More than eight million people in the United States have psoriasis, which most commonly causes itchy, patches of thick, red, dry skin called plaques.
Although there are signs and symptoms that distinguish the disease from other skin conditions, it is not always easy to distinguish it at first.
Because psoriasis can resemble other skin conditions that cause scaly, itchy patches with inflammation, it is often confused with various disorders. These may include common skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, or rashes.
Psoriasis can also look and be confused with a fungal infection known as ringworm.
Most of the time, psoriasis can be diagnosed during a physical exam. A skin biopsy may be necessary to rule out other possibilities and reach a definitive diagnosis.
When trying to identify psoriasis, here are some things you can pay attention to.
(The following images depict real people suffering from health conditions and are graphic.)
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