Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations. Inflammation of the skin occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive. This separation will assist in diagnosis and proper therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease. About 10% of the population has characteristic DNA disorders, and only 2% of them show signs of impaired skin function.
The following factors cause the pathology to appear:
- strong emotional stress;
- lesions;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain medications;
- endocrine diseases;
- predisposition to allergies;
Due to the wrong response of the immune system, which reacts to epidermal tissue as foreign elements, the first signs of the disease appear. Consider the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
The early stage of psoriasis
The first sign isthe appearance of a pimple(papules). Rounded shape, reddish or pink color. In the lower limbs, due to the slow blood flow, manifestations of a bluish color may occur. The papular formations are small, about the size of a pinhead.
The initial stage is characterized bymany papulesthat have well-defined limits. Whitish scales also appear. They are easily separated from the surface by touch. Papules can merge into one, forming larger elements.
During initial remission, the lesions become pale. The affected areas of the skin are partially discolored. In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergy or diathesis. The rash may be accompanied by severe itching. Signs that can be used to diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plate becomes whitish, resembles a crushed drop of stearin, the scales peel off;
- if you continue to scrape the stain and remove the scales, a bright red surface will appear;
- when scraping, small drops of blood appear.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
During the progressive stage of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules turn red, continuing to be covered with white scales. They take off easily, under them you can see a smooth layer of reddish skin. When damaged, blood appears.
- With exacerbation, the papular elements grow and merge. They are clearly different from healthy skin areas.
- Itching worse. But it passes during the transition from the process to the stationary phase. Painful and obsessive itching that interferes with sleep and daily activities. If you just scratch the cover, injuries and new plaques will appear. The appearance of new plaques at the injury site is Koebner's syndrome. The number of itch manifestations gradually increases, covers the body, limbs, head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the plaques, they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have a negative effect on the joints (psoriatic arthritis). Then there are severe pains in the joints, their deformation, if the process goes untreated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main characteristic of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing. Positive changes come with the right treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- the itch disappears;
- there are no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears); The flaking of
- may increase.
All points stop developing. If, during the progressive stage, the plates had a border without scales, then, during the stationary stage, the entire inflamed surface of the integument will detach, acquiring a characteristic psoriatic aspect.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation. At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not accompany the progressive growth of the plaques and cannot cover them completely. In half of the cases, apseudo-atrophic corollaappears.
Pseudo-atrophic corolla
It looks like a clear border around the element, which has a structure that resembles rough tissue paper, consisting of a stratum corneum and not exceeding two millimeters in width.
regressive stage of psoriasis
In the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriatic cycle ends. Important features:
- the exacerbation process stops, the inflammation passes; the
- plates gradually dissolve;
- the flaking stops, the elements of the rash are flattened;
- the rash turns light pink, gradually discoloring;
- papules may still remain on the arms and elbows.
There are no scars or atrophy of the affected area. At the site of the rash, temporary hyperpigmentation or areas without pigment may occur.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The relief period is individual. Latent disease can last for several months or even years. Exacerbations occur more frequently in winter, with the exception of only a few forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis at different stages
Therapy of any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physical therapy and dietary adjustment. In the initial stage of therapy, it is necessary:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments that contain vitamins A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic and sedative medications;
- undergo ultraviolet therapy.
If the plates are located on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.
All funds must be used as directed by a doctor. Prolonged use of medications (especially tar) can irritate the skin. Funds must be changed every 7 days.
Early treatment of psoriasis
The effectiveness of initial treatment interventions depends on when the patient goes to the doctor and starts treatment.
Early therapy in most cases helps prevent the transition from the disease to a chronic form.
Experts recommend the use of salicylic acid ointment. It is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial medication with beneficial effect on the affected areas of the skin. With the help of a keratolytic effect, the ointment will clean the plaque of the keratinized parts of the integument. Naphthalene ointment helps to relieve itching.
Medicines are generally prescribed:
tar-based- ;
- based on solid oil;
- oil based.
Not too long ago, there were drops and oil for psoriasis. The tool is able to soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent dryness and relieve swelling. The preparation contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, castor fat, propolis, pumpkin seed oil and other components, with which the number of plaques decreases, they become less, the skin is better hydrated. Use in combination with other medications and after consultation with a specialist is recommended.
Treatment of progressive psoriasis
Therapy must be comprehensive and careful. The clinical picture is quite difficult, the treatment must be entrusted only by specialists. Intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs helps patients. Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.
The manifestations remove salicylic acid ointment and emollient emulsions. They moisturize and reduce inflammation. During an exacerbation, medications with tar in the composition or other irritating components should not be used.
Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin applications) are best performed during the period of reduced inflammation. Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complex.
Prescribing antihistamines (reducing the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (soothing), anti-inflammatories, keratolytics (emollients), diuretics (relieving swelling, removing toxins).
Treatment of stationary psoriasis
The patient needs a slight correction of the therapy. Usually prescribed shampoos with tar, oil emulsions, calcipotriol. Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the integument. Ultraviolet irradiation and the PUVA technique are widely used.
If there is no effect, some cytotoxic drugs are prescribed. In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, cytotastic.
Treatment of regressive stage psoriasis
Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis should be comprehensive and adjusted by a specialist. Therapy is gradually canceled, replaced by preventive measures. Treatment at all stages is carried out with care, in no case should the rash be damaged.
Compliance with the strictest diet and lifestyle correction are of particular importance. Stress can be a powerful provoking factor, significantly worsening the condition at the beginning of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated with baths of sea salt or baby cream mixed with the series powder, lubricate the plates with this mixture.
Additional therapies
A psoriasis patient lacks vitamins, which affect the regulation of metabolic processes, have a blood purifying, sedative and restorative effect.
The vitamin complex must contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others. They are prescribed internally, intramuscularly and also in droppers.
Dividing the pathology into several stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists to correctly identify one stage or another, facilitates diagnosis and treatment. It is impossible to get rid of psoriasis completely, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can be latent for a long time and not interfere as much in a person's life.