A chronic non-infectious disease that, according to statistical data, affects different percentages of the entire population, is psoriasis, the symptoms of which 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 in men and women alike. Most often, the disease affects young people under twenty.
Many people are interested in the question: "Does psoriasis itch, what are its symptoms and treatment, and most importantly, is it contagious? " Itching with psoriasis is found in almost 85% of cases, butthe disease is not contagious at all and is not 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 subject to the most friction, such as the elbows or knees.
In addition, the signs of psoriasis can appear on any area of the skin: head, face, back, abdomen, palms, feet, armpits and even on the genitals.
If we consider another similar disease - eczema, then it affects the inner part of the flexor surfaces, with psoriasis - the outer part of the knee and elbow joints.
Pathology is chronic and has a wavy course, that is, a person's condition can improve under the influence of treatment methods or, conversely, worsen under the influence of negative factors, while remission and exacerbationthey are usually completely spontaneous.
Relapse can be caused by alcohol abuse, stress, infectious diseases. The severity of psoriasis varies from person to person, and even from the same person, over the course of the disease.
The main symptoms of skin psoriasis are plaques, which appear as minor lesions in some areas. In some cases, they can cover the entire body.
Psoriasis progresses over time, especially if appropriate measures are not taken to correct it. The progression of the disease consists of an increase in the periods of exacerbations and an increase in the area of the lesion with the involvement of healthy areas of the skin in the inflammatory process. There are cases when the disease continued without periods of remission.
Pathology such as onychodystrophy: damage to the nails is very common. This disease can proceed on its own, without the addition of a skin lesion. In addition, psoriasis can contribute to the development of an inflammatory process in the joints - psoriatic arthritis (a disease of the small joints of the lower limbs and hands), and onychodystrophy is observed in about 15% of patients with psoriasis.
There are many different ways to deal with this ailment, but due to the disease's tendency to constantly relapse and worsen, psoriasis is very difficult to treat. Complete recovery is almost impossible, that is, he stays with a person until the end of his life, but with proper treatment and following all medical prescriptions, it is possible to achieve longer periods of remission.
Reasons
To date, medicine does not know the true cause of this pathology, however, it has been shown that a malfunction of the immune system, neurological disorders and metabolic disorders can cause the disease. There are also a number of factors that can trigger the development of the disease:
- Genetic predisposition,in other words, simple inheritance. Experts say the signs of psoriasis can be found in people whose blood relatives suffered from psoriasis. Furthermore, if one parent is ill, the risk of developing the disease rises to 20% and if both parents are ill, up to 50%. This is due to the existence of some genes responsible for the development of dermatological changes. The first signs of hereditary psoriasis appear, as a rule, before the age of 25.
- Neurological disorders.Any emotional shock, nervous tension, chronic fatigue can cause the development of the disease. Also, in people with psoriasis, any stressful situation can provoke an exacerbation of the disease.
- Hormonal failure.All pathological changes in the functioning of the organs of the endocrine system can trigger the mechanism of the development of the disease.
- Violation of the metabolic process.Metabolic disorders associated with a lack of beneficial trace elements and vitamins in the body can cause psoriasis.
- Helminth invasion.Some types of parasites can cause disease. Many laboratory studies were conducted, the results of which showed that many patients with psoriasis were infected with giardiasis, opisthorchiasis, ascariasis, enterobiasis. The fact is that in the process of their vital activity, helminths emit poisonous substances that poison the whole body. This leads to an exacerbation of chronic diseases and a significant decrease in immunity.
- Viral infectionswhich also attack the human immune system.
From the above, it becomes clear that the process of development of psoriasis, one way or another, is associated with disturbances in the work 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 such factors 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 patches that itch and look like lichen. Over time, the spots peel off and a denser scaly layer is found beneath them.
When the disease begins to progress, the so-called Kenber's phenomenon is observed, when plaques appear in places of skin trauma (with wounds, cuts, burns).
