Psoriasis is an unpleasant skin disease in which the body becomes covered with red rashes that merge into spots.A person may be bothered 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 the 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 still have not found the answer to the question of how to cure psoriasis.Everything that is offered by the pharmaceutical industry and medicine - ointments, creams, ultraviolet radiation, drugs for immunity - brings only temporary relief.Other measures - psychotherapy, taking vitamins, diet for psoriasis - do not cure, but help 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 peeling spreads further, the skin itches and itches.In the initial stage of psoriasis, patients tend to believe that they just have dandruff, and are intensely looking for a remedy to get rid of it.Contacting doctors is often ineffective - a dermatologist may mistake the lesions for seborrheic dermatitis and prescribe shampoos for it.
- At the next stage, the itching becomes unbearable, the patient injures the skin with scratching until it bleeds.
- Next, red plaques and bumps appear, which a person easily injures when scratching.
- Plaques become overgrown with gray particles that gradually cover the entire scalp.Particles are epithelium exfoliated from the surface.
- After this, psoriasis spreads to the smooth scalp that is not covered by hair.
Skin psoriasis
Skin psoriasis is a non-infectious skin lesion that affects about 4% of the population.The reasons for it have not been fully identified, but the main version is a genetic disorder.An equally popular opinion is that psoriasis is an autoimmune disease.Versions of the infectious origin of the disease deserve attention.
Nail psoriasis
Depending on how the nail plate is damaged, there are:
- Change in color of the nail bed.
- The appearance of grooves and pinpoint damage 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 testing for the presence of fungi.But sometimes even this type of study does not completely exclude the disease, since a fungal infection can accompany existing psoriasis.
Psoriasis in adults
Psoriasis in women
Psoriasis in pregnant women
Psoriasis is a chronic disease with periods of exacerbations and improvements.How does he behave during pregnancy?Observations show that pregnant women feel much better - they are less worried about the manifestations of the disease, even if during this period all treatment is almost completely canceled so as not to harm the unborn baby.
Sometimes the disease does not go away completely even during pregnancy, and medication is required.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 do not have a systemic effect and are not transmitted through milk:
- Hormonal drugs, provided that they are used under the supervision of a doctor and when urgently needed, on small areas of the body.
- Moisturizing creams (including for children's skin).
- Fats 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 oral administration of photosensitizers).
Psoriasis in men
Psoriasis is somewhat less common among men than among women.The course of the disease in men may be milder - the manifestations are less pronounced, and the disease begins on average at a later age compared to women.Otherwise, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are almost the same in both sexes.
A feature characteristic of men is the localization of psoriasis in the area of the glans penis.Since the disease occurs without characteristic peeling, diagnosis can be difficult, especially if the patient turns not to a dermatologist, but to a urologist, whose specific work does not imply close familiarity with the symptoms of psoriasis.
Psoriasis in children
In childhood, psoriasis can bring a lot of suffering to a child, because it is accompanied by itching, pain, and if joints are affected, their mobility can be limited.And peers sometimes lack tact and tease children with “lichen,” having no idea about the true non-infectious nature of the disease.
How does childhood psoriasis manifest?It is characterized by several forms:
- Localization in typical places - on the extensor surfaces of the limbs, buttocks.
- Nail damage.
- Psoriasis on the scalp, on the scalp.
The exact causes of psoriasis in children are unknown, but it is believed that the main cause is a genetic defect.Versions of an unfavorable external environment are also considered - exposure to allergens, rubbing of the skin by clothing, chronic and acute stress.Finally, another possible cause of the disease is previous infections.
Psoriasis: symptoms
Symptoms of psoriasis in adults
The symptoms of psoriasis are so characteristic that they allow an accurate and quick diagnosis.The main manifestation of the disease is red, scaly spots (plaques) on the surface of the skin, consisting of papules.Patients are concerned about severe itching and signs of inflammation in the area of the spots.One of the characteristic features of psoriasis is the spread of plaques where there are skin lesions - microtraumas, scratches, cracks.The favorite localization of rashes is on the head under the hair, on the extensor surfaces of the joints, on the lower back and sacrum, in all natural skin folds.
