Psoriatic Arthritis: Hand Strength, Dexterity, and Fine Motor Control

From everydayhealth.com

If you have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), you may be familiar with sore fingers, stiff wrists, and the frustration of struggling with formerly simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or chopping vegetables. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that causes painful, swollen joints. It frequently affects the hands.

When PsA impacts your hands, this can reduce strength, dexterity, and fine motor skills, all of which can interfere with your daily life.

“In severe cases, it may be almost impossible to open and close the hand or make a fist,” says Norman Gaylis, MD, a rheumatologist and board member of the American College of Rheumatology in Miami. “This drastically reduces the quality of life when people are unable to complete household chores, pursue hobbies they enjoy, or take care of their daily hygiene needs because they are unable to use their hands.”

How PsA Takes a Toll on Hand Function

In the most basic terms, psoriatic arthritis affects hand function through chronic inflammation. This can degrade cartilage and bone over time.

These are the ways that PsA can change your hands:

• Reduced Strength and Muscle Atrophy When your hands are painful, swollen, or stiff, you might use them less. This can lead to a loss of strength and muscle mass.
• Stiffness Inflammation from psoriatic arthritis can make your hands feel stiff. This is due to synovitis (inflammation of the joint capsule) and enthesitis (inflammation where your tendons and ligaments attach to your bones).
• Difficulty Gripping Grip strength decreases as the severity of psoriatic arthritis increases. This affects the ability to both grasp an object with your whole hand, like when you pick up a water bottle, and pick up small items with your thumb and index finger.
• Swelling Psoriatic arthritis can cause severe swelling in the fingers, called dactylitis. You might also hear this called “sausage fingers.”
• Nail Changes Up to 80 percent of people with PsA experience changes in their fingernails. “With some patients, nails start to look broken, become brittle, and even separate from the nail bed,” says Dr. Gaylis. Not only can this feel embarrassing but it can be painful and make it difficult to use the tips of your fingers (like you do when typing on a computer or phone).
• Deformities Actual deformities in the hands are rare these days, thanks to better treatment. However, they can still develop if psoriatic arthritis isn’t treated. “In the most severe cases, arthritis mutilans develops and dissolves tissue and bones in the fingers,” says Gaylis. This occurs in about 5 percent of psoriatic arthritis cases.
• Loss of Fine Motor Skills Hand swelling, pain, and stiffness can all make it challenging to perform tasks that require precision, dexterity, and coordination. You might find it increasingly difficult to manipulate small objects like zippers or buttons.

All these symptoms add up to real difficulty completing functional tasks in your everyday life.

Who Can Help Restore Hand Function

There are a few health professionals you can reach out to if psoriatic arthritis is affecting your hands. The primary ones are rheumatologists and certified hand therapists (CHTs).

Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, bones, and muscles. If you’re diagnosed with PsA, you’ve most likely already seen a rheumatologist.

“Fortunately, rheumatologists can treat psoriatic arthritis with many new biologics and medicines that are very effective,” says Gaylis. These medications help manage inflammation and swelling from psoriatic arthritis, which can noticeably improve hand function.

CHTs are also an essential part of the team for anyone with psoriatic arthritis affecting their hands. These health professionals can either be occupational therapists or physical therapists who’ve gone through extra training to specialize in treating hand conditions like psoriatic arthritis.

A CHT will assess your mobility and function and give you tailored treatment that might include splints, exercises, and assistive devices. You can ask your doctor to refer you to a CHT, or depending on your health insurance, you may be able to make your own appointment.

Strategies to Improve Strength and Control

We use our hands constantly, from turning on the tap at a sink to sliding a credit card out of a wallet. Bringing back strength and control to your hands can improve your quality of life.

