Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis
The most familiar symptoms are thick, dry, red patches of skin that flake off in silvery scales -- but psoriasis may begin as just small red bumps.
Other skin conditions can look like psoriasis, but they're not. For example, red, dry skin is often caused by infections, rosacea, and irritants. Seborrheic dermatitis can cause dandruff and crusty patches of skin that may be confused with scalp psoriasis. Other inflammatory skin conditions, including common atopic dermatitis (eczema), can also be mistaken for psoriasis.
Roughly half of the people with psoriasis also have irregular nail growth that causes pitting, discoloration, or, in some cases, crumbling of the fingernails and toenails. A smaller number of people also experience arthritis symptoms (joints that are stiff in the morning and painful, swollen, or limited in motion for more than 2 weeks).
