Have you recently noticed your skin is abnormally irritated? Maybe you’ve noticed dry flakiness or red patches and you’re not entirely sure why that’s happening. Do you think it could be psoriasis? What is psoriasis? If you’re concerned about your chances of having it, keep reading.

What Does Psoriasis Look Like?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack healthy skin cells. It’s a chronic disease with no known cause or cure, and people living with psoriasis can often see periods of flare-ups as well as periods of remission. Some of the symptoms associated with this disease are:

Rashes or patches of silver, scaly skin

These are the telltale signs of psoriasis. Known as plaques, these patches are typically white or silver and can be covered in loose, thick patches of skin. This is typically seen on the elbows, knees, and around the hairline and can grow to cover large areas.

Red patches of skin

These patches of flat, red skin typically appear in places where skin rubs together, such as between your elbows, under your armpits, or around your genitals. These symptoms are often exasperated by sweat or rubbing of the skin.

Patches on the scalp or around the hairline

If you have scalp psoriasis, you may find either red patches or silver, scaly skin on top of your head or around your hairline. These can be mild and can easily be mistaken for dandruff or simply a dry scalp.

Dry, cracked, or itchy skin

Patches caused by psoriasis tend to be very dry and can often crack and bleed. This can be very painful for those living with this disease. If you have psoriasis on your scalp, you may find your head to be itchy, dry, and sore.

Discolored or broken nails

Psoriasis can also cause problems with your nails as well. You may notice your nails developing a yellow color, thickening skin underneath your nails, and ridges or small holes in the nails. They may also lift up from your nail bed and collect debris underneath.

There are many different types of psoriasis, all of which affect the skin in different ways and on different areas of the body. Plaque psoriasis, for example, is the most common and affects 80% of people living with this disease and causes those patches of silver, scaly skin. Other types, like guttate psoriasis, have symptoms that are very different from the ones listed above and can cause small red dots on your arms, legs, chest, stomach, and back. Because there are so many different ways that psoriasis can show up on the skin, it can easily be mistaken for other skin issues.

How Is Psoriasis Different From Other Skin Problems?

Now you may be thinking to yourself: I often have dry skin on my scalp, does that mean that I have psoriasis? The thing is that there are a lot of diseases and other skin problems that have similar symptoms to psoriasis. How do I know it isn’t just dandruff or irritated skin? How do I know it isn’t eczema or something more serious?

A lot of other skin diseases mimic psoriasis, so it can be difficult to tell which one you’re dealing with. One way you can determine what you may be dealing with is by noticing where on your body you’re seeing the problem. Although psoriasis can show up anywhere on the body, it is more likely to show up on your elbows, knees, head, and lower back. If you’re noticing dryness or discoloration on your face, then it’s possible that you have something else.

Another thing to consider is when you started to see your symptoms appear, and if they are related to your recent activity. If you live in a place where it gets cold in the winter, your skin can become dry and cracked simply from the dry air. Or if you recently spent a lot of time in a warm, moist environment, you might have picked up a fungal infection. Even using a new soap, lotion, or face product can cause your skin to become red and irritated. Psoriasis has no direct cause, so if you can link your symptoms back to a specific event or irritant it’s probably safe to assume you’re dealing with something else.

You should also take notice of any accompanying symptoms you may have. If your red, warm, and swollen face is accompanied by sore eyes and blurry vision, then you might be dealing with rosacea. If you’re experiencing skin problems on your back as well as fevers, an upset stomach, and shooting pain, then you may have shingles. These things are a great indicator of whether or not you should be concerned that you have psoriasis.

The best thing you can do to determine if you have psoriasis or not is to pay attention to your body. Keep track of your symptoms and take notice of if they’re improving or getting worse. The more information you are able to provide to your doctor, the easier it will be for them to give you the correct diagnosis.

Do You Think You Have Psoriasis?

So, do you think you have psoriasis? The next step is to call your primary care doctor or a dermatologist and set up an appointment. Psoriasis can usually be diagnosed with a simple examination, however, it is sometimes necessary for a physician to take a small sample of skin in order to get a proper diagnosis.

Psoriasis may seem only skin deep, but it can cause a lot of serious health issues if left untreated, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and certain psychological disorders. It’s really important that if you think you may have psoriasis to have it checked out by a medical professional. If you walk away from your appointment with a psoriasis diagnosis, don’t fret! Many people live with this disease and still live beautiful, healthy lives. With proper treatment and care, you’ll be able to get your skin under control.