Psoriasis is a chronic, non-infectious disease, dermatosis, especially on the skin.Currently, the autoimmune nature of this disease is assumed.Psoriasis is typically manifested by the formation of red, excessively dry, raised spots above the surface of the skin - so-called papules, which fuse with each other and form plaques.By their nature, these papules are sites of chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of skin lymphocytes, macrophages, and keratinocytes, as well as excessive angiogenesis (formation of new small capillaries).
It occurs equally in men and women and lasts for years, with alternating relapses and remissions.This is one of the most common, difficult to treat and often serious dermatoses.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a widespread chronic skin disease characterized by a monomorphic rash of flat papules that tend to coalesce into large plaques that are rapidly covered with loose, silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis is characterized by periods of deterioration (relapses) and periods of temporary well-being, when the manifestations of the disease subside.This disease is not contagious and the patient is not dangerous to others.Since the appearance of psoriasis is not associated with microorganisms.
The primary element of psoriasis is a single pink or red papule covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis usually does not disturb the normal rhythm of life of the sick person.The only inconvenience is peeling and inflammatory processes on the skin.Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure this disease, but it is very possible to stop its development or prevent relapses.To do this, it is enough to follow all the doctor's prescriptions and undergo systematic treatment in a hospital.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is not contagious at all.No cases of human-to-human transmission of the disease have been recorded.The causative agents of the disease are not infections and microbes that are potentially dangerous to others, but leukocytes produced by the patient's body.
It is impossible for a healthy person to get psoriasis.Psoriasis does not spread:
- In case of skin contact, using the same household items (bed linen, towels, dishes).
- Through saliva and sweat.
- Sexually.
- When caring for patients.
- Through the blood.
Classification
Experts distinguish two forms:
Non-pustular form of psoriasis
what is itThis form of the disease differs from the others in its stable course.The non-pustular form of psoriasis is characterized by damage to almost the entire surface of the body.This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- vulgar, common, or tabula.
Regular psoriasis is quite common;Up to 90% of psoriasis patients suffer from the vulgar form of this disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to a fatal outcome - the death of the patient.With the disease, the function of thermoregulation is damaged and the barrier function of the skin is reduced.
Pustular
- pustular background Zumbusch or generalized pustular
- palmoplantar (pustular psoriasis of the limbs, chronic persistent palmoplantar pustulosis)
- Annular pustular
- palmoplantar
- impetigo psoriasis herpetiformis
| The stage of psoriasis | Loss percentage |
| Easy | less than 3% of the skin is affected |
| Average | 3-10% of the skin is covered with psoriatic plaques |
| Difficult | there are joint changes or more than 10% of the skin is affected. |
How does psoriasis start: first signs
In most cases, the identification of psoriasis is quite simple, since the disease does not resemble other skin pathologies.Allergic rashes have a lower calibration compared to psoriasis, and the medical history shows that patients have virtually no skin swelling as with allergies.
The initial symptoms and signs of psoriasis differ in the main characteristics that the doctor relies on when making a diagnosis:
- the appearance of a limited, variable intensity pink spot;
- skin itching in the area of psoriatic lesions;
- large amounts of peeling of the epidermis of various sizes;
- characteristic whitish peeling color;
- the appearance of grouped off-white or gray crusts that do not extend beyond the borders of the psoriatic patch;
- dry wine.
Psoriasis has three characteristic features:
- "Stearin stain effect."When scraping the plaque, the small and transparent scales peel off easily.
- "Terminal Film Effect".If you remove the scales, the skin in this area will be thin, shiny and red.
- "The Bloody Dew Effect".After scraping, small drops of blood appear on the skin.
Reasons
Experts cannot identify the exact and only cause of the disease, but repeated tests show that the disease is autoimmune, that is, it depends on the functioning of the immune system.
For an unknown reason, immune cells, which are designed to protect the body from malignant changes and bacterial and viral damage, penetrate the upper layers of the skin and produce substances that trigger the inflammatory process.The result of this activity is proliferation - accelerated division of skin cells.