Therapeutic Exercises

Therapeutic exercises can reduce pain and improve coordination, strength, and function. Common exercises for PsA include the following:

• Isometric Exercises These are static exercises during which your muscles stay the same length. “Isometric exercises are safer for the arthritic hand to perform because the joints are not moving,” says Kristin Valdes, a certified hand therapist and professor at Touro University Nevada, in Henderson, Nevada. In this type of exercise, you squeeze an immovable object, and your joints are supported by the object you’re holding. Valdes suggests squeezing a firm racquetball or tennis ball to improve grip strength.
• Passive Range of Motion With psoriatic arthritis, the fingers can flex (or “claw” inward) over time as the skin contracts. Anyone experiencing this “should use the other hand or pull their fingertips over the edge of the table to try to straighten out the fingers daily,” says Valdes.
• Tendon Gliding This set of exercises encourages smooth movement of your finger tendons within their sheath.

Be cautious when starting hand exercises with psoriatic arthritis. “If treatment is too aggressive, it can increase hand pain and cause skin breakdown,” says Valdes.

Consider seeing a CHT for a personalized program of exercises, since everyone’s psoriatic arthritis is different.

Assistive Tools

When your wrist is sore, twisting open a jar can be very painful. And when your fingers are stiff, it can feel near impossible to pick up small items. Assistive devices can help you achieve these everyday tasks with less effort and therefore less pain.

Assistive devices for psoriatic arthritis include these examples:

• Wide-grip pens or utensils
• Electronic jar or can openers
• Ergonomic kitchen tools
• Button hooks
• Elastic shoelaces
• Electric toothbrushes
• Gripping materials (to hold a mixing bowl in place, for example, or grip a lid)
• Tap turners or lever handles (to avoid twisting)
• Tongs
• Adaptive cutting boards
• Motion sensor dish soap or shampoo dispensers

Orthoses

For those seeing a hand therapist for treatment, “The therapist can also fabricate a custom orthosis to rest the joints,” says Valdes. This might look like a ring to keep your finger joint straight or a brace that wraps around your thumb.

You can also get premade orthoses like wrist splints online or in pharmacies, but talk to your hand therapist or doctor first to ensure that you’re getting the right one.

Joint Protection and Skin Protection

Joint protection techniques, which are usually taught by a CHT, are ways to perform daily tasks so that less stress is applied to your joints. The following techniques are common:

• Practice the large joint rule. Use larger and stronger joints for tasks instead of smaller ones. Valdes gives the examples of pushing instead of pulling, carrying bags with your forearm instead of hands, and using a shoulder bag rather than a handbag.
• Limit repetitive hand movements. For example, use an electric can opener instead of a hand-operated one. You can still knit or do hobbies involving your hands, but Valdes recommends limiting these to no more than 30 minutes at a time.
• Use a light grip. “Try not to grip so forcefully that the hand fatigues easily,” says Valdes. One way to achieve this is to bulk up the handles of tools or utensils. For example, when cooking, wrap a potholder around a pot handle to make it larger; that reduces the pressure on your hand.
• Don’t forget skin protection. Applying cream to tight skin can help protect both the skin and joints.

Heat and Cold Therapy: Using Paraffin Baths for Stiffness vs. Ice for Acute Inflammation

If your fingers are swollen, try cold therapy with a cold cloth or ice pack. This can help reduce inflammation in the affected joints.

Heat therapy can’t bring down acute inflammation, but it can provide pain relief. If your hands are stiff or painful, consider applying a warm cloth or heating pad.

Warm paraffin, or wax, baths, which a CHT can perform, can also be soothing. A hand therapist might do this to loosen up your joints before exercising them. However, you’ll want to avoid paraffin baths if you have any open cuts or inflamed skin on your hands.

Lifestyle and Daily Habits

Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help you conserve energy and manage pain. Be sure to take frequent breaks to rest your hands. “For example, when making a meal, break up cutting or chopping tasks throughout the day,” says Valdes.

You’ll also want to make a daily habit out of your therapeutic exercises, particularly stretching and range of motion exercises. However, avoid strengthening exercises when your hands are painful, says Valdes.

Overall, do your best to maintain an active lifestyle and keep up with the activities that bring you joy and meaning. You can also try new hobbies that don’t tax your hands as much, such as singing, line dancing, learning a language, or hiking.

