Psoriasis is one of the most common skin diseases; every one percent of residents suffer from it.
Psoriasis is a developmental disease, and several factors are immediately important: from genetic predisposition (relative psoriasis) to neurological, endocrine, immune system, and other factors.
the reason
The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood.
The principle of the disease mechanism is to destroy the division of skin cells, thereby causing an autoimmune response (autoimmune response-occurs in the body and does not depend on external threats).
The top layer of the skin (the epidermis) is mainly composed of keratinocytes-cells that produce keratin. Keratin is a protein whose properties make it possible to perform the protective function of the skin. Keratinocytes form in the deep layers of the epidermis and slowly move to the surface, where they mature and acquire new characteristics during the movement.
At the end of its "maturation", keratinocytes form a stratum corneum on the surface of the skin. Then, the keratinocytes die and peel off from the living body, so the life of the keratinocytes ends. This will ensure continuous skin renewal.
The normal path of keratinocytes from the deep layer to the surface takes one month. The life span of psoriasis is shortened to a few days, which leads to the appearance of scaly, psoriasis foci, because the skin does not have time to clear the keratinocytes.
When they appear, psoriatic plaques are usually accompanied by itching and redness. This indicates that an autoimmune reaction has occurred in the deep layers of the skin, causing swelling of the thick layer of skin (dermis). The dermis contains blood and lymph vessels.
It is not certain why the keratinocyte formation process is accelerated, but genetic factors are known to play an important role.
The occurrence of common psoriasis can be attributed to:
- Mental trauma and persistent stress state;
- Damage the skin;
- infectious disease;
- Take some drugs;
- hormone imbalance;
- Allergic reactions (typical allergens: citrus fruits, eggs, chocolate);
- Alcoholism;
- climate change.
The psoriasis triad is a typical symptom of the disease that occurs when the skin is scraped.
Stearin stain(The peeling of the skin increases after scraping, making the surface of the pimples resemble the crushed droplets of stearin).
Thermal film(Appearance after completely removing scales on wet, thin, shiny, and translucent surfaces).
Precise bleeding(The appearance that the water droplets do not merge with each other).
What to do with psoriasis skin?
In psoriasis, the structure of the skin is destroyed, the epidermis becomes thinner, the keratinization process (the accumulation of keratin) of the skin is destroyed, and certain layers of the normal epidermis disappear. In the next stage of the disease, clusters of cells responsible for inflammation are found in the protective superficial stratum corneum of the epidermis and the hypokeratosis area surrounding the dilated blood vessels of the skin.
Characteristic patches and scales appear on the surface of the skin.
Psoriasis is not only a common disease, but also has many manifestations, even disguised as other diseases.
Location of psoriasis:
- Elbows and knees;
- Bone and waist;
- Scalp (seborrheic psoriasis);
- The curved surface and folds of the skin: the inner surface of the elbow and knee joints, the groin and armpits, the area under the breast (psoriasis inversion);
- Palm and foot surface (palm plant psoriasis);
- Nail plate psoriasis.
Common symptoms of psoriasis
The main symptoms of psoriasis are:
- Psoriasis plaques;
- The tightness of the affected skin area;
- Itching.
Symptoms of psoriasis:
- Exudative psoriasis (the affected area of the skin will peel off and get wet, and a yellow crusty will form on the surface of the rash);
- Marginal psoriasis (more common in children, the focus is red, with slight peeling, sometimes wet can be confused with diaper rash);
- Old psoriasis (it is characterized by large plaques that will not disappear for a long time);
- Rheumatoid psoriasis (another form of chronic psoriasis, characterized by conical plaques);
- Laryngeal psoriasis (a large rash with small papules).
Types of psoriasis
- Ordinary psoriasis (vulgar, plaque);
- Whole body psoriasis (widely spread, in postal form);
- Psoriasis is water droplets (determined by the type of rash);
- Arthropathic psoriasis (with joint damage);
- Other types of psoriasis (seborrheic and other).
Psoriasis vulgaris is the most common form of the disease.
Psoriasis starts with the appearance of a rash, in a typical place: usually few on the elbows and knees. In addition, the characteristic location of the rash is the area of the scalp and trunk. Usually, there is a clear link between the appearance of the rash and the effect of the stimulus.
The predisposing factors for psoriasis may be stress, skin trauma, recent infectious diseases and frequent alcohol consumption.
Usually, the exacerbation of this disease occurs in the cold season-this is the winter type of psoriasis. The summer type is even rarer. Now notice the mixed form of psoriasis. Over time, the number of rashes will increase. They form characteristic psoriasis plaques. Observed Kebner phenomenon-a new plaque appeared at the site of the skin trauma. Usually, the patient's plaque remains on the