Psoriasis

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Psoriasis on the knuckles

Plaque psoriasis

• Skin patches
  • Pink-red (so-called "salmon-colored")
  • Usually dry and covered with silvery scales
  • Raised
  • Usually individual with sharp borders
  • Most often located on the elbows, knees, and trunk
  • o Coarse scaling of the scalp
• Nail changes
• Small scaling pink-red dots on the skin (especially in children and young adults)
• Joint pain or aching, which may be a special type of arthritis (psoriatic arthritis)

• Nail abnormalities
• Genital lesions in males

The diagnosis is usually based on the appearance of the skin.

• A skin biopsy may be needed to rule out other disorders.
• An x-ray may be used to check for psoriatic arthritis if joint pain is present and persistent.

Review Date: 07/27/2006
Reviewed By: Shlomit Halachmi, MD, PhD, Private Practice Specializing in Dermatology, Somerville, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.