Psoriasis is a common, chronic, non-infectious disease that affects approximately 100 million people worldwide.
What are the symptoms of psoriasis?
This is how the disease manifests itself.Skin cells divide 10 times faster than usual, layer on top of each other and form a red patch covered with silvery-white scales.Such wounds can appear anywhere, but most often on the head, elbows, knees and lower back.
Here are some more signs that appear along with the places:
- itching and burning;
- thickening and small holes in the nails;
- swollen and painful joints.
There may be other symptoms, depending on the type of psoriasis.
What types of psoriasis are there?
There are seven in total
- Normal, aka rude.The most common type: raised, red and inflamed skin covered with white scales.
- Tear shaped.Small pink spots usually appear on the head, thighs, arms and trunk.
- Nail psoriasis.They become yellow-brown, soft and can be separated from the socket.Indentation or thickening appears.
- Pustular.A rare form of the disease, it can be accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, muscle weakness and rapid pulse.Purulent bumps appear on the arms, legs and fingers, surrounded by red skin.
- Reverse.Smooth and shiny red spots without scales.Most often they appear in the groin, armpits, under the breasts and buttocks.
- Psoriatic Arthritis.In addition to plaque on the skin, it causes joint pain and swelling.
Where does psoriasis come from?
Anyone can get psoriasis, but it occurs more often in adults than in children.
The exact cause of this disease is unknown.But it is believed to be an autoimmune disease: immune system cells, also known as white blood cells, become overactive and mistakenly attack healthy tissue.
Psoriasis can be caused by one or more factors:
- infection;
- pressure;
- smoking or drinking alcohol;
- sunburn;
- vitamin D deficiency;
- Some drugs and substances - lithium preparations, beta blockers, antimalarial drugs, iodide.
You cannot get psoriasis.It is not transmitted by contact with the patient's skin.
How is psoriasis treated?
There is no way to get rid of psoriasis, but you can relieve the symptoms.Choosing procedures and medications is quite difficult.What works for one person sometimes doesn't work for another.A dermatologist should create and customize a treatment plan.
Doctors may recommend the following.
Creams and ointments for the skin
They are used to soften plaque, reduce itching, and slow the growth of skin cells.These are external remedies:
- hormonal ointment;
- shampoo and ointment with coal tar;
- preparations with retinoids.
Phototherapy
Irradiation of the skin with natural or artificial ultraviolet light is performed in a hospital under the supervision of a dermatologist.Phototherapy is usually used in parallel with external drugs.
The simplest form is ordinary sunlight.But even if you decide to sunbathe, you should first discuss it with your doctor.This method is not suitable for everyone.
Systemic treatment
This is the heavy artillery when other methods fail.The doctor prescribes a course of tablets or injections that affect the whole body.
Prescribing medicines to yourself or taking them on the advice of a friend is a very bad idea.
Self-medication of psoriasis can cause the disease to spread to untouched areas of the body and increase the frequency of outbreaks.
The patient does not take into account the side effects of various drugs and endangers himself.
Don't do this, go to the doctor!
How to reduce the frequency of psoriasis flares
In addition to prescribed treatment, do the following:
Do not smoke or drink alcohol.Treatment of bad habits is less effective.
Watch your weight.After losing extra pounds, many patients find that the drugs that did not work before began to work.
Eat a balanced diet.This will reduce the risk of complications related to psoriasis - high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis.
Do yoga and meditation.They reduce stress and anxiety that can cause flare-ups.
Apply a thick moisturizer to your skin as needed throughout the day to soften it.Make sure you do this after showering and before going to bed.
Take a colloidal oat or salt bath every day for 10 minutes.Just make sure the water is not too hot.And don't use harsh soaps, which dry out the skin too much.