Chronic disease of a non-infectious nature, which according to statistics affects several percent of the population, is psoriasis, whose symptoms manifest themselves in the form of focal rash, itching and intense peeling of the skin.
The disease can develop at any age and regardless of the social environment to which a person belongs. Psoriasis occurs equally in men and women. The disease most often affects young people under the age of twenty.
Many people are interested in the question: "Does psoriasis itch, what are its symptoms and treatment, and most importantly, is it contagious? " Itching in psoriasis is found in almost 85% of cases, but the disease is not contagious andnot transmitted by airborne droplets or by household means. It is difficult to treat, but complex therapy almost always gives good results.
Manifestation of the disease
How does psoriasis manifest itself and what is this disease? Psoriatic plaques often develop first in areas that are subject to the most friction, such as the elbows or knees.
Also, signs of psoriasis can appear on absolutely any area of the skin - head, face, back, abdomen, palms, feet, armpits and even the genitals.
If we consider another similar disease - eczema, it affects the inner part of the flexor surfaces, with psoriasis - the outer part of the knee and elbow joint.
The pathology is chronic and has a wavy course, ie a person's condition can improve under the influence of treatment methods or, conversely, worsen under the influence of negative factors, while remission and exacerbation are usually completely spontaneous.
Recurrence can be caused by alcohol abuse, stress, infectious diseases. The severity of psoriasis varies from person to person and even from the same person during the course of the disease.
The main symptoms of skin psoriasis are plaques that appear as minor lesions in certain areas. In some cases, they can cover the whole body.
Psoriasis progresses over time, especially if appropriate measures are not taken to correct it. The progression of the disease consists in increasing the periods of exacerbations and increasing the area of the lesion with the participation of healthy areas of the skin in the inflammatory process. There are cases when the disease proceeds continuously without periods of remission.
Pathology such as onychodystrophy - nail damage is very common. This disease can go away on its own without the addition of a skin lesion. Also, psoriasis can contribute to the development of an inflammatory process in the joints - psoriatic arthritis (a disease of the small joints of the lower extremities and hands), and onychodystrophy is observed in about 15% of patients with psoriasis.
There are many different ways to deal with this disease, but due to the tendency of the disease to recur and worsen, psoriasis is very difficult to treat. Complete cure is almost impossible, ie it stays with a person for the rest of his life, but with proper treatment and compliance with all medical prescriptions, longer periods of remission can be achieved.
Causes
To date, medicine does not know the true cause of this pathology, but it has been proven that a malfunction in the immune system, neurological disorders and metabolic disorders can cause the disease. There are a number of factors that can cause the disease to develop:
- Genetic predisposition,in other words, simple heredity. Experts say that signs of psoriasis can be found in people whose blood relatives have suffered from psoriasis. In addition, if one parent is ill, the risk of developing the disease increases to 20%, and if both parents are ill, up to 50%. This is due to the existence of certain genes responsible for the development of dermatological changes. The first signs of hereditary psoriasis usually appear before the age of 25.
- Neurological disorders.Any emotional shock, nervous tension, chronic fatigue can cause the development of the disease. In addition, in people with psoriasis, any stressful situation can provoke an exacerbation of the disease.
- Hormonal insufficiency.All pathological changes in the functioning of the organs of the endocrine system can trigger the mechanism of disease development.
- Metabolic disorder.Metabolic disorders associated with a lack of beneficial micronutrients and vitamins in the body can cause psoriasis.
- Helminthic invasion.Some types of parasites can cause disease. Many laboratory tests have been performed, the results of which showed that many patients with psoriasis were infected with giardiasis, opisthorchiasis, ascariasis, enterobiosis. The thing is that in the process of their vital activity helminths emit poisonous substances that poison the whole body. This leads to exacerbation of chronic diseases and a significant reduction in immunity.
- Viral infectionsthat also attack the human immune system.
From the above it is clear that the process of development of psoriasis, in one way or another, is associated with disorders of the body's defense mechanisms. Psoriasis on the body can develop under the influence of a whole complex of triggers or under the influence of factors such as unbalanced diet, climate change, alcohol abuse and smoking.
The clinical picture and types of psoriasis
How does psoriasis start? The first symptoms of the disease are the appearance of reddish plaques and scaly spots that itch and look like lichens. Over time, the spots peel off and a thicker scaly layer is found beneath them.
When the disease begins to progress, the so-called Canberra phenomenon is observed, when plaques appear in places with skin injuries (with wounds, cuts, burns).
