Psoriasis

It must be said that the suffering that psoriasis brings is underestimated by others. According to scientists, psoriasis in its negative impact on quality of life is not inferior to chronic heart failure and chronic lung diseases.

This disease does not kill directly, but it greatly ruins people's lives.

Let's talk about psoriasis.

This is a chronic skin inflammatory process, which modern medicine classifies as autoimmune, i. e. associated with allergies to your own tissues.

Psoriasis is one of the most common skin diseases and occurs in 1–2% of the population in developed countries.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, scaly patches covered with silvery scales that cause itching. Psoriasis usually appears between the ages of 20 and 30 and is often hereditary.

This pathology is not an infectious disease. In addition to physical suffering, even mild psoriasis can cause serious psychological problems: low self-esteem, shame and social isolation. It is impossible to die from psoriasis, but the impact of this disease on a person's life is very serious.

Causes of psoriasis

The causes of psoriasis have not been fully identified. The mechanism of the disease is associated with a violation of the division of skin cells, which, in turn, causes a reaction of the immune system. Such a reaction is one of the autoimmune ones, since it occurs in response to a malfunction in the body itself, and not to the penetration of a threat from the outside.

Is psoriasis contagious?

Psoriasis is not contagious, and being afraid to shake hands with a person suffering from this disease is stupid and cruel.

As already mentioned, psoriasis is not an infectious disease and a number of studies indicate that it is of autoimmune origin. In psoriasis, it is believed that immune T cells, which are supposed to attack foreign organisms, tragically mistakenly attack healthy skin cells. This leads to a thickening of its upper layer, the epidermis, and an inflammatory process that penetrates deeper into the dermis.

The autoimmune theory of the origin of psoriasis has its place, but the autoantigen that should trigger this process has not yet been found, that is, the i has not been dotted.

However, it is obvious: you cannot catch psoriasis - you can just get it.

Is psoriasis inherited?

As with rosacea, psoriasis tends to be hereditary. The hereditary nature of psoriasis is confirmed by the facts that the incidence is higher in those families in which psoriasis has already been diagnosed; in addition, in twins the concentration of incidence is also higher than in other groups.

But heredity needs to be awakened. This is done by provoking factors:

• psychological trauma and chronic stress conditions;
• past infectious disease;
• skin injuries;
• some medications;
• hormonal changes in the body;
• allergies (for example, citrus fruits, eggs, chocolate can aggravate the disease);
• alcohol intoxication;
• even climate change.

Symptoms of psoriasis

The first symptoms of psoriasis: skin rashes in the form of bright pink plaques with a flaky surface. The plaques are single, rise above the level of healthy skin, and are located on the elbows and in the popliteal cavities.

Most often, psoriatic plaques appear on the skin of the knees, elbows, chest, abdomen, back and scalp, but as the disease progresses, they can appear in any other, most unexpected places of the skin.

At the beginning, the papules are small - 3-5 mm, the color is bright pink. Gradually they increase in size and become covered with silvery scales, then merge into larger formations called plaques.

Fresh elements of papules are usually bright in color, even red, while "old" ones are more faded. At the initial stage of psoriasis, the edges of the papule do not peel off. They represent a hyperemic border - a growth corolla

The hallmark of psoriasis is the Auspitz triad. This triad can be observed when scraping the surface of the papule with a sharp object. It includes three phenomena:

• the phenomenon of stearin stain - the layering of a large number of silvery-white scales, which are easily separated when scraped;
• a symptom of psoriatic film is an exuded surface made of a spinous layer, which opens after peeling off the lower layers of the horny plates;
• the phenomenon of "blood dew" - exposure of surface capillaries in the form of small blood spots after detachment of the psoriatic film

Stages of psoriasis

The primary element of psoriasisis a single pink or red papule, which is covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.

Psoriasis develops quite slowly; an increase in the number of plaques and their growth can be observed over several months or years. In a small percentage of patients the disease may become more severe. As a rule, this is preceded by severe mental stress or a serious illness requiring massive drug treatment. In this case, the papules are not pale pink, but bright red, with obvious signs of inflammation, swollen, causing itching.

Second stagepsoriasis is characterized by more extensive lesions. At the site of scratching, new papules appear, forming new plaques. As a result of growth, new growths merge with existing ones. Plaques affect symmetrical limbs and form similar patterns and lines.

