It can occur at any age, but the first symptoms usually appear gradually between the ages of 15 and 35.
Infection can be very upsetting due to ugly spots all over the body, which also cause discomfort, and sometimes even pain. The manifestation can be of different degrees: from a few specks with scales that resemble dandruff, to wide areas of skin with a rash. Most often, psoriasis develops on the elbows, knees, waist and head. Pits or other irregularities may appear on the nails. The rash can manifest itself in many ways, including pustules, skin tears, itching, and scratched areas. Psoriasis is not contagious.
Signs and symptoms
- Dry red patches on the skin, covered with silvery scales.
- Small smooth dots (more common in children) all over the body.
- Swollen and tight ligaments.
Warning signs and symptoms
Redness and hair loss all over the skin.
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that affects the life cycle of cells. It usually takes about one month for new cells to emerge from the lower layer of the skin, where they form. Outside, they die off and are separated by tiny particles. With psoriasis, this whole process takes place in a matter of days: the cells quickly die off, and spots covered with a thick crust without hair spread over the skin.
Arthritis accompanies psoriasis in one in 10 cases. For most of these people, the effects of psoriatic arthritis are minimal. Some pain is felt in the affected joints, but it has no effect on the health of the whole organism. Rarely does this pain limit mobility similar to that experienced with rheumatoid arthritis.
Causes
In psoriasis, skin cells reproduce quickly to form a thick, less cohesive layer of skin. This usually does not occur until the intervention of the treatment.
Factors that can cause psoriasis:
- Systemic illness (such as tonsillitis).
- The immune system's response to disease.
- Damage to the skin.
- Reaction to a medicine or vaccine.
- Stress.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Environmental factors such as direct contact with sunlight or chemicals (disinfectants, paints).
Doctors suggest that psoriasis is a disease caused by many factors and is inherited. But scientists have not yet fully figured out how much it is associated with the genetic apparatus.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of psoriasis is usually made on the basis of a physical examination. The doctor may need a sample of skin cells for analysis to determine the nature of the disorder and the possibility of fungal infections.
Treatment
Psoriasis is very difficult to control for one reason - there are a great many types of psoriasis by type, severity and responsiveness to treatment. Each of them has its own characteristics, and each requires a special approach, so the doctor has to deal with each individual case for a long time. The goal of treatment is to regulate the growth and maturation of your skin cells. For mild cases, moisturizing soaps, shampoos, lotions, and ointments will suffice.
Treatment can be carried out with:
Creams and ointments
Calcipotriene ointment containing vitamin D is usually prescribed. Calciporien controls the excess production of skin cells. This is a medicine for mild to moderate psoriasis. Another option is treatment with retinoids like tazarotene. The doctor may also prescribe medications that contain a norcoticosteroid and a resin.
Preparations for external administration
A second generation retinoid can help slow the growth of skin cells in severe psoriasis. Great care should be taken when treating with this drug because it can cause side effects such as irritation of the eyes and lips, hair loss, excessive sensitivity to the sun, and complicating childbirth if taken by a pregnant woman.
Another is a drug from the group of antimetabolites, which stops the growth of skin cells in psoriasis, and a drug that blocks the immune system. These medicines can also cause side effects, including kidney and liver damage, and are usually only used in the most severe cases.
Phototherapy
Psoriasis ointment together with ultraviolet A (PUVA), a combination of light-sensitive drugs, ultraviolet A (UVA) together suppress the growth of skin cells in some cases of psoriasis. But long-term PUVA treatment (250 times or more) can increase the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Sunbathing in the warm sun (taking into account that all measures have been taken to avoid burns) and the use of coal tar together with ultraviolet B radiation (Heckermann's method) are also effective methods of treatment. A newer form of phototherapy called "narrow band ultraviolet B" (NB-UVF) can be as effective as PUVA and does not require medication before each session. It does not develop skin cancer propensity like PUVA.
Personal care
To keep your disease under control, you need to:
- Eat food enriched with vitamins, rest for the number of hours the body needs, and exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Psoriasis often appears in the folds of the skin in obese people.
- Do not rub or scratch areas with psoriatic lesions.
- Wash every day to exfoliate dead cells. Avoid hot water or harsh soap.
- Moisturize the skin. Pat the skin after a bath, spread with an oily moisturizer immediately after the procedure, while the skin still contains a lot of moisture. Do not use lotions or creams containing alcohol. Use an air conditioner and keep the room temperature cool at all times.
- Use soaps, shampoos, and ointments that contain liquid coal tar and salicylic acid.
- Sunbathe in moderate sun, but avoid sunburn.
- When the symptoms of the disease are extremely pronounced, use a cream with a content of 0. 5-1 percent cortisone for several weeks.