% Symptoms and Complications of Psoriasis Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Psoriasis
Psoriasis Symptoms and Complications
There are several types of psoriasis, each with its own signs and symptoms. By Cathy CassataMedically Reviewed by Ross Radusky, MDReviewed: January 26, 2022Medically ReviewedPsoriasis symptoms can range from a few spots to major eruptions.Getty ImagesThe signs and symptoms of psoriasis vary depending on the person and type of psoriasis.Although psoriasis is a chronic condition that lasts a lifetime, some people may find that symptoms clear up for months or years at a time. This is known as remission.
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Scarlett Brown 2 minutes ago
Common symptoms of psoriasis include:Plaques — raised, inflamed patches of skin covered with scale...
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Madison Singh 2 minutes ago
Most types of psoriasis go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a t...
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Chloe Santos Moderator
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Common symptoms of psoriasis include:Plaques — raised, inflamed patches of skin covered with scale (the buildup of dead skin cells). On white skin, plaques typically appear red with silvery-white scale, while on skin of color plaques may be purple, gray, or dark brownSmall, round, scaly spots (common in children with psoriasis)Dry, cracked skin that may bleedItching, burning, or sorenessThickened, pitted, or ridged nailsSwollen and stiff joints
Psoriasis patches can range from a few spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions that cover large areas.
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Mia Anderson Member
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Most types of psoriasis go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a time or even going into complete remission.
Everything You Need to Know About Biologics for Psoriasis
Get the facts about the most targeted psoriasis treatment option.Consumer’s Guide
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most prevalent type of psoriasis.
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Joseph Kim 6 minutes ago
As many as 90 percent of people with psoriasis have this form. If you have plaque psoriasis, one of ...
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William Brown Member
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As many as 90 percent of people with psoriasis have this form. If you have plaque psoriasis, one of the most common symptoms is raised, inflamed patches of skin that are covered with scale. These patches are known as plaques.
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Ella Rodriguez 8 minutes ago
The following are signs that you may have plaque psoriasis:Raised, inflamed skin patches that can ap...
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Christopher Lee Member
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Tuesday, 29 April 2025
The following are signs that you may have plaque psoriasis:Raised, inflamed skin patches that can appear anywhere on the bodyA scaly coating on skin patchesFrequent locations for patches include the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalpItchingPatches that thicken when scratchedPatches varying in size, either alone or joined togetherNails that are pitted, crumbling, or falling off
6 Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms You Shouldn' t Ignore
Psoriatic Arthritis can impact both your physical and emotional health. Look out for these common symptoms and see a healthcare provider if you experience them.
9 Ways To Relieve Psoriatic Foot Symptoms
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Guttate Psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis is the second most common type of psoriasis, affecting roughly 8 percent of people who have the disease.
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William Brown 15 minutes ago
This type of psoriasis may clear up without any treatment, but it sometimes requires medical attenti...
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Isaac Schmidt 9 minutes ago
Symptoms of guttate psoriasis include:Small spots that are most common on the trunk, arms, and legs,...
This type of psoriasis may clear up without any treatment, but it sometimes requires medical attention. It may appear for a single episode, typically following an illness like strep throat, or it may signal the start of plaque psoriasis.
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Henry Schmidt 3 minutes ago
Symptoms of guttate psoriasis include:Small spots that are most common on the trunk, arms, and legs,...
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Isaac Schmidt 12 minutes ago
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis, also known as flexu...
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Amelia Singh Moderator
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Symptoms of guttate psoriasis include:Small spots that are most common on the trunk, arms, and legs, but can show up anywhere on the bodySpots that clear up in a few weeks or months without treatment
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pustular Psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is an uncommon form of the disease that affects an estimated 3 percent of people with psoriasis. It often occurs in older adults, though it can appear in people of any age. Possible symptoms include:Discolored, swollen, and dotted skin with pus-filled bumpsBumps, often only on the palms and solesSore, painful bumpsDiscolored dots or scale on the skin after pus-filled bumps dry
When pus-filled bumps cover the body, you may have inflamed skin and feel ill, exhausted, have a fever, chills, severe itching, rapid pulse, loss of appetite, or muscle weakness.
