Diagnosis
In most cases, a diagnosis of psoriasis is relatively straightforward and includes the following:
- Physical exam and medical history.
- Skin biopsy (rare).
There are several different kinds of psoriasis including plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, palmoplantar, and nail.
Symptoms of psoriasis may include:
- Worsening of erythematous scaly areas
- Plaque onset (small areas of scaly redness)
- Recent streptococcal throat infection, immunization, use of antimalarial drug, viral infection, or trauma
- Family history of skin conditions
- Pruritus
- Afebrile
- Dystrophic nails
- Joint pain (with/without long-term rash)
Conditions that may mimic psoriasis include seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, tinea corporis. Generally, psoriasis is classified as mild, moderate, or severe, based on body coverage.
REFERENCES
- Meffert, J. Psoriasis Clinical Presentation. Medscape. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1943419-clinical.
- National Institutes of Health. Psoriasis. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0022696/.