Psoriasis: possible causes and manifestations

Psoriasis is an unpleasant skin disease in which the body becomes covered with a red rash that merges into spots.A person may be disturbed by itching, which prevents him from falling asleep, and if complications in the form of arthritis occur, severe pain in the joints may occur.Psoriasis significantly affects quality of life.Studies show that patients feel as bad as those who have had a heart attack, heart failure or severe hypertension.

Unfortunately, doctors have not yet found an answer to the question of how to cure psoriasis.Everything offered by the pharmaceutical industry and drugs - ointments, creams, ultraviolet rays, drugs for immunity - only bring temporary relief.Other measures - psychotherapy, taking vitamins, diet for psoriasis - do not cure, but help to improve the condition.

Psoriasis disease

Psoriasis on the head

How does scalp psoriasis occur?

• The first lesions appear in the form of peeling on the back of the head.
• Then the exfoliation spreads, the skin itches and itches.In the early stages of psoriasis, patients tend to believe that they only have dandruff, and are looking for medication to get rid of it.Contacting the doctor is often ineffective - the dermatologist may mistake the lesion for seborrheic dermatitis and prescribe a shampoo for it.
• In the next stage, the itching becomes unbearable, the patient injures the skin by scratching until it bleeds.
• Next, red plaques and bumps appear, which a person easily injures when scratching.
• The plaque becomes overgrown with gray particles that gradually cover the entire scalp.Particles are epithelium that is exfoliated from the surface.
• After this, psoriasis spreads to the smooth scalp that is not covered by hair.

Skin psoriasis

Cutaneous psoriasis is a non-infectious skin lesion that affects approximately 4% of the population.The cause has not been fully identified, but the main version is a genetic disorder.An equally popular opinion is that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease.The version of the origin of infectious diseases deserves attention.

nail psoriasis

Depending on how the nail plate is damaged, there are:

• Changes in the color of the nail bed.
• The appearance of grooves and damage right on the plate.
• Corrosion or, conversely, thickening of the nail.
• Thickening of the skin under the nail plate.

Diagnosis of nail psoriasis is possible after appropriate tests for the presence of fungus.But sometimes even this type of study does not completely exclude this disease, because fungal infections can accompany existing psoriasis.

Psoriasis in adults

Psoriasis in women

Psoriasis in pregnant women

Psoriasis is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbation and improvement.How does she behave during pregnancy?Observations show that pregnant women feel better - they are less worried about the manifestation of the disease, although during this period all treatments are almost completely canceled so as not to harm the unborn baby.

Sometimes the disease does not disappear completely even during pregnancy, and medication is needed.If necessary, it is better to treat psoriasis with products that do not contain hormones.

Psoriasis in nursing mothers

How to treat psoriasis for nursing mothers?Many drugs are allowed that have no systemic effects and are not passed through milk:

• Hormonal drugs, provided that they are used under the supervision of a doctor and when needed urgently, on a small part of the body.
• Moisturizing cream (including for children's skin).
• Oils and fat-like creams that can moisturize the skin by being retained in the stratum corneum.
• Treatment of psoriasis with salicylic ointment is allowed.
• To achieve an antiallergic effect, various sorbents can be used.
• The use of phototherapy is allowed (without the administration of oral photosensitizers).

Psoriasis in men

Psoriasis is somewhat less common in men than in women.The course of the disease in men may be milder - the manifestations are less obvious, and the disease begins on average at an older age than in women.Otherwise, the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are almost the same in both sexes.

A characteristic feature of men is the localization of psoriasis in the area of the glans penis.Since the disease occurs without characteristic peeling, the diagnosis can be difficult, especially if the patient does not turn to a dermatologist, but to a urologist, whose work in particular does not imply a close familiarity with the symptoms of psoriasis.

Psoriasis in children

In childhood, psoriasis can bring a lot of suffering to children, because it is accompanied by itching, pain, and if the joints are affected, their mobility can be limited.And peers are sometimes less intelligent and tease children with "lichen," not knowing about the true nature of the non-infectious disease.

How does childhood psoriasis manifest itself?It is characterized by several forms:

• Localization in the usual places - on the extensor surface of the limbs, buttock.
• Nail damage.
• Psoriasis on the scalp, on the scalp.

The exact cause of psoriasis in children is unknown, but it is believed that the main cause is a genetic defect.Versions of the unfavorable external environment are also considered - exposure to allergens, rubbing the skin with clothing, chronic and acute stress.Finally, another possible cause of this disease is a previous infection.

Psoriasis: symptoms

Symptoms of psoriasis in adults

Psoriasis symptoms are characteristic that allow accurate and quick diagnosis.The main manifestation of this disease is a red, scaly spot (plaque) on the surface of the skin, consisting of papules.Patients are concerned about severe itching and signs of inflammation in the area of spots.One of the hallmarks of psoriasis is the spread of plaques where there are skin lesions - microtraumas, scratches, cracks.The favorite localization of the rash is on the head under the hair, on the extensor surface of the joints, on the lower back and sacrum, in all natural skin folds.

