Psoriasis is one of the most common skin pathologies. It can occur in patients at any age. The etiology of the disease has not been fully ascertained, so it is impossible to completely cure psoriasis. That is why it is so important to recognize it in the early stages of development. In this article, we will analyze what psoriasis is, how it manifests itself and how to deal with it.
What is psoriasis
Psoriasis is a polyetiologic skin disease that manifests itself as a monomorphic rash.The pathology is chronic. Psoriasis flows in waves, periods of relapse and remission are possible.
Relapses can be caused by lack of adequate treatment, alcohol abuse, stress and others. The rash in adults and children spreads gradually, involving more new areas of skin. Psoriasis is characterized by the formation of dry, reddish, dry spots with a scaly silvery white surface. This rash is called psoriatic plaque.
Often, psoriasis is observed in the area of the elbow and knee bends, in the buttocks, i. e. in the place of greatest pressure and friction. In some cases, the rash occurs on the scalp, palms, feet, and vulva. Psoriatic plaques on the face are very rare.
The cause of its occurrence
Many people wonder if psoriasis is contagious to others or not. The pathology is not contagious, that is, it is not transmitted to others. Among the reasons for the appearance of psoriasis are:
- Hereditary tendencies.
- Endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction).
- Stress, neuropsychiatric stress.
- Invasion of parasites (giardiasis, ascariasis, swine or bovine tapeworm).
- Metabolic pathology (particular danger is silicon deficiency).
- Tendency to allergies.
- Infectious diseases of a viral nature.
- Weak immune system.
- Long -term medication intake.
In most cases, psoriasis makes itself felt between the ages of 15 and 30, for one or more reasons.According to medical statistics, more than 60% of patients with psoriasis have relatives who suffer from the disease.
Early symptoms of psoriasis
To recognize how psoriasis begins, you should familiarize yourself with the main signs of the disease. You should be informed:
- formation of a rash on the skin of a bright color with clearly prominent edges (most often it appears at the site of injury - burns, wounds, frostbite);
- the appearance of exfoliation in the central part of the plaque;
- itching of psoriatic formation (manifests itself only in half of cases due to weakened immunity);
- swelling and inflammation in the area where the rash appears.
At first, the rash is very small, the size of a pinhead. They have a hemispherical shape and a smooth and shiny surface. After a few days, the rash grows larger and is covered with light scales, which are easily separated. When the plaque is scraped off, droplets of blood appear on its surface, indicating small spot bleeding.
Sometimes psoriasis can be complicated by exudative phenomena (serous fluid). The scales absorb this exudate and form a coarse crust. If you throw it away, the crying area remains underneath. Such a phenomenon is dangerous due to the addition of secondary bacterial infections.
Usually, early psoriasis lasts 2-3 weeks.If left untreated, plaques grow up to 5-7 cm, coalesce and form entire conglomerates, covering a wide area of skin.
What does psoriasis look like in the early stages?
Now let’s look at what psoriasis looks like at the beginning of its development in different localization places. For ease of perception, we present appropriate images.
- Feet. . . The disease begins with a small rash, located mainly on the knees and feet, but can also be seen on the surface of any foot.
- Elbow. . . In most cases, a kind of psoriatic plaque appears in this place, which is characterized by a small rash with very strong exfoliation. At the elbows, the skin becomes rough.
- Weapons. . . At this point, psoriasis occurs suddenly in the form of a small rash, which many people mistake for an allergy. Only after the appearance of dry scales, people go to the doctor. Often, the rash is localized between the fingers on the palm of the hand.
- Chief. . . Psoriasis often affects the scalp, ears and back of the head. The rash in this area is characterized by moist scales and is almost always itchy.
- Face. . . The rash affects the nasolabial folds, eyelids, eyebrows and eyes. This form of psoriasis is considered uncommon.
- Toenails. . . Psoriasis on the nails is more like a fungal disease. First, a line or longitudinal dot appears on the edge of the nail, and then spreads to the root. In this case, the nail plate itself becomes dull and thickened.