If you’re struggling with hand pain or stiffness, talk to your rheumatologist or CHT. Your rheumatologist may adjust your medication, and your CHT can strategize personalized solutions, whether that’s a new hand splint or exercise program.

The Takeaway

• A rheumatologist can help you manage psoriatic arthritis hand symptoms with newer biologics and medications that control inflammation.
• Certified hand therapists can tailor exercises to your specific hand symptoms, recommend assistive tools, and educate you on joint protection to preserve and restore hand function.
• Therapeutic hand exercises can help enhance grip strength, dexterity, and control for performing daily tasks.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatic-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis-hand-strength-and-dexterity/ 

How Does Psoriasis Affect the Hands?

From healthcentral.com

Learn the ways this chronic skin condition can cause rashes and lesions on your skin, plus the best ways to treat it 

Most people think nothing of giving a high-five, but if you have psoriasis on your hands, you likely cringe just thinking about it. This type of contact with another person can be painful and sometimes embarrassing.

“Patches of psoriasis affecting the thick skin of the palms tends to crack, bleed, and cause painful fissures,” says Joel Gelfand, M.D., a professor of dermatology and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Let’s take a closer look at exactly how your hands can be affected by psoriasis, where on the hands psoriasis generally appears, and what you can do to treat it.

                                                                            Getty Images/Jatuphol Aroonsawasd

Where on the Hand Psoriasis Can Occur

According to the Cleveland Clinic, psoriasis on your hands can target your:

• Fingernails

• Fingers

• Nails

• Palms

• Skin on top of the hand

• Webbing between fingers

• Wrists

Appearance of Hand Psoriasis

Psoriasis can occur from your wrist to your fingernails. Psoriasis on the hands often varies from predominantly pustular lesions to thick hyperkeratotic plaques, according to the journal Dermatologic Therapy. Like elsewhere on the body, psoriasis on the hands can appear as itchy, scaling, and reddened skin plaques.

Psoriasis on the nails can cause multiple irregularities of the nails including pitting, crumbling, thickening, discoloration, white or reddish spots, and separation of the nail from the nail bed. Though sometimes mistaken for nail fungus, nail psoriasis looks a little different.

Lesions and plaques caused by psoriasis can be so disabling that doing anything with your hands during a flare can feel impossible. Plus, it’s awkward to explain to a curious outsider what’s going on with your skin. If you have hand psoriasis (or think you might), here’s what’s going on and how you can keep it from disrupting your life.

                                                                    Psoriasis on hands. Cureus/© 2021, P et al.

Symptoms of Hand Psoriasis

While symptoms can vary from one person to the next, these are some of the tell-tale signs of psoriasis, based on which part of your hand it occurs on.

Palms and Fingers

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, when you have psoriasis on your palms and fingers you may experience red/discoloured, dry, and thickened skin, as well as deep cracks on the skin. You may also have limited movement with your hands including grip strength or be limited in your ability to shake hands. That’s why when psoriasis strikes the hands, it is known to have an outsize effect.

Nails

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the most common features of nail psoriasis is onycholysis (nail plate separating from the nailbed) and nail plate pitting. You may also notice nail discoloration, especially if the nail has lifted from the nailbed. If the psoriasis that is attacking your nails goes untreated, it can result in a loss of the affected nails.

Prevalence of Hand Psoriasis

The prevalence of psoriasis varies around the world with about 3% of the U.S. population living with the condition. Out of those with psoriasis anywhere on their body, about 1 in 5 have psoriasis on the hands (and interestingly, about the same percentage have psoriasis on their feet).

