Psoriasis is a disease that affects 2 to 4% of the world's population, according to WHO experts. A characteristic feature of the disease is that only Caucasians suffer from psoriasis. Determining the causes and treatment of psoriasis is considered one of the priorities of modern medicine. Today, science has come a long way in these matters, but the causes of the disease are not yet fully understood, nor have ways been found to completely cure the disease.
Causes of psoriasis
Physiologically, psoriasis is caused by too short a life cycle of skin cells. If normally this cycle is from 21 to 28 days, then in patients with psoriasis the cycle takes only 3-6 days. This is the reason for the formation of psoriatic plaques. The reason for this phenomenon is discussed mainly among specialists. While some consider psoriasis to be a disease caused by hereditary factors, others believe that the disease occurs as a result of malfunctions in the immune system, which are a direct consequence of a whole range of different external factors.
Today, the multifactorial theory prevails among doctors, which explains the appearance of psoriasis with the following reasons:
- Heredity;
- Immune system disorders due to:
- Delayed infectious diseases;
- Improper nutrition;
- Alcohol abuse;
- Adverse climatic conditions.
However, absolutely all experts are unanimous in one thing, psoriasis is not a contagious disease and it is impossible to "catch" it on the street like the flu or sore throat.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Today, doctors consider psoriasis to be a systemic pathology, so it is common to talk about psoriasis as a pathology with complex effects.
It is believed that the first signs of psoriasis are:
- Constant feeling of general weakness;
- I feel tired;
- Frequent depression and depression.
These symptoms should be alarming. However, the clinical symptoms of psoriasis are manifested in skin lesions. In psoriasis, these are most often psoriatic plaques that appear suddenly on the patient's body. Initially, they may be small (several millimeters), but over time they can grow significantly (up to 10 centimeters in diameter).
By the nature of the rash, psoriasis is usually divided into:
- Spot (the diameter of the plaques is small, does not exceed the diameter of the match head);
- Drop-shaped, grain-sized lentils, but in the form of a droplet;
- Round coin-shaped plates, resembling a coin up to 5 millimeters in diameter.
A characteristic feature of psoriasis is the formation of scales on plaques, which are very easy to remove. This is due to the fact that they are formed by cells of the keratinized epidermis. The scale is formed first in the center of the poster and later spreads to the edges. Sometimes a pink ring forms around the plaque, indicating the growth of the plaque itself. When removing the scales, a smooth shiny surface of the skin remains, which has a pink color due to the proximity of the location of blood vessels (capillaries).
Classification of psoriasis, what does psoriasis look like (photo)
In most cases, doctors deal with common (vulgar) psoriasis. However, in about 10% of cases, the manifestations of psoriasis have other external signs, which are clearly visible in the photo.
According to the external manifestations of psoriasis, it is common to distinguish the following forms:
- Vulgar (common) psoriasis. It begins with a rash of small papules ranging in size from a match head to a pea. These papules become scaly and the papule becomes a typical psoriatic plaque. As a rule, plaques have well-defined boundaries, which allows them to be clearly visualized in relation to healthy skin. The plaque may be itchy. If the patient tries to remove the papule or plaque, desquamation is observed. After removing the scales, a smooth, shiny surface is revealed. If you continue the process of scraping, very quickly drops of blood appear, the so-called "bloody dew";
- Psoriatic erythroderma. This extremely unpleasant disease as a form of psoriasis occurs in about 2% of those suffering from this disease. Erythroderma manifests itself in the form of severe itching, diffuse redness of the skin and lamellar peeling. Psoriatic erythroderma is often associated with generalized pustular psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Often infections such as streptococcal infections complicate the course of the disease. Sometimes erythroderma occurs spontaneously in the first stage of psoriasis. In some cases, erythroderma develops as a result of improper treatment of psoriasis;
- Pustular psoriasis. This form of the disease is characterized by the formation of pustules that resemble small abscesses. Over time, this form of psoriasis can be generalized and localized. In the localized form, the pustules are located in the area of the feet and palms. In the generalized form, the patient has a rise in body temperature and signs of intoxication of the body. This form of psoriasis is very dangerous and can even be fatal;
- Psoriatic arthritis. Many experts distinguish it as an independent autoimmune disease. It appears in the form of an inflammatory process in the joints and muscles of the patient;
- Nail plate psoriasis. In some cases, ordinary psoriasis affects the nail plates and then we talk about nail psoriasis. Defeat of the nail plates from psoriasis is very similar to a fungal infection. As a result of the disease, the nail plate can become deformed and even disappear completely.
