Effective treatment of psoriasis: a package of measures

Psoriasis is a very unpleasant skin disease that brings a lot of discomfort to the patient who is unlucky enough to get it.In addition to the fact that the skin looks very aesthetic, the patient constantly experiences many other unpleasant sensations.Yes, the disease is not fatal, but the patient often has to radically change his habits and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, even today it is simply impossible to completely cure psoriasis.However, there are many techniques and treatments that can greatly help and significantly alleviate the patient's suffering.

The best effect can be achieved by using complex therapy, during which they try to influence the disease from different sides.For this, different treatment methods are combined.In today's material, we will examine in more detail how complex psoriasis treatment should be carried out, what it may include, and what aspects should be taken into account.

Factors to consider when choosing a treatment

First of all, let us remind you to never self-medicate!Even if you are completely confident in your strengths and abilities, it is still better to consult a professional dermatologist.It will be better this way.

Before prescribing the treatment, the doctor considers the following factors:

• age and gender of the patient - the older the patient, the more difficult the disease is to treat;
• hereditary factors - the risk of the disease increases if parents or close relatives also suffer from psoriasis;
• the phase of the disease - the later you consult a specialist, the more difficult the treatment will be;
• the severity of the disease - if psoriasis is mild, the fight is much easier;
• the form of the course and the affected body parts - the more severe, the more difficult it is to choose an effective treatment;
• possible allergic reactions - in this case, not all medicines can be taken;
• place and type of work - some companies have very unfavorable working conditions, which has a very negative effect on the general state of health and the development of psoriasis;
• region of residence - if you live in a region with highly polluted air, this negatively affects the perception of various diseases, and psoriasis develops more intensively;
• the presence of bad habits - regular smoking and alcohol consumption affect the internal organs, which increases the risk of psoriasis;
• accompanying diseases - if you suffer from certain diseases of the internal organs, it may be a complication of psoriasis.

It is unlikely that you will be able to correctly determine all the factors on your own.If you start self-medicating, it can lead to serious complications.Therefore, the dermatologist will definitely prescribe you the necessary tests to determine all the other factors and only then prescribe the treatment.

Psoriasis treatment measures

In order to make the home treatment of psoriasis as effective as possible, various measures are often used.Within the framework of these, different drugs are used at the same time, which affect different body systems.So the regimen may include:

• external treatment— various creams and ointments to eliminate external signs of the disease affecting the skin;
• systemic medications- pills, mixtures that act on the internal organs and fight the disease from the inside;
• physiotherapy procedures- to reduce inflammatory processes - laser and cryotherapy, acupressure, ultraviolet irradiation;

• spa treatment- therapeutic procedures, for example, leeches, mud baths, as well as clean air, since resorts are usually located in ecologically clean areas;
• special diet- exclude foods that can damage the gastrointestinal tract, such as fried, spicy, salty and pickled foods.

In fact, there are many therapeutic methods.Let's consider each method of the series of therapeutic measures in more detail.

External treatment

Basically, how does psoriasis start to develop?First, the functioning of the epidermis – the stratum corneum of the skin – is disrupted.Because of this, the skin no longer receives the necessary amount of moisture and becomes too dry.Dryness and peeling gradually increase, and since the dead skin particles do not have time to be removed, so-called psoriasis plaques appear.All this is accompanied by itching and inflammation.During the period of exacerbation, they do not subside either during the day or at night.

To eliminate all these symptoms, medicines are prescribed for the external treatment of psoriasis.It is also prescribed strictly individually.What are the external preparations used for?

1. It relieves pain, reduces swelling, reduces scaling and improves appearance by reducing rashes and reducing the number of psoriasis plaques.
2. It minimizes the impact of various external factors.
3. Affect the foci of the disease as quickly as possible and bring rapid relief.

External preparations for the treatment of psoriasis are ointments, creams, lotions, gels and other preparations.All of them can be divided into two main groups: hormonal and non-hormonal.Let's look at each group separately.

1. Non-hormonal drugs.The name speaks for itself - the drugs do not contain hormonal components.They act on the epidermis and quickly remove dead skin layers, disinfect damaged areas, have antiviral and antimicrobial effects, as well as qualitatively hydrate the skin and increase its elasticity.Such preparations contain beeswax, natural oils and other natural ingredients, as well as salicylic acid, dithranol, sulfur, urea and other substances.They have many excellent properties and act very quickly and effectively on skin areas affected by psoriasis.
2. Hormonal drugs.They contain a certain amount of synthetic corticosteroid hormones.Many experts prefer them, because due to the presence of the hormone in the preparation, they work almost immediately, literally in minutes, ensuring the desired effect.But unlike non-hormonal drugs, such drugs should be used with caution.First, if you delay the treatment a little, it can lead to hormonal imbalance and, as a result, serious complications.Second, if you suddenly stop taking the drug, you may experience a so-called “withdrawal effect” in which symptoms not only return, but also intensify.

