There are several types of psoriasis, including plaque, inverse, and guttate. Their respective rashes can look different, and you can keep an eye out for the distinct features of each one.
This article will talk about psoriasis types, cover general treatment options, and show you what each type of rash looks like.
Each type of psoriasis has its own look, but it can be difficult to tell one type apart from another or to tell psoriasis apart from other kinds of rashes.
Take a look through these photos to get a better idea of what each type of psoriasis rash looks like.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease. If you have psoriasis, your skin cells regenerate much faster than usual and build up on the surface of your skin. Anyone can get psoriasis, but it’s not contagious.
There are several types of psoriasis, and you can have more than one type at once. Like other autoimmune diseases, psoriasis may involve flare-ups and periods of remission.
About 80 to 90% of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, meaning that it’s the most common form of the disease.
A plaque psoriasis rash looks like raised patches of thick, inflamed skin. On light skin tones, it looks red and scaly, often with a layer of silver on top. On dark skin tones, the plaques tend to be thicker and look purple, gray, or darker brown.
Plaques can develop anywhere but are most likely to appear on your:
scalp
elbows
knees
lower back
Plaques also tend to be symmetrical. For example, you’re more likely to have plaques on both knees or both elbows than on just one side. Other symptoms include:
Inverse psoriasis, also called intertriginous psoriasis, looks like smooth, shiny patches. On light skin it tends to be bright red, while on dark skin it may be more purple or dark brown. It doesn’t have the characteristic scaling of plaque psoriasis.
It appears in places where skin touches skin, so it may develop in the following areas:
in your armpits
in your groin area
under your breasts
in deep skin folds
This type of psoriasis can become even more irritated by perspiration (sweating) or friction (rubbing).
This form of psoriasis causes small, raised round spots called papules that sometimes look scaly. The spots might look red on light skin and purple or brown on dark skin.
Guttate psoriasis can start at any age, but for most people it starts in childhood or adolescence. It can develop after an infection such as strep throat or tonsillitis.
It’s most likely to develop on the limbs and torso, although some people get it on their scalp, face, or ears.
nail psoriasis, which can cause your fingernails or toenails to pit, crumble, or separate from the nail bed
genital psoriasis, which is not sexually transmitted but can make sex uncomfortable
Plaque, inverse, and guttate are the most common types. Others include:
Pustular psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis is most likely to develop on your hands and feet. The pustules are scaly white blisters filled with pus. The skin around the painful blisters may be red and inflamed and may crack easily.
Erythrodermic psoriasis
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a severe skin condition. The main symptom is a dry rash that covers much of your body.
On light skin, the rash looks red. On dark skin, it may look more purple or gray. The skin may look like it has been burned.
Other possible symptoms include:
shedding
severe pain
itching
Medical emergency
Erythrodermic psoriasis can cause a chemical imbalance in your body and is a life threatening condition. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you quickly develop the following symptoms:
Generalized pustular psoriasis — also known as von Zumbush psoriasis — is another uncommon but serious skin condition.
It starts out looking like a widespread dry rash. Blisters appear within a few hours and then fill with pus. As the blisters dry out, they peel, leaving a smooth surface. Over the course of a few days or weeks, new blisters may erupt, forming layers upon layers.
Medical emergency
Generalized pustular psoriasis is life threatening and requires emergency medical care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you experience the symptoms above as well as any of the following:
Many other rashes can look similar to psoriasis. It can be difficult to identify a rash on your own, so it’s best to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Although skin tone can affect the appearance of the rash, it doesn’t affect treatment.
Topicals
Most people start treatment with topical creams and ointments that they apply directly to their skin. There are many types and strengths of topical products, so if you try one that doesn’t work for you, your doctor can switch you to another.
If you have scalp psoriasis, treatment may include special shampoo.
Light therapy
In most cases, a dermatologist can perform light therapy in an office setting. This may involve UVA, UVB, or combination phototherapy. It can also involve an excimer laser.
Systemic treatment
When psoriasis is severe or other treatments aren’t helping, systemic treatments may be helpful. Systemic treatments are medications that work throughout your body.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease involving flare-ups and remissions. There’s no cure, but some people are able to identify and avoid things that trigger flare-ups.
Psoriasis rashes can look different depending on the type of psoriasis you have, the area of your body it affects, and your skin tone. Treatment should be tailored to each individual situation, based on psoriasis type, location, and severity.
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