Varieties
There are several types of psoriasis, each with a specific clinical picture:
- Plaque (true psoriasis)is the most common form of the disease, occurring in more than 80% of all patients. The skin becomes inflamed, dry and thickened, with raised areas above it, which are covered with light silver scales. The skin in these areas is hot to the touch and constantly flaky. After peeling, reddish inflammatory foci are found, which are often damaged and bleed. Inflammation can merge into large foci. In psoriasis of the elbows and knees, the peeling is less pronounced.
- Drop-shaped- has very small dry inflammations with a rounded shape of red or purple color, rising above the surface of the skin. Guttate psoriasis covers large areas of the body. The first signs of the disease may appear after previous angina or pharyngitis, which are caused by a streptococcal infection.
- Purulentis the most difficult form of the disease. There are foci of blisters rising above the surface of healthy skin. These bubbles are full of exudate. The skin around the pustules becomes red, swollen, thickened and subsequently flaky. When a secondary infection attaches, the blisters fill with purulent fluid. Usually this psoriasis is limited and affects specific areas, such as the lower legs and forearms. In severe cases, the inflammation begins to spread further on the surface of the skin and the spots of the rash merge into one focus.
- Psoriatic arthritis- joints and connective tissue are involved in the pathological process. The main manifestation of this form is severe itching. In addition, the skin on the finger joints becomes painful, swollen, flaky and flaky.
- Onychodystrophy (nail psoriasis)may look like mycosis. In such a disease, the appearance of the nails changes, they become brittle and exfoliate, the color of the nail bed and the plate itself may become yellow or gray. White spots, dots and transverse lines also appear on the nails and under the nails. The skin under and around the nails becomes tight. Very often onychodystrophy leads to nail loss.
Additional symptoms of psoriasis include:
- bleeding wounds (in places with skin trauma);
- nail erosion;
- intense itching;
- fever, swelling and joint pain in psoriatic arthritis (not always).
How the disease progresses
There are several stages in the course of the disease:
- Progressive.This is the initial stage of the disease. It is characterized by exacerbations in which the number of new rashes increases.
- Stationary.At this stage, the picture of the disease remains unchanged, ie the rash and other symptoms of psoriasis do not increase or decrease.
- Regression stage.The last stage of the disease, which proceeds without rashes.
Depending on the prevalence of the inflammatory process, the disease can be:
- limited- small areas of skin are affected;
- often- large areas of skin are affected;
- generalized- almost the entire body surface is affected.
Among other things, psoriasis is considered a seasonal disease, ie all symptoms worsen depending on the season. Most people usually get worse in the winter or summer. In some patients, this process is not associated with a change of season.
Diagnostics
How is this disease diagnosed? The diagnosis of psoriasis is based primarily on examination by a dermatologist. The examination reveals the shape and extent of the lesion.
In some cases, a differential diagnosis is made to distinguish psoriasis from another dermatological disease. How to recognize that the patient has this particular disease?
As already mentioned, the phenomenon of Canberra is observed in psoriasis, which is not inherent in skin pathologies. Another symptom should be considered when a slight edge appears around a new papule that has not yet begun to peel off - a type of vascular reaction indicating further progression of the disease.
Sometimes a skin biopsy is used to make a more accurate diagnosis or to take tests that can detect an inflammatory process in the blood. Once psoriasis is diagnosed, you should start treatment immediately.
Healing
Medicine
The main therapy is the use of topical preparations in the form of ointments, gels, creams and sprays.
These medicines contain ingredients that stop excess cell division in the skin and relieve the unpleasant symptom of itching. A number of substances have been identified that effectively fight this disease:
- Glucocorticoid hormones.They relieve inflammation and normalize the immune system.
- Vitamin D.The use of vitamin D drugs will be most effective after reaching the inpatient stage, when the patient's condition is stable. Good results are obtained when taking such drugs in combination with ultraviolet irradiation procedures.
- Silicon.Improves the condition of the skin, has a sorbing effect and absorbs antigens that are involved in the development of the disease.
- Tarhas a good effect on the foci of inflammation that are localized on the head.
- Lecithin.Promotes rapid tissue regeneration. Preparations with this substance help the body to deal with inflammation faster.
- Activated zincremoves redness and relieves itching in a short time.
Patients are also prescribed drugs from the following groups:
- corticosteroids- normalize metabolic processes;
- cytostatics- prevent cell division, but can weaken the body's defense mechanisms;
- immunomodulators- also regulate immune responses, but their effectiveness is questionable;
- non-steroids- relieve inflammation and itching.
