What are the symptoms of psoriasis?
There are several types of psoriasis. Symptoms for each type may vary, but the major symptoms are:
- Raised, bright red patches of skin (called plaques). They're often covered with loose, silvery scales. They're usually on the knees, elbows, or low back.
- Tiny areas of bleeding when skin scales are picked or scraped off (Auspitz's sign).
- Mild scaling to thick, crusted plaques on the scalp.
- Itching, especially during sudden flare-ups or when the plaques are in body folds, such as under the breasts or buttocks.
- Discolored or pitted nails.
Other symptoms may include:
- Similar plaques in the same area on both sides of the body.
- Flare-ups of many raindrop-shaped patches (guttate psoriasis).
- Joint swelling, tenderness, and pain (psoriatic arthritis).
- Psoriasis plaques that appear after an injury, such as a cut, a burn, or too much sun.
Symptoms may disappear (go into remission), even without treatment, and then return (flare up).