Psoriasis: why does it appear, what are the symptoms and how to treat it?

Psoriasis, or psoriasis, is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the skin and manifests itself in the form of red patches, plaques covered with small scales. The disease is incurable, so psoriasis treatment methods are reduced to controlling symptoms, stopping pain and inflammation, and achieving early and long-term remission. There are many prejudices about the disease in society. People who don't know what it is believe that psoriasis can be contracted. In the description, several types of this non-communicable disease can be distinguished, each with individual symptoms and course.

Where does psoriasis come from

The causes of psoriasis have not been established as little is known about this skin disease. Symptoms of the disease in the early stages can resemble dermatitis, eczema, but it is impossible to confuse pronounced psoriatic plaques with other skin diseases. Scientists and doctors agree that one of the factors by which psoriasis appears is a genetic predisposition.

For example, if a mother is diagnosed with a skin condition, there is a 15% chance that the child will inherit the disease. If both parents are treated for psoriasis, the risk of hereditary transmission of the disease increases by 4 times, that is, it rises to 60%.

But even if the parents carry a gene that causes a skin disease, that doesn't mean the child will get sick. The causes of psoriasis on the body are different. Stress, nervous shocks, mental traumas "trigger" skin diseases.

Psoriasis is also due to:

  • skin injuries, burns, insect bites, tattoos;
  • medications the person is taking;
  • infectious diseases;
  • alcohol abuse, smoking;
  • exposure to chemicals such as detergents;
  • dermatitis and fungal diseases;
  • HIV;
  • pregnancy and childbirth.

Recently, scientists have claimed that psoriasis can appear due to malnutrition, but no convincing evidence has been found in favor of this theory.

Doctors know that a particular gene is responsible for the skin condition, but they cannot determine the exact causes of psoriasis.

What is psoriasis in the early stages like?

The first symptoms of psoriasis look like this:

  1. A person's nails exfoliate and the skin cracks.
  2. A pustular rash appears on the body.
  3. The skin starts to peel and die.
  4. There are blisters on the hands and soles of the feet.
  5. Itchy red patches covered with whitish scales appear on the elbows, knees, face.

A person sinks into depression, is not interested in anything, observes a breakdown and even low self-esteem.

On the head, face and under the hair

First, a person notices an increase in skin peeling, which resembles dandruff. Then the plates themselves appear, covered in silvery scales. The rash grows, affects a growing area of the skin, but even with pronounced psoriasis, the hair does not fall out.

psoriasis on the head

In 80% of cases, psoriasis primarily affects the scalp. If the pathology is not treated, rashes appear in other places.

A harbinger of a disease that affects the skin of the face is intense itching. At first, psoriasis resembles an allergy, the skin is covered in small red spots that increase in size and merge to form an inflamed nodule or papule.

The rashes cover the entire face. The spots themselves are covered with scales, which are easily and painlessly separated. Below them is a terminal skin that resembles shiny scarlet leather. If the itchy spots are combed, they will be covered with tiny drops of blood.

in arms and legs

Skin disease psoriasis affects the skin:

  • arms and legs;
  • brushes;
  • joints in hands and feet;
  • close to the nails.

The disease begins with the appearance of small, reddened, rounded areas on the skin between the fingers, shins, wrists, elbows and knees.

psoriasis on the hands

In 10% of cases, psoriasis affects the nails. Psoriatic plaques appear on the nail plates long before the appearance of the main symptoms of the disease that affects the skin of the body.

On the palms of hands and feet

Palmar-plantar is called the manifestation of psoriasis, which affects the skin of the palms and feet.

psoriasis on palms

It is characterized by the appearance of red scaly patches covered with whitish scales. At the site of the rash, the skin thickens, cracks, and becomes inflamed. The aggravated form is expressed in the formation of pustules, deep abscesses.

in the trunk

The signs of a disease that affects the skin on the body are similar to psoriasis on the palms and feet, head, face. Rashes often appear on the back and lower back.

Red patches covered in grayish-white scales itch and itch. They cannot be combed, because the thin terminal film does not protect the smallest capillaries, and the surface of the skin, when combed, is covered with microscopic droplets of blood. Psoriasis can appear on the chest area and sides.

psoriasis on the abdomen

Red spots expand and merge into formations that doctors call "paraffin lakes".

Psoriasis causes several skin changes:

  • peeling;
  • thickening;
  • edema;
  • the appearance of blister-pustules.

