Psoriasis: Understand it inside out

Photograph of someone touching their psoriasis on their elbow.
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QUICK LINKS
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Understand symptoms
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Learn about diagnosis
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Psoriasis on hand

Psoriasis shows on the outside, but it starts from within1

Psoriasis affects about 125 million people worldwide2. It causes dry, itchy patches when skin cells build up too fast. Flare-ups can happen anytime and impact both body and mind. It can look different from person to person, which can make it harder to recognise.3,4
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SYMPTOMS AND AREAS OF THE BODY

Psoriasis: A visual guide

Select an area of the body below to learn about common symptoms and how they could appear.
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Scalp
Scalp
Elbows
Elbows
Forearms
Forearms
Palms
Palms
Stomach
Stomach
Bottom of feet
Bottom of feet
Shins
Shins
Genitals
Genitals

How psoriasis impacts the scalp

Psoriasis on the scalp can cause red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques),
itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.4,5,7
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Photograph showing psoriasis on the scalp behind the ear.
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Close-up of psoriasis plaques on a patient's forehead, spreading upwards into the hairline.
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Photograph showing psoriasis on the scalp, associated with itching and hair loss.
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Close-up of scalp psoriasis behind the ear, showing red, inflamed skin.
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Photograph showing psoriasis on the scalp with dandruff, causing itching and bleeding.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Scalp
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How psoriasis impacts the elbows

Psoriasis on the elbows can lead to red, purple, or brown rough patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, pustules or blisters, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.5,8
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Photograph of how psoriasis affects the elbows.
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Psoriasis plaques on an elbow joint, showing thick, white scaly patches, inflamed skin.
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Psoriasis patches on the forearm, between the elbow and wrist.
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Close-up of a person's hands affected by psoriasis, showing red, inflamed skin.
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Close-up of psoriasis on the upper arm just above and below the elbow, showing raised, red plaques covered with silvery scales.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Elbows
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How psoriasis impacts the forearms

Psoriasis on the forearms can create red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, pustules or blisters, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.5,9
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Psoriasis plaques on a darker skin tone, extending from the forearm to completely cover the hand.
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Close-up of psoriasis on the forearm, showing raised, red plaques covered with dry, silvery scales across the skin.
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Inflamed and red psoriasis plaques on the skin, showing signs of severe irritation.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Forearms
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How psoriasis impacts the palms

Psoriasis on the palms can result in red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, pustules or blisters, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.5,10,11
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Close-up of palmoplantar psoriasis on the palms of the hands, showing thick, cracked skin.
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Close-up of psoriasis on the palms of both hands, showing thick, cracked skin with peeling yellow scales.
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Close-up of both palms, showing deep redness, severe inflammation, and irritated skin.
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Close-up of a blister on the palm, showing intensely red, inflamed, and highly irritated skin.
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Close-up of a palm with psoriasis, showing dry, peeling yellow-brown scales and bleeding from deep cracks in the skin.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Palms
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How psoriasis impacts the stomach

Psoriasis on the stomach can cause red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, pustules or blisters, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.4,5
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Close-up of psoriasis on the chest and stomach, showing raised plaques alongside dark brown hyperpigmented spots on the skin.
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Close-up of psoriasis on the stomach, showing raised, intensely red plaques.
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Close-up of psoriasis on the stomach, showing raised, red spots and inflamed skin.
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Psoriasis on the stomach, showing intensely red, raised plaques with dry, peeling scales.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Stomach
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How psoriasis impacts the bottom of feet

Psoriasis on the bottom of the feet can create red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, pustules or blisters, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.4,5,10
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Red, scaly psoriasis plaques covering the sole and heel of a foot.
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Close-up of the sole of a foot with severe psoriasis, showing inflamed red plaques with thick, yellowish, crusty scales and peeling skin across the arch.
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Close-up of both soles of the foots showing severe, intensely red and inflamed skin with widespread peeling and fine white scaling.
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Severe pustular psoriasis on the sole of a foot, showing yellow blisters and dark crusted spots.
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Thick, yellowish, and cracked skin on the sole of a foot, with red sores on top.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Bottom of feet
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How psoriasis impacts the shins

Psoriasis on the shins can cause red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, pustules or blisters, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.4,5,12
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Plaque psoriasis on dark skin, presenting as multiple scaly, silvery-white patches.
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Multiple pink and silvery psoriasis plaques on both knees and legs.
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Multiple red, scaly psoriasis plaques on both knees and lower legs.
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A single, round psoriasis plaque with a thick, silvery scale on a red, inflamed base.
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Close-up of plaque psoriasis on both knees, showing patches of red, inflamed skin with a fine, silvery-white scaling.
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Silvery-white, scaly psoriasis plaques on both knees.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Shins
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How psoriasis impacts the genitals