Nail psoriasis is much more common with about half of the people with psoriasis having it on their nails. Across a lifetime, almost everyone (90%) of those with psoriasis will experience nail psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Causes of Hand Psoriasis

Psoriasis can show up anywhere on the body. Whether it is on your hands, feet, or scalp, the root cause of psoriasis is an overactive immune system. That overactive immune system may trigger a psoriasis flare due to one of these factors:

• Environment

• Genetics

• Lifestyle (such as smoking)

• Stress

• Skin injury

• Illness such as strep throat

• Cold weather/decreased sunlight

Types of Hand Psoriasis

While colloquially people describe skin plaques and pain in this area as hand psoriasis, technically there are several subtypes of the chronic skin disease, depending specific symptoms and where exactly on your hands it appears. Types of hand psoriasis include:

Palmoplantar Psoriasis

This form of psoriasis appears only on the palms and/or the bottoms of the feet, and accounts for less than 5% of psoriasis cases, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Palmoplantar psoriasis can be extremely pain, making those high-fives and handshakes really uncomfortable. In some cases, symptoms can seriously disrupt your life. In at least one study, people with palmoplantar psoriasis were significantly more likely to have problems with mobility, self-care, and other everyday activities.

Treatment for palmoplantar psoriasis can be tricky. The condition is likely to lead to secondary fungal infections and people sometimes have allergic reactions to the topical medications they’re using for treatment. Those with palmoplantar psoriasis also tend to be hypersensitive to touch.

“Making matters even more difficult is that palmoplantar psoriasis is often resistant to treatment,” Dr. Gelfand says. “Current treatments, even our newest biologics, often have limited benefit for psoriasis of the palms.”

Dactylitis

Dactylitis is sometimes referred to as “sausage” fingers. Dactylitis is linked to psoriatic arthritis and most frequently appears in those whose psoriasis is advancing into psoriatic arthritis.

Dactylitis often involves painful swelling along your entire finger or toe, not just around one of the joints. It can be one of the first signs of psoriatic arthritis—even if you do not have psoriasis on your hands. Anti-inflammatory drugs, either over-the-counter or prescription, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may provide some relief. If your fingers start to swell, let your doctor know as soon as possible because early treatment can improve later outcomes.

Enthesitis

Enthesitis typically occurs in people whose psoriasis has evolved into psoriatic arthritis. Enthesitis the swelling of the entheses, or the connective tissue that joins ligaments and tendons to the bones in your hands. Your fingers may feel stiff and painful, but unlike dactylitis, you may not have visible swelling. Your dermatologist may suggest an oral or injectable anti-inflammatory to relieve the ache.

Nail Disease

Psoriasis causes your skin cells to reproduce much more quickly than they should thanks to an overactive immune system. Since your nails are part of the skin, psoriasis can develop under the cuticle and wreak havoc on the growth and health of your nails. As a result, you may see pitting, vertical ridges, discoloration, and separation from the nail bed. Estimates of nail psoriasis range from about 50% to as high as 80% in those with psoriasis.

Treatment of Hand Psoriasis

The treatments used for hand psoriasis are the same used for other forms of plaque psoriasis. There is no single best approach: Which treatment your doctor recommends will depend on a variety of factors such as how severe your psoriasis on your hands is, how long you have had psoriatic disease, and what other treatments you have already tried. Some of the more common treatments include:

Topicals

Topical medications are applied directly to the skin. They come in different forms such as lotions, tars, and bath solutions. There are helpful topical medications available over-the-counter without a doctor’s prescription. Some of the topicals that are now available are natural products made for sensitive skin.

The National Psoriasis Foundation keeps a list of products that are intended to be non-irritating for people with psoriasis. Your doctor may also prescribe a stronger topical to help bring your symptoms under control.

Phototherapy

Phototherapy, or light therapy for psoriasis, involves holding your hands under an ultraviolet light source on a regular basis. Ultraviolet light from the sun or an artificial light has a profound immunosuppressive effect. There are few side effects of phototherapy which is one explanation of why it has been around so long. Your dermatologist will have a medical UV light designed with a wavelength to best treat psoriasis.

Oral Treatments

For more advanced cases of psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a systemic medication to be taken as a pill. Instead of acting locally on just your hands, some of the newer oral treatments can selectively target molecules inside of your immune cells to help reduce inflammation at the source—think of it as treating your psoriasis more upstream. If you are also living with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), an oral treatment may be prescribed that can treat your psoriasis and PsA simultaneously.

