Most children who acquire psoriasis are school age.  However, psoriasis can begin in children soon after birth.  It is common for there to be a family history of the disease.  If it begins shortly after birth, it normally starts in the diaper area.  This is known as napkin psoriasis and it can spread over the rest of the body.

When psoriasis develops at a later time in children, it appears as small, flat or raised, red areas that have a scale on them that is silvery in appearance.  These areas can all run together and form what is known as plaques.  The usual areas affected are the scalp, ears, knees, genitals and nails.  Chronic psoriasis, known as plaque or pustular psoriasis, is the most common type of psoriasis in children.  It presents with thick, raised scaling areas.  Arthritis psoriasis is rare in children.

It is a fact that in up to thirty three percent of children, psoriasis begins as guttate psoriasis, which is characterized by multiple, small, droplike lesions.  Guttate psoriasis is often acquired through a bacterial infection of streptococcus.  It is usually a throat infection (strep throat), but can be an infection of other areas.  Guttate psoriasis is usually present on the back, abdomen, arms or legs.  Even though a child with an infection would normally have a fever, a child with psoriasis will not normally have one.

Psoriasis can start with an injury in children, just as it can in adults.  Psoriasis may appear along an abrasion or appear after a cut or insect bite.  It is useful in the diagnosis of psoriasis in children to have this kind of information available for the physician.

Scalp psoriasis is a type of psoriasis that is very common in children.  The raised lesions can be found behind the ears, along the hairline or even covering the entire scalp.  Scalp psoriasis can cause flaking and be mistaken for just a case of dandruff.

Babies will be most likely affected by psoriasis in their genitals.  The penis, groin, labia and even the crease of the buttocks can be sites of infection.  The nails can also be affected by psoriasis.