Syphilis presents differently depending on its stage, with characteristic appearances as follows: Primary syphilis:

• A small, smooth, hard sore called a chancre appears at the site where the bacteria entered the body, typically on the genitals, mouth, or anus.
• The chancre is usually painless, firm, and non-itchy, often resembling a pimple or ulcer with a clean base and sharp borders.
• It may be so small and subtle that it goes unnoticed.
• The sore typically heals on its own within 3 to 6 weeks, but the infection remains without treatment

Secondary syphilis:

• A rough, red or reddish-brown rash develops, often starting on the trunk and spreading to cover the entire body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
• The rash is usually not itchy and may appear as plaques, pimples, or lumps.
• Wart-like sores can appear in the mouth or genital area.
• Other symptoms may include patchy hair loss, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and fatigue.
• The rash and symptoms may come and go for months or years if untreated

Latent and tertiary stages:

• Latent syphilis shows no visible symptoms.
• Tertiary syphilis can cause gummas (soft growths), neurological problems, and heart issues, but these do not have distinctive skin appearances like earlier stages

In summary, syphilis initially looks like a painless sore (chancre) and later can cause a widespread, non-itchy rash including on palms and soles, along with other systemic symptoms