Psoriasis on the genitals can cause red, purple, or brown patches, thick raised skin (plaques), itching, irritation, burning, or stinging, and dry skin that may crack or bleed.5,7
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A red, inflamed psoriasis plaque in the skin fold between the buttocks.
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Red, scaly psoriasis patches located in the skin fold between the buttocks.
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A smooth, red psoriasis plaque on the genital area.
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Close-up of genital psoriasis on the penis, showing a smooth, red, and well-defined patch of inflamed skin.
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A small, shiny, red psoriasis lesion on the genital skin.
Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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Genitals
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UNDERSTANDING FLARE-UPS

Know your triggers

Psoriasis triggers are unique to you. Knowing and documenting them
can help you manage your flare ups and have a better conversation with
your dermatologist.
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Injuries (cuts, scrapes, bug bites, or sunburn)4
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Infections, such as strep throat, flu, or common cold4
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Using or stopping certain medications4
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Dry air, like in winter4
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Stress4
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Smoking4
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BUILD UNDERSTANDING

Psoriasis looks and feels different for everyone

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Psoriasis symptoms and severity are different for everyone. Some people might have mild, itchy patches, while others have more severe, red, and scaly skin.4

Psoriasis can also look different. It often looks salmon, dark brown, purple or violet with a grayish scale on darker skin tones, while on lighter skin tones, psoriasis appears red with a silvery scale on top.13

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Psoriasis on darker skin tones6

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  • Plaques may be thicker and have more scaling
  • More skin may be affected compared to lighter skin tones
  • Psoriasis flares may be misdiagnosed as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark patches on the skin)
Photograph showing Psoriasis on darker skin tones

Things to discuss with your dermatologist

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Your dermatologist may ask about your symptoms, family history, and any recent stress or illness. They’ll check your skin, nails, and joints. If needed, they might take a small skin sample (called a biopsy) to help confirm if it’s psoriasis.

Since flare ups can happen anytime, it can be helpful to keep track of triggers and symptoms.

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Helping your diagnosis

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There are things you can do to help reach an accurate diagnosis:

  • Take photos during a flare up
  • Document your symptoms
  • Make note of environmental changes/potential causes of flare ups

Having this information in hand helps your dermatologist.

A lady doctor guiding a male patient through health data on a digital display during a consultation.
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Treatment and trials

Psoriasis is long-term. Your relief should be too.

While there’s no cure for psoriasis, your doctor may suggest a variety of treatment options depending on where the plaques are on your body, how many you have, and how big of an impact it’s having on your life. These can include topicals (medicine on the skin), oral medications, biologic medications, or light therapy.

References

  1. Psoriasis Association. About Psoriasis. Psoriasis Association website. [accessed May 8, 2026]. Available from: https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/about-psoriasis
  2. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis Statistics. Psoriasis Foundation website. [accessed May 8, 2026.] Available from: https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriasis-statistics.
  3. World Health Organization. Global Report on Psoriasis. World Health Organization website. [accessed May 8, 2026]. Available from:  https://apo.who.int/publications/i/item/global-report-on-psoriasis.
  4. Mayo Clinic Staff. Psoriasis: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic website. [accessed May 8, 2026]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355840.
  5. NHS. Psoriasis: Chronic Plaque Psoriasis. NHS website. [accessed May 8, 2026]. Available from:
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/#chronic-plaque-psoriasis.
  6. Alexis AF, Blackcloud P. Psoriasis in skin of color: epidemiology, genetics, clinical presentation, and treatment nuances. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(11):16_24. PMID: 25584139.
  7. Cleveland Clinic. Scalp psoriasis: symptoms, plaque, causes and treatment. 2022 [accessed 18 May 2026]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22828-scalp-psoriasis
  8. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis on the elbows. [accessed 18 May 2026]. Available from: https://www.psoriasis.org/elbows/#overview
  9. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis on the arms. [accessed 18 May 2026]. Available from: https://www.psoriasis.org/arms/
  10. DermNet. Psoriasis of the palms and soles. 2015 [accessed 18 May 2026]. Available from: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/psoriasis-of-the-palms-and-soles
  11. Medical News Today. Psoriasis on the hands. 2023 [accessed 18 May 2026]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/psoriasis-on-hands
  12. National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis on the legs. [accessed 18 May 2026]. Available from: https://www.psoriasis.org/legs/#overview
  13. American Academy of Dermatology. Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color? American Academy of Dermatology website. [accessed 4 June 2026]. Available from: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/treatment/could-have/skin-color
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TREATMENT_AND_TRIALS
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