What is psoriasis: causes, symptoms and treatment

Over the past few decades, dermatology has increasingly begun to deal with cases of psoriatic dermatitis. Statisticians note that often this case affects fair-skinned people. And although experts have not set an age limit for the widespread disease, however, the most active phase of the disease is recorded precisely at the age of 15 to 45 years. In terms of prevalence, psoriasis can now affect every 25 people on the planet, which in general, according to the WHO (World Health Organization) for 2016, is about 4. 2% of the total world population.

What are the types of psoriasis, and what are the external signs?

The name of such a wound is given according to the characteristic external signs - red plaques and papules with scales, which are formed as a result of a rash accompanied by an itchy sensation and inflammation of the skin. The disease psoriasis is also called scaly lichen and has its own rather broad classification of types, symptoms, causes that trigger the onset, progression and exacerbation of the disease. The general picture of today's pathology is such that it does not give the doctor a clear picture of the origin and methods of treatment. Therefore, the doctor needs to find a way to partially cure the patient.

The definition of psoriasis today is accepted by all experts as a non-infectious disease that mostly appears for various reasons, and it must be treated carefully, very carefully, under the constant supervision of several specialists, and not just dermatologists. The word psoriasis itself means "itch" (from the Greek term "psora"), "scab" (from the English term, which is also written "psora"). The diagnosis of this disease is carried out comprehensively, not only with skin tests or blood tests.

Additional information:The specificity of the disease, which has not been fully studied, is such that the patient needs to be prepared for continuous, continuous and long-term healing, as well as periodic exacerbations alternating with remissions, remission stages, which last from several weeks to several years.

Classification of psoriasis types

When a specialist wants to accurately determine psoriasis in a sick patient, what is the rash on his skin and the unbearable desire to constantly scratch the scab, what type of disease belongs to the disorder, what the patient suffers from, then the specialist can focus on the specific classification of the disease. Moreover, he is not alone, there are at least four of them today, which should be studied briefly for a general idea.

According to ICD-10

According to the International Classification of Diseases in the 10th revision, the dermatitis is divided into the following types:

1. Normal or plaque-like. Prevalence - 90-95%. Manifestation – gray, white, pink papule scaly structure. As they grow, whole "islands" and "lakes" of diseased skin are formed.
2. General pustular or "Impetigo", "Tsumbusha" disease, exudative. It starts with blisters and blisters that contain fluid (exudates). After rupture, ulcers and self-infections form.
3. Persistent epidermal disorder or Allopo, Setton's or Crocker's acrodermal disorder. Fluid or pustular formations in plaques and papules are sterile and do not have extensive self-contamination. Nails and fingers are often affected.
4. Palmar and plantar lesions. Small ulcers on the palms and soles that are not self-infectious. It makes it very difficult for patients to have quality of life when walking and working with their hands.
5. in the form of teardrops. Small purple, pink, gray spots on the body most often begin to appear after experiencing a severe sore throat, streptococcus, pharyngitis and other infectious viral diseases.
6. Appearance of arthropathy. Damage to the joints of fingers, hands, knees, lower legs. Prevalence - 10% of all psoriatic patients.
7. Other, inverted and unspecified. Smooth spots with a low percentage of exfoliation that appear on delicate skin areas.

According to this classification, which reveals the essence of what this or that type is, what is the disease, what is psoriasis, the pathology is assigned a special code - L40. Different numbers can be added to this code to indicate a specific type of illness.

According to clinical parameters

The disease can also be classified according to clinical criteria, which are stated as follows:

• according to the location - the body part is set;
• according to the clinical picture - nature, texture of psoriasis;
• with a progressive stage - progressive, stationary, regressive disease;
• according to the manifestation in a certain season;
• according to the area of the skin area - less than 20% of the epidermis is affected, more than 20% or all of the skin.

According to the American classification

The US National Foundation, when defining psoriasis, its type of disease, its type, classifies it in the following order:

• mild skin lesions - less than 2%;
• average spread severity - from 2 to 10%;
• severe level of skin damage - from 10% and above.

According to the PASI index

Another international approach to defining psoriasis scabs, which is in the arsenal of medical diagnosticians, distributes the types of the disease according to the following principles:

• the presence of the PASI index ranges from 0 to 72 values;
• the index indicates the severity of dermatitis;
• Only experts calculate the index.

Doctors can use any of these classifications when determining the type of disease, but practice shows that it is the ICD-10 system that is most actively used. Without an accurate definition of the type, it will be difficult for doctors to understand the type of psoriasis and how to treat it.