Dry keratinized skin often cracks, which brings pain and discomfort.

other locations

Psoriasis spreads throughout the body if the disease is ongoing. Psoriatic plaques can be located in the groin, buttocks, elbow and knee creases. The disease causes great discomfort, as the rashes itch, but should not be scratched. Careless actions can easily damage the thinned affected skin and cause an additional infection.

Symptoms of cutaneous psoriasis, regardless of location, are similar, so a dermatologist diagnoses the condition by:

  • red rashes with a clear border;
  • the so-called psoriatic triad: the phenomenon of the "stearin stain", that is, the plaque itself, covered with soft silvery scales, the presence of a terminal film under them and tiny droplets of blood that cover the stain if scraped off;
  • the appearance of new plaques at the site of skin lesions;
  • itch.

psoriatic arthritis

This form of complication affects the joints, tendons, which lose their density and elasticity.

Arthritis accompanies the symptoms of psoriasis, is characterized by inflammation of the joints and is divided into:

  • Asymmetric, which affects several joints on one side of the body, and does not affect paired bony elements.
  • Symmetrical, resembling rheumatoid. Paired joints suffer. This form often leads to disability.
  • Distal interphalangeal joints, affecting the phalanges of the fingers and toes.
  • Spine, in one or more departments.
  • Deforming when joints are destroyed.

Inflammation of the joints is characterized by severe pain, swelling, the skin at the site of the affected bone joint has a bluish color. In this case, a person has a breakdown, sometimes the lymph nodes enlarge.

Psoriasis classification

The types of psoriasis differ according to the nature of the rash. The international classification describes 10 forms of a chronic autoimmune disease:

  1. The most common is plaque-like or simple psoriasis. It affects any part of the body, occurs in women and men. It begins with the appearance of swollen red spots, which are later covered with a whitish, easily peeled off scaly film, "plaque".
  2. After a streptococcal infection, guttate psoriasis can affect the skin. It manifests itself in the thighs, lower legs and also affects the neck and back. Red, bluish and lilac colored rashes are raised above the surface of the skin and resemble droplets in shape.
  3. The spotted form is characterized by extensive rashes all over the body. The disease is more common in women than in men.
  4. Pustular, the most serious, which can be distinguished by the appearance of blisters - pustules surrounded by red, inflamed skin filled with clear fluid. If an infection enters the blisters, fragments of pus will appear in the contents.
  5. Follicular, affecting the skin of the legs and thighs, in the form of small whitish papules.
  6. Psoriasis of the flexor surfaces, affecting the skin in the folds, for example, in the folds of the knee, groin, under the breasts, armpits.
  7. Palmar-plantar, which often appears in people engaged in physical labor.
  8. Psoriatic onychia affects only the fingernails and toenails. Nail plates change color, turn yellow, exfoliate, sometimes die. The skin around the nails thickens.
  9. The scalp, which is characterized by red, scaly rashes in the area of hair growth and itching.
  10. Seborrheic, most often located on the chest, behind the ears, between the shoulder blades, in the nasolabial folds. Psoriatic foci are highly scaly, often resembling eczema, covered with purulent crusts.
  11. Symptoms of the erythrodermic form of psoriasis are pronounced. Affected skin may come off with plaques, a person feels severe pain, body temperature rises. Untreated erythroderma flows into pyoderma - a purulent lesion of the skin and can lead to death.

Any form of psoriasis requires timely treatment, which can only be prescribed by a dermatologist after examination and necessary research.

How psoriasis manifests itself in different stages

In total, 4 stages of the development of psoriasis are distinguished:

  • early or early;
  • progressive;
  • stationary;
  • regressive.

In most cases, psoriasis begins with the appearance of small papules. Round, shiny patches, sometimes no more than a pinhead, raised above the surface of the skin and with a clear border. They are covered with silver scales. The presence of rashes in the early stage of psoriasis can be confused with eczema or an allergic rash.

medical consultation for psoriasis

The clinical picture of the disease at different stages varies. For example, severe skin inflammation is characteristic of an acute or progressive form that requires medical attention and intensive treatment.

However, the eruptions do not disappear, but increase and merge. Psoriatic plaques, clearly bordered by a pink corolla, begin to peel. The affected skin is unbearably itchy and itchy.

It takes anywhere from 2 weeks to several months, and psoriasis flows into a stationary stage. The growth of psoriatic plaques stops, increases the scaling, which covers the entire affected area of the skin.

With regressive psoriasis, the scaling gradually disappears, the psoriatic plaques flatten and gradually disappear. There are no traces, scars or scars on the skin. Sometimes there is hyperpigmentation of the skin. In the remission phase, the skin acquires a normal color and texture.

