Palmoplantar Psoriasis vs Tinea Manuum

Psoriasis affecting the palms or soles, where thick scale and cracking can be disabling. A fungal infection of the hand, often associated with athlete’s foot.

Research updated 2026-10-23

AI-generated educational illustration: Thick sharply defined scaly plaques across the palm and fingers, representing palmoplantar psoriasis.

Both palms shown side by side, with diffuse fine scaling on only one hand.

Key differences What is it?What it looks like Diagrams When it starts Triggers Daily Care Treatment Outlook Complications When to get help Questions

Key differences

The same eight facts on every condition comparison.

Usual age

Adults

Where

Palms and soles

Usually one palm

Main sign

Thick scale and cracks

Dry scale in palm creases

Itch or pain

Painful cracks

Mild itch

Contagious

Yes

Long term

Long-term, flares

Clears with antifungals

Scars

Who gets it

People with psoriasis; smokers

People with athlete's foot

What is it?

Palmoplantar Psoriasis

Tinea Manuum

What is it?

What it is
Psoriasis affecting the palms or soles, where thick scale and cracking can be disabling.

What it is
A fungal infection of the hand, often associated with athlete’s foot.

What it looks like

Palmoplantar Psoriasis

An open hand with broad pink plaques, thick white scale, and surface cracks.

Palmoplantar Psoriasis Red patches and heavy scale cover much of the palm and parts of the fingers.

Tinea Manuum

An open hand with diffuse pinkness, flaky white scale, and rough skin on the palm.

Tinea Manuum Dry white scale covers broad areas of the palm and fingers.

Skin tones

In the skin

Immune inflammation speeds skin-cell production on the palms or soles. Cells accumulate in thickened patches that may develop scale or cracks.

Dermatophyte fungi infect the keratin of the outer hand skin. Local inflammation and altered shedding can cause scale or thickening, sometimes without a classic ring-shaped edge.

When it usually starts

010203040506070+

Palmoplantar Psoriasis. Can start at any age, with different patterns at different life stages.

Tinea Manuum. Can occur at any age; assess for infection on the feet.

Causes and triggers

Causes

Immune inflammation speeds skin-cell turnover; psoriasis is not contagious.

Dermatophyte fungi infect keratin-containing skin or hair.

Risk factors

Family tendency, Immune susceptibility

Contact with an infected person or animal, Fungal infection elsewhere

Trigger

● Palmoplantar Psoriasis

● Tinea Manuum

Friction

Can contribute

Not listed

Skin injury

Can contribute

Not listed

Fungal exposure

Not listed

Can contribute

Sharing contaminated items

Not listed

Can contribute

Daily Care

Palmoplantar Psoriasis

Tinea Manuum

Daily care

Habits that help

Moisturize regularly with a plain fragrance-free product
Apply after washing and when skin feels dry or tight.
Keep washing gentle and water lukewarm
Use a non-soap cleanser and pat dry rather than rubbing.
Protect sore skin from friction and minor injury
Comfortable clothing and gentle handling reduce avoidable irritation.
Keep a manageable record of flares and symptoms
Note new medicines, infections or joint symptoms to discuss at review.
Protect painful cracks and reduce pressure on palms and soles
Use suitable dressings, cushioned footwear and task-appropriate gloves; do not cut thick scale with a blade.
Follow the palmoplantar psoriasis care plan
Use thick emollient, protect fissures and reduce repeated friction. Treatment must account for thick skin.

Avoid

Avoid: Picking scale or scratching plaques
Injury can worsen psoriasis and create breaks in the skin.
Avoid: Unsupervised tanning or harsh home exfoliation
Sunburn and irritation can trigger worsening; prescribed phototherapy is different from tanning.

Habits that help

Keep the affected area gently clean and dry
Pat rather than rub and change clothing or headwear that stays damp.
Keep towels, combs, brushes and razors for your own use
Wash shared fabrics and clean personal tools to reduce spread.
Wash hands after touching affected skin
Avoid scratching or moving fungal material to other areas.
Complete the prescribed antifungal plan
Symptoms may improve before infection has fully cleared.
Check for infection on the feet and nails too
Untreated fungal disease elsewhere can repeatedly reseed the hands.
Follow the tinea manuum care plan
Avoid sharing towels, combs or razors. Keep the area clean and follow the full treatment course.

Avoid

Avoid: Steroid cream alone on a suspected fungal rash
It can hide the appearance and allow infection to spread.
Avoid: Relying on hygiene alone to clear the infection
Persistent disease needs the correct diagnosis and antifungal treatment.

Treatment differences

Evidence labels come from each condition’s own treatment list.

Treatment

● Palmoplantar Psoriasis

● Tinea Manuum

Over-the-counter

Urea moisturizer

Listed

Can soften thick dry scale; avoid irritating open fissures.

Existing educational treatment illustration: Spinosad

Terbinafine cream

Listed

A topical antifungal option for localised dermatophyte skin infection; follow the product course and avoid eyes.

Prescription topicals

Potent topical corticosteroid

Listed

Thick palm or sole psoriasis may need a carefully supervised course and escalation if function is impaired.

None listed

Prescription pills

None listed

Oral antifungal assessment

Listed

Widespread or persistent infection may require a prescription after confirming the diagnosis.

Outlook

Long term

Palm and sole psoriasis can be persistent and may flare again after improvement. Treatment aims to reduce thickening, cracks and pain while preserving hand and foot function.

Hand ringworm usually improves with appropriate antifungal treatment. Infection may return if another source, such as the feet or nails, remains untreated; an uncertain or persistent rash needs testing.