Live Well with Psoriasis - When To Call a Doctor
- Topic Overview
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Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
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- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- References
- Credits
Call your doctor if you have symptoms of psoriasis, such as:
- Bright red areas of raised patches (plaques) that are covered with loose, silvery, scaling skin.
- Thick, crusted patches on the scalp.
- Tiny pits or yellowish discoloration in the nails, separation of the nail from the skin, or buildup of skin debris under the nail.
- Signs of developing bacterial infection. These include:
- Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
- Red streaks extending from the area.
- A discharge of pus.
- Fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher with no other cause.
If you are currently being treated for psoriasis, call your doctor if you:
- Have severe and widespread psoriasis and your skin is more irritated or inflamed than usual, especially if you have another illness.
- Are taking medicine for psoriasis and have serious side effects, such as vomiting, bloody diarrhea, chills, or fever.
Watchful Waiting
If you have symptoms of psoriasis, talk to your doctor, because treatment when symptoms are first noticed may help stop the condition from progressing.
Who To See
Health professionals who can diagnose and treat psoriasis include:
- Nurse practitioners.
- Physician assistants.
- Family medicine doctors.
- Internists.
- Dermatologists.
- Rheumatologists (if joints are involved).
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 13, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology | |
1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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