Psoriasis is a chronic disease with an undulating course.This disease affects the human skin and less commonly the joints.The aggravation of the pathology occurs due to the influence of certain negative factors and can be characterized by the aggravation of symptoms.Then the disease subsides, a period of remission begins, which can also be replaced by exacerbation.
Features of the course of the disease
The disease manifests itself differently in different patients.In addition, symptoms can vary from patient to patient, from small local lesions to extensive lesions affecting large areas of skin.
In general, the disease progresses with age.Over time, periods of remission become shorter and shorter, and the affected area increases significantly.
It is important to know what psoriasis looks like in its early stages and how it can be treated to prevent further progression of the disease.
Causes of the disease
According to most experts, this disease is a genetically determined pathology.If the parents suffer from dermatosis, there is a high probability that psoriasis will develop in the child as a result of certain factors.
The factors that determine the beginning of the development of pathology are the following:
- allergic reactions;
- serious infectious diseases;
- reduced immune defense of the body;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- exhaustion of the nervous system.
In a person prone to dermatosis, the impetus for the development of the disease may be the long-term use of medications used to treat certain chronic diseases.
Types and stages of the disease
There are two types of psoriasis - type 1 and type 2.The first type of pathology is diagnosed in children and adolescents.The disease of this form is genetically determined, while the child's parents may be healthy, and cases of psoriasis occur in the older generations.
Usually, this disease can spread through 3-4 generations.The first type of disease affects the skin and almost never affects the joints.
The second type of the disease mainly occurs in middle-aged people over 45 years old.A characteristic feature of this form of the disease is damage to the joints.
The disease develops slowly.Psoriasis has 4 stages of development:
- early (initial stage of psoriasis);
- progressive;
- constant;
- regressive.
Favorite places of the disease are elbows, head and trunk.In rare cases, severe cases of the disease affect the flexor parts of the upper and lower limbs.
The initial stage of the disease
In the early stages of psoriasis, there are symptoms and signs of an allergic skin reaction.The disease begins suddenly, small reddish rashes appear on the skin.In childhood, the symptoms and signs of psoriasis are often mistaken for diathesis or the manifestation of a food allergic reaction, which makes timely treatment difficult.
In small children, the manifestation of stage 1 psoriasis may occur in areas exposed to friction when wearing clothing, while in adults, the first signs of the disease appear on the hands or body.
Over time, papules (as pimples are called in psoriasis) cluster and form scaly plaques.The islands of the disease may be covered with gray scales, which separate painlessly from the rash.All this is accompanied by swelling and irritation of the epidermis.
Many people are interested in whether psoriasis is itchy in the early stages and how to recognize the symptoms of stage 1 psoriasis.The following signs will help determine what early-onset psoriasis looks like:
- when the rash is scraped off, the plaque turns white, the scales come off easily;
- if you continue to scrape, a reddish smooth spot (“thermal film”) forms at the plaque site;
- If you continue to scratch the resulting spot, it will bleed and become covered in small drops of blood.
The above techniques are used during the examination of the patient and help to identify psoriasis at an early stage.
The initial form of psoriasis can last up to a month.In some cases, discharge may be released at the site of the formed plaques.The wounds are covered with a crust, under which they become wet due to the release of fluid.This course of the disease can be complicated by the development of an infection and an extensive inflammatory process.
Arthropathic form of the disease
If the disease affects the hands, palms and fingers, the arthropathic form of psoriasis is diagnosed.This form is considered the most severe, as over time the skin becomes inflamed and cracks.There is a high probability of joint damage, which leads to the development of arthritis.This is fraught with the loss of the patient's ability to work and disability.
This form of the disease is dangerous because it affects the nail plate, causing it to separate from the fingers.The arthropathic form of the disease is very difficult to treat and is characterized by frequent exacerbations.Due to inflammation and swelling of the skin of the hand, the patient experiences serious discomfort at work and at home, as every movement of the hand leads to increased pain.
Drug treatment
Unfortunately, doctors cannot give a positive answer to the question of whether psoriasis can be cured in its initial stages.However, timely treatment removes the acute phase of the disease and returns the patient to a normal life.
In the case of initial psoriasis diagnosis, the treatment is selected only by a dermatologist after each examination.Self-treatment without consulting a specialist may not bring the expected results and may only worsen the course of the disease.
Whether psoriasis can be cured in its early stages largely depends on the degree of damage and the location of the plaques that form.
The initial form of psoriasis is treated with the following methods:
- ointments for topical treatment of the skin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physiotherapy methods;
- diet adjustment;
- immunomodulators.
Ointments for the treatment of the affected skin are selected by the doctor depending on the degree of damage.Generally, tar or fat-based preparations are used.In case of extensive skin changes, the treatment can be carried out with ointments containing corticosteroids.Such drugs have many side effects, so they are prescribed only in case of serious illness.The duration of treatment should not be long, and such ointments should be replaced with more gentle preparations after the acute symptoms subside.
If psoriasis is diagnosed at a very early stage, only a doctor can tell you how to treat the disease.In some cases, a good effect can be observed when using physiotherapy - paraffin baths or ultraviolet irradiation.
In the case of early-stage psoriasis, home treatment should be discussed with a doctor.Once you understand how psoriasis manifests itself in the initial stages, you should not delay visiting a specialist, as the disease develops rapidly.
Exacerbation can start suddenly;in this case, folk remedies help alleviate the patient's condition.For this purpose, spas are used with the addition of honey, herbs (chamomile, calendula) and natural oils.The aim of the treatment is to reduce itching and swelling, but it should be used together with the medicines recommended by the doctor.
The question of whether psoriasis can be cured at an early stage, and whether psoriasis can be cured in children in its initial stages, can only be answered by the attending physician, based on the characteristics of the patient's disease.