At the third stagegrowth slows down, changes concern mainly the structure of the rash. The boundaries between healthy and affected skin become clearer. The plaques acquire a bluish tint and begin to actively peel off. In the absence of therapy, they thicken and sometimes form papillomatous nevi (brown) and warty growths (flesh-colored).

There is another stage -disease regression, at this time the symptoms fade away. Peeling goes away, the definition of the border disappears, the skin normalizes and returns to its original state.

Types of psoriasis

• Patchy psoriasis is represented by pale pink, weakly infiltrated spots. Reminds me of toxicoderma.
• Irritable psoriasis - occurs due to exposure of the skin to aggressive environmental factors (sunlight, cold, heat) and irritating medications. The color of the plaque becomes more intense, it increases in size, rises more above the surface of the skin, and a belt in the form of redness forms along the edges.
• Seborrheic psoriasis - often develops in patients with seborrhea. The clinical picture is very similar to seborrheic eczema.
• Exudative psoriasis is quite common. Occurs due to excessive secretion of inflammatory fluid - exudate. It impregnates clusters of scales, turning them into scale-crusts.
• Psoriasis of the palms and soles is represented either by ordinary plaques and papules, or by hyperkeratotic formations similar to calluses and calluses.
• Follicular psoriasis is quite rare. The rash consists of white miliary nodules with a funnel-shaped depression in the center.
• Psoriasis of the mucous membranes is also rare. Occurs on the mucous membrane of the mouth and bladder. Appears as gray-white areas with a red border

Depending on the seasonality of exacerbation, several types of psoriasis are distinguished:

• summer - exacerbation occurs as a result of exposure of the skin to sunlight;
• winter - occurs due to extreme cold that affects the skin.

With non-seasonal psoriasis, there are no periods of remission; the disease occurs year-round.

By area of skin affected:

• limited psoriasis - occupies less than 20% of the body's skin;
• common - more than 20%;
• generalized - the entire skin is affected.

Indeed, there are several subtypes of the disease, and sometimes one patient develops two or three forms at once. Most often - in 80-90% of cases - plaque psoriasis develops.

30% of patients have psoriatic arthritis, in which joints become inflamed along with external manifestations, and 10% have a teardrop form of the disease.

Other, rarer subtypes are also known. All of them are manifested by specific rashes that can occur on any part of the body, and itching, sometimes very painful. But there is good news: according to statistics, in 80% of cases, psoriasis occurs in a mild form, and the lesions cover less than 3% of the body surface.

Forms of psoriasis

1. Pustular form of psoriasis. It is characterized by the presence of plaques with cortical scales, impregnated with exudate. If damaged, for example, as a result of scratching or self-injury in the folds of the body, the rashes become wet. They cause itching and burning and cause physical discomfort. This type of disease is more often diagnosed in people with excess body weight, hypothyroidism and diabetes.
2. Pustular (generalized) form. It has a classic pattern of development, starting with a single vesicle that develops into plaques. The lesions are symmetrical and can affect any part of the body. The severe course of this form of psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of intraepidermal pustules. They can unite, forming "purulent lakes. " The pustules do not open on their own, since they are externally protected by a dense brown crust.
3. Arthropathic form. The most severe form of psoriasis, in which changes first affect small joints, and then large ones, including the spine. This is expressed by pain symptoms and their deformation. Probably joint fusion, loss of mobility. Against the background of this form of psoriasis, other pathologies arise: ankylosis, osteoporosis, which leads to disability.

Complications

Many people know what psoriasis looks like, but the disease, in addition to external manifestations, has a number of complications. They manifest themselves in decreased skin functioning, disturbances in temperature regulation and water-salt balance. The protective function against various bacteria is also reduced.

For example, psoriasis on the hands is only part of the clinical picture. People with this diagnosis often suffer from chronic gastrointestinal and heart diseases.

Severe psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality in general.

The group of complications also includes:

• arthritis of psoriatic joints. Approximately 30% of patients with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis during their lifetime, which is characterized by stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joints. The disease can progress to the point of joint destruction. 80–90% of patients experience psoriatic nail lesions and onycholysis.
• psoriatic erythroderma;
• generalized pustular psoriasis;
• autoimmune diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease);
• erectile dysfunction in men;
• metabolic syndrome, which means a combination of visceral obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.