When and how to choose the right drug group?What drugs are best to use?

1. In the progressive stage, ointments containing salicylic acid and anti-inflammatory hormonal ointments are most often used.Of course, at first they try to achieve the desired effect with drugs with a lower concentration of active ingredients.If there is no effect, then stronger ones are used.These drugs contain higher doses of fluoride.Patients usually experience positive dynamics within two weeks after starting regular use.
2. Medicines that do not contain chlorine and fluorine are used to treat the elderly and children, which significantly reduces the number of possible allergic reactions.These drugs are relatively new, they appeared on the pharmaceutical market only a few years ago, but they are gradually becoming more popular.
3. When using dethranol-based ointments and creams, they have a quick and long-lasting effect.The start of the treatment involves the prescription of minimum doses, with a gradual increase.Medicines are primarily aimed at reducing inflammation.However, other side effects can also occur, such as swelling, itching and redness, which somewhat limits the scope of use of drugs belonging to this group against the background of similar symptoms of psoriasis.
4. One of the new drugs is a drug that directly affects the causes of psoriasis.Its main active ingredient is calcipotriol, which suppresses the development of pathogenic processes.After only two months, the general condition of the skin improves significantly, the number of inflamed and damaged areas and peeling decreases.It is noteworthy that in most cases there are no other side effects typical of psoriasis treatment.There are cases when one course was enough for a remission lasting up to a year.The strongest effect is achieved when the treatment is carried out using an integrated approach, and the effect occurs in combination with other tools, most often physiotherapy procedures.

We draw your attention to the fact that long-term consumption of drugs is not recommended, as addiction may develop.As a result, the effectiveness of the treatment is significantly reduced.

Systemic drugs

As already mentioned, one of the possible causes of psoriasis is diseases of the internal organs.Accordingly, to get rid of psoriasis, you need to take medicines that can help in the treatment of diseases of the internal organs.These can be pills, injections, IVs, and other medications that must be selected individually.What therapy can be prescribed for psoriasis?

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs relieve inflammation and reduce the effects of various viruses and microbes.A comprehensive treatment regimen for psoriasis is often used.
2. Antiallergenic drugs.Since allergies often make psoriasis symptoms worse, these medications can help significantly.
3. Anti-psoriasis drugs.They affect the skin's recovery process, normalize the life cycle of its cells, and eliminate the side effects of the disease.
4. Antifungals.Since the fungal infection significantly complicates the course of psoriasis, an effective fight is very important.
5. Medicines to combat the abnormal formation of new cells that have no specific purpose.Over time, in the absence of a treatment regimen, such cells can accumulate in huge numbers in the body.

Depending on the complexity of the condition and the degree of damage to other organs, other, stronger drugs may be used.However, despite the good effect, they should not be abused, as the side effects can be very serious.

Physiotherapy procedures

Although psoriasis alone cannot be cured by physiotherapy procedures, with proper selection they can enhance the effect of the drugs and speed up the healing process in the final stage of the complex treatment.What procedures are prescribed for the treatment of complex psoriasis?

1. Ultraviolet irradiation or light therapy.They prescribe a special drug that increases the body's perception of ultraviolet radiation, and then the skin affected by psoriasis is irradiated with ultraviolet waves of a certain length.
2. Laser therapy.It is noteworthy that the laser waves only affect the diseased skin, without affecting healthy tissues.
3. Cryotherapy.Liquid air, nitrogen or helium, with a temperature of up to -296 degrees, is applied for a short time to the damaged body surfaces.
4. Ichthyotherapy.The affected areas are treated with special fish species.
5. Hirudotherapy is treatment with leeches.

6. Spas with soothing and anti-inflammatory herbs such as chamomile or celandine, as well as starch and flaxseed.
7. Acupuncture.It is true that you have to be careful when choosing a specialist, since an incorrectly performed procedure can have unforeseeable consequences, the treatment of which can take a long time.

Spa treatment

A visit to a sanatorium or resort can significantly improve the patient's well-being.True, they are sent there only in the final, regressive stage of the disease, as the final means of complex therapy.In addition to the fact that the patient is prescribed various procedures in such an institution, the opportunity to relax from everyday worries and the more favorable environment also contribute to recovery.

In addition to prescribing traditional medicines, the sanatorium or resort necessarily provides dietary nutrition, physical therapy, as well as spas and procedures.Depending on the location, the sanatorium may offer hydrogen sulfide, silicon, radon, iodine-bromine, and other baths.A good sanatorium will fill you with energy for many months.

Conclusion

Complex therapy is most often used to treat psoriasis.Good results can only be achieved with an integrated approach, as each treatment method will be ineffective, especially in the later stages of treatment.