Varieties
There are several types of psoriasis, each of which has a specific clinical picture:
- Plaque (true psoriasis)is the most common form of the disease, occurring in over 80% of all patients. The skin becomes inflamed, dry and thickened, with raised areas above it, which are covered with light silvery scales. The skin in these areas is warm to the touch and constantly flakes off. After peeling, reddish inflammatory foci are found, which most often are damaged and bleed. Inflammation can merge into large foci. With psoriasis of the elbows and knees, peeling is not so pronounced.
- Drop-shaped- there are many small dry inflammations of a rounded shape of red or purple color, which rise above the surface of the skin. Guttate psoriasis covers large areas of the body. The first signs of the disease can occur after a previous sore throat or pharyngitis, which are caused by a strep infection.
- Pustularis the more complex form of the disease. It looks like foci of blistering rash raised above the surface of healthy skin. These bubbles are filled with exudate. Around the pustules, the skin turns red, swells, thickens, and subsequently flakes off. When a secondary infection is attached, the blisters are filled with purulent fluid. Typically, this psoriasis is limited and affects specific areas, such as the lower leg and forearm. In severe cases, the inflammation begins to spread further along the surface of the skin and the spots of the rash merge into a single focal point.
- Psoriatic arthritis- the joints and connective tissue are involved in the disease process. The main manifestation of this form is severe itching. In addition, the skin in the joints of the fingers becomes painful, swollen, peeling and flaking.
- Onychodystrophy (nail psoriasis)can have the appearance of a mycosis. With this disease, the appearance of the nails changes, they become brittle and exfoliate, the color of the nail bed and the plaque itself can turn yellow or gray. In addition, white spots, dots and transverse lines appear on the nails and under the nails. The skin under and around the nails becomes firm. Most often, onychodystrophy leads to nail loss.
Additional symptoms of psoriasis include:
- bleeding wounds (in places of 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 there is an increase in the number of new rashes.
- Stationary.At this stage, the picture of the disease remains unchanged, that is, the rash and other symptoms of psoriasis do not increase or decrease.
- Regression phase.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 the skin are affected;
- common- large areas of skin are affected;
- generalized: almost the entire surface of the body is affected.
Among other things, psoriasis is considered a seasonal disease, that is, all symptoms are aggravated depending on the season. Most people generally get worse in 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 mainly based on an examination by a dermatologist. Examination reveals the shape and degree of the lesion.
In some cases, a differential diagnosis is performed to distinguish psoriasis from another dermatological disease. How to recognize that a patient has this particular disorder?
As already mentioned, the Kenber phenomenon is observed in psoriasis, which is not inherent in skin diseases. Another symptom should also be taken into account, when a light border appears around a new papule, which has not yet begun to come off - a kind of vascular reaction, which indicates the further progression of the disease.
Sometimes a skin biopsy is used to make the diagnosis more accurate or tests are performed that can detect an inflammatory process in the blood. After psoriasis has been diagnosed, treatment should be started immediately.
Treatment
Medication
The main therapy is the use of topical preparations in the form of ointments, gels, creams and sprays.
These medicines contain ingredients that block excess cell division in the skin and relieve an unpleasant symptom such as itching. There are numerous substances that effectively fight this disease:
- Glucocorticoid hormones.Relieves inflammation and normalizes the immune system.
- Vitamin D.The use of drugs with vitamin D will be more effective after the disease has entered the stationary phase, when the patient's condition is stable. Good results are achieved by taking such medicines in combination with ultraviolet irradiation procedures.
- Silicon.It improves the condition of the skin, has an absorbent effect and absorbs the antigens involved in the development of the disease.
- Tarhas a good effect on foci of inflammation, which are localized on the head.
- Lecithin.Promotes rapid tissue regeneration. Preparations with this substance help the body to cope with inflammation faster.
- Activated zincquickly removes redness and relieves itching.