It should also be noted that the pathologies associated with psoriasis, especially in severe form, include depression, anxiety disorders, including suicidal tendencies.

Psoriatic erythroderma is slightly less common. This condition occurs when the skin is completely damaged. Patients are concerned about itching and burning, excessive peeling of dead tissue, and a strong skin reaction to changes in temperature.

The next most common type is pustular psoriasis. This complication is associated with the addition of a secondary infection - staphylococci and streptococci. Clinically, pustular psoriasis is accompanied by the appearance of pustules - pustules the size of buckwheat grains. Pustules appear in different places. They rise above the surface of the skin, are characterized by rapid growth and a tendency to merge. The existing symptoms are accompanied by high fever and signs of serious intoxication.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

The diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis is carried out by a dermatologist. Initially, an external examination of the affected areas is carried out, and an anamnesis is collected. Sometimes the disease is similar to other diseases, especially in the first stage.

If the hands and nails are affected, it is important to exclude the presence of fungal infections. Seborrheic eczema, pityriasis rosea and papular syphilis should also be excluded.

But I want to say that in most cases, diagnosing psoriasis is not difficult, it does not even require testing, it is enough to examine the skin.

Treatment of psoriasis

Can psoriasis be cured? Yes!

Using the pathogenetic technique, we perfectly put the skin into a state of remission, the skin is cleansed, restored and the person can lead a full life. The treatment regimen for psoriasis is carried out using medicinal acids under the activation of points. The duration of therapy is different for each patient; it may require 6 procedures, or maybe 10. Maintenance therapy is required from 2 to 6 months, everything is individual.

I always warn patients that the treatment of psoriasis is torpid in nature, that is, it proceeds slowly. But we can take long (about a month) breaks between procedures.

Home care is of great importance in the treatment of psoriasis. Homemade cosmetics consist of almost 99% natural ingredients. I spent about two years developing better formulas to be able to support skin with complex dermatoses at home.

Home care regimens for patients with psoriasis are selected individually. But there are also average regimens that are suitable for caring for skin with psoriasis. Check out my social media. networks, there is an ocean of information there.

Recommendations for eliminating symptoms of the disease

I always tell my patients that effective treatment of any disease is possible only with an integrated approach. I would like to note that it is of great importance to take maximum precautions to reduce the risk of exacerbation of the disease. As always, everything is banal and nothing new, but I’ll say it anyway.

Recommended:

• avoid injury to the skin;
• avoid hypothermia;
• give up bad habits;
• avoid stressful situations;
• promptly treat infections and concomitant diseases;
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Patients with psoriasis need to be especially careful in observing personal hygiene requirements.

If you take a shower or bath, then:

• use products without dyes and fragrances;
• choose a mild shampoo;
• avoid using rough sponges, creams, gels with abrasive particles;
• Avoid hard soap, as it dries the skin too much;
• adjust the water temperature to keep it warm;
• stay in the water for no longer than 10-15 minutes;
• use a soft towel, do not rub or scratch the skin.

After a shower and bath, it is recommended to use special body moisturizers. Try to comb your hair as little as possible so as not to irritate the surface of your scalp. The same applies to blow drying. If you cannot do without it, then choose a warm or cold stream.

Choose clothes that are light, made from natural fabrics, and have a loose fit so that they do not restrict movement and do not chafe.

In summer, you should not sunbathe for too long. To protect your skin from UV rays, apply sunscreens with a high SPF factor as part of your proper home care routine.

Prevention of psoriasis

Based on the fact that psoriasis is considered a multifactorial disease with a share of immunopathological, genetic, endocrine, metabolic and, possibly, infectious components, there are no uniform rules for prevention.

People at risk should pay special attention to their health:

• those who have relatives suffering from psoriasis;
• those who frequently and constantly injure the skin;
• has chronic infections;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• endocrine disorders.

Increased nervousness, stress, alcohol abuse, frequent hypothermia and sunburn increases the likelihood of pathology.

If treatment of psoriasis according to WHO standards (hormones, phototherapy) did not help you, come, let’s remove this "snow plume" from your life. After all, without timely and competent treatment, psoriasis begins to negatively affect vital organs and systems.