8 Skin Issues That Can Mimic Psoriasis
Psoriasisis challenging todiagnose.
Healthcare providers primarily rely on the appearance of the lesions (plaques).
Also, differenttypes of psoriasishave variations in their appearance, location, and severity.
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This is why it’s common to misdiagnose psoriasis or incorrectly diagnose another condition as psoriasis.
Your symptoms may be due to psoriasis.
But here are eight medical conditions your healthcare provider will likely consider before coming to that conclusion.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
This allows them to accurately confirm the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment.
Eczema tends to be itchier than psoriasis and can cause oozing and crusting when scratched.
It’s easily mistaken forscalp psoriasisand vice versa.
As with eczema, the conditions can be differentiated under the microscope by their acanthotic or non-acanthotic appearance.
With psoriasis, the flakes are silvery-white with a lamellar (scale-like) appearance.
Moreover, psoriatic skin will be dry.
Pityriasis Rosea
Pityriasis roseais a benign skin condition.
The name is Latin for “fine pink scale.”
This is called aherald patch.
Pityriasis rosea usually resolves completely within six to eight weeks.
Psoriasis is characterized by recurrentflares.
Pityriasis Rosea vs. Psoriasis
The characteristic rash pattern is usually enough to differentiate pityriasis rosea from psoriasis.
Psoriasis plaques tend to be far more irregular in shape with a more pronounced scaling.
Lichen Planus
Lichen planusis a skin condition thought to be autoimmune.
It causes swelling and irritation in the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes.
Lichen planus will typically manifest with psoriasis-like lesions on the wrists and limbs.
Under the microscope, psoriasis and lichen planus both have an acanthotic appearance.
Lichen Planus vs. Psoriasis
Lichen planus can be differentiated by the appearance of the skin lesions.
They are thick like in psoriasis but are more purple and lack the characteristic scales.
Lichen planus can also affect mucosal tissues, whereas psoriasis won’t.
Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium,is a fungal infection of the nails.
Nail psoriasisis frequently mistaken for onychomycosis.
If there are no fungal spores, it can reasonably be assumed that psoriasis is the cause.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
One of the tell-tale signs of lupus is a rash formation on the cheeks and nose.
This is called a butterfly rash.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinomais the second most common throw in of skin cancer.
It manifests with thick, flat, scaly nodules.
Generally, there will only be a handful of cancerous lesions.
Mycosis fungoides manifests with rash-like patches of skin.
The lesions will appear scaly and often be extremely itchy in the early stages.
The buttocks are often the first part of the body affected.
A skin biopsy can help differentiate the diseases.
Mycosis Fungoides vs. Psoriasis
Mycosis fungoides is easily confused with psoriasis in the early stages.
Unlike psoriasis, mycosis fungoides is often accompanied by persistently swollenlymph nodes.
Pancreas and liver enlargement are also common.
This is why self-diagnosing psoriasis is never a good idea.
If you’re worried about a skin condition, ask your healthcare provider for a referral to a dermatologist.
Mention both skin-related and non-skin-related symptoms.
Doing so increases your chance of reaching the correct diagnosis.
Rendon A, Schakel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci.
