Objective To explore the expressions of serum miR⁃146a and miR⁃196a in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and their clinical significance. Methods A total of 100 PV patients were selected as the PV group, and 100 healthy volunteers undergoing physical check⁃up during the same period as the NC group. Serum miR⁃146a and miR⁃196a expressions were compared between research subjects in the two groups before treatment, and serum miR⁃146a and miR⁃196a expressions in the PV group were compared between before and after treatment. According to score of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and psoriasis stages, patients of the PV group were assigned to mild group (n=37), moderate group (n=35), severe group (n=28), as well as active stage group (n=33), resting stage group (n=42), or regression stage group (n=25), respectively. Serum miR⁃146a and miR⁃196a expressions were compared between PV patients in the various subgroups before treatment. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation of serum miR⁃146a and miR⁃196a expressions with PASI score. Results Compared with the NC group, the PV group exhibited an elevated serum miR⁃146a expression, while a decreased serum miR⁃196a expression (P<0.05). Before treatment, serum miR⁃146a expression was elevated in PV patients of the mild, moderate and severe groups successively, whereas serum miR⁃196a expression was decreased successively (P<0.05); furthermore, serum miR⁃146a expression was decreased in PV patients of the active stage, resting stage, and regression stage groups successively, while serum miR⁃196a expression was elevated successively (P<0.05). Serum miR⁃146a expression of PV patients positively correlated with PASI score, whereas serum miR⁃196a expression negatively correlated with PASI score (P<0.05). After treatment, serum miR⁃146a expression was decreased, whereas serum miR⁃196a expression was elevated as compared with before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Serum miR⁃146a expression is elevated, while serum miR⁃196a expression is decreased in PV patients. The two indices as above are closely related to disease severity and stage.