Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation.Dermatitis occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.Such a division helps in diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population have DNA abnormalities, and only 2% show signs of skin dysfunction.
The appearance of pathology is provoked by the following factors:
- severe emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcoholism, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain medications;
- endocrine diseases;
- tendency to allergies;
Due to the incorrect response of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissues as if they were foreign elements, the first signs of the disease appear.Let's look at the stages, symptoms and treatment regimens of psoriasis.
The initial stage of psoriasis
The first sign isappearance of acne(papules).The shape is round, the color is reddish or pink.Bluish shades may appear on the lower limbs due to slow blood flow.Papular formations are small, the size of a pinhead.
It is characterized by the early stagemany papules, which have clearly defined boundaries.Whitish scales also appear.They can be easily detached from the surface by touch.Papules can merge to form larger elements.
During early remission, the rash fades.The affected areas of the skin become partially discolored.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with the manifestations of allergies or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that can help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembles a broken drop of stearin, the scales peel off;
- if you continue to scrape the spot and remove the scales, a bright red surface will appear;
- Small drops of blood appear when scraping.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
In the progressive stage of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules become red and remain covered with white scales.They peel off easily, revealing a smooth, reddened layer of skin underneath.In case of injury, blood appears.
- During exacerbation, the papular elements grow and merge.They are clearly different from healthy skin areas.
- The itching intensifies.But it goes away when the process enters the stationary phase.Painful and obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the lid, damage and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of injury is Koebner's syndrome.The number of itchy manifestations gradually increases and spreads to the trunk, limbs and head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the plaques;they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have a negative effect on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Severe joint pain and deformity then occur if the process is not treated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main characteristic of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements cease to appear.Positive changes come about with proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- the itching disappears;
- no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- peeling may increase.
All spots stop developing.If in the progressive stage the plaques had a border without scales, then in the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the skin peels off and gives a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not keep up with the progressive growth of the plaques and cannot completely cover them.It appears half of the timepseudoatrophic corolla.
Pseudoatrophic corolla
It looks like a light rim around the element, the structure of which resembles rough tissue paper, it consists of a stratum corneum, and its width does not exceed two millimeters.
The regressive stage of psoriasis
With the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriasis cycle ends.Typical properties:
- the exacerbation process stops, the inflammation ceases;
- plaques gradually dissolve;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash flatten;
- the rash becomes pale pink and gradually discolors;
- papules may remain on the arms and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy in the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or depigmented areas may occur at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The duration of relief varies from person to person..The disease can last for several months or even years in a latent form.Exacerbations occur more often in winter, except for some forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis in different stages
The therapy of any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapy methods and dietary adjustments.In the early stages of therapy, it is necessary:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow the therapeutic diet;
- use ointments containing vitamins A, D3, hormones;
- use of systemic and sedative drugs;
- perform ultraviolet therapy.
If plaques are located on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.
All products should be used as prescribed by a doctor.Long-term use of medicines (especially in the case of tar) can cause skin irritation.Products must be replaced every 7 days.
Treatment of psoriasis in the early stages
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures in the early stages depends on when the patient came to the doctor and started treatment.
In most cases, early treatment helps prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment.It is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on the affected skin areas.With the help of the keratolytic effect, the ointment cleans the plaque from the keratinized parts of the skin.Moth fungus ointment helps relieve itching.
The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- tar-based;
- solid oil based;
- petroleum based.
Drops and oils for psoriasis have recently appeared.The product soothes, hydrates the skin, prevents the skin from drying out and reduces swelling.The drug contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin oil and other ingredients, which help to reduce the number of plaques, there are fewer of them, and the skin is better hydrated.It is recommended in combination with other medicines and after consultation with a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in a progressive stage
Therapy should be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite severe;treatment should only be entrusted to professionals.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs.Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are alleviated by salicylic acid ointment and emollient emulsions.They moisturize and eliminate inflammation.During an exacerbation, do not use medicines containing tar or other irritating ingredients.
Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin baths) are best performed during the period of inflammation reduction.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only if the processes are particularly complex.
Prescribe antihistamines (reduces the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatory, keratolytics (emollient), diuretics (reduces swelling, removes toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary stage
The patient needs a slight modification of therapy.Tar shampoos, oil emulsions and calcipotriol are usually prescribed.Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the skin.Ultraviolet irradiation and PUVA techniques are widely used.
If there is no effect, some cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed immunosuppressants and cytostatics.
Treatment of psoriasis in a regressive stage
In the last stage of psoriasis, the therapy should be comprehensive and should be adjusted by a specialist.Therapy is gradually discontinued and replaced by preventive measures.Treatment is carried out carefully at every stage;do not damage the rash under any circumstances.
It is especially important to follow a strict diet and correct your lifestyle.Stress can be a powerful provoking factor that significantly aggravates the initial state of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, hand rashes can be treated with a sea salt bath, or by mixing baby cream with cord powder and applying this mixture to the plaques.
Additional therapies
Psoriasis patients are deficient in vitamins that affect the regulation of metabolic processes and have a blood purifying, calming and restorative effect.
The vitamin complex should include B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.It is prescribed orally, intramuscularly and as a drip.
The division of pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists correctly identify one or another stage, facilitates diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and does not prevent a person from living a full life.