Psoriasis treatment
Therapy should begin with a visit to a dermatologist.Under no circumstances should one do self -treatment. Treatment of psoriasis in the early stages should be comprehensive. Currently, new treatment methods have been developed that can help get rid of flaky rashes, even if they do not cure the disease itself. During therapy, it is necessary to exclude all factors that give rise to pathological improvement, change the diet and adhere to a special diet.
Drug therapy
The tactics of treating psoriasis in the early stages are gradually changing. If general action hormone drugs were previously prescribed, now local agents are widely used.
The following ointments relieve the manifestations of psoriasis:
- Keratolytic and moisturizing.
- Vegetables.
- Glucocorticoids.
- Cytostatic.
- Based on solid oils.
- Oil based.
Also, doctors may prescribe sedatives, antihistamines for severe itching, immunomodulators and vitamin-mineral complexes. Treatment should also include physical therapy. The following methods are widely used:
- paraffin bath;
- PUVA therapy;
- UV irradiation;
- sulfide and radon baths.
Electric and magnetic laser therapy has a good effect. Cryotherapy (cold treatment) and hirudotherapy (leech therapy) are becoming increasingly popular.
When treating psoriasis on the scalp, do not scratch the skin. The head must be washed daily with a therapeutic shampoo with zinc, tar, selenium sulfide.
Treatment at home
Before using any prescription, you need to see a doctor so that this does not cause complications.Treatment with traditional medicine is primarily aimed at strengthening the immune system and relieving the inflammatory process. Therefore, it is necessary to drink vitamin tea - decoctions of wild roses, lemon, viburnum, raspberry, chamomile, and others. It is recommended to add honey to herbal tea.
The most effective home remedies include:
- Celandine. . . It relieves inflammation well and soothes the skin. Plaque must be lubricated daily with the juice of this plant.
- Hydrogen peroxide. . . First, dilute the peroxide with water in a ratio of 1: 3 and use the solution to lubricate the psoriatic rash to disinfect. Use before applying ointments or applying lotions.
- Flaxseed oil. . . Perfectly relieves inflammation and heals the skin. Apply to the affected area twice a day.
- Baking powder. . . Neutralizes skin acidity, which increases with psoriasis.
- Solidol. . . Excellent at the beginning of the disease. You need to lubricate the affected area before bed.
Prevention and recommendation
Prevention is important to reduce the risk of psoriasis. Follow these guidelines:
- moisturize your skin regularly with creams;
- avoid damage to the skin in the form of burns, scratches, bites, etc . ;
- strengthen immunity, play sports and walk more in the fresh air;
- giving up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
- only take the medication prescribed by your doctor.
It is important to note separately about the special diet for psoriasis.It helps achieve remission more quickly and reduces the duration of recurrent illness. The table below shows a list of foods that are allowed, forbidden, and restricted.
| Products | Allowed | Limited use | Prohibited |
| Fish and meat | turkey, chicken, rabbit, lean river fish | lean beef and lamb | pork, sea fish |
| Cereals and flour products | oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, pearl barley, corn, wheat flakes | rice | semolina, puff pastry, whole wheat flour toast, bread |
| Dairy product | low -fat cottage cheese, skim milk | kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream | cheese |
| Vegetables | carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, asparagus, lettuce, green beans | corn, pumpkin | striped peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant |
| Fruits and berries | kiwi, pineapple, mango, grapes, nectarine, cherries | plum, blueberry, currant, cranberry, avocado | strawberries, citrus, red apples |
| Peanuts | almonds | pine nuts | others |
| Candy | dried apricots, raisins, dates | love | chocolate, candy and other sweets |
| Spices | dill, parsley, green onions | carrots, garlic, onions | pepper, cloves, nutmeg |
| Oil | sunflowers, olives, cottonseeds, corn | butter | spread, margarine |
| Those drinks | herbal tea, juice, compote | green tea | black tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol |
Don’t forget about your drinking method. You need to drink 1. 5-2 liters of drinking water per day.
Psoriasis is a rather unpleasant skin disease that causes a lot of discomfort. It cannot be completely eliminated, yet with a competent approach to treatment, stable remission can be achieved. To do this, you need to see a dermatologist. In the early stages, psoriasis responds well to drug therapy. Do not self -medicate, as this can only exacerbate the course of the disease.