Patients are also prescribed drugs of the following groups:
- corticosteroids- normalize metabolic processes;
- cytostatics- prevents cell division, but can weaken the body's defense mechanisms;
- immunomodulators- also regulate immune responses, but their efficacy is questioned;
- non-steroidal- relieves 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 particular way of "freezing" relieves itching, swelling and inflammation.
- Ultraviolet irradiation.These short-term procedures are combined with the introduction of special drugs.
Attention!Self-medication for psoriasis is unacceptable, since 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 less severe course of psoriasis than adults, so local therapy gives good results, and even in the case of exacerbation, a repeated course of treatment can achieve long-term remission.
Even if a child is diagnosed with severe form, with timely and adequate treatment, the prognosis will be more or less favorable.
The main rule for parents is to know how to identify the characteristic signs of psoriasis and start fighting this disease right away!
Traditional medicine
Traditional medicine recipes are often used to treat psoriasis. Medicinal herbal tablets will be effective.
To make a compress, grind 4 tbsp. spoons of dry herbs and pour a glass of boiling water, then let it brew. In the broth, it is necessary to moisten the gauze and apply to the sore spots.
The following plants have healing properties:
- calendula;
- ponytail;
- walnut leaves;
- celandine;
- yarrow;
- sweet clover;
- burdock;
- black currant leaves.
You can also prepare an oral tincture. For this, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dry herbs should be poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 8 hours, strain and drink 100 ml twice a day, preferably half an hour before meals. Suitable for collecting herbs:
- St. John's wort;
- celandine;
- sequence;
- marshmallow;
- valerian.
Attention!Some of these herbs can cause side effects, so you should read all contraindications before starting treatment.
Medicinal ointments for home treatment are very popular. Here are some effective recipes:
- Burn dried rose hips and mix the ash with petroleum jelly. The ointment should be applied daily to the affected areas.
- Grind the celandine leaves to obtain 2 tbsp. spoons, add lanolin and petroleum jelly. Ointment to treat inflamed skin.
- Mix the tincture of a series with lanolin and petroleum jelly and rub on the psoriatic plaques.
- Grind the roots of meadowsweet, mix with oil or petroleum jelly, boil the resulting ointment, cool and smear sore spots.
Soothing herbal teas are beneficial. They can be prepared from motherwort, oregano, chamomile, mint, thyme, valerian, linden, peony.
Traditional medicine does not guarantee 100% of the result, it is better to combine it with the main treatment.
Psoriasis and pregnancy
Many women with psoriasis who are in a position worry about how the disease will behave during this time.
Psoriasis is an unpredictable disease, so it is difficult to answer the question: "How to determine the course of the disease during pregnancy". Psoriasis symptoms may begin to progress, remain stationary, or decrease. There are cases when after childbirth the disease has completely disappeared.
Every pregnant woman fears that the disease can be passed on to her baby, but not the disease itself is inherited, only a predisposition to it.
During breastfeeding, if the mother is being treated with powerful drugs, breastfeeding is very dangerous, as substances can harm the baby's health. In this case, it is necessary to stop the treatment or transfer the baby to artificial feeding.
The disease does not affect the conception and intrauterine development of the fetus, but the medications that the expectant mother takes can lead to negative consequences, so it is important to consult with your doctor when planning pregnancy, who will cancel some of them.
Prevention
It is impossible to prevent this disease, but it is possible to significantly reduce its manifestations. In order to achieve a decrease in the symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to the following preventive rules:
- Try not to get nervous and learn to control your emotions. Natural sedatives can be used to facilitate this task.
- Reduce your consumption of salty, smoked, spicy, fried and fatty foods, as well as honey, citrus, chocolate and coffee.
- Wear clothes made from natural fabrics.
- Choose personal care products with low pH levels that do not dry out or irritate irritated skin.
- Beware of medications, as many of them can cause psoriasis flare-ups, antibiotics are especially dangerous.
- Stop 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.