Psoriasis on the Knees and Elbows: How to Treat Flares
Skin ConditionsPsoriasis
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Psoriasis on the Knees and Elbows: What It Looks Like, How to Treat It

Psoriasis on the Knees and Elbows: What It Looks Like, How to Treat It
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Updated on September 16, 2025
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Psoriasis is a condition in which the immune system, which normally protects the body from harm, reacts abnormally and causes skin cells to divide more rapidly than usual. People living with the condition experience flares in different areas of the body; the knees and elbows are among the most common spots for psoriasis to appear.

Here’s why psoriasis commonly affects the knees and elbows, what it looks like, and how you can treat the condition.

Knee and Elbow Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis most frequently appears on the extensor surfaces — the front — of the knees and the elbows, says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, MPH, a board-certified medical dermatologist and director of the psoriasis treatment program at Yale Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

What Knee and Elbow Psoriasis Looks Like

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of the psoriasis in general, affecting about 80 to 90 percent of people who have the condition.

Plaque psoriasis is also the most common type of psoriasis to appear on the knees and elbows. “You’ll usually see a well-circumscribed plaque, bigger than a centimeter, with thickened skin and overlying white scales,” says Elisabeth Richard, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Plaques tend to appear red or salmon pink on white skin, whereas they tend to be purple or brown on black or brown skin.

The prevalence of psoriasis in these areas is no accident. “We lean on our knees and elbows frequently, or they are apt to rub against clothing. This can result in a process called Koebnerization, in which microtraumas like rubbing or banging skin potentially lead to flare-ups,” Dr. Cohen says.

Typically, psoriasis on the knees and elbows isn’t itchy or painful, says Dr. Richard, “unless the skin becomes very thick. Then small cuts, known as fissures, can develop.”

Rarely, other types of psoriasis, such as guttate psoriasis and pustular psoriasis, can appear on the knees and elbows. Signs of guttate psoriasis include small, round, red, or discolored spots. Symptoms of pustular psoriasis include pustules (white, pus-filled, painful bumps) that may be surrounded by reddened or discolored skin.

Knee and Elbow Joint Issues Due to Psoriasis

About 1 in 3 people with plaque psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. Typically, psoriasis develops before psoriatic arthritis, which causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints and entheses, places where tendons and ligaments connect to bones. Psoriatic arthritis can occur regardless of whether the psoriasis is mild, moderate, or severe.

Having knee or elbow psoriasis doesn’t necessarily mean you will have arthritis in those joints.

 However, the knees and elbows are commonly affected by both conditions.

One study found that older people with psoriasis were more likely to end up having total knee replacement surgery than people of the same age without psoriasis.

The Psychological Impact of Knee and Elbow Psoriasis

People living with psoriasis often struggle with depression, anxiety, and being stigmatized. One study found that while up to 98 percent of psoriasis patients felt that their skin disease had affected their emotional or psychological well-being, only 18 percent sought help.

“I see a lot of patients who don’t feel comfortable wearing shorts or short sleeves, even in summer, because they’re embarrassed,” Cohen says.

The National Psoriasis Foundation’s Support & Community page can connect people with psoriatic disease with peer and other types of support services.

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Treating Psoriasis of the Knees and Elbows

Fortunately, there are numerous treatment options for knee and elbow psoriasis.

Topical Treatments

Most dermatologists typically start by prescribing topical steroids, such as hydrocortisone and prednisone.

Nonsteroidal topical treatments are also available. These include tapinarof (Vtama) and roflumilast (Zoryve) creams.

Phototherapy

Light therapy (also called phototherapy) can be a good option when psoriasis is localized as opposed to all over the body. Light therapy uses ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, rather than ultraviolet A (UVA), to minimize skin cancer risk.

Dermatologists can deliver phototherapy via small units or lamps, or an excimer laser, which is a device that delivers the treatment in a very focused way. Phototherapy units for home use are also available.

Medications

Medical treatments for people with moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis include methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug, as well as a class of drugs known as biologics, administered intravenously or via injection.

 These medications target underlying inflammation by suppressing the body’s immune response.

An oral treatment called deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) is also available for people with moderate to severe psoriasis.

 Cohen explains that it helps minimize inflammation by blocking certain molecules that affect immune system signaling.

Cohen and Richard note that physicians and patients often need to explore a number of therapies before finding the one that works best at a given point in time.

Lifestyle Measures for Managing Knee and Elbow Psoriasis

In addition to following the general advice to maximize good health, such as not smoking, eating healthy foods, and maintaining a healthy weight, the following measures can help with knee and elbow psoriasis:

  • Keep your knees and elbows well-moisturized (ask your doctor for product recommendations.

  • Use gentle, fragrance-free laundry detergents.
  • Wear soft fabrics next to your body, such as cotton and rayon.
  • Use sunblock or sunscreen on your skin, but not on actively inflamed skin; sunburn can actually trigger a flare.

When to See a Doctor

It’s important to stay on top of your symptoms and flares when you have knee and elbow psoriasis.


Contact your dermatologist if:

  • Your psoriasis symptoms are worsening. This includes increased redness, scaling, itching, and pain, or if the plaques are spreading to new areas of your body.
  • Your current treatment isn’t working. Your doctor can suggest different and hopefully more effective options.
  • Psoriasis is significantly impacting your quality of life. This can include persistent discomfort, pain, difficulty sleeping, depression, and anxiety.

  • You experience joint pain, stiffness, or swelling. These could be signs of psoriatic arthritis.

The most important thing to do, says Cohen, is to keep working with your dermatologist. “The main thing I want to impress on people who feel disheartened is that we have a lot of good treatments out there, and the options are expanding all the time.”

The Takeaway

  • Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes thick, silvery plaques to form on the skin.
  • The most common places for these plaques to appear are on the elbows and knees.
  • Several treatments are available to treat psoriasis on the elbows and knees, including topical creams, light therapy, and oral and intravenous medications.
  • You and your doctor may need to explore a number of therapies before finding the one that works best for you.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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Amy Spizuoco, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. Dr. Spizuoco has been practicing medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, as well as dermatopathology in New York City for 12 years.

She did her undergraduate training at Binghamton University, majoring in Italian and biology. She went to medical school at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. After medical school, she completed her dermatology residency at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine–Alta Dermatology in Arizona. During that time she studied skin cancer surgery and pediatric dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and attended dermatology grand rounds at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. After her residency, Spizuoco completed a dermatopathology fellowship at the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology.

She was previously an associate clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She is on the editorial boards of Practical Dermatology and Dermatology Times.

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