Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a non-communicable disease that affects human skin, skin and joints. The disease is characterized by a undulating course with periods of exacerbation and remission. The danger of this disease lies not only in the discomfort it causes, but also in the fact that the disease greatly complicates life, disrupting social adjustment and a normal quality of life. In severe cases, severe depression can occur from the acute form of the disease.

How to get rid of psoriasis, what is this disease, what are the symptoms and treatment of psoriasis? You can find out this in our article.

Psoriasis: Causes

Under normal circumstances, the skin of a healthy person is renewed within a month. During this time, the dead cells are peeled and new ones take their place. If there is a failure in the mechanism of skin renewal, the maturation process of the new cells only takes about a week, which disrupts the balance of the cells. As a result, cells die much faster.

Cells of the immune system, macrophages, and epithelial cells proliferate excessively in the areas affected by the pathological process. As a result, peeling of the skin and the creation of favorable conditions for the inflammatory process can be observed. In addition, the processes of formation of new capillaries are accelerated, resulting in reddening of the skin at the site of inflammation.

Chronic psoriasis is non-infectious, so the disease is considered non-infectious. It dates back to the 19th century, but scientists are still unable to name the exact cause.

Prerequisites for the development of the disease include:

• Heredity. If a person’s parents or close relatives are prone to skin pathology, they are most likely inherited. This is due to a mutation in certain sections of DNA found in patients with psoriasis and a similar mutation in their loved ones.
• Gene mutations. Violation of the structure of DNA, which affects the violation of the processes of skin renewal, can not only be inherited, but can also manifest itself at a later age in people whose relatives do not suffer from psoriasis. What causes such genetic changes is not known.
• Weakening of the immune system. Any violation of the body's defenses can trigger the development of psoriasis.
• Disruption of metabolic processes. Metabolic disorders in psoriasis take the form of changes in the metabolism of fats, nitrogen, carbohydrates, and vitamins. As a result, toxins accumulate in the body, adaptive abilities decrease and an increased susceptibility to infections. In addition, patients have an increase in the proportion of bile acids in the blood serum caused by metabolic disorders.
• External stimuli. Friction, constant contact with chemical compounds, wearing tight clothing, cuts and insect bites - all cause the appearance of microtraumas on the skin that can become psoriasis over time.
• Common allergic reactions. If a person is prone to atypical reactions of the immune system in the form of skin rashes, itching, and rashes, this is an additional chance of developing psoriasis.
• Strong experiences or prolonged stressful situations. Any stress weakens the body’s defenses and undermines the immune system. If a person is prone to skin diseases, it can manifest itself in exactly such moments. In addition, all stress affects endocrine processes that cause significant doses of adrenaline and noradrenaline to enter the bloodstream. This process influences metabolic processes and biochemical reactions, becoming a prerequisite for the development of psoriasis.
• General weakening of the body caused by severe pathologies - atherosclerosis, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, hypertension, etc.
• Unbalanced diet and alcohol consumption. If a person eats too much fatty, smoked, salty, sweet, and spicy food, the likelihood of developing psoriasis increases. In some cases, excessive consumption of chocolate and citrus fruits is a prerequisite for the development of the disease.
• Hormonal surges caused by severe changes in hormone levels during menopause, puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, after abortion. It is worth noting that the hormonal cause of psoriasis is not necessarily related to the periods indicated above. In this case, we are talking about altering the function of the organs of the endocrine system.
• Climate change, living in unfavorable environmental conditions. If a person is prone to psoriasis and moves to a colder place, the disease can get significantly worse. The same goes for staying in areas with heavily polluted air and water. However, the climatic factor can hardly be called the cause of the disease: it rather acts as a catalyst that activates the "sleeping" form of the body’s propensity for psoriasis.

How to tell if you have psoriasis: symptoms of the disease

Primarily psoriasis is a skin disease. However, in some particularly severe cases, it can affect not only the skin but also the tendons, internal organs, spine, nail plates, and joints. In the following, we examine the signs of psoriasis that primarily appear and allow psoriasis to be distinguished from other skin pathologies.

How does psoriasis start?

