Psoriasis (from the Greek "psora" - "skin disease, scab") is a chronic non -infectious disease. Scales lichen (so they also call psoriasis) affects mainly skin areas on the elbow and knee joints, on the head and in the lower back. But there is also psoriasis of nails, joints and external genitalia, but these forms are extremely rare.
The causes of psoriasis
This disease is due to a short life cycle. The fact is that in a healthy person, the cells of the skin are updated every 30 days, i. e. The cycle of their division and ripening occurs in about 4 weeks. Psoriasis is, one might say, an abnormal reaction of the body to various kinds of external stimuli, as a result of which in some places the upper layer of the skin dies in just 4-5 days, leaving behind the keratinized areas.
To date, psoriasis is considered a multifaceted disease, i. e. The disease is based on a whole set of reasons: immunological shifts, metabolic disorders, various concomitant neurological and endocrine disorders.
The exact reasons why a person has psoriasis are not finally established. There are several theories in this regard. According to one of them, two types of psoriasis are distinguished:
- The cause of type I is inherited by the breakdown of the immune system. This form of the disease, which affects the skin, is sick of about 65% of people, and most often aged 18 to 25 years;
- II type of psoriasis appears in people over 40 years of age, it is not inherited and is not associated with violations in the cells of the immune system. Unlike the first type, the second includes psoriasis of nails and joints.
According to another theory, psoriasis occurs solely due to impaired immunity, the causes of which there may be infectious diseases, stress, alcoholic drinks, malnutrition, cold climate. Clamps, pepper and foods containing vinegar can cause exacerbation and worsen psoriasis. Psoriasis, according to this theory, is a systemic disease. And this means that with serious impaired immune systems, the process can spread from the skin to other tissues and organs, for example, to the joints, as a result of which psoriatic arthritis develops.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Symptoms of psoriasis of the scalp, knees, elbow joints and lower back are inflamed peeling papules of red or pink. They are covered with silver scales (hence the name "scaly lichen"), which when combed easily disappears. Over time, the spots increase in size, merge into large formations (plaques) and affect more and large areas, and damaged skin cracks and bleeds.
Psoriasis of nails is manifested a little differently. First, the nail plates are darkened, spots and point recesses appear on them. Very often with psoriasis, the nails thicken and crumble.
The symptom of psoriasis in the form of rashes is accompanied by severe itching, especially in the papules, but it applies to nearby areas.
Depending on the seasonality of the exacerbation, three types of psoriasis are distinguished: summer, winter and uncertain. Most often, a winter type is found - its symptoms under the influence of sunlight weaken, and sometimes disappear altogether. In patients with a summer form, on the contrary, the course of the disease worsens under the influence of the sun.
Treatment of psoriasis
Treatment of psoriasis, depending on its type, is carried out by various drugs and methods. In any case, therapy should be complex.
Medication treatment of psoriasis at the progressive stage usually includes:
- Antihistamines;
- Hypensesbibing medicines;
- Vitamins A, C, B6, B12;
- Sedatives;
- External funds.
In the stationary stage of psoriasis, autohemotherapy (method of treatment with your own blood), antiphagin or anatoxin injections (in the presence of foci of chronic infection), as well as ultraviolet irradiation are shown. For external use, ichthyol, sulfuric ointment with tar, as well as naphthalane with the addition of corticosteroids, is prescribed.
Quite often, psoriasis of the scalp and skin of other parts of the body is treated with a laser. Lazer rays activate living fabric molecules, providing photo-mechanical, photochemical and other positive effects.
For the treatment of severe forms of psoriasis, photo chemotherapy is used, which implies the effect on the skin of long-wave UV rays and the use of special drugs. Thanks to photochemotherapy, you can get rid of about 80% of plaques, and with regular use - about 95%. In a severe course of the disease, the intake of corticosteroid hormones and cytotoxic immunosuppressants is indicated.
Also for the treatment of psoriasis, radiotherapy, ultrasound, ultrafonophoresis, electrotherapy, cryotherapy, magnetic waves, thalassotherapy, plasmosorption, and hemoruscation are used.
All patients show a diet with a limitation of carbohydrates and animal fats, with the exception of acute dishes and alcohol. Also, patients with psoriasis are recommended by resort treatment - sea bathing, sunbathing, radon and hydrogen sulfide springs.
Treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies
Folk recipes also help get rid of symptoms of psoriasis. However, it is worth recalling that the cause of this ailment may be breakdowns in the immune system and impaired immunity due to chronic diseases. For this reason, the treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies, firstly, should be agreed with the attending physician, and, secondly, should only complement the basic therapy. Ignoring or improper treatment of such a serious disease is fraught with its transition to a severe form, which is characterized by damage to the joints. They will begin to swell, lose mobility and get sick. Moreover, psoriasis reduces the standard of living of a person-many patients complain about the instability of the emotional and psychological state.
So, popular recipes:
- Infusion of flowers and leaves of the black elderberry: 2 tsp. Raw materials pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water and insist for an hour. Strain the decoction, take 1/3 cup three times a day;
- Sea buckthorn oil: take 1 tsp inside. once a day;
- Mustard ointment: mix 1/2 tsp. dry mustard, 5 tbsp. warm broth of St. John's wort, 1 tspmelted butter. Put the mixture on the affected areas, after a few minutes wash off with cool water, apply a moisturizer. Carry out procedures once a week.
It is very useful for psoriasis of a bath with the addition of an infusion of a series, celandine, St. John's wort, fir extract and sage.
Unfortunately, at present it is completely impossible to cure psoriasis, relapse can occur at any time, so people with such a diagnosis need to be constantly observed by a dermatologist.