Psoriasis on Feet: What It Looks Like and How to Manage It

If you’ve developed an itchy or painful rash on your feet, you may have foot psoriasis. This common skin condition causes a rash that can affect any part of your skin, from your scalp to your toes. When it’s on your feet, it can be so itchy and painful that it’s difficult to walk.  

Foot psoriasis can sometimes look like other common skin conditions, so it’s important to get the right diagnosis before starting treatment. 

What does psoriasis on feet look like?

All types of psoriasis can affect the feet, but not all psoriasis on the feet looks the same. The rash can look different depending on which type of psoriasis you have. 

Here are some of the more common ways psoriasis can look on the feet:

• Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type, and it affects about 80% to 90% of people with psoriasis. It causes thick, scaly plaques that are pink or red in lighter skin, and purple or brown in darker skin.

• Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis: This type affects about 5% of people with psoriasis. It forms small, pus-filled blisters and cracks and turns the soles of feet reddish or brownish.

• Psoriatic nail disease: This is when psoriasis affects the nails. Nails look thick, yellow, broken, or crumbly. It can also cause tiny pits in the nail.

• Psoriatic arthritis: About 20% to 30% of people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. When this happens in the feet, it can cause swollen and painful toes (sometimes called “sausage toes”).

Is it psoriasis, eczema, or athlete’s foot?

Psoriasis isn’t the only rash that shows up on the feet. Common foot rashes include: 

• Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is caused by a fungal infection.

• Eczema is an itchy skin rash that can run in families.

Both athlete’s foot and eczema can look like psoriasis. So knowing how to tell the difference is  an important step to getting the right treatment.

Keep in mind that you may need to see your dermatologist or other healthcare provider to get the right diagnosis. Here are the key differences between foot psoriasis and other rashes.     

3 tips to manage foot psoriasis

Having psoriasis on the feet can be especially hard to deal with because people rely on their feet so much. And when it’s painful to just walk around, it can be really hard to focus on anything else. 

The most effective way to manage foot psoriasis is a combination of treatment and prevention. If you have foot psoriasis, here are three tips to try.  

1. Find a treatment that works

This one may seem obvious, but it’s an important step. While there’s no cure for foot psoriasis, there are many treatments that can help you manage psoriasis. Which one you use depends on a few different factors, like which treatments you’ve tried in the past, if you have psoriatic arthritis, and your personal preferences. 

Many people use more than one treatment at once. And it can take some trial and error before you find the option that works best for you. So try to stay hopeful as you find a treatment. Here are some options: 

• Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin. They include over-the-counter and prescription-strength creams, like steroids, tazarotene, and calcipotriene.

• Systemic treatments work throughout the whole body. They treat psoriasis that’s more severe, hasn’t responded to topical treatments, or is associated with psoriatic arthritis. These treatments come as pills (like methotrexate) or shots, (like the biologics Humira and Stelara).

• PUVA light therapy uses ultraviolet (UV) light along with psoralen. This is a medicated solution applied to the feet, which sensitizes the skin to UV light. Then, the feet are exposed to a specific wavelength of light for a few minutes. These treatments are usually done in your provider’s office two or three times a week for a few months. 

2. Avoid psoriasis triggers

Different psoriasis triggers can worsen any type of psoriasis, and this is true for foot psoriasis, too. Psoriasis affects each person differently. But you may be able to keep foot psoriasis from worsening by avoiding these common triggers:

• Injuries to the skin, like scrapes or cuts

• Certain medications, like beta blockers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Infections, like strep throat

• Emotional stress

3. Give your feet some TLC

If you have psoriasis on your feet, here are some things to try make symptoms more bearable:

• Moisturize regularly with thick creams (especially ones with urea or salicylic acid).

• Add oatmeal baths into your routine.

• Wear comfortable shoes with enough room and good cushioning. 

• Avoid wearing flip-flops and going barefoot, which can expose feet to trauma. 

• If you have arthritis, connect with a podiatrist to get the best-fitting shoes for you.  

When to see your provider about foot psoriasis

If you’re not sure what type of rash you have, or your rash isn’t getting any better, it may be time to see a dermatologist. They can confirm that you have the right diagnosis and help find the best treatment option for you. 

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Written by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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