General symptoms

All doctors and research scientists are convinced that psoriasis is not a contagious phenomenon, and it cannot be spread from an affected person to a healthy person. A characteristic pustular scaly rash is called a papule if its formation is initially swollen with fluid, which then bursts, leading to sores, drying the lids and scales. "Papula" from lat. means "knot". But if the redness is not watery, their swelling on the surface of the skin is compacted, then they turn into wounds from constant scratching, suppuration and scale formation, then we are talking about plaque.

Notes!Psoriasis is something that will always have scaly formations on the affected skin surface. "Squama" from lat. means "scale", so the diagnosis can be written in a line on the exam sheet: "epidermal papulosquamous disorder. "

Symptoms of psoriasis

When defining psoriasis, we focus on its symptoms, which can be represented by the following unified list of manifestations:

1. A papule is a swelling on the surface of the skin that has an infectious or sterile fluid inside.
2. Plaques are red spots that grow and fester over time.
3. Plaque can be gray, reddish, yellowish or purple with dots.
4. The surface texture of the diseased skin ranges from wet, purulent, to dry with scales.
5. Scaling and flaking are characteristic of all types of diseases.
6. The patient's general condition consists of irritability, nervousness, drowsiness, fatigue, and apathy.

Stages and stages of psoriasis development

The stage shows not only the characteristics of the type of psoriasis and its type, but can also tell the doctor how to overcome the disease. Usually divided into 3 levels.

Weak level

• papules and plaques are rare and solitary;
• no unbearable itching;
• No severe swelling yet;
• often shows up after experiencing stress or a severe infection.

Intensive stage

• defined as Koebner syndrome;
• lesions appear unexpectedly in different parts of the human body;
• fusion and growth of papules and plaques into a whole "paraffin lake";
• pain and itching are typical during this period.

Severity of illness

• scale shape;
• dry skin;
• rash lesions no longer grow;
• scales fall;
• sore skin;
• the thickness of the skin where the plaque is located increases.

For reference:remission is a separate stage and is considered to calm the pathological condition.

Causes that trigger the appearance of the disease

Despite the fact that no answer has been found to the questions about the type of psoriatic dermatitis disease, what are the reasons for its appearance, however, certain natural prerequisites have been shown that can trigger the onset of the disease.

Such patterns indicate the following possible causes:

1. An inherited tendency.
2. Weak immune system.
3. Recently experienced severe psychological trauma, exposure to infections, viruses.
4. Side effects of medications.
5. Sudden changes in climatic conditions for life.
6. Allergy in humans.
7. Imbalance of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine, excretory, cleansing system.
8. Slow metabolism (metabolism) is caused by an inactive lifestyle and poor diet, sleep and wakefulness.

Important!Scabies can come out even after severe sunburn, constant friction of synthetic clothing fabric on the body area where the skin folds. Even excessive consumption of low-quality food (with many chemicals, preservatives, food synthetics), alcohol, drugs (toxic substances) or tobacco can affect the severity. All this is recorded by the method of exclusion - for example, when the patient is blocked from bad habits, his condition improves.

Diagnosis of psoriasis - what is it?

If people ask about psoriasis, what it is and what doctor they should contact, have found similar symptoms in themselves, or loved ones, friends, then first of all they should contact a dermatologist. After this, an examination will be scheduled, which may involve several other highly specialized specialists:

• histologist - studies blood cells in this case;
• immunology - identifying the cause of the body's weak resistance to viruses;
• endocrinologist - if there is a suspicion of disturbances in the level of hormones and the functioning of the endocrine system;
• infectious disease specialist - detect the presence of infection or virus in the human body;
• nutritionist who will determine the right diet for the patient and other specialists.

Diagnostics is carried out using the following mechanisms and techniques:

1. External examination of the affected skin area.
2. A blood test will show whether the joints are affected by the disease.
3. Biopsy reveals stage and confirmation (diagnosing a specific type of disease).

When determining a specific type of psoriasis, the Internet alone is no help. In addition, encyclopedic reference books are usually filled by any Internet user, both those knowledgeable about the specifics of the disease and the general public.

Notes!Biopsy is one of the main diagnostic procedures where a piece of affected skin is taken for laboratory examination. The results show the level of T-lymphocytosis, which cells are strong and which are weak.

Difficulties in the life of patients with psoriasis

When a patient first experiences psoriasis and does not know the type of disease that comes to him, he tends to experience the following conditions that accompany the course of dermatitis:

• depression;
• inferiority complex;
• difficulties in the social sphere - people, due to ignorance, often believe that the disease is contagious and stop communicating with sick people;
• cardiovascular disorders - sometimes also heart attacks;
• pressure imbalance - hypertension;
• diabetes mellitus - type 2 is very common;
• you need to limit yourself in food and drink;
• you have to adapt to an active lifestyle, which is very difficult to do when your psychological mood is depressed;
• physical discomfort - difficulty putting on clothes, bathing in the bathroom, showering, moving arms, legs, sleeping, etc.