Rounded, dry reddish areas appear on the surface of the skin (most commonly on the knees, hands, elbows, back, armpits, under the breast, sacrum region, genitals) and sometimes on the mucous membranes. Initially, their size is relatively small: each papule is only a few millimeters in diameter. Over time, however, the affected areas grow, the papules merge with each other and form so-called psoriasis plaques: their diameter reaches 10 cm and more.

Initially, the papules do not cause any noticeable discomfort to the person. They have virtually no itching or itching. Over time, however, as they grow and plaque builds up, the affected areas thicken and rise slightly above the healthy areas of the skin. This phenomenon is accompanied by itching.

A characteristic feature of the initial stage of psoriasis is the formation of small dry scales with a loose structure in the affected areas of the body. Their color ranges from whitish to yellowish-gray, and a thin pink-red wind is visible around each plaque. From the outside, these zones are somewhat similar to molten paraffin, hence they are called "paraffin lakes. "

At first, signs of psoriasis on the skin of the body and face may be confused with the manifestation of eczema or other skin pathologies. The stage of psoriasis - called the psoriasis triad - helps determine the type of disease.

1. Stearin-stained section. It is characterized by the formation of characteristic stearin-like chips that appear when the plaque is scraped off.
2. Terminal movie stage. It appears as a smooth, wet and glossy red surface under the scales.
3. The "blood dew" section. When a person begins to scratch the terminal foil, tiny droplets of blood form on its surface, caused by precise bleeding. However, it is caused by the thinning of the vascular system and the fragility of the capillaries.

The appearance of psoriasis is also accompanied by symptoms that are not related to the skin. In general, patients complain of increased fatigue, apathy, irritability, drowsiness, mood swings, dizziness, nausea, and sleep problems.

How does psoriasis occur except for skin lesions?

This disease affects not only the skin but also other organs and systems. The following manifestations and forms of psoriasis can be distinguished:

• Psoriatic arthritis. In some cases, the lesion is not localized in the upper areas of the skin but much deeper. As a result, the disease spreads to the joints. The course of the disease is in many ways similar to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, but there are several differences between them. For example, in psoriasis arthritis, asymmetric joint damage is usually observed, with the greatest peak of discomfort occurring in the morning, but the main difference is that there is no rheumatoid factor in the blood of patients with psoriasis.

• Muscle damage. If the disease is in an extremely advanced stage, muscle tissue atrophy can occur after cartilage and joint damage.
• Liver dysfunction. The liver is responsible for cleansing the blood and removing harmful substances. When the toxin content of psoriasis in the body increases, the liver suffers primarily from it.
• Transition of the disease from the skin to the mucosa. If left untreated, the disease progresses and passes through the mucous membranes of the face and genitals, lips, and tongue. The mucous membranes swell, inflammatory foci appear on them, accompanied by embezzlement.
• Damage to the nail plates (psoriatic onychodystrophy). Psoriasis often nails the nails. The disease manifests itself in the form of thickening of the nail plates of the hands and feet, change of their color, appearance of grooves and dots. Inflammatory processes affecting the skin around the nails, bleeding under the nail plate, dryness, stratification and increased fragility of the nail can also be observed. In particularly severe cases, we can talk about complete detachment of the nail and its loss.

As you can see, this disease is quite dangerous, so treatment should be started as soon as possible to prevent it from entering other organs and systems.

Is Psoriasis Contagious?

Because the disease is not contagious or viral in nature, it is not contagious at all. The only way the disease can spread is through genetic predisposition.

Types of psoriasmr

There are several types of this disease, each of which has its own specific running characteristics and characteristic symptoms.

• Simple / vulgar / plaque / plaque / common. According to the International Classification of Diseases - prosiasis vulgaris. This form is more common than others: vulgaris psoriasis is present in about 80-90% of cases. It is characterized by the appearance of "paraffin lakes" or psoriasis plaques.

