Palmoplantar Pustulosis (or PPP) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory condition that affects approximately 1 in 5,000 people with a higher rate occurring in adult women.
Patients with PPP develop white-to-brown pus or blood-filled blisters, known as pustules, on the palms and/or soles of the hands and feet. These pustules occur on red and flaky since and often cause a lot of pain or other discomfort caused by cracks (fissures) in the skin, making it extremely difficult for people to carry out their usual daily activities. PPP may co-occur with more widespread plaque psoriasis or in patients who are tobacco smokers. While many dermatologists consider it to be a subtype of plaque psoriasis, there is emerging evidence that PPP is a distinct condition that may not respond to medical treatments that are effective for plaque psoriasis.
Common symptoms of PPP may include:
- White-to-brown pustules on the palms and/or soles of the feet occurring in cycles
- Background red and flaky skin on the hands and/or feet
- The presence of plaque psoriasis on other parts of the body
- Itching, pain, or burning sensation of the hands and feet
- Skin cracks (or fissures) making it difficult to use the hands or walk on the feet
Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for PPP, and the medications that are tried often fail to completely clear the skin and symptoms. Most commonly used treatments include broad-acting immune suppressants or the use of “off-label” medications approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
Newer therapies are being studied specifically for PPP. Want to learn more about clinical studies and these newly research efforts to help patients with PPP? Contact us today to schedule a free in-person consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists to discuss your PPP.
Want to learn more about clinical studies and the newly approved medications? We always offer a complimentary one-on-one consultation with one of our dermatologists.
Reference for prevalence noted above: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37806529/