Psoriasis is a chronic disease where your immune system tells skin cells to grow too quickly. This causes skin cells to accumulate on the surface of the skin causing psoriasis to appear. One of the common ways to treat psoriasis is with topical medication. In the early 90s, dermatologists developed an easy method to accurately dose psoriasis medication. It’s called the fingertip unit.
The fingertip unit is judged by squeezing a line of medication from the tip of your forefinger to the end of the first segment, which is the bend at the first knuckle.
The amount of cream used will vary with age and gender.
* Adult male: 1 fingertip unit provides 0.5 g
* Adult female: 1 fingertip unit provides 0.4 g
* Child aged 4 years – approximately 1/3 of adult amount
* Infant 6 months to 1 year – approximately 1/4 of adult amount
However, the amount used is standardized. When applying psoriasis topical cream, use the following amounts:
| Area to be Treated | No. of Fingertip Units |
| Scalp | 3 |
| Face and neck | 2.5 |
| One hand (front and back) including fingers | 1 |
| One entire arm including entire hand | 4 |
| Elbow (psoriasis covers most of elbow) | 1 |
| Both soles | 1.5 |
| One foot (top and bottom) including toes | 1.5 |
| One entire leg including entire foot | 8 |
| Buttocks | 4 |
| Knees (psoriasis covers most of knee) | 1 |
| Trunk (from bottom of neck to hipbones) | 8 |
| Genitals | 0.5 |
| Entire body | 40 units |
With these two data points, it’s easy to calculate how much topical cream is being used and how long a 30 g tube will last you.
For example, an adult female applies cream once daily to both of her elbows. An elbow receives 1 unit (0.4 g). Applying one fingertip unit to each elbow results in using 0.8 g each day. That’s 5.6g per week. She’ll go through a 30g tube every 37.5 days, or just over five weeks.
Another example: An adult male applies topical cream once daily to his scalp, face and neck. The scalp receives 3 fingertip units. The face and neck receive 2.5 fingertip units. This is 5.5 fingertip units in total at 0.5 g each. This results in using 2.75 grams of medication a day. A 30 gram tube of cream will last 10.9 days.
If you or someone you know is battling psoriasis and is looking for relief, contact Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. Our dermatologists are experts in psoriasis treatments. Now available in Wilmington and Hampstead, NC!
Note: Chart reproduced from the Psoriasis Guidelines of Care developed by the American Academy of Dermatology. (Menter A, Korman NJ, et al. “Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2009;60:643-59.)
Psoriasis is a chronic disease where your immune system tells skin cells to grow too quickly. This causes skin cells to accumulate on the surface of the skin causing psoriasis to appear.One of the common ways to treat psoriasis is with topical medication. In the early 90s, dermatologists developed an easy method to accurately dose psoriasis medication. It’s called the fingertip unit.
The fingertip unit is judged by squeezing a line of medication from the tip of your forefinger to the end of the first segment, which is the bend at the first knuckle.
The amount of cream used will vary with age and gender.
* Adult male: 1 fingertip unit provides 0.5 g
* Adult female: 1 fingertip unit provides 0.4 g
* Child aged 4 years – approximately 1/3 of adult amount
* Infant 6 months to 1 year – approximately 1/4 of adult amount
However, the amount used is standardized. When applying psoriasis topical cream, use the following amounts:
| Area to be Treated | No. of Fingertip Units |
| Scalp | 3 |
| Face and neck | 2.5 |
| One hand (front and back) including fingers | 1 |
| One entire arm including entire hand | 4 |
| Elbow (psoriasis covers most of elbow) | 1 |
| Both soles | 1.5 |
| One foot (top and bottom) including toes | 1.5 |
| One entire leg including entire foot | 8 |
| Buttocks | 4 |
| Knees (psoriasis covers most of knee) | 1 |
| Trunk (from bottom of neck to hipbones) | 8 |
| Genitals | 0.5 |
| Entire body | 40 units |
With these two data points, it’s easy to calculate how much topical cream is being used and how long a 30 g tube will last you.
For example, an adult female applies cream once daily to both of her elbows. An elbow receives 1 unit (0.4 g). Applying one fingertip unit to each elbow results in using 0.8 g each day. That’s 5.6g per week. She’ll go through a 30g tube every 37.5 days, or just over five weeks.
Another example: An adult male applies topical cream once daily to his scalp, face and neck. The scalp receives 3 fingertip units. The face and neck receive 2.5 fingertip units. This is 5.5 fingertip units in total at 0.5 g each. This results in using 2.75 grams of medication a day. A 30 gram tube of cream will last 10.9 days.
If you or someone you know is battling psoriasis and is looking for relief, contact Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. Our dermatologists are experts in psoriasis treatments. Now available in Wilmington and Hampstead, NC!
Note: Chart reproduced from the Psoriasis Guidelines of Care developed by the American Academy of Dermatology. (Menter A, Korman NJ, et al. “Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2009;60:643-59.)
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