Psoriasis is a long-term and practically incurable, non-contagious disease. It mainly affects the skin, nails and joints. Psoriasis can occur in a person at any age, even in children.
There are several theories about the cause of psoriasis:
- Theory of neurogenic disorders;
- Theory about problems in the endocrine system;
- The theory of viral disorders or the theory of metabolic disorders.
But none of these theories has been practically scientifically proven. To date, scientists have come to the conclusion that the onset of the disease is influenced by heredity or a person's genetic predisposition to pathological changes in skin cells.
These cells are formed in the basal layer and, reaching the outer stratum corneum, form scales. The genetic factor proves the presence of the disease in relatives. In other words: if your relatives suffer from psoriasis, then it may appear in you or your children.
Factors affecting the appearance of psoriasis
The following factors affect the appearance of psoriasis:
- Nervous breakdowns;
- Mental and physical shock, overload of the body;
- Diseases of the endocrine system;
- Biochemical and enzymatic disorders;
- Hypothermia of the body;
- Decreased immunity.
It is difficult to identify and confirm what caused this disease. They often say that the disease appeared for no apparent reason.
What kind of disease is psoriasis: how does it manifest itself?
With this disease, papules and plaques appear on the skin. Plaques are sharply limited, compacted spots on the skin of a pinkish or reddish hue with small light scales. The plaques have different shapes, but they are more often round or oval. They can be located anywhere on the human body, but are more often observed on large joints, on the sacrum and lower back, under the hair on the head.
Psoriatic papules are characterized by rapid growth with the formation of plaques of several centimeters, which then merge into large skin lesions.
How is psoriasis diagnosed?
The following indicators are important for diagnosis:
- If you try to scrape off the papule, the scales are easily sprinkled, a "stearin spot" is formed.
- A reddish shiny surface appears on the skin - the terminal film of the spot;
- If you continue to scrape off the stain, then point bleeding appears on its surface - "blood dew".
Stages of psoriasis
For rashes attached to the disease, the following stages of development are characteristic:
- Progressive stage (the appearance of small papules, which grow over time and merge into larger ones);
- Stationary stage (plaques grow and do not change for a certain period of time);
- Regressive stage (the rash turns pale, becomes thinner and disappears from the surface of the skin).
Depending on the state of the body, the disease can last for a very long time.
For the first stage of the rash, the Kebner effect is characteristic: new psoriatic lesions appear on the site of the damaged skin after about a week.
During the period of remission on the skin in the area of the elbow or knee joints, isolated, so-called "duty" plaques may remain.
Types of psoriasis
There are several types of the disease:
- Exudative form: with it, puffiness and brightness of papules with yellowish crusts on their surface are expressed;
- Follicular form: small papules are localized in the area of the follicle orifices;
- Palmar-plantar form of psoriasis: with it, the skin of the soles and palms is covered with cracks and scales, psoriatic plaques are visible on them;
- Seborrheic psoriasis: localized mainly on the scalp;
- Psoriatic erythroderma. With this form, the disease is very difficult, the entire surface of the skin is affected by psoriasis, peripheral lymph nodes increase, fever, itching, sleep disturbances appear, changes in blood and urine are observed;
- Arthropathic psoriasis: affects and deforms the joints, restricting movement in them. It is characterized by severe pain and swelling in the area of the affected joint. This is a very painful form of psoriasis that often results in disability.
In all forms of psoriasis, a change in nails is observed: they become cloudy, thicken and small specks appear in them, as if they were poked with a needle.
The disease lasts for many years with periods of deterioration and improvement in health, it is characterized by seasonality: exacerbation in the cold and remission in the warm season.
Psoriasis treatment
Psoriasis should be treated under the supervision of a physician in the dermatology department. Treatment is prescribed by optimally combining therapeutic drugs with ointments and physiotherapy, as well as limiting animal fats and carbohydrates in food, alcohol and spicy foods.
Patients should be under dispensary supervision by a doctor and they need annual spa treatment. For psoriasis, it is recommended to visit radon springs and hydrogen sulphide baths, swim in the sea and sunbathe.