Biologics

Biologics are delivered by injection or infusion and target a specific part of your immune system, depending on which biologic you are prescribed. Studies have indicated that biologics can successfully manage previously difficult to treat psoriasis, such as on the hands and nails, according to the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The cost of biologic treatment can be challenging, even with health insurance. If you are unable to afford the medicine you are prescribed, talk to your doctor. There are a variety of programs designed to help meet the financial needs associated with biologic treatment.

How to Manage Hand Psoriasis

While there’s no cure for psoriasis, there are some things that you can do to ease symptoms that affect your hands.

See Your Dermatologist

Even if you have psoriasis on other parts of your body, you want to make sure that your new hand outbreak is indeed psoriasis and not another condition. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dry and itchy skin can be caused by a number of conditions, including eczema. It’s not only difficult to tell the difference between the two (especially in kids), but you can have both at the same time. Similarly, if your finger joints are suddenly sore, you will need to rule out overuse, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or a virus such as Lyme disease.

Work With an Occupational Therapist

If you are dealing with psoriatic arthritis along with psoriasis, stiffness and swelling can be significant issues and you may benefit from working with an occupational therapist. “Many occupational therapists specialize in hand therapy and provide a variety of treatment options to assist with hand discomfort,” says Aleksandra Radjen, Ph.D., a physical therapist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. What’s more, they help you improve the use of your hands and maintain the skills you need to live your everyday life.

Stay on Top of Your Overall Treatment Plan

By treating your psoriasis aggressively, you can help lessen its impact on your body overall. So take your meds regularly and on time, keep your body moving, and try to stick to a plant-based diet.

Protect Your Hands

Preventing hand injuries is extra important if you have psoriasis. Wear gloves or other protective gear whenever possible, including when you’re doing everyday chores like washing dishes or weeding the garden. New lesions can develop from a cut, bruise, or burn, a tendency known as the Koebner phenomenon (named after the dermatologist who discovered it, Heinrich Koebner).

Practice Good Nail Care

They need to be protected just as much as your skin: Use tools instead of your fingernails to open packaging; keep them short to prevent ripping; and avoid the harsh chemicals that can be found in some nail polishes and polish removers, which can weaken your nails even further. And don’t forget the moisturizer.

“Moisturize them every day with an emollient cream or ointment,” says Tamy Buckel, M.D., a dermatologist in Chestertown, MD.

Talk to a Mental Health Pro

If you feel self-conscious, embarrassed, or if your hand psoriasis is preventing you from doing the things you enjoy, it may be time to talk to someone about it. A counsellor, therapist, or even a psychodermatologist can be a great addition to your care team.

Never heard of a psychodermatologist? That’s probably because it’s a new subspecialty of dermatology and psychiatry, and it was created because healthcare professionals who recognized that having a skin condition can cause stress and anxiety.

Bottom line? Dealing with daily pain—whether it’s your hands, feet, or anywhere else on your body—is exhausting. If you have hand psoriasis, you do not need to go at this alone. Seek out the advice of dermatologist, who can guide you toward treatments and lifestyle changes to make your world a little easier.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/psoriasis/psoriasis-on-hands

Doctor reveals five things about our hands that can help identify health conditions

From scoop.upworthy.com 

The doctor pointed out that watching these signs and symptoms can help a person seek treatment for serious illnesses on time

Apart from pain and other forms of illnesses, there are other more subtle details that can reveal a lot about our health. Even subtle changes to our hands can signal things that are worth a health check if nothing else. These signs can even help treat health conditions before they become serious. It might even help one avoid any unnecessary health complications a person might face going forward. Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy told Yahoo Life how our hands can tell our health.