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis, also known as flexu...
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Chloe Santos Moderator
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis, also known as flexural psoriasis, is a type of psoriasis that forms in skin folds, such as the armpits, genitals, and under the breasts. Inverse psoriasis occurs in 21 to 30 percent of people with psoriasis, usually alongside some other form of the condition. It can be one of the most painful and irritating forms of the disease.
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Andrew Wilson 5 minutes ago
The symptoms of inverse psoriasis include:Smooth, discolored patches of skin — on skin of color th...
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Victoria Lopez 8 minutes ago
Its symptoms include:Skin that looks burnedBright red or otherwise discolored skin over much of the ...
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Emma Wilson Admin
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Tuesday, 29 April 2025
The symptoms of inverse psoriasis include:Smooth, discolored patches of skin — on skin of color these may appear purplish, brown, or darker than the surrounding skin, while on white skin these lesions may be bright red and shinySore skinPatches only on creases of the skin, like the armpits, near the groin, genitals, and buttocksRaw patches under the fold of the breast
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare, potentially life-threatening type of psoriasis, diagnosed in roughly 2 percent of people with the disease. It is a particularly inflammatory form of psoriasis that affects most of the body, and it can occur in association with pustular psoriasis.
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Hannah Kim 3 minutes ago
Its symptoms include:Skin that looks burnedBright red or otherwise discolored skin over much of the ...
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Brandon Kumar Member
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Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Its symptoms include:Skin that looks burnedBright red or otherwise discolored skin over much of the bodyFeeling very hot or very coldRapid heartbeatIntense itchingSevere pain
How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed
Most of the time, your physician can diagnose psoriasis by taking your medical history and examining your skin, scalp, and nails. In some cases, a skin biopsy may be done to determine the type of psoriasis, and to rule out other disorders that look similar to psoriasis, such as dyshidrotic eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus, ringworm, and pityriasis rosea.
Can Psoriasis Lead to Other Health Complications
Having psoriasis could put you at risk for developing other medical conditions.
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Oliver Taylor 36 minutes ago
Your skin plays a vital role in regulating body temperature, providing hydration, and protecting aga...
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Madison Singh 42 minutes ago
People with psoriatic arthritis experience painful, swollen joints and other symptoms. You can devel...
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Daniel Kumar Member
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Your skin plays a vital role in regulating body temperature, providing hydration, and protecting against infection. When skin disorders such as psoriasis affect the body, certain changes take place that may lead to additional problems. Doctors aren’t sure if the risk of developing other conditions is solely related to the disease itself or if psoriasis treatment also plays a role.About 30 percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis, which is a form of psoriasis that affects the joints.
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Sebastian Silva 9 minutes ago
People with psoriatic arthritis experience painful, swollen joints and other symptoms. You can devel...
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James Smith 31 minutes ago
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can increase your risk of developing the following health problems...
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Harper Kim Member
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People with psoriatic arthritis experience painful, swollen joints and other symptoms. You can develop psoriatic arthritis any time, but it most commonly appears between age 30 and 50.
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Christopher Lee 16 minutes ago
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can increase your risk of developing the following health problems...
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Zoe Mueller 29 minutes ago
Celiac Disease This autoimmune disorder causes damage to the small intestine in response to the con...
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can increase your risk of developing the following health problems:
Cancer In one recent meta-analysis, researchers found an association between psoriasis and an increased risk of developing cancers, including colon and liver.The scientists note that more research is needed to better understand this link and the potential role of lifestyle factors and medications. Cardiovascular Disease A review of research studies concluded that people with psoriasis have an increased risk of heart disease and factors that may contribute to heart disease, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
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Lily Watson Moderator
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Celiac Disease This autoimmune disorder causes damage to the small intestine in response to the consumption of gluten. A research meta-analysis concluded that psoriasis patients are at increased risk of testing positive for markers of celiac disease.
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Audrey Mueller Member
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Depression A research meta-analysis found that more than one-quarter of people with psoriasis showed symptoms of depression. Diabetes According to one study, people with severe psoriasis are 30 percent more likely to have type 2 diabetes — a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels — and approximately 9 percent of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have psoriasis.
