Psoriasis From Head to Toe: What It Looks Like on Different Body Parts (Including Pictures)

Psoriasis is a common rash that usually appears on areas like the elbows, knees, scalp, and back. But, psoriasis can affect any part of your body, and it may not always look the same from one location to the next. In some areas it may cause discolored scaly patches, while in other areas it can cause pus bumps and skin cracking. 

Knowing what psoriasis looks like on different parts of the body and in different skin tones can help you get the right diagnosis and the right treatment. 

Types of psoriasis

There are five main types of psoriasis. Different types tend to affect different parts of the body.  Here they are, in order of the most to the least common: 

• Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type. It causes thick, scaly patches of skin that are red in fairer skin, and violet or brown in darker skin tones. Plaque psoriasis can affect any skin on the body. When psoriasis in darker skin heals, it can leave dark marks called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can take months to go away. 

• Inverse psoriasis: This type causes smooth, red, violet, or brown patches. The difference with plaque psoriasis is that these patches aren’t usually scaly. Inverse psoriasis affects skin folds like the armpits, groin, and under the breasts. 

• Guttate psoriasis: In this type, you’ll get small, round, scaly bumps and patches on the torso, legs, and arms. The rash can look pink, purple, or brown depending on the skin tone. It’s more common in younger people. 

• Pustular psoriasis: This rash will look like white, pus-filled bumps surrounded by red, violet, or brown skin. It can affect certain areas of the body (like the palms and soles), or it can be more widespread. 

• Erythrodermic psoriasis: This type causes large patches of red, violet, or brown discoloration with skin shedding. It can affect the whole body at once. 

Here’s what psoriasis looks like from head to toe. 

Scalp psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is common. Most people with scalp psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, but guttate psoriasis can affect the scalp, too. It can cause skin flaking like dandruff, small patches, or it can even involve the whole scalp, including the hairline. When it’s severe, it can cause temporary hair loss. 

Scalp psoriasis can cause scaly patches and hair loss.

Scalp psoriasis in fair skin.

Psoriasis on the face

If you have face psoriasis, that’s most likely to be plaque psoriasis. But guttate psoriasis can also appear there. Psoriasis is most common on the forehead, around or in the ears, and on the cheeks. Most people with psoriasis on the face also have it on the scalp. 

Psoriasis on the forehead.

Psoriasis on the forehead.

Neck psoriasis

Most neck psoriasis is plaque psoriasis. Neck psoriasis can appear as separate patches on the neck, or extend down from the scalp. It’s also common to spread around or in the ears. 

Psoriasis on the neck.

Thick psoriasis patches on the neck.

Psoriasis on the back

If you have psoriasis on your back. It’s most likely to be plaque psoriasis or guttate psoriasis. You may have just a few small spots on the lower back, or the psoriasis patches may be more widespread. 

Psoriasis on the back.

Plaque psoriasis on the back.

Psoriasis on the chest

If you have psoriasis in your skin folds, like under the breasts, then it’s most likely to be inverse psoriasis. Sweat, moisture, and rubbing can make this psoriasis worse. Often, the skin appears shiny, rather than scaly. 

Thick inverse psoriasis plaques under the breasts.

Inverse psoriasis under the breasts.

Psoriasis in the armpits

Inverse psoriasis can also involve the armpits. Like in other skin folds, these patches may appear shiny. Psoriasis here may also be worsened by sweat and friction. 

Inverse psoriasis in the armpit.

Inverse psoriasis in the armpit.

Psoriasis on the arms

One of the most common spots for plaque psoriasis is the elbows. In some people, that’s the only place psoriasis appears, while in others, it’s more widespread. Guttate psoriasis can also affect the arms. 

Psoriasis on the elbow.

Psoriasis on the arm.

Psoriasis on the hands

Psoriasis can affect both the palms and backs of the hands. Many people with hand psoriasis will also have foot psoriasis. This is called palmoplantar psoriasis. Both plaque psoriasis and guttate psoriasis commonly affect hands. No matter the type of psoriasis you have, when it affects your hands, painful cracks (fissures) can form. Rarely, people with psoriasis on their hands can develop pustular psoriasis, a type of psoriasis that causes pus bumps on the palms. 

Scaly patches of psoriasis on the hands.

Psoriasis on the palms can cause red, scaly patches and cracks.

Psoriasis on the nails

No matter which type of psoriasis you have, it can affect the nails, too. You might have just one nail affected, or many nails at once. Nail psoriasis causes texture changes, like nail pitting, ridges, and thickening (subungual hyperkeratosis). It can also cause nail discoloration, like white spots (onycholysis). 

Nail thickening and discoloration in nail psoriasis.

Many nails with pitting and discoloration from psoriasis.

Psoriasis on the abdomen

If you have psoriasis on your belly (abdomen), then it’s most likely to be inverse psoriasis or plaque psoriasis. Commonly you’d notice this in or around the belly button, but psoriasis can affect other parts of your abdomen, too. Guttate psoriasis can appear here as well, but this is less common. 

Large faint pink psoriasis patches on the abdomen.

Psoriasis on the abdomen.

Psoriasis on the legs

Plaque psoriasis very commonly affects the knees, but it can also involve other parts of the legs. Guttate psoriasis can also appear anywhere on the legs. 

Psoriasis on the leg. There is also post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Psoriasis is common on the knees.

Psoriasis on the feet

Just like psoriasis affects the hands, it can also affect the feet. Plaque and guttate psoriasis are most common here, and cause scaly patches. Again, as in the palms, some people will develop pus bumps called pustular psoriasis on the soles of the feet. When psoriasis affects the soles of the feet, it can cause painful cracks (fissures) that can make it hard to walk. 

Psoriasis with some cracks (fissures) on the bottom of the feet.

Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis on the sole of the foot.

What can be mistaken for psoriasis?

To the trained eye, psoriasis is usually fairly easy to diagnose. But sometimes, it’s not so straightforward. 

Here are some common conditions that cause rashes similar in appearance to psoriasis: 

• Eczema 

• Fungal infection, like body ringworm, jock itch, or scalp ringworm

• Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)

• Irritant or allergic contact dermatitis

• Pityriasis rosea

If you’re not sure what’s causing your rash, a dermatologist or primary care provider can help you make sense of it. 

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Written by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).