Treatment of psoriasis
Modern medicine still does not have in its arsenal the means to completely cure psoriasis, there is still not enough knowledge about the causes and characteristics of the disease. Nevertheless, there are a number of drugs in the arsenal of doctors that can significantly alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis and transfer it from the acute phase to long-term remission. In the treatment of psoriasis, the doctor takes into account the age, sex, lifestyle, health status of the patient and only taking into account all these factors chooses a treatment strategy.
Very often the treatment of psoriasis begins with external therapy. They include:
- Salicylic ointment, which is used at the time when the disease progresses;
- Hormonal drugs that are prescribed if salicylic ointment is useless;
- Creams containing dithronal. They have anti-inflammatory action and help get rid of the symptoms of psoriasis quite quickly.
But external therapy does not always bring the desired result. Different treatment tactics are then chosen and a systematic approach is considered one of the most effective methods today.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of psoriasis
There are a huge number of recipes from traditional medicine for psoriasis. Many of them really help in the treatment of this disease. But do not overestimate the possibilities of such recipes, as traditional medicine can be used as an adjunct therapy, but in no case as a means of primary treatment.
Probably the most common traditional remedy for psoriasis is celandine. Unfortunately, this method can be treated only in the summer, when it is not a problem to find celandine. The essence of the method lies in the action of vegetable juice on the plaques. All you have to do is break the stem and direct the drops of juice on this fracture on the skin affected by psoriasis. This should be done every day for three months. It is believed that the maximum effect of treatment occurs in the third year of treatment.
In second place in popularity is birch tar, which simply spreads on the affected surface for an hour. According to another method, after such application of tar, the use of celandine juice is recommended. The course of treatment in the first and second case is 15 days.
Egg-based ointment is considered very popular in the treatment of psoriasis. To prepare it, take two raw eggs and mix them with sunflower (olive) oil and beat. Then add half a tablespoon of vinegar to the resulting mixture. The affected areas are smeared with a mixture once a day. The mixture itself is stored in a dark and cool place.
It helps very well in exacerbation of psoriasis and a bath to which a decoction of walnut shells is added. For one bath you need to prepare shells of half a kilo of nuts. The bath is taken no more than 15-20 minutes at a temperature not exceeding 37 degrees. It is recommended to take ten baths with breaks in one day.
Diet for psoriasis
According to many experts, proper nutrition in psoriasis is extremely important to avoid prolonged periods of exacerbation of the disease. It is believed that the essence of the diet is to maintain acid-base balance with the alkaline component. So 70-80% of the products should be alkaline and only 20-25 acid-forming.
Alkali generators include:
- Fruits (excluding blackberries and cranberries, currants, prunes, plums and grapes);
- Vegetables (excluding legumes, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and aubergines).
It is common to refer to acid-forming products:
- Starch;
- Cheese;
- sugar;
- Meat
- Butter;
- Cream.
Thus, the diet of a patient with psoriasis should include:
- water (at least 2 liters per day);
- Fresh, stewed fruit (canned fruit is not desirable). Apples, dates, figs, apricots, oranges, peaches, raisins are recommended;
- Vegetables, also fresh or steamed. Recommended beets, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, celery, spinach, zucchini, watercress, cabbage.
- Cereals (in small quantities). Buckwheat porridge, wheat, barley, millet, as well as bread products from rice and corn flour are recommended;
- Low fat fish, four times a week;
- Poultry (chicken), two to three times a week. It is permissible to give to a sick young sheep once a week;
- Milk (skimmed is best);
- Soft-boiled eggs, two to three times a week;
- Vegetable oil in the amount of 3 tablespoons per day.
Prevention
And while there is no way to prevent psoriasis, there are ways to significantly reduce its manifestations and maximize the remission phase.
For this you need:
- Take care of your skin and keep it moist;
- Excessive exposure to cold or hot air should be avoided;
- Minimize the likelihood of skin surface damage;
- Give up alcohol and tobacco;
- All diseases are caused by nerves, so you need to minimize the effects of stress and try to be in harmony with yourself and the world around you.