• Inverse (inverse psoriasis). This type of disease mainly affects the folds of the skin, the outer surface of the thighs, the groin area and the external genitalia. The main difference between inverse psoriasis and vulgar psoriasis is that with the reverse form of the disease, plaques do not form on the skin: the skin is covered with red spots, accompanied by an inflammatory process. The danger of inverse psoriasis is that it progresses with sweat and friction. This causes microcracks in the skin into which the infection enters. As a result, it can lead to skin changes with coconuts and fungi.
• Drop-shaped (according to ICD - guttate psoriasis). The difference from other types is that the rash with teardrop-shaped psoriasis does not merge into large plaques. The patient's body is covered with tiny spots reminiscent of drops (hence the name of the disease), which change in color from pink to purple.

• Pustular / exudative. If other types of the disease are characterized by dry areas of the skin, pustular or exudative psoriasis can be recognized by crying blisters filled with clear fluid. In this case, the skin around the blisters usually turns red, the local temperature rises. If the blisters rupture, or if the patient combs them, there is a risk of infection and subsequent bloating - this is the main danger of the pustular form of the disease.

• Psoriatic erythroderma. It is one of the most serious forms of the disease, which in the event of an unfavorable course can lead to the death of the patient. Its distinguishing feature is exfoliation of the skin, which can result in pathogenic microflora infection. The first sign and symptom of this type of disease - psoriasis - is severe skin itching, small red rashes with white scales, enlarged lymph nodes, swelling of the tissues and a 38-39 degree rise in general body temperature. . It is divided into generalized and hyperergic types.

• Seborrheic psoriasis. Most often, this type of disease affects the scalp, but in some cases, there may be areas of nasolabial folds, skin near the auricles, and shoulder blades. It is characterized by the appearance of dandruff (if localized on the head), severe itching and grayish flowering.

Exacerbation of psoriasis

The disease is characterized by chronic fluctuations with periods of exacerbation and remission. A decrease in the intensity of symptoms is usually observed during the warm season, while the disease worsens in winter and autumn.

Factors that can make the disease worse include:

• Stress, anxiety.
• Unbalanced work and rest time.
• Weakening of the body after an infectious or viral disease.
• A sharp jump in hormones.
• Taking some medications.
• Use of inappropriate cosmetics.
• Skin contact with household chemicals.
• Dysfunction of organ systems.
• It is exposed to excessively dry, hot or cold air.
• Intensive personal hygiene is not justified.
• Insect bites.
• Exacerbation of allergic reactions.
• Wearing tight synthetic clothing.
• Moving to an unusual climate.

Exacerbation of any skin condition (including psoriasis) causes great discomfort to the patient - not only physically but to a greater extent psychologically. The quality of life of people with severe psoriasis in the acute stage is significantly reduced.

Patients with psoriasis often face significant difficulties and problems in social adjustment, which can negatively affect work / school / personal life. A person refuses to keep in touch with others, preferring to spend most of their time alone. As a result, you develop social anxiety, which can become severe depression over time.

Exacerbation of the disease can lead to the patient having difficulty caring for himself and his loved ones, living a normal life, and even sleeping. If the rash is localized in the genital area, it can cause physical and psychological discomfort and partners can reject intimacy.

Severity of the disease

Depending on the area of skin affected and the spread of the lesion to the joints, nails and internal organs, mild, moderate and severe forms of the disease are released.

• The mild form results in less damage to the skin when the total area of the lesion is about 3%.
• Defeating 3 to 10% of human skin is considered the average severity of the disease.
• A severe degree means a significant skin lesion - 10% or more of the total area of skin.

If a patient is diagnosed with damage to joints, muscles, and internal organs, we are talking about a serious form of the disease, even if there are virtually no plaques and papules on the body.

How to eliminate psoriasmr: treatment

The issue of the eternal cure for psoriasis concerns all people with the disease. The fight against the external manifestations of the disease is only a temporary result, so in order for the effect to be lasting, it is important to eliminate the causes of psoriasis. This usually takes a lot of time - even several years. The patient must be patient, but only then can he expect a long-term effect.

Below we look at how to cure psoriasis, hormone therapy, light therapy, exercise. We also cover the treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies - in combination with traditional therapy, traditional medicine can give tangible results.