What is the danger of the disease

The severity of the course of the disease depends on the condition of the skin. If the lesions are not extensive, the person leads a normal life. Physical and psychological discomfort is experienced by people whose rashes occupy a large area, the skin becomes inflamed. A significant health risk is a complication of pustular psoriasis if an infection enters the blisters.

Psoriatic arthritis is also dangerous because some of its forms destroy joints and lead to disability. However, inflammation of bony joints develops very rarely, in 10% of cases.

Even if the plaques on the skin are insignificant and the person feels normal, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a dermatologist who will make the diagnosis and start the treatment. Timely access to a doctor will prevent complications and help achieve a stable remission.

Complex treatment of psoriasis

There is no effective way to get rid of psoriasis for good. Skin disease is treated with various means. A person is given pills, ointments, and physical therapy is prescribed. It is recommended to take curative baths and carefully take care of the skin condition to avoid injuries such as scrapes, cuts, scrapes.

Comprehensive psoriasis treatment works if a person complies with medical prescriptions.

How psoriasis is treated with pharmaceuticals

They are ointments, pills, injections that the attending physician prescribes to the person who asked for help. The pills are taken at the appointed time of the day before or after meals, ointments are applied to the affected areas with clean hands, injections can be done at home or in the hospital. These can be products based on plant components, hormones and other chemically active substances.

In the complex therapy of the use of squamous lichen:

  1. Antihistamine medications, which are prescribed if a person develops an allergy.
  2. Hepatoprotectors that support the liver.
  3. Immunomodulators that facilitate the course of the disease.
  4. Immunosuppressants in the form of injections. They are effective but expensive and have serious side effects. Medications should not be used by people with infections or oncology.
  5. Glycosteroids are effective but addictive. Therefore, treatment with hormonal drugs does not last longer than 2 weeks.

If lichen squamous is easy, the doctor tries to limit himself to topical medications.

Medications for topical use - ointments, sprays

Local remedies for psoriasis are divided into:

  1. Hormones, which affect the body's autoimmune processes.
  2. Therapeutics, which include zinc, naphthalan, tar, vitamins. They moisturize cracked skin, soothe hardened psoriatic lesions, support skin function and restore damaged coverage.

Hormonal ointments, lotions, and skin sprays are used during a flare-up. Biologically active substances in the composition of potent creams:

  • reduce itching;
  • relieve swelling;
  • constrict blood vessels;
  • relieve pain and fight inflammation.

Apply the product on the affected skin areas of the body, face and parts of the head. Medical ointments are most often used after the acute period of psoriasis, and doctors do not recommend using hormone preparations and vitamin D creams for more than 2 weeks.

pills and injections

A person interested in how to treat psoriasis can ask a dermatologist about effective pills and injections that are used in complex psoriasis therapy.

  1. Some medications are prescribed if the psoriasis is severe. For example, pills that a person is given if the damaged skin does not heal.
  2. The doctor prescribes B vitamins, folic acid, omega acids, other multivitamins, and lecithin. These drugs help recovery, are non-addictive, shorten the duration of treatment, and prolong remission.

Complex therapy of lichen squamous is not limited to the intake of special agents and vitamins.

skin care for psoriasis prevention

If a person follows the rules, uses high-quality cosmetics, maintains the health and condition of the skin, then psoriasis is practically not terrible for him.

If there are no contraindications, a person can give injections containing immunosuppressants:

  1. Some drugs are given subcutaneously, while others used to treat psoriatic arthritis are given intravenously.
  2. Injections have serious contraindications. They cannot be used by persons under 18 years of age, pregnant or lactating women, in the presence of malignant tumors and infectious diseases.

Homeopathy

Manufacturers of homeopathic remedies claim that the use of these medicines reduces the risk of relapses and ensures a quick recovery from the problem. In addition, funds:

  1. Support immunity and health of internal organs.
  2. They are a source of minerals and vitamins needed by the body.
  3. Restore the work of the intestine by seeding the digestive tract with beneficial bacteria.
  4. Helps eliminate toxins.

When selecting medicines, the homeopath takes into account the person's history, the stage and nature of the course of the disease, heredity and the psychosomatic factor.

Official medicine has no evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies in the treatment of psoriasis.

Physiotherapy in the fight against skin diseases

Most of the time, the affected skin is irradiated with light waves of the ultraviolet spectrum of different lengths or with a laser. Sometimes, before the procedure, a person takes psoralens, which increase the sensitivity of skin cells to radiation. The doctor also prescribes cryotherapy, when the affected skin is exposed to low temperatures. More recently, ultraviolet blood irradiation has been used against psoriasis.

ultraviolet radiation for psoriasis

Ultraviolet irradiation is one of the simplest methods of physical therapy treatment. At the same time, the effectiveness of this method showed quite reliable results.