Psoriasis has an undulating course, in which periods of spontaneous exacerbations are replaced by remissions.Many patients note that they cannot connect any event in their life with the aggravation that has begun.During this period, the symptoms of psoriasis manifest themselves clearly - the peeling becomes stronger, the redness of the spots becomes clearly bright, and due to the peeling of skin fragments and infection, pus plaques are possible.

Symptoms of psoriasis in children

Psoriasis in children is very similar to atopic dermatitis.It occurs in several characteristic forms of childhood:

• Teardrop-shaped - red bumps that appear after injury and infection.They are often confused with allergies.
• plaqueIt manifests itself with the same symptoms as the corresponding form in adults.
• Pustular forms are rare and are usually caused by infection, anxiety, or taking certain medications.This disease is expressed in the spread of pustules on the skin - vesicles with purulent-liquid content.As with plaque, the danger comes from scratching the pustule and possible infection.
• The erythrodermic form is characterized by the spread of lesions throughout the body, severe inflammation and itching of the skin, fever and fever.A severe course of the disease requires immediate admission to a children's hospital.
• Psoriatic arthritis is one form and at the same time a complication of psoriasis.It appears against the background of an existing disease and is expressed in joint pain and swelling, muscle stiffness.
• A special form of this disease is the so-called diaper psoriasis, where the rash covers the child's back and is therefore mistaken by pediatricians and mothers for irritation caused by contact with urine and feces.

A form of psoriasis

There is still no generally accepted classification of psoriasis.The following forms are distinguished:

• Plaque (common).
• Exudative.
• Arthropathy.
• Pustular.
• Psoriatic erythroderma.
• Scalp psoriasis.
• Fold psoriasis.
• Psoriasis of the palms and soles.

Certain clinical variants of the disease with varying severity can be observed in the same patient.

Pustular form

Psoriasis sometimes occurs in the form of pustular skin lesions.It is characterized by the formation of pustules-vesicles filled with purulent or sterile contents.The size of the bubbles can reach 2.5-3 cm.Favorite places for rashes are the extensor areas of the arms and legs, and the trunk.Pustular psoriasis of the scalp is common.The surface of the patient's body is red and hot.Patients complain of fever and chills, general malaise.

Exudative form

The exudative form is characterized by the appearance of large plaques on the surface of the skin, which later, unlike psoriasis vulgaris, become covered with a yellow-brown crust.

A characteristic feature of exudative psoriasis is the atypical location of the rash.Unlike other forms, they occupy the surface at the bends of arms and legs, and skin folds.As a result of friction from clothing and irritation, the rash can become injured and then infected.

Stages of psoriasis

Early stage psoriasis

To assess the severity of psoriasis and its stage, different scales are used, including:

• Rash area.
• Disease severity (redness, itching, swelling and exudate, surface bleeding).
• General symptoms (general emotional and physical condition).
• The influence of disease on a person's lifestyle and social functioning.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of previous therapy attempts.

The initial stage of psoriasis is the stage where the skin surface is damaged no more than 3%, nails and joints are not affected.At this time, a stable remission of the disease can be achieved.

Intermediate stage psoriasis

Intermediate stage psoriasis corresponds to skin lesions between 3 and 10% of the skin.

Severe psoriasis

A severe level of psoriasis is damage to the skin of more than 10%, or the development of psoriatic arthritis in any area of the rash.The disease at this stage causes significant discomfort and suffering to the patient, because arthritis can be accompanied by pain, and large areas of rash are accompanied by debilitating itching and insomnia.

Psoriasis: causes

Causes of psoriasis in adults

The cause of psoriasis has not yet been fully identified.Of course, science has advanced in the study of this disease, but the exact answer to the question of why psoriasis occurs has not yet been found.It is known for certain that dermatosis is not contagious, which means that the cause is most likely not caused by an infection.Researchers tend to believe that the disease is multifactorial - both metabolic disorders and immune problems are to blame.

Causes of psoriasis in children

Psoriasis in children appears against the background of infectious diseases, emotional stress, cold weather, excessive tanning, and herbs.The trigger for the development of this disease can be frequent contact with allergens.

Diagnosis of psoriasis

Visual inspection and identification of the psoriatic triad

Psoriasis has characteristic symptoms that allow doctors to accurately diagnose the disease using a visual examination of the skin:

• "Stearin stain" - if the plaque is scraped, a shaving similar to stearin is formed.
• "Terminal film" - after the scale is removed from the surface of the papule, in its place a surface similar to a polyethylene film becomes visible.
• "Blood dew" - after continuously scraping the surface emerging from under the plaque, bleeding occurs in the form of drops.