Treatment of psoriasis with medications

The first thing to do after finding suspicious round rashes, increased dryness, and peeling in yourself or your loved ones is to seek qualified medical attention. Only a dermatologist can determine exactly what kind of skin lesion is going on in a given case. Remember: under no circumstances should you self-medicate, as lack of therapy or self-selected medications can cause serious damage to your health.

Tests or skin tests are usually not needed to diagnose the disease. It is enough for the doctor to see the skin covered with papules or plaques to determine the cause of the injury. If you have a severe form of the disease, your dermatologist may prescribe a referral for tests - general and biochemical tests of the blood and urine, and a skin biopsy may be needed in particularly severe cases. X-rays may also be needed to diagnose arthritis of psoriasis.

There are several effective treatments for psoriasis. The choice of the appropriate therapeutic option depends on the degree of damage to the skin, joints, nails and the intensity of the progression of the disease. In general, the best solution is to select a comprehensive treatment regimen that includes the use of topical and internal therapies, the use of ultraviolet radiation, bathing in a salt and soda bath, and physiotherapy.

Creams, gels, ointments, sprays and body lotions are used to eliminate itching and peeling of damaged skin. They can be based on salicylic acid, pyrithione, tar and other active ingredients. The main function of hormonal and non-hormonal external preparations is to soften, disinfect psoriasis plaques, eliminate inflammation, and hydrate and nourish the affected skin surfaces.

The role of oral drugs in the treatment of psoriasis in humans includes efalizubam, gamma-D-glutamyl-D-tryptophan sodium, and the like.

A positive result in the treatment of psoriasis of the skin provides relaxation at sea. However, it is advisable to choose resorts with a relatively mild and warm climate. The ideal solution is treatment in special sanatoriums and spas, and the rest is aimed at the complex therapy of psoriasis.

Psoriasis: home treatment

The treatment of psoriasis with home and folk remedies can only be effective if it acts as an adjunct therapy to the main medication. You can also bet on prescriptions for traditional medicine if your patient has allergic reactions to medications. But in any case, what to do about psoriasis has to be decided by your doctor, so if you want to use this or that folk method, be sure to consult a dermatologist.

One of the most common traditional remedies for psoriasis is the use of baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate has a emollient effect on psoriasis plaques, softens rough skin, reduces itching and improves waste removal. Based on soda, they make homemade ointments and baths, take soda orally, make compresses and body lotions.

Salt baths are also effective ways to treat the disease. They become a worthy alternative if the patient does not have the opportunity to travel to the sea.

Celandine juice applied to psoriasis plaques also gives positive results. However, you need to remember that this treatment is quite aggressive, so you need to make sure that the juice does not get into healthy areas of the skin.

Walnut shells are also used to combat psoriatic plaques. The shell is poured with boiling water and adhered to, the resulting infusion is filtered and placed in a warm bath. This treatment is particularly effective during periods of disease exacerbation.

How to cure psoriasis with diet?

Proper nutrition plays an important role in all skin diseases, and psoriasis is no exception. Of course, a balanced diet may not be a one hundred percent cure for psoriasis, but along with medications and traditional medicine, it gives good results.

During treatment and to prolong the duration of remission, doctors recommend giving up alcohol, smoked and salty foods, fatty and spicy foods, the use of artificial flavors, preservatives, emulsifiers and chemical dyes, fatty meats, mayonnaise, ketchup. It is also advisable to reduce the amount of salt, refined sugar, chocolate and other sweets and citrus consumed. Doctors are advised to focus on the use of low-fat fermented dairy products, plant foods, cereals, lean meats and fish.

Although it is desirable to reduce the amount of fat consumed during the diet, it is irrational to completely abandon it. You just need to replace the animal fat with vegetable oils - olives, flaxseed, corn, sunflowers.

Prevent psoriasis

The stages of psoriasis treatment necessarily include a period of remission. It is important to extend these periods as much as possible. To do this, the patient must follow a number of disease prevention rules:

• Avoid stressful situations.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Do not wear tight clothing made of wool and synthetic materials.
• Spend enough time outdoors.
• Ensure adequate rest and proper sleep.
• Take care of your skin.