Psoriasis has an undulating course, in which periods of exacerbation are spontaneously replaced by remission.Many patients note that they cannot connect any event in their lives with the exacerbation that has begun.During this period, the symptoms of psoriasis manifest themselves most clearly - peeling intensifies, the redness of the spots becomes clearly bright, and as a result of peeling of skin flakes and infection, suppuration of plaques is possible.
Symptoms of psoriasis in children
Psoriasis in children is almost as common as atopic dermatitis.It occurs in several forms characteristic of childhood:
- Teardrop-shaped - red bumps that appear after injuries and infections.They are often confused with allergies.
- Plaques.It manifests itself with the same symptoms as the corresponding form in adults.
- The pustular form is uncommon and is usually caused by infection, anxiety, or taking certain medications.The disease is expressed in the spread of pustules on the skin - vesicles with purulent-liquid contents.As with plaques, 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.The severe course of the disease requires urgent hospitalization of the child.
- Psoriatic arthritis is one of the forms and at the same time a complication of psoriasis.It appears against the background of an existing disease and is expressed in pain and swelling of the joints, muscle stiffness.
- A special form of the disease is the so-called diaper psoriasis, in which rashes cover the child’s buttocks and are therefore mistaken by the pediatrician and mother for irritation caused by contact with urine and feces.
Forms of psoriasis
There is still no generally accepted classification of psoriasis.The following forms are distinguished:
- Plaque (ordinary).
- Exudative.
- Arthropathic.
- Pustular.
- Psoriatic erythroderma.
- Psoriasis of the scalp.
- Psoriasis of the folds.
- Psoriasis of the palms and soles.
Certain clinical variants of the disease of 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. The favorite place for rashes is the extensor areas of the arms and legs, and the torso.Pustular psoriasis on the scalp is common.The surface of the patient's body is red and hot.Patients complain of fever and fever, general malaise.
Exudative form
The exudative form is characterized by the appearance of large plaques on the surface of the skin, which then, unlike vulgar psoriasis, become covered with yellow-brown crusts.
A characteristic feature of exudative psoriasis is the atypical location of the rashes.Unlike other forms, they occupy surfaces on the bends of the arms and legs, and folds of skin.Due to friction from clothing and irritation, the rash can become injured and then become infected.
Stages of psoriasis
Psoriasis initial stage
To assess the severity of psoriasis and its stage, different scales are used, which include:
- Area of rashes.
- The severity of the disease (redness, itching, swelling and exudate, bleeding of the surface).
- General symptoms (emotional and general physical state).
- The influence of the disease on a person’s lifestyle and social functions.
- Assessing the effectiveness of previous therapy attempts.
The initial stage of psoriasis is the stage at which the surface of the skin is damaged by no more than 3%, the nails and joints are not affected.At this time, stable remission of the disease can be achieved.
Middle stage of psoriasis
The middle stage of psoriasis corresponds to skin lesions ranging from 3 to 10% of the skin.
Severe stage of psoriasis
The severe stage of psoriasis is damage to the skin by more than 10%, or the development of psoriatic arthritis in any area of the rash.The disease at this stage causes significant inconvenience and suffering to patients, because arthritis can be accompanied by pain, and a large area of rash is accompanied by debilitating itching and insomnia.
Psoriasis: causes
Causes of psoriasis in adults
The causes of psoriasis have not yet been fully identified.Of course, science has advanced in the study of the 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 due to infection.Researchers are inclined to believe that the disease is multifactorial in nature - 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 the disease can be frequent contact with allergens.
Diagnosis of psoriasis
Visual examination and identification of the psoriatic triad
The disease psoriasis has characteristic symptoms that allow the doctor to accurately diagnose the disease using a visual examination of the skin:
- “Stearin stain” - if the plaque is scraped off, shavings similar to stearin are formed.
