Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Can Be Mistaken for PsoriasisEczemaSeborrheic DermatitisPityriasis RoseaLichen PlanusOnychomycosisLupusSquamous Cell CarcinomaMycosis Fungoides
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Can Be Mistaken for Psoriasis
Eczema
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Pityriasis Rosea
Lichen Planus
Onychomycosis
Lupus
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Mycosis Fungoides
Also, differenttypes of psoriasishave variations in their appearance, location, and severity. 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.
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Conditions that may appear similar to psoriasis include:
To avoid misdiagnosis, healthcare providers anddermatologistsusually do adifferential diagnosisto rule out conditions with symptoms similar to psoriasis. When in doubt, they can exclude other possible causes using blood tests, cultures, skin biopsies, and other tools. This allows them to accurately confirm the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment.
Ask an Expert: How Can I Avoid a Misdiagnosis When It Comes to My Skin Condition?
Eczema tends to be itchier than psoriasis and can cause oozing and crusting when scratched. With psoriasis, the plaques can easily bleed when scratched, leaving behind a peppered pattern of blood spots known as theAuspitz’s sign.
The differences are most apparent under the microscope:
Eczema vs. PsoriasisEczema tends to be itchier than psoriasis and can cause oozing and crusting when scratched.With psoriasis, the plaques can easily bleed when scratched, leaving behind a peppered pattern of blood spots known as theAuspitz’s sign.
Eczema vs. Psoriasis
Eczema tends to be itchier than psoriasis and can cause oozing and crusting when scratched.With psoriasis, the plaques can easily bleed when scratched, leaving behind a peppered pattern of blood spots known as theAuspitz’s sign.
Eczema tends to be itchier than psoriasis and can cause oozing and crusting when scratched.
With psoriasis, the plaques can easily bleed when scratched, leaving behind a peppered pattern of blood spots known as theAuspitz’s sign.
Seborrheic dermatitisis a skin condition that mainly affects the scalp, causing scaly patches of red skin and stubborn dandruff. It’s easily mistaken forscalp psoriasisand vice versa.
Seborrheic Dermatitis vs. PsoriasisWith seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff flakes are fine and slightly yellowish, while the scalp is oily.With psoriasis, the flakes are silvery-white with a lamellar (scale-like) appearance. Moreover, psoriatic skin will be dry.
Seborrheic Dermatitis vs. Psoriasis
With seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff flakes are fine and slightly yellowish, while the scalp is oily.With psoriasis, the flakes are silvery-white with a lamellar (scale-like) appearance. Moreover, psoriatic skin will be dry.
With seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff flakes are fine and slightly yellowish, while the scalp is oily.
With psoriasis, the flakes are silvery-white with a lamellar (scale-like) appearance. Moreover, psoriatic skin will be dry.
Pityriasis roseais a benign skin condition. The name is Latin for “fine pink scale.”
Pityriasis Rosea vs. PsoriasisThe 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.
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.
Understanding Pityriasis Rosea vs. Guttate Psoriasis
Lichen planusis a skin condition thought to be autoimmune. It causes swelling and irritation in the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. Lichen planus can create lacy white patches when it appears in the mouth, vagina, or other mucosal tissues.
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. But with lichen planus, there will be a band-like area of damage between the upper layer of skin (epidermis) and the middle layer (dermis).
Lichen Planus vs. Psoriasis
Lichen planus can also affect mucosal tissues, whereas psoriasis won’t.
Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium,is a fungal infection of the nails.
Nail psoriasisis frequently mistaken for onychomycosis. They have similar symptoms, like the thickening, crumbling, and lifting of the nail plate, and the formation of abnormal ridges and dents.
Onychomycosis vs. PsoriasisOne of the first clues that a nail disorder is psoriatic is the appearance of skin plaques elsewhere on the body.A healthcare provider or dermatologist will take a scraping from the nail and examine it under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis. If there are no fungal spores, it can reasonably be assumed that psoriasis is the cause.
Onychomycosis vs. Psoriasis
One of the first clues that a nail disorder is psoriatic is the appearance of skin plaques elsewhere on the body.A healthcare provider or dermatologist will take a scraping from the nail and examine it under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis. If there are no fungal spores, it can reasonably be assumed that psoriasis is the cause.
One of the first clues that a nail disorder is psoriatic is the appearance of skin plaques elsewhere on the body.
A healthcare provider or dermatologist will take a scraping from the nail and examine it under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis. If there are no fungal spores, it can reasonably be assumed that psoriasis is the cause.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as lupus, is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems, including the skin.