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Madison Singh 6 minutes ago
Tell your doctor if you experience any symptoms of type 2 diabetes, which may include hunger, increa...
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Isabella Johnson Member
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Tell your doctor if you experience any symptoms of type 2 diabetes, which may include hunger, increased thirst, blurred vision, or fatigue.Eye Diseases Certain eye conditions are more common in people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. These may include conjunctivitis (commonly known as pink eye), uveitis (an inflammatory disease of the eye), and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid).
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Brandon Kumar 8 minutes ago
An estimated 7 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis will develop uveitis. Hearing Problems On...
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Mason Rodriguez Member
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Tuesday, 29 April 2025
An estimated 7 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis will develop uveitis. Hearing Problems One recent study found that psoriasis significantly increased the risk of a rare form of hearing loss called SSHL (sudden sensorineural hearing loss). Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) One research meta-analysis found that people with psoriasis had a 2.53-fold increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease and a 1.71-fold increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis.
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Mia Anderson 39 minutes ago
Kidney Disease People with psoriasis are at a higher risk of developing kidney disease. A study con...
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James Smith 61 minutes ago
Liver Disease Psoriasis raises the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a c...
Kidney Disease People with psoriasis are at a higher risk of developing kidney disease. A study concluded that people with severe psoriasis are twice as likely to develop chronic kidney disease as those who have mild psoriasis or no psoriasis.
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Emma Wilson 14 minutes ago
Liver Disease Psoriasis raises the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a c...
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Grace Liu 11 minutes ago
One recent study found an association between high body mass index (BMI) and increased risk of devel...
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Lily Watson Moderator
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Liver Disease Psoriasis raises the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which too much fat is stored in the liver. Obesity Experts aren’t sure exactly why, but obesity is strongly associated with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
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Grace Liu Member
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One recent study found an association between high body mass index (BMI) and increased risk of developing psoriasis, with the higher the BMI, the greater the risk.
Resources We Love
American Osteopathic College of DermatologyPsoriasis AssociationPharmacy Times: Living With Psoriasis Just a Girl With Spots: Living With PsoriasisTalk PsoriasisAmerican Family Physician: PsoriasisPsoHoward.comInternational Federation of Psoriasis AssociationsPsoriasis Cure NowNEWSLETTERS
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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
ReferencesGisondi P, Di Mercurio M, Idolazzi L, Girolom...
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Oliver Taylor 36 minutes ago
November 2015.Psoriasis: Signs and Symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology Association.Guttate Pso...
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Ethan Thomas Member
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105 minutes ago
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
ReferencesGisondi P, Di Mercurio M, Idolazzi L, Girolomoni G. Concept of Remission in Chronic Plaque Psoriasis. Journal of Rheumatology.
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Hannah Kim Member
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November 2015.Psoriasis: Signs and Symptoms. American Academy of Dermatology Association.Guttate Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation.Pustular Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation.Erythrodermic Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation.Oliveira MFSP, Oliveira Rocha B, Duarte GV. Psoriasis: Classical and Emerging Comorbidities. Brazilian Annals of Dermatology.
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Noah Davis Member
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January-February 2015.About Psoriatic Arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation.Trafford AM, Parisi R, Kontopantelis E, et al.
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Association of Psoriasis With the Risk of Developing or Dying From Cancer. JAMA Dermatology. Octobe...
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Association of Psoriasis With the Risk of Developing or Dying From Cancer. JAMA Dermatology. October 16, 2019.Jindal S, Jindal N.
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Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Literature Review to Determine the Causal Relationship. Cur...
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Diet and Psoriasis: Part 2. Celiac Disease and Role of a Gluten-Free Diet. Journal of the American A...
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Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Literature Review to Determine the Causal Relationship. Cureus. February 2018.Bhatia BK, Millsop JW, Debbaneh M, et al.
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Diet and Psoriasis: Part 2. Celiac Disease and Role of a Gluten-Free Diet. Journal of the American A...
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Diet and Psoriasis: Part 2. Celiac Disease and Role of a Gluten-Free Diet. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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