The most common symptom of psoriasis is the formation of psoriatic plaques, which form from inflamed areas of skin. However, the disease can manifest not only on the skin. We understand how psoriasis starts, how it occurs and what the signs of psoriasis are.
Often, the first symptoms of psoriasis appear at a young age, but psoriasis can overwhelm a person even in old age. The first symptoms of psoriasis can be subtle: the disease can begin with lesions on small areas of skin, often on the folds of the limbs or scalp. Therefore, many patients may not be aware of the first manifestation. Is psoriasis skin itchy? Indeed one of the signs of psoriasis is itching. Moreover, at first one can only feel itching and tightness, and only then red spots begin to appear on the skin.
The course of psoriasis greatly affects the quality of human life. Many patients experience not only physical but also psychological discomfort. However, modern medicine can contain disease manifestations effectively. New drugs for psoriasis, developed in the 21st century, in particular, genetically engineered biological drugs (GIBP), allow you to completely get rid of the manifestations of the disease and live a productive life.
What are Psoriatic Plaques?
Psoriatic plaques are the most common symptom of psoriasis. A plaque is an enlarged and inflamed area of red skin that protrudes above the surface of healthy skin and is covered with a layer of whitish scales. Plaques can be painful, itchy, cracked, and bleeding.
Psoriasis. Signs
Manifestations of psoriasis on the skin and nails
skin
- Inflamed plaques with redness.
- Plaques are often covered with whitish scales.
- Plaques can be painful and itchy.
- Sometimes they crack and bleed.
- Scattered plaques may appear on the scalp.
- Plaques can grow and coalesce with each other, covering large areas of skin. In severe cases, the entire skin is one large plaque. This condition is called erythroderma.
chicken
- Nails change color or indentations, dots or streaks appear on the nail plate.
- Over time, the nails become thick and change color to gray, yellow or brown. It can collapse and bleed.
- Nails can peel and flake off. The skin under the torn nail thickens due to the formation of psoriatic plaques here.
The most common symptoms of psoriasis
Itching and bleeding with psoriasis
Itching and burning of the skin are common psoriasis symptoms that concern 90% of patients. The itching caused by psoriasis is different from the itching caused by other skin conditions. The itching in psoriasis can be very severe, and also occurs in areas of the skin where there are no visible plaques. Scratching the skin due to itching in psoriasis can cause a new rash to appear as a result of mechanical trauma to the skin.
The appearance of cracks on the skin and bleeding with psoriasis
Psoriatic plaques can appear anywhere on the skin. Sometimes they crack because the skin becomes very dry on the plaque. As plaque increases, cracks develop. As they get larger, they can penetrate deeper into the dermis - the layer of skin where capillaries are located. Then the capillaries are damaged and ruptured, and the plaque begins to bleed.
The first symptoms of psoriasis can occur anywhere, but more often than not, the skin begins to crack and bleed. Manifestation location:
- elbow;
- knee;
- brush;
- palms and soles of the feet.
Pustules with psoriasis
Pustules with white or yellowish fluid in them, appearing on psoriatic plaques, are the main symptoms of pustular psoriasis. This is a rare form of psoriasis, and only 2% of patients develop pustules. Pustular psoriasis is a very dangerous condition. It can cause serious complications, so it requires immediate complex treatment and referral to a specialist.
How do Pustules Form? How does pustular psoriasis start?
- First, with pustular psoriasis, plaques form, formed by dry skin and redness that is painful to the touch.
- Then pustules filled with pus form on the plaque.
- Pustules quickly merge with each other, forming large blisters.
- Then it dries and disappears, leaving dry skin underneath, from which it can reappear soon.
Tear drop plaques for psoriasis
Small reddish or pink scaly nodules - patches of skin that look like droplets - are the distinguishing symptoms of tear drop psoriasis. A patient may experience from several to hundreds of elements in the form of teardrops. Nodules are everywhere on the skin, but most often occur on:
- shoulder;
- stomach;
- back;
- hands;
- feet;
- scalp;
- ears;
- face.
The symptoms of guttate psoriasis develop rather quickly, over several days. Sometimes tear droplet -shaped plaques cause itching in psoriasis. Usually such elements are small, no more than 10 mm wide.
Often, tear drop psoriasis flares up after an infection, especially of the respiratory tract.
Pain with psoriasis
Pain in rash projections occurs when the skin is damaged and cracked due to excessive thickening caused by inflammation and widespread keratinocyte growth. As a result, nerve endings in the dermis become irritated and send pain signals to the brain.
But the pain appears not only due to mechanical damage to the skin: the inflammation that occurs in the body with psoriasis affects how the brain feels the pain. Moreover, each person has an individual threshold for pain sensitivity, therefore, pain in patients with the same disease picture can cause different reactions.
42% of patients complained of pain in the projection of lesions caused by psoriasis. To a greater extent, these symptoms are common among:
- women;
- old people;
- patients with severe psoriasis;
- patients who have had psoriasis for a long time;
- patients with concomitant psoriasis.
Exfoliation (dandruff) with psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis plaques are hidden and may not be visible. However, like other parts of the body, psoriatic plaques peel off, forming dandruff -like scales. Do not confuse psoriatic exfoliation with dandruff, as dandruff is caused by a fungal infection and psoriasis is caused by inflammation. Therefore, these symptoms need to be treated in different ways.
Just like other symptoms of psoriasis, crusting occurs during exacerbation and disappears during remission. The severity of psoriasis on the scalp appears for a variety of reasons:
- cold weather;
- dry air;
- pressure.
Comments on things to do when crusting and inflammation occur in psoriasis
Changes in nails with psoriasis
- Half of psoriasis patients develop nail psoriasis, and in patients with psoriatic arthritis, these symptoms occur in 80% of cases. As a rule, the defeat of the nail plate precedes the development of psoriatic arthritis.
- Usually, nail psoriasis accompanies other types of psoriasis on the skin. Only 5-10% of patients with nail psoriasis have no lesions on the skin.
- Nail psoriasis occurs in different patients, regardless of their age, gender, or duration of the disease.
- The changes can affect all or part of the nail plate. They appear on one and on several nail plates, and more often on the hands.
- Nail psoriasis usually accompanies normal (rough) psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
- Psoriasis affects the condition of the nails in different ways. They can grow faster or become thicker. Nail plates often turn white, yellow, or brown.
- Thimble -type curves and streaks appear on the nail.
- With the development of the psoriatic process, the nail begins to deteriorate and is eventually pushed back, losing its connection with the nail bed.
- Damage to the nails causes an unpleasant and painful sensation that significantly reduces the quality of life.