The following symptoms and complaints may occur with dandruff or plaques:
Leading symptoms
Note: A mycotic (“fungal”) rash is more likely to be asymmetric and have scaly raised edges
Associated symptoms
- Pruritus (itching)
Warning signs (red flags)
- Anamnestic information:
- Children/adolescents + symmetrical scaly rash interspersed with rhagades (narrow, cleft-like tears in the skin) + localization: soles of feet → think: Dermatitis plantaris sicca
- Age (> 40 years) + single scaly focal area on face, hand, or leg that grows slowly → think of: Bowen’s disease (Bowen’s disease).
- Joint problems (20-80% of cases) + possibly nail changes (10-55% of cases; dimpled or spotted nails: pinhead-sized retractions, filled with scales; oil spots: yellowish discoloration) → think of: Psoriasis (psoriasis).
- Erythroderma (redness of the entire skin due toinflammatory reactions and vasodilatation; consequence is a loss of fluid, electrolytes and protein) → Immediate hospital treatment required! (due toDanger to life)
- Redness of palms and soles, possibly also light to brown-red, blotchy exanthema (rash) on the whole body, without pruritus (itching) + fever + sore throat + lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes) + general feeling of illness → think of: Syphilis (secondary stage; venereal disease).