Is That Rash Psoriasis? Psoriasis Pictures and More

More than 8 million people in the United States have psoriasis, which causes itchy, scaly patches of thick, red, dry skin called plaques. While there are signs and symptoms that set the disease apart from other conditions affecting the skin, it isn’t always easy to distinguish it at first.

Because psoriasis can look like other skin conditions that cause scaly patches and itchy rashes with inflammation, it is often confused with various disorders. These may include common skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, or heat rash. Psoriasis can also resemble and be confused with the fungal infection known as ringworm.

Psoriasis plaques can consist of a few spots of dandruff-like scales or major eruptions that cover large areas. While the disease can affect any part of your body, it most often surfaces on the scalp, elbows, knees, back, face, palms, and feet.

There are five types of psoriasis — plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and erythrodermic psoriasis — none of which is contagious. Each type of psoriasis causes a different skin rash and can appear on different areas of the body, notes the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Most of the time, psoriasis can be diagnosed with a physical examination. However, a skin biopsy may be needed to rule out other possibilities and arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

Do you know how to spot psoriasis symptoms? Here are some things you can look out for.

(The images that follow are of real medical conditions and may, in some cases, be graphic.)