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Tests to Diagnose Psoriasis
In most cases, your doctor or dermatologist will be able to diagnose psoriasis by checking your skin. But 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, he or she 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.
Psoriasis Glossary
- Autoimmune Disease - Caused by a malfunction of the body’s immune system ...
- Phototherapy - Brief exposure to ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis ...
- Plaque - Patches of scaling skin that cover sores, a symptom of psoriasis ...
- Psoriatic arthritis - A form of arthritis that may develop in someone with psoriasis ...
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