One of the tell-tale signs of lupus is a rash formation on the cheeks and nose. This is called a butterfly rash.
Healthcare providers can usually confirm lupus with a series of blood tests, including the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. Skin biopsy, including the use of direct and indirect immunofluorescent tests, can also confirm lupus as the cause.
Lupus vs. PsoriasisWhen lupus affects the skin specifically—a condition known asdiscoid lupus erythematosus—the lesions will be far less scaly than psoriasis and lack the lamellar appearance.
Lupus vs. Psoriasis
When lupus affects the skin specifically—a condition known asdiscoid lupus erythematosus—the lesions will be far less scaly than psoriasis and lack the lamellar appearance.
How Lupus Is Diagnosed
Squamous cell carcinoma can readily be diagnosed with askin biopsy:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma vs. PsoriasisSquamous cell carcinoma can mimic psoriasis but tends to be less scaly and limited to areas of sun-damaged skin. Generally, there will only be a handful of cancerous lesions.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma vs. Psoriasis
Squamous cell carcinoma can mimic psoriasis but tends to be less scaly and limited to areas of sun-damaged skin. Generally, there will only be a handful of cancerous lesions.
Mycosis fungoides, also known as Alibert-Bazin syndrome, is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma—a dermatological variation of blood cancer known asnon-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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. Over time, the lesions can develop elsewhere, causing widespread redness or discoloration (depending on one’s skin tone) and itching but far less scaling.
A skin biopsy can help differentiate the diseases. With mycosis fungoides, the biopsied tissue will have microscopic pus-filled cavities in the epidermal layer, known as Pautrier abscesses.
Mycosis Fungoides vs. Psoriasis
Mycosis fungoides is easily confused with psoriasis in the early stages.
How Lymphoma Is Diagnosed
See a Healthcare Provider
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.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Asz-sigall D, Tosti A, Arenas R.Tinea Unguium: Diagnosis and Treatment in Practice.Mycopathologia. 2017;182(1-2):95-100. doi:10.1007/s11046-016-0078-4Haneke E.Nail psoriasis: clinical features, pathogenesis, differential diagnoses, and management.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:51–63. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126281Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240–249.Additional ReadingKim, W.; Jerome, D.; and Yeung, J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician.2017;63(4):278-85.Young, M.; Aldredge, L.; and Parker, P.Psoriasis for the primary care practitioner.J Am Assn Nurse Pract.2017;29(3):157-78. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12443
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Asz-sigall D, Tosti A, Arenas R.Tinea Unguium: Diagnosis and Treatment in Practice.Mycopathologia. 2017;182(1-2):95-100. doi:10.1007/s11046-016-0078-4Haneke E.Nail psoriasis: clinical features, pathogenesis, differential diagnoses, and management.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:51–63. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126281Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240–249.Additional ReadingKim, W.; Jerome, D.; and Yeung, J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician.2017;63(4):278-85.Young, M.; Aldredge, L.; and Parker, P.Psoriasis for the primary care practitioner.J Am Assn Nurse Pract.2017;29(3):157-78. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12443
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Asz-sigall D, Tosti A, Arenas R.Tinea Unguium: Diagnosis and Treatment in Practice.Mycopathologia. 2017;182(1-2):95-100. doi:10.1007/s11046-016-0078-4Haneke E.Nail psoriasis: clinical features, pathogenesis, differential diagnoses, and management.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:51–63. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126281Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240–249.
Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475
Asz-sigall D, Tosti A, Arenas R.Tinea Unguium: Diagnosis and Treatment in Practice.Mycopathologia. 2017;182(1-2):95-100. doi:10.1007/s11046-016-0078-4
Haneke E.Nail psoriasis: clinical features, pathogenesis, differential diagnoses, and management.Psoriasis (Auckl). 2017;7:51–63. doi:10.2147/PTT.S126281
Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240–249.
Kim, W.; Jerome, D.; and Yeung, J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician.2017;63(4):278-85.Young, M.; Aldredge, L.; and Parker, P.Psoriasis for the primary care practitioner.J Am Assn Nurse Pract.2017;29(3):157-78. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12443
Kim, W.; Jerome, D.; and Yeung, J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician.2017;63(4):278-85.
Young, M.; Aldredge, L.; and Parker, P.Psoriasis for the primary care practitioner.J Am Assn Nurse Pract.2017;29(3):157-78. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12443
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