Unlike skin forms, nail psoriasis is diagnosed by dermatologists not by a triad of symptoms, but by other signs:

• Changes in the color of the nail bed.
• Rusty nails.
• Grooves located throughout the nail.
• Small dots on the nail plate, reminiscent of punctures with a sewing needle.
• Increase the thickness of the skin under the nails.
• Thickening and changes in the shape of the nail, growing into the finger.

Laboratory research

Based on the structure and characteristics of the fragment cells, experts can determine the origin of the skin rash: with psoriasis, there is an increase in the number of Rene bodies, an increase in the proliferation of keratinocytes, and an accumulation of T-lymphocytes and macrophages in the skin layer.

Psoriasis: treatment

Treatment of psoriasis in adults

How to treat psoriasis?Medicine has not yet given a comprehensive answer to this question, but the principles of therapy were developed a long time ago.They can be divided into three groups:

• Eliminate the cause of disease.
• Relieves symptoms.
• Strengthens immunity.

The goal of all types of treatment is to put the disease into remission for as long as possible.

The effectiveness of therapy varies in each individual case.

Treatment of psoriasis in children

Treatment of psoriasis in childhood aims to achieve long-term remission quickly, and is basically no different from therapy for adults:

• Following a hypoallergenic diet with a normal food composition: excluding fried, salty, spicy vegetables and fruits, preservatives that can cause allergies.
• Create a life without allergens (down pillows, old dusty things).
• Follow hygiene advice (wash, dry and moisturize damaged skin properly).
• Physiotherapy.Electrosleep, phototherapy, magnetic therapy, ultrasound and laser can be used.The use of photochemotherapy, due to its potential dangers, is recommended for children aged 15 and over.
• Sanatorium-resort treatment using mineral baths and therapeutic mud.
• Local treatment with hormonal and non-hormonal ointments and creams prescribed by the doctor according to the severity of the disease, intensity of skin manifestations and individual response.
• If local treatment is insufficient, children may be given systemic drugs and procedures (UVA photochemotherapy, drugs to affect the immune system, retinoids).

Medicines to treat psoriasis

Psoriasis cream

What is the most popular cream in the treatment of psoriasis?

• Contains synthetic hormones.They are good because they quickly and effectively relieve itching and inflammation, and help reduce the size of psoriatic plaques.Hormonal creams have many side effects and should be used strictly as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.
• Non-hormonal creams have the same effect as hormonal creams, but they take longer to occur, after prolonged use.Therefore, they are not used as ambulances.But, unlike hormones, such creams are not addictive, and they have almost no side effects.

Ointment for psoriasis

Like creams, ointments are hormonal and non-hormonal:

• Hormones contain hormones, from the weakest 4th generation drugs to the most potent.The ointment is prescribed by a doctor, and it can be stopped by gradually reducing the dose.
• Non-hormonal ointment for psoriasis moisturizes the skin, relieves inflammation and itching, and heals wounds.

Physiotherapy as a cure for psoriasis

This procedure aims to achieve various therapeutic effects:

• The main type of physiotherapy is phototherapy (or photochemotherapy).Treatment consists of treating the surface of the skin with ultraviolet radiation of different wavelengths.
• X-ray method – skin surface treatment with soft x-rays.
• Electrosleep is the introduction of the patient into a state of sleep using electrical influence on the brain.This procedure does not treat skin rashes, but helps to reduce excitement and manifestations of neurosis, and due to this, the general condition of the patient improves.
• Cryotherapy – treatment of the skin surface with nitrogen to accelerate regeneration, relieve inflammation and itching.
• Magnetic therapy is used when psoriasis is complicated by arthritis.
• Laser therapy is mainly used to treat plaque.

How to cure psoriasis at home

What is self-treatment for psoriasis at home?

• Promote a hypoallergenic lifestyle - you need to get rid of carpets, down pillows and blankets, try to change the furniture to something that easily removes dust.It is better not to have pets for psoriasis patients, even if allergies to animals are not confirmed.Prolonged contact with them can cause allergic reactions.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
• A diet for psoriasis should be healthy and nutritious.
• Elimination of stress and anxiety, because they can be the reason for the aggravation.
• Compliance with hygiene rules - refusal to shower in favor of showering, careful drying, washing and subsequent moisturizing of the skin with special products prescribed by the doctor.
• Take medications and perform procedures prescribed by a dermatologist depending on the stage of the disease.
• If the doctor has prescribed sunbathing or ultraviolet irradiation, you must strictly adhere to the procedure schedule.

Treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies

What methods are used in folk medicine?

