When to See a Doctor and What to Expect

Your name: Your e-mail address: Your friend's e-mail addresses:

(separate multiple addresses with comma)
Indicates required field
Message (limit 100 characters)
Enter answer below:

(Why the math? It protects against spam)
=
Send
Cancel
Your message has been successfully sent!

All of these symptoms should be checked by a doctor:

• Red, dry skin that itches or flakes off
• Pitted or discolored nails
• Joints that are stiff in the morning and painful, swollen, or limited in motion for more than 2 weeks -- with or without skin changes (although possibly with an eye infection)
• Skin problems that are spreading
• Fever
• Dark, raised bump or spots on your skin.

There is no blood test for psoriasis. Usually, it's diagnosed by a visual examination. So in addition to taking a thorough medical history, your doctor will carefully go over the affected areas on your skin, nails, or scalp to determine whether it's psoriasis or something else. Occasionally, a small sample (biopsy) of affected skin may be taken for microscopic examination, though this is relatively rare.

If you have joint pain or stiffness, your doctor may also do a physical exam, x-ray your joints, do a blood test, and withdraw joint fluid for examination to rule out other kinds of arthritis.