In the same way, all this affects patients who have faced the disease not for the first time, but they are mentally prepared to face it and work hard to reduce its intensity.

For reference:remission (the stage of attenuation of the disease) can last for several years only with a competent therapeutic approach and the prescription of treatment courses, methods, methods.

Methods for treating psoriasis

When the doctor himself does not fully know all the reasons for the aggravation of the disease, and how all this can be eliminated forever, this also greatly affects the mood of the patient himself. But you just have to convince yourself that if the disease cannot be cured, then you can improve the quality of your life for several years. Therefore, psoriasis must be cured only with an integrated approach of all practices, methods and methods found in nature. Even doctors do not despise folk remedies, if only the patient discusses one method or another with the doctor first.

Traditional method

As soon as they determine the type of dermatitis - psoriasis is also dermatitis, what kind of disease it is, what type it is, the doctor immediately begins a special procedure that supposedly has a positive effect in the end.

Treatment begins with the following procedures:

1. The affected area is disinfected to prevent self-infection.
2. Mandatory relief of the inflammatory process with drugs.
3. Plaque needs to be resolved, and special drugs are prescribed for this.
4. The same applies to scales - so that they do not fall off painfully, they are softened with lotions, applications with various softening ointments, tinctures, mixtures.
5. Injections and tablets are prescribed - for example, immunosuppressants, which restore the function of the immune system along with improving psychophysical conditions.
6. They use irradiation with ultraviolet rays, clean the blood using plasmapheresis and other methods.
7. Sanatorium-resort treatment with mud and salt water. For example, a resort in Israel on the Dead Sea. The method is not cheap, it must take 28 days, but it is 100% effective.
8. Taking salt and herbal baths.
9. Special diet, exercise.

In addition to the above methods, the operation is also performed on the small intestine valve, which is responsible for cleaning the system. Usually, after such an operation, patients feel better for 5-6 years earlier.

Important!The basic drug will always be an antimetabolite of the structural analog group of folic acid, which is supplied to the body by intramuscular injection.

Traditional medicine for psoriasis

This disease can also be treated using traditional methods, as some plants, seeds, and fruits have their own medicinal properties. This is a budget option for those who can't afford a trip to the resort. At home, you can prepare medicinal baths for yourself, making various ointments using Kalanchoe, honey and other ingredients. Only the patient should always first consult with his doctor. Here you must also follow a strict diet, sleep, work, and physical activity.

Additional steps

Any attending physician will always prohibit the patient from being in the sun for more than 6 hours a day for 2 sunbathing sessions. At the same time, the sun should not be at its peak and burn strongly, otherwise you can only cause burns and worsen the situation. In addition to sun exposure, psoriasis can also be temporarily cured by adding a special diet. The most common system now is the Pegano diet. In addition, you should remove all the usual desires, such as tobacco, alcohol, many sweets and other hobbies.

Additional information:It is not recommended to go on a sudden diet. In addition, you should always remember about your intestines, which should be helped by the presence of fiber and sunflower oil. Therefore, you can eat sunflower seeds, and also add various fiber-rich foods that are allowed to your meal.

5 preventive measures for people prone to psoriasis

So that one does not have questions about psoriasis - what kind of disease it is and how to treat it, one should also listen to some recommendations from experts on how to protect oneself as much as possible from such a disease. Pay attention to this list of 5 basic recommendations, even if you do not have a tendency to this type of disease:

1. Protect yourself from various infections, dress warmly, don't catch a cold, create the most positive attitude in life.
2. Be active, maintain a regular diet, sleep and wake up.
3. Leave all bad habits or hobbies such as baking, sweets, which contain a lot of sugar.
4. Wear clothing made from natural fiber fabrics.
5. All painkillers or other medicines should be taken in consultation with a doctor and not self-medicate.

For reference:A slow metabolism leads not only to psoriasis, but also to obesity, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease and other dysfunctions. Therefore, reducing carbohydrates in your menu, walking more in the fresh air, and physical exercise will help anyone always stay healthy!

There is no complete cure for this disease yet; experts are identifying the cause as certain cases of psoriatic disorders have been registered. The therapy procedure is very long, long and difficult. The patient will need not only changes in lifestyle, but also self-observation along with keeping a diary, in which he will record all his circumstances. Therefore, any delay in contacting a doctor will only make the situation worse. Patients should not torture themselves like that, afraid to show themselves to the doctor, it is better to immediately start looking for a solution to the problem than to build it up like a snowball.