• Birch tar is used in soap form or in pure form to be applied to the affected skin.
• Treatment with soda is based on the hypothesis that psoriasis occurs as a result of increased skin acidity.To neutralize it, it is suggested to treat the surface with an alkaline preparation, namely soda.
• Treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies in the form of grease is based on moisturizing the skin due to the fat contained in it.
• Copper sulfate and potassium permanganate are also used to treat psoriasis.For treatment, a solution of vitriol and potassium permanganate is used, which is used to treat the surface of the skin for several hours.

Diet for psoriasis

What diet for psoriasis allows and also promotes?

• Fiber.It allows you to improve metabolic processes, as well as normalize digestive functions.
• Calcium is a generally recognized useful product that has clear anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, and therefore its presence in the diet is necessary: cottage cheese, dairy and fermented milk products are mandatory for patients.
• Unsaturated fatty acids are needed to normalize fat metabolism, help absorb many vitamins, and improve the condition of the skin and vascular walls.
• Zinc must be present in the diet to promote protein synthesis, which improves immunity.
• At any stage of psoriasis, you need to eat foods rich in antioxidants.

Complications of psoriasis

Psoriatic erythoderma

Psoriatic erythroderma is a complication of psoriasis, in which the patient's entire skin becomes covered with bright red spots.A person's temperature rises, joints ache, lymph nodes enlarge, and their general condition worsens.This complication is dangerous because it contributes to the development of heart failure, impaired kidney and liver function.Peeling and inflammation of the skin leads to dehydration, heat and protein loss.

Generalized pustular psoriasis

Skin psoriasis can be complicated by rashes on the surface of the body in the form of small blisters (pustules) with bright red lines.As the disease progresses, the pustules coalesce into spots, open or remain intact, and then dry to form a yellow crust.The place of the rash is the chest, sides and back, extensor areas of the limbs.

Symptoms of pustular psoriasis also include fever, increased temperature, burning sensation and pain in the rash area.

Psoriasis arthropathy

Skin psoriasis with a long course, after 5-6 years from its onset, can be complicated by joint involvement in the process.This complication is called arthropathic psoriasis and usually manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the phalanges of the fingers and toes.The finger becomes swollen, the skin in the inflamed area becomes red.In addition, the disease also affects other joints: intervertebral, iliac, heel.

Psoriasis in the form of arthropathy has a wave-like course with increases and exacerbations, sometimes accompanied by skin rashes, but can also occur without skin manifestations.The patient complains of severe pain and limited movement in the damaged joint.It is easy to identify arthropathic psoriasis by the presence of accompanying rashes, and if they are not present, the disease can be confused with other types of arthritis.

Prevention of psoriasis exacerbations

Spa treatment

What are the effects of staying at a resort?

• Mud therapy helps improve skin condition and relieve inflammation.
• Climate therapy - exposure to moderate heat, sea air and swimming has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the skin and strengthens the immune system.
• Sunbathing (heliotherapy) is indicated in moderation.They are good for the skin because of the beneficial effects of ultraviolet rays.However, excessive exposure to the sun can trigger psoriasis complications, so you should not use tanning excessively.
• Hydrogen sulphide baths and thermal water from natural sources improve capillary blood circulation and promote better skin regeneration.

Ultraviolet radiation

An excellent remedy for psoriasis is ultraviolet irradiation, which can be natural (solar) or artificial.Ultraviolet treatments come in several forms:

• PUVA photochemotherapy, when long-wave irradiation is combined with photosensitizer intake.
• Narrow wave therapy 311 nm – phototherapy with narrow spectrum rays.
• Combination phototherapy is a combination of medium and long waves.

Lifestyle

What needs to be changed in the patient's daily life?

• It is advisable to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet, limit alcohol and drink plenty of clean water (6-8 glasses a day, not including liquids in meals).
• Personal hygiene should include showering rather than showering.
• The air in the room should be humid enough.
• Sun exposure is beneficial for psoriasis patients, provided it is approved by a doctor.
• To prevent the appearance of new foci of the disease, the skin should be protected from injury.
• In order not to provoke the exacerbation of psoriasis, you need to strengthen your immune system and protect yourself from colds and respiratory viral infections.
• The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, but it has been confirmed that stress causes exacerbations.Therefore, patients should try to protect themselves from negative emotions, emotional stress and fatigue.It is very important to get enough sleep.

Vitamin therapy course

What vitamins are useful in case of skin diseases?

• Retinol (vitamin A).
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E.
• Vitamin C.
• Vitamin B.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that completely changes a person's life.Diagnosing the disease is not difficult, because the "signature" psoriatic rash is known to any dermatologist.The causes of skin damage have not been established precisely, and no effective way to get rid of it has been invented: creams, or taking hormones, or ointments for psoriasis do not guarantee a complete cure.But do not despair!You should always remember that this is not a fatal disease, and with proper treatment, diet, preventive measures, and sanatorium treatment, you can achieve a stable remission.