                                                       Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Juan Pablo Serrano

"From cardiovascular disease to psoriasis, our hands can tell us a lot about our health – indicating potentially serious health conditions. It’s vital to understand the tell-tale signs of illness and how to spot changes in hands to avoid a further reduction in well-being," Dr Grant told the outlet. He shared five warning signs people should watch out for. The first thing that can indicate a health condition is the changes in our nails. "A range of health issues can all lead to alterations in nail appearance and texture. Firstly, pitted nails are when small dents or pits form on the surface of fingernails and can indicate psoriasis. In severe cases, it can cause the nails to crumble." 

“Additionally, yellow nails can be an indicator of a range of health issues, including fungal infections or underlying health conditions such as lung disease. With so many potential causes, it’s vital to seek further advice from a GP to diagnose the issue and receive the correct treatment," Dr. Grant continued. Next up, the doctor advised people to watch out for any texture or colour changes on the skin of the hands. "Palmar Erythema is a skin condition causing the palms of hands to turn red, it can also bring a burning sensation and affects people for a range of reasons, including pregnancy – however, it can also be a sign of worrying health conditions such as lymphoma or liver disease," he pointed out.

                                                     Representative Image Source: Pexels | Pixabay

"Additionally, vitamin deficiencies, such as not attaining enough calcium or vitamin D can lead to dry patches of skin appearing on the hands, highlighting the need for a well-balanced diet," the doctor emphasized. On the other hand, he pointed out stiff joints could be a sign of arthritis as per Express UK. "Osteoarthritis is a common condition that can lead to swelling, pain and stiffness while reducing movement. It tends to affect the base of the thumb and middle joints of the fingers but can cause pain all throughout the hand." Cold hands are another important symptom to watch out for. It could signal poor circulation and health conditions like diabetes and anaemia.

"If you experience a long-lasting change in hand temperature, it may be best to seek additional medical advice," the doctor recommended. Thickened fingers or change in thickness is another important thing to pay attention to. "A common symptom of pulmonary fibrosis - a type of lung disease - is the widening of fingers and clubbing of fingernails," Dr. Grant shared. "Dactylitis, where fingers become much wider in appearance, can be a sign of sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, or a bacterial infection. With so many potentially dangerous causes, I strongly advise people to seek urgent medical attention if they notice any changes to their fingers." 

https://scoop.upworthy.com/doctor-reveals-five-things-about-our-hands-that-can-help-identify-health-conditions

How to Treat Cracks and Bleeding from Psoriasis on the Hands

From healthline.com

Psoriasis may cause skin on your hands to become dry, itchy, and uncomfortable. Sometimes, the skin may crack and bleed. Treating cracks and bleeding is important for preventing infections and promoting healing.

Trusted SourcePsoriasis is a chronic condition that causes scaly, inflamed patches of skin. It most often affects skin on the scalp, elbows, and knees, but it can also affect other body parts, including your hands.

Here are eight steps you can take to treat and prevent cracked skin from psoriasis on your handsTrusted Source.

1. Apply pressure to stop bleeding

If you have a crack or cut on your hand that’s bleeding, wash both hands with soap and water.

Then place a sterile piece of gauze or another sterile dressing on top of the crack or cut. Gently apply pressure to help stop the bleeding. Elevating the injured area above your heart may also help stop the bleeding.

If you bleed through one layer of gauze or dressing, don’t remove it right away. Instead, place another sterile dressing on top of the first and continue applying pressure. Apply as many layers of sterile dressing as needed.

Apply pressure until the bleeding stops.

2. Gently clean the crack or cut

After the bleeding is under control, hold the cracked or cut skin under running water to clean it. You can use soap to clean the surrounding skin, but try not to get soap in the crack or cut.

Use clean tweezers to remove any debris embedded in the crack or cut. Clean the tweezers with rubbing alcohol before you use them.

3. Protect and cover the injured area

After you clean the crack or cut, gently hold the edges of the injured skin together.

Then apply a liquid bandage or a piece of water-tight medical tape to seal the crack or cut. If you don’t have these supplies on hand, you can use the sticky part of an adhesive bandage to seal the injury.

You can find liquid bandages, medical tape, and other first-aid supplies at many pharmacies.

