How is Psoriasis Detected? Symptoms and Diagnosis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that causes itchiness, redness and scaly patches on the body. While these rashes can occur all over the body, the common places where you can spot them are elbows, knees, scalp and trunk. Though there is no permanent cure for psoriasis, the condition can be managed effectively with proper treatment and healthy lifestyle changes.

Read on to understand how is psoriasis detected.

How is Psoriasis Detected

Your doctor checks for certain symptoms, such as the following, before asking you to undergo diagnostic procedures to confirm your psoriasis condition.

Symptoms to watch out for

• Plaque psoriasis –

Dry, scaly, and raised skin patches on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower spine

• Nail psoriasis –

Abnormal nail growth, discoloration of the skin in the fingers, toenails and nail beds, separation of the nails from the nail bed, nail crumbling, etc.

• Guttate psoriasis –

Small spots (usually drop-shaped) on the arms, legs and trunk; usually noticed in children and youngsters

• Inverse psoriasis –

Inflammation on smooth patches of skin on the breasts, buttocks and groin

• Pustular psoriasis –

Rare condition; pus-filled blisters on patches all over the body

• Erythrodermic psoriasis –

Rare condition; peeling or burning rashes all over the body

Diagnosis

When the doctor sees these symptoms, he begins the following diagnostic procedures:

Physical examination –

The doctor observes the patches on your skin and nails to understand the condition.

Biopsy –

Usually, the rashes and patches caused by psoriasis resemble the symptoms exhibited in skin problems like eczema. Hence, doctors may instruct you to get a biopsy to rule out other ailments. A small portion of your skin is cut and observed under a microscope to check for psoriasis symptoms.

Some common treatments for psoriasis include topical therapies, light therapy and medications. Taking a bath daily, keeping your skin hydrated, reducing overexposure to sunlight, controlling the itching sensation and following a healthy lifestyle can help manage symptoms of psoriasis effectively.

Conclusion

When you notice itchy and scaly patches all over the body, you should seek medical help immediately, as these could be symptoms of psoriasis. If the condition is left undiagnosed for a long time, it can lead to certain health risks. These include psoriatic arthritis, eye ailments, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, Type 2 diabetes and more. Hence, get a biopsy done as quickly as possible to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment accordingly.

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