Callender Dermatology and Cosmetic Center | Glenn Dale MD

How to Tell the Difference Between Psoriasis and a Skin Rash

Having dry, itchy skin is something that you may have experienced a time or two before, but it’s not necessarily something that you want to have to deal with. `Unfortunately, when you are suffering from rash-like symptoms, they can be caused by a variety of different things, including a condition called psoriasis. So, how can you tell the difference between a regular rash and psoriasis?

A Regular Rash

A regular skin rash that is caused by something like an allergic reaction will typically go away after a couple of days. One way to tell if allergies cause your skin rash is to take something like Benadryl to help ease the swelling, redness, and itchiness. If you keep on getting frequent skin rashes, we may be able to do some tests to determine just where the outbreak is coming from and how we can treat it. For instance, if you are allergic to laundry detergent, we will encourage you to switch to a fragrance-free soap.

Psoriasis

Although you may at first think that you have a regular rash, you will notice different symptoms as well if you have psoriasis. Typically, patients who have psoriasis will see that they get a rash not just on one part of the body but all over. Additionally, other signs and symptoms include:

  • Red, raised, inflamed patches of skin.
  • Skin that is dry and that may crack and bleed
  • Swollen, painful joints
  • White or silver scales on the red patches.
  • Soreness skin around patches
  • Itching and burning sensations on the skin
  • Thick, pitted nails.

Although there is currently no cure for psoriasis, we can typically help patients alleviate many of their symptoms with laser. Laser is ideal because you don’t have to do it every day, and many patients will go into remission after a few laser sessions.

Being comfortable in your skin is one thing, but literally being comfortable in your skin is another. If you suffer from dry, itchy, painful, swollen skin, then you may have an underlying condition like an allergy or even psoriasis.

Want to learn more? If so, contact our Glenn Dale office and call us at 301.249.0970.

Posted in: Medical Dermatology

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