Tests to Diagnose Psoriasis

Medically Reviewed by Debra Jaliman, MD on September 22, 2023
1 min read

In most cases, your primary care doctor or dermatologist will be able to diagnose psoriasis by examining your skin. However, since psoriasis can look like eczema and other skin diseases, diagnosing it can sometimes be difficult.

If your doctor isn't sure whether you have psoriasis, they may order a biopsy. Your doctor will remove a small sample of your skin and have it looked at under a microscope.

If you have symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, such as swollen and painful joints, your doctor might run blood tests and take X-rays to rule out other forms of arthritis.

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SOURCES: 
Bruce E. Strober, MD, PhD. associate director of Dermatopharmacology, Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine; co-director of the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Center; consultant for Amgen, Biogen, Genentech, Fujisawa, and 3-M. Jeffrey M. Weinberg, MD, director of the Clinical Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York City; assistant clinical professor of dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; consultant for Amgen and Genentech. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases web site. American Academy of Dermatology web site. WebMD Medical Reference with Healthwise: "Psoriasis." American Academy of Dermatology, PsoriasisNet web site. National Psoriasis Foundation web site. Abel, E. "Dermatology III: Psoriaisis," ACP Medicine, April, 2005.

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