How to Recognize the Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that occurs when the skin cells begin to replenish themselves too quickly. This leads to a buildup of dead skin cells that usually appear in the form of red, scaly patches.Psoriasis usually affects adults. The most common type of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis. Other types include guttae, pustular, inverse and erythrodermic. Psoriasis is not contagious, and it is rarely medically dangerous, but because it can cause significant discomfort as well as low self esteem, it is important to learn how to recognize the symptoms of psoriasis.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Hand held and wall mirrors
• Bright light, especially a flourescent light

Recognize the Symptoms of Psoriasis

1. Do a complete skin exam using a bright light and a mirror at least once a month to check for any rashes, new moles or marks and changes in existing skin conditions.
2. Check your skin for red, raised patches with white or silvery scales. These patches are usually symptoms of plaque psoriasis, the most common form.
3. Look under your folds of skin if you are obese. Inverse psoriasis, which causes redness and itching, may form in the skin folds of overweight people. The culprits appear to be friction and perspiration.
4. Observe your hands and feet for small, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters are a symptom of a rare, but usually harmless, form of psoriasis called pustular psoriasis.
5. Scrutinize your limbs, trunk, and scalp for marks that look like small red droplets. These are symptoms of guttae psoriasis, thought to be caused by an infection in childhood. Guttae psoriasis will usually clear up in a matter of weeks.
6. See a doctor for initial diagnosis and any unexplained changes in the appearance of your skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Recognize the exact cause of psoriasis is not known.
• Know the risk factors of psoriasis include a family history of the disease, skin that has been injured, burned, or sunburned, living in a cold climate and obesity.
• Once you have been diagnosed with psoriasis, you will not need to see a physician for each outbreak unless your psoriasis causes you pain, prevents you from going about your daily routine, becomes psychologically distressing, expands to cover a large part of your body, or changes radically in appearance.
• You should always allow your doctor to make the initial diagnosis of psoriasis, since other conditions, including skin cancers, can mimic the appearance of psoriasis.

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