According to another theory, psoriasis develops due to a disturbance in the life cycle of keratinocytes.
Possible causes of psoriasis:
- Inheritance.According to the latest data from scientists, psoriasis can be classified as a genotypic dermatosis, with a dominant type of transmission.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.When cutaneous psoriasis is suspected, these blood profiles are often altered, contributing to cardiovascular pathology, endocrine dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome.
- The presence of a chronic infectious focus in the body.When examining psoriatic plaques, streptococcal flora can often be detected.The occurrence of genetic disorders can be influenced by viral and bacterial infections, such as tonsillitis and influenza.
- Climatic conditions - dry and hot weather can affect the progression of psoriasis, increase skin manifestations or, on the contrary, weaken them;
- Anxiety or stress – as mentioned above, stress overload directly affects the course of psoriasis;
- Damage to the skin - wounds facilitate infection, and this leads to poisoning of the body due to inflammatory processes, therefore the appearance of psoriasis can cause minor damage, but provided that there are accompanying diseases;
- Infections - outbreaks of psoriasis can be caused by the presence of pathogenic purulent, inflammatory areas, especially in the case of childhood pathologies.
According to one theory, there are two versions of the disease:
- Psoriasis type I– it is inherited in the presence of an immune factor, more than 60% of patients under the age of 30 suffer from this form, the prognosis is good, the treatment is lifelong
- Type II psoriasis- occurs more often in people over 45 years of age, does not involve a malfunction of the immune system, most often affects the nail plates and joints.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Psoriasis of the skin can develop at any age.But often the first case of its manifestation occurs among young people and adults between the ages of 18 and 40.There are no gender differences.Men and women suffer from this disease with equal frequency.
| Signs of psoriatic papules | |
| Form | wheel |
| I'm alive | clear |
| Color | hot pink or red |
| Scale color | silver white |
The first rashes usually develop at the site of wounds, scratches, frostbite, burns and areas of the body that are constantly exposed to friction.They may itch, but this is not the main symptom.
Depending on the characteristics of the rash, the following forms of psoriasis are divided:
- Spot psoriasis - the size of the elements is smaller than the head of the needle.
- Teardrop-shaped - the papules are teardrop-shaped and reach the size of the lens.
- Coin-shaped - plaques grow to 3-5 mm and have rounded edges.
The shapes of the rashes can be distinguished even if their elements are rings, arcs and garlands, geographic maps with jagged edges.
The general clinical picture and symptoms of psoriasis differ significantly depending on the stage of the disease.Dermatologists distinguish three stages that develop one after the other:
- Progressive.New skin lesions are constantly appearing, and existing plaques are also actively spreading, accompanied by severe peeling and itching.
- Constant.The growth of papules on the body stops a little, new formations do not appear, but thickened folds appear on the surface of the skin near the plaques.
- Regression.The spread of the disease and the increase in exfoliation are not observed.When the signs of psoriasis disappear, significant areas of pigmentation remain on the body.
The alternation of these stages produces a wave-like nature of relapses and remissions.A patient may have different stages of the disease in different areas of the skin.
Initial psoriasis is manifested by the appearance of papules, which are small, scaly nodules.They are dark pink, dense to the touch and slightly protruding above the surface of the skin.
The first sign of psoriasis may be rashes on the parts of the body that are most exposed to friction, and the skin in these areas is dry.These places are:
- palm or elbow;
- below the knee;
- leg;
- the lateral parts of the lower back;
- inguinal folds;
- scalp.
The initial stage of psoriasis is barely noticeable on the skin and does not cause discomfort to the patient.But early treatment helps to avoid severe forms of the disease, in which fingernails and toenails, mucous membranes, and then human joints are affected.
According to statistics, psoriatic plaques are most often:
- on the outer surface of the joints;
- on the back and abdomen;
- on the front of the thigh and forearm.
This is different from eczema, in which the rash affects the inside of the limbs and the folds between the fingers.