- “Terminal film” - after the scales are removed from the surface of the papule, in their place a surface similar to a polyethylene film becomes visible.
- “Blood dew” - after continuing to scrape the surface that appears from under the plaque, bleeding occurs in the form of drops.
Unlike the skin form, nail psoriasis is diagnosed by a dermatologist not by a triad of symptoms, but by other signs:
- Change in color of the nail bed.
- Corroded nail.
- Grooves located across the nail.
- Small dots on the nail plate, reminiscent of pricks with a sewing needle.
- Increasing the thickness of the skin under the nail.
- Thickening and change in the shape of the nail, ingrowth into the finger.
Laboratory research
Based on the structure and characteristics of the cells of the fragment, a specialist can determine the origin of the skin rash: with psoriasis, there is an increase in the number of Rene bodies, increased proliferation of keratinocytes, and 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 have been developed a long time ago.They can be divided into three groups:
- Eliminating the cause of the disease.
- Relieving symptoms.
- Strengthening 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 is aimed at quickly achieving long-term remission, and is not fundamentally different from therapy for adults:
- Following a hypoallergenic diet with the usual composition of foods: excluding fried, salty, spicy, preservative-containing vegetables and fruits that can cause allergies.
- Creating a life without allergens (down pillows, old dusty things).
- Following hygiene advice (proper washing, drying and moisturizing damaged skin).
- Physiotherapy.Electrosleep, phototherapy, magnetic therapy, ultrasound and laser can be used.The use of photochemotherapy, due to its potential harm, is recommended for children aged 15 years and older.
- Sanatorium-resort treatment using mineral baths and therapeutic mud.
- Local treatment with hormonal and non-hormonal ointments and creams prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the severity of the disease, the intensity of skin manifestations and individual response.
- If local treatment is not enough, children may be prescribed systemic drugs and procedures (UVA photochemotherapy, drugs to affect the immune system, retinoids).
Medications for treating psoriasis
Psoriasis cream
What creams are most popular in the treatment of psoriasis?
- Containing 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 physician.
- Non-hormonal creams have the same effect as hormonal ones, but it takes much longer to occur, after prolonged use.Therefore, they are not used as an ambulance.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:
- Hormonal ones contain hormones, from the weakest to the most potent 4th generation drugs.Ointments are prescribed by a doctor, and they can be discontinued by gradually reducing the dosage.
- Non-hormonal ointment for psoriasis moisturizes the skin, relieves inflammation and itching, and heals wounds.
Physiotherapy as a remedy for psoriasis
The procedures are aimed at achieving various therapeutic effects:
- The main type of physiotherapy is phototherapy (or photochemotherapy).Treatment consists of treating the skin surface with ultraviolet irradiation of different wavelengths.
- X-ray methods – treatment of the skin surface with soft x-rays.
- Electrosleep is the introduction of a patient into a state of sleep using electrical influence on the brain.The procedure does not treat skin rashes, but helps reduce excitability and manifestations of neurosis, and due to this, the general condition of patients 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 used primarily to treat plaque.
How to cure psoriasis at home
What is self-treatment for psoriasis at home?
- Organizing a hypoallergenic lifestyle - you need to get rid of carpets, down pillows and blankets, try to change furniture to something that is easy to remove dust from.It is better not to have pets for patients with psoriasis, even if an allergy to animals is not confirmed.Prolonged contact with them can cause allergization of the body.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
- The diet for psoriasis should be healthy and nutritious.
- Elimination of stress and anxiety, because they can serve as a reason for exacerbation.
- Compliance with the rules of hygiene - refusal of a bath in favor of a shower, careful drying, washing and subsequent moisturizing of the skin with special products prescribed by the doctor.
- Taking medications and performing 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 the form of soap or in pure form for application to affected skin.
- Treatment with soda is based on the hypothesis that psoriasis occurs due to increased acidity of the skin.To neutralize it, it is proposed to treat the surface with an alkaline preparation, which is soda.
- Treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies in the form of grease is based on moisturizing the skin due to the fat it contains.
- 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 does a diet for psoriasis allow and even encourage?
- Fiber.It allows you to improve metabolic processes, as well as normalize digestive function.
- Calcium is a generally recognized useful product that has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect, and therefore its presence in the diet is necessary: cottage cheese, dairy and fermented milk products are mandatory for the patient.
- Polyunsaturated 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 in order to promote protein synthesis, which enhances 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 entire skin of the patient becomes covered with bright red spots.A person’s temperature rises, joints hurt, lymph nodes become enlarged, and their general condition worsens.The complication is dangerous because it contributes to the development of heart failure, impaired renal and liver function.Peeling and inflammation of the skin leads to dehydration, heat and protein losses.
Generalized pustular psoriasis
Skin psoriasis can be complicated by a rash on the surface of the body in the form of small blisters (pustules) with bright red outlines.As the disease progresses, the pustules merge into spots, open or remain intact, and then dry out to form a yellow crust.Places of rashes are the chest, sides and back, extensor areas of the limbs.
Symptoms of pustular psoriasis also include fever, increased temperature, burning and pain in the area of the rash.
Arthropathic psoriasis
Skin psoriasis with a long course, after 5-6 years from its onset, can be complicated by involvement of the joints in the process.The complication is called arthropathic psoriasis and usually manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the phalanges of the fingers and toes.The fingers become swollen, the skin in the area of inflammation turns red.In addition, the disease also affects other joints: intervertebral, iliac, heel.
The disease psoriasis in the form of arthropathy has a wave-like course with improvements and exacerbations, sometimes accompanied by skin rashes, but can also occur without skin manifestations.Patients complain of severe pain and limited mobility in the damaged joint.It is easy to identify arthropathic psoriasis in the presence of accompanying rashes, and if they are not present, the disease can be confused with other types of arthritis.
Prevention of exacerbations of psoriasis
Spa treatment
What is the effect of staying at resorts?
- Mud therapy helps improve skin condition and relieve inflammation.
- Climatic therapy - exposure to mild 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 due to the beneficial effects of ultraviolet radiation.However, excessive exposure to the sun can provoke complications of psoriasis, so you should not overuse tanning.
- Hydrogen sulfide baths and thermal waters from natural sources improve capillary blood circulation and promote better skin regeneration.
Ultraviolet irradiation
An excellent remedy for psoriasis is ultraviolet irradiation, which can be natural (solar) or artificial.Ultraviolet treatment comes in several forms:
- PUVA photochemotherapy, when long-wave irradiation is combined with the ingestion of a photosensitizer.
- Narrow-wave 311 nm therapy – phototherapy with narrow spectrum rays.
- Combined phototherapy is a combination of medium and long waves.
Lifestyle
What needs to be changed in the daily life of patients?
- It is advisable to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet, limit alcohol and drink a lot of clean water (6-8 glasses per day, not counting liquids in dishes).
- Personal hygiene should include taking a shower instead of a bath.
- The air in the rooms should be sufficiently humidified.
- Sun exposure is beneficial for psoriasis patients, provided it is approved by a doctor.
- To avoid the appearance of new foci of the disease, the skin should be protected from injury.
- In order not to provoke an exacerbation of psoriasis, you need to strengthen your immune system and protect yourself from colds and respiratory viral infections.
- The exact causes of psoriasis are unknown, but it has been confirmed that stress causes its exacerbation.Therefore, patients need to try to protect themselves from negative emotions, emotional stress and fatigue.It is very important to get enough sleep.
Vitamin therapy courses
What vitamins are useful in case of skin disease?
- 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 rashes are well known to any dermatologist.The causes of skin damage have not yet been precisely established, and no effective means of getting rid of it has been invented: neither creams, nor taking hormones, nor ointment for psoriasis guarantee a complete cure.But don't 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 stable remission.