The duration of the sessions varies, but physical therapy is quite effective. This is a way to quickly cure psoriasis. Procedures return activity to a person, allow him to live and work fully.

Is it possible to cure psoriasis forever folk remedies

Squamous lichen is not treatable. Pills, ointments, injections fight the symptoms of the disease, reducing the number of relapses. Folk remedies are no exception. Decoctions, tinctures, healing baths contribute to the onset of remission, but do not alleviate the autoimmune disease.

Medications for oral administration

Means based on herbs and medicinal plants help to stop the symptoms of psoriasis. The safest are chamomile decoction, fresh aloe juice, compresses and decoctions of rhizome and burdock leaves.

In pharmacies you can buy herbal preparations against scaly lichen. They can be prepared with boiling water, infused and drunk before or after a meal, or you can pour them into water and take therapeutic baths.

According to traditional medicine, the use of hydrogen peroxide removes the manifestations of psoriasis. Use the drug:

  1. In the form of a solution. First, dilute a drop of the product in 3 tablespoons of water and drink it on an empty stomach half an hour before meals. Gradually increase the strength of the solution to 10 drops for the same amount of water. Take the medicine every three days.
  2. Externally, compresses are applied to the affected skin for an hour, moistening sterile gauze in a solution of 2 teaspoons of peroxide and 50 ml of water.

Before using any folk remedy, consult your doctor.

compresses and baths

Compresses and baths with decoctions of medicinal plants do not cure the disease, but relieve the general condition, relieve itching and inflammation. Prepared for external use:

  • chamomile;
  • succession;
  • Thyme;
  • burdock root;
  • oak bark;
  • jump;
  • wise and others.

It is not recommended to take showers longer than 20 minutes.

ointment for psoriasis

After bathing, moisturizing creams and therapeutic ointments are applied to the skin.

Baths and compresses with herbal decoctions have practically no contraindications.

Skin protection and care

There is no cure for psoriasis completely. But throughout the treatment and during the period of remission, a person should properly care for the skin:

  • Avoid traumatic effects on the skin. Don't scratch, don't scratch. During physical work or cleaning, wear protective equipment.
  • Wear comfortable clothes made from natural materials.
  • Use special dermatological cosmetics.
  • Hydrate the skin.
  • Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

Prevention measures also include dietary and lifestyle changes that the person makes.

Lifestyle change and nutrition

Food is not the cause of psoriasis, however, malnutrition weakens the body's defenses, reduces resistance to stress factors. Therefore, a person with lichen squamous needs to monitor their daily routine and nutrition.

The doctor, when asked how to treat psoriasis, will list preventive measures:

  1. Refusal of heavy, fried and fatty foods.
  2. Active lifestyle, moderate physical activity.
  3. Sunbathing at night and in the morning hours.
  4. Quit smoking and alcoholic beverages.

A person should give preference to healthy meals that are high in nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

What to do if a child is sick

The first thing that parents do, noticing the manifestations of scaly lichen on the skin of children, is to seek help from a doctor. Treating the disease in the early stages can reduce the intensity of the rashes that cause physical and emotional distress to children.

It is necessary to teach the child to properly care for the skin, to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Socialization is very important for children, so parents should encourage the child's desire to play sports, make friends, go to circles. To deal with emotional discomfort, children may need the help of a psychotherapist who teaches them not to react to possible silly comments from peers and even narrow-minded adults.

Is psoriasis completely curable?

A person who is faced with itchy, scaly rashes, which bring with them physical and psychological inconveniences, seeks to find out whether this disease is being treated or not.

Everything about psoriasis and its treatment can be learned from the dermatologist you asked for help. There are associations and support centers where you can also get the necessary information, including legal information, for example, what benefits are due if a person is diagnosed with psoriasis.

It is impossible to completely cure psoriasis, since the disease is associated with a genetic factor, and genes are not amenable to drug therapy, procedures, homeopathy and folk remedies.

Modern drugs, ointments, procedures really fight the symptoms of the disease, prolong the remission. But regardless of the methods used, psoriasis can return. The disease most often occurs if a person neglects medical examinations, does not follow simple rules of prevention.

The disease can be prevented

"Three pillars" on which the prevention of skin diseases is based:

  1. Compliance with personal hygiene rules.
  2. Proper nutritious nutrition.
  3. Rejection of bad habits.

For washing, it is better to use only cosmetic dermatological products purchased at a pharmacy. Well, if they contain tar.