4. Monitor the area for infection

Monitor the crack or cut for symptoms of infection, such as:

• increased pain, swelling, or discoloration
• warm skin around the injury
• discoloured streaks around the injury
• pus or yellow or green discharge

Contact your doctor if you think the crack or cut develops an infection. They may prescribe antibiotics or other treatments. In rare cases, infections may spread and cause serious complications.

5. Protect your hands from psoriasis triggers

Exposure to certain triggers may worsen your psoriasis symptoms and increase your risk of dry, cracked skin. Taking steps to protect your hands from triggers may help limit your symptoms.

Some common triggers include:

• skin injuries, such as cuts, scraps, bug bites, and sunburns
• cold, dry weather conditions
• hot temperatures

To protect your hands from these triggers:

• Put work gloves or other protective equipment on your hands when you’re doing tasks that could scrape or cut them, such as yard work.
• Apply sunscreen to your hands before you go outside during daylight hours.
• Spray bug repellent on your hands when you’re spending time in buggy areas.
• Wear gloves or mittens to protect your hands from cold, dry weather.
• Use lukewarm water rather than hot to wash your hands.

Chemicals in cigarettes and other tobacco products may also trigger psoriasis symptoms on your hands.

If you smoke or use other tobacco products, taking steps to cut back or quit may help reduce psoriasis symptoms and provide other health benefits. Your doctor can help you learn about resources to help you quit.

Taking steps to manage stress is also important for preventing psoriasis flares.

 6. Keep your hands well moisturized

Regularly applying moisturizer to your hands can help treat and prevent dry, cracked skin.

Choosing a moisturizing cream, lotion, or balm free of fragrances, dyes, and other common skin irritants may be helpful. Consider asking your doctor if they have any recommendations.

You can also look for moisturizers and other skin care products labelled with the National Psoriasis Foundation Seal of Recognition. Manufacturers formulate these products for people with psoriasis or sensitive skin.

7. Apply medicated creams or ointments

In addition to moisturizer, applying a medicated cream, ointment, or another topical psoriasis treatment to your hands may be helpful.

You can buy low dose hydrocortisone cream from a pharmacy without a prescription. This is a topical corticosteroid that helps reduce inflammation from psoriasis. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you learn how to use it safely.

If low dose hydrocortisone cream isn’t effective for managing your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose topical corticosteroid or another topical psoriasis treatment.

It’s generally best to avoid using high dose topical corticosteroids for more than 4 weeks. Talk with your doctor to learn about other treatments that may reduce your need for corticosteroids.

Your doctor may also advise you to apply an antibiotic ointment or another topical treatment to cracks or cuts on your hands to help promote healing.

8. Talk with your doctor about other treatment options

If topical treatments are not enough to manage psoriasis symptoms, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• phototherapy
• oral medication
• injectable medication

Phototherapy uses ultraviolet light from a special lamp or light unit to treat psoriasis.

Let your doctor know if you develop new or worse psoriasis symptoms or are unhappy with your current treatment plan. They can help you learn more about your psoriasis treatment options.

The takeaway

Psoriasis may cause patches of skin on your hands to become dry and cracked. The skin may also bleed. To treat cracks or cuts on your hands:

1. Gently apply pressure with a sterile dressing to stop the bleeding.
2. Then clean the injured area under running water and remove any visible debris.
3. Seal the injury using a liquid bandage, water-tight medical tape, or the sticky part of an adhesive bandage.

To help prevent cracked skin and limit other symptoms, take steps to protect your hands from psoriasis triggers. Regularly apply a moisturizing cream, lotion, or balm to your hands to hydrate your skin.

Applying a medicated ointment, cream, or another topical treatment may also help reduce psoriasis symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may recommend other treatments.

https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis/treat-psoriasis-hands?slot_pos=article_1&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=psoriasis&utm_content=2023-04-11&utm_term=s:hl_n:pso&apid=39239719&rvid=058431b717dcfa59c0cdd27cd0a9313769e8b3dd4ad59d88efd0ded7ddb4774e