affected in this way, therapy can help you cope with the impacts that psoriasis has on you.
Flares and Remissions
As with other autoimmune conditions, psoriasis is characterized by flares (times of more intense symptoms) and remissions (times of fewer symptoms). While psoriasis on the arms may clear on its own, it’s likely to return at some point in the future.
Flares may be triggered. Some common triggers are stress, skin injury, drinking alcohol, smoking, and infection.
Clothing and Visibility Concerns
Having psoriasis on your arms can make you feel vulnerable, since it’s easy for other people to witness a symptom of your condition. If you want to cover your psoriasis patches and marks, you can wear long sleeves, but avoid fabrics that may irritate your skin, making symptoms worse.
It’s important to remember that psoriasis is nothing to be embarrassed about. If psoriasis on your arms is impacting your social life or emotional well-being, a therapist can help you cope and find solutions.
Summary
Psoriasis on the arms is common, especially on the elbows and nails. Since your arms are often visible, arm psoriasis can be embarrassing and may even impact your mental health. Working with a dermatologist to address your physical symptoms and a therapist to address the impact those symptoms have on you can help you feel better mentally and physically.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