Vitamin complexes are prescribed in combination with these drugs.
Along with drug treatment, the following methods are very popular:
- Hirudotherapy.Leech therapy improves blood circulation and normalizes immune mechanisms.
- Cryotherapy.A special way to "freeze" relieves itching, swelling and inflammation.
- Ultraviolet radiation.These short-term procedures are combined with the introduction of special drugs.
Attention!Self-medication for psoriasis is unacceptable, as many drugs have contraindications and are prescribed by a specialist only taking into account the individual physiological characteristics of the patient.
Children usually have a milder course of psoriasis than adults, so topical therapy works well and even in the event of an exacerbation, a repeat course of treatment can achieve long-term remission.
Even if the child is diagnosed with a severe form, with timely and adequate treatment the prognosis will be more or less favorable.
The basic rule for parents is to know how to identify the characteristic signs of psoriasis and immediately start fighting this disease!
Traditional medicine
Prescriptions of traditional medicine are often used to treat psoriasis. Compresses based on medicinal herbs will be effective.
To make a compress, grind 4 tablespoons of dried herbs and pour a glass of boiling water, then allow to simmer. In the broth you need to moisten the gauze and apply on sore spots.
The following plants have healing properties:
- marigold;
- horsetail;
- walnut leaves;
- celandine;
- yarrow;
- sweet clover;
- burdock;
- blackcurrant leaves.
You can also prepare an oral tincture. For this 1 tbsp. spoon of dried herbs should be poured into a glass of boiling water, insist 8 hours, strain and drink 100 ml twice a day, preferably half an hour before meals. Suitable for herbal collection:
- St. John's wort;
- celandine;
- sequence;
- blat;
- valerian.
Attention!Some of these herbs can cause side effects, so you should read all the contraindications before starting treatment.
Home remedies are very popular. Here are some effective recipes:
- Burn the dried rose hips and mix the ashes with Vaseline. Ointment should be applied to the affected areas every day.
- Grind the celandine leaves to make 2 tbsp, add lanolin and Vaseline. Ointment for the treatment of inflamed skin.
- Mix the series tincture with lanolin and vaseline and rub into psoriatic plaques.
- Grind the meadow-sweet roots, mix with oil or Vaseline, boil the resulting ointment, cool and apply to sore spots.
Soothing herbal teas are helpful. They can be boiled from thyme, oregano, chamomile, mint, thyme, valerian, linden, peony.
Traditional medicine does not guarantee a 100% result, it is better to combine it with the main treatment.
Psoriasis and pregnancy
Many women with psoriasis who are pregnant worry about how the disease will behave during this period.
Psoriasis is an unpredictable disease, so it is difficult to answer the question: "How to determine the course of the disease during pregnancy. "Symptoms of psoriasis may begin to progress, remain immobile, or decrease. There are cases when after birth the disease disappears completely.
Every pregnant woman worries that the disease may be passed on to her baby, but it is not the disease itself that is inherited, but only a predisposition to it.
During breastfeeding, if the mother undergoes therapy with powerful drugs, breastfeeding is very dangerous, as the substances can harm the health of the baby. In this case, you should stop treatment or transfer the baby to artificial feeding.
The disease does not affect conception and intrauterine development of the fetus, but the drugs that the expectant mother takes can have negative consequences, so it is important to consult your doctor during pregnancy planning, who will cancel some of them. .
Prevention
This disease cannot be prevented, but its manifestations can be significantly reduced. In order to reduce the symptoms of the disease, the following preventive rules must be observed:
- Try not to get nervous and learn to control your emotions. Natural sedatives can be used to alleviate this task.
- Reduce your intake of salty, smoked, spicy, fried and fatty foods, as well as honey, citrus fruits, chocolate and coffee.
- Wear clothes made of natural fabrics.
- Choose personal care products with low pH levels that will not dry out or irritate inflamed skin.
- Be careful with medications, as many of them can cause exacerbation of psoriasis, antibiotics are especially dangerous.
- Quit smoking and alcohol.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
Psoriasis is one of the most common skin diseases, the nature of which is not yet fully understood. The disease causes a lot of inconvenience, worsens the quality of life and lowers a person's self-esteem.
It can occur suddenly and unfortunately no one is immune to this disease. That is why it is very important to know how this pathology manifests itself in order to consult a doctor in time and start treatment.