Real photographs from the PPP community

Palmoplantar Pustulosis Pictures

See real photographs showing how palmoplantar pustulosis can appear on hands and feet, including redness, pustules, scaling, peeling, fissures and quieter stages between flares.

These images come from my own experience and from members of the global PPP community who shared their photographs for educational purposes. PPP can look different from person to person and from one stage of a flare to another.

View palm pictures View foot pictures

Curated by Åsa Kärrman · Patient advocate and author · Last updated August 2026

What do PPP pictures show?

Look for a pattern, not one perfect image.

Palmoplantar pustulosis usually changes through a flare. New pustules, older brown spots, redness, scale, peeling and fissures can sometimes be visible at the same time.

New pustules

Small yellow-white or cream-coloured pustules may appear on red, tender skin.

Drying and scaling

As lesions settle, scaling and peeling can become more obvious and the skin may remain red or sensitive.

Cracks and quieter phases

Thickened skin can split into painful fissures. At other times, the skin may look much calmer between flares.

Important: Photographs cannot diagnose PPP. Eczema, fungal infection, contact dermatitis and other forms of psoriasis can sometimes look similar. If you are unsure what you have, seek a professional assessment.

Real palm photographs

Palmoplantar pustulosis pictures on the hands.

These photographs show how different PPP can look from one person and one stage to another. Click any photograph to open the full-size image.

Palmoplantar pustulosis palm with widespread scaling and fissures — **Palm picture 1** Widespread scaling and visible fissures across the palm.

Palmoplantar pustulosis palm with redness and fine scaling — **Palm picture 2** Redness and fine scaling across the palm during an active-looking flare.

Close-up of palmoplantar pustulosis scaling and peeling on a palm — **Palm picture 3** Close-up showing dry scale and peeling on the palm.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with scaling and fissures near the thumb — **Palm picture 4** Scaling and small fissures in the thumb and palm area.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with diffuse scaling across a hand — **Palm picture 5** Diffuse scaling affecting much of the palm.

Close-up of palmoplantar pustulosis scaling around the thumb and palm — **Palm picture 6** Close-up of thick scale around the thumb and palm.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with redness and scaling on a palm — **Palm picture 7** An inflamed-looking palm with redness and scattered scale.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with extensive dry scaling on a palm — **Palm picture 8** Extensive dry scaling across the palm and fingers.

Close-up of peeling skin during a palmoplantar pustulosis flare — **Palm picture 9** Close-up showing peeling scale over pink skin.

Palmoplantar pustulosis fissure and scaling on a finger — **Palm picture 10** A small fissure and surrounding scale on a finger.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with thick scaling across the palm — **Palm picture 11** Thick scaling covering a large area of the palm.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with redness and scattered scaling — **Palm picture 12** Redness with scattered areas of scaling across the palm.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with diffuse redness on a palm — **Palm picture 13** Diffuse redness with fine scaling across the palm.

Palmoplantar pustulosis flare with redness and broad scaling — **Palm picture 14** Redness and broader areas of scale during a palm flare.

Close-up of red peeling skin affected by palmoplantar pustulosis — **Palm picture 15** Close-up showing red, thickened and peeling skin.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with numerous raised pustular lesions on a palm — **Palm picture 16** Numerous raised lesions across the palm with surrounding scale.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with extensive redness scaling and peeling — **Palm picture 17** Extensive redness, scaling and a larger area of peeling skin.

Palm during a quieter phase of palmoplantar pustulosis — **Palm picture 18** A quieter-looking palm with limited residual redness and dryness.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with many small lesions and scaling on a palm — **Palm picture 19** Many small lesions with scaling across the palm.

Palm during a calmer phase between palmoplantar pustulosis flares — **Palm picture 20** A calmer-looking palm with relatively little visible scaling.

Real sole photographs

Palmoplantar pustulosis pictures on the feet.

PPP on the soles can be especially difficult when scaling, thickened skin or fissures affect weight-bearing areas.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with scaling along the side and heel of a foot — **Foot picture 1** Scaling and redness along the side of the heel.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with dry scaling on the sole of a foot — **Foot picture 2** Dry scaling across the weight-bearing skin of the sole.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with peeling and scaling on the heel — **Foot picture 3** Peeling and thick scale affecting the heel.

Palmoplantar pustulosis with redness and dry skin around the heel — **Foot picture 4** Redness and dry skin around the heel and side of the foot.

Use photographs constructively

Create a photo diary for your dermatology appointment.

PPP can change before you are seen by a clinician. A simple photo record can help show the pattern and progression more clearly.

Use consistent light

Photograph the hand or foot in daylight when possible. Avoid filters and strong colour correction.

Take overview and close-up images

Include the whole palm or sole, followed by a closer photograph of pustules, scale or fissures.

Add dates and symptoms

Record pain, itching, burning, mobility and treatments alongside the photographs.

Show several stages

The beginning, peak and quieter phase together can be more informative than one isolated photograph.

Learn more about PPP

Use the pictures together with symptoms and history.

A photograph is only one piece of the puzzle. If you are trying to understand PPP, continue with the condition guide and FAQ, or explore the remission and diet resources.

What is PPP? PPP FAQ PPP remission

Medical information: This gallery is for informational and educational purposes. Photographs cannot establish a diagnosis and may not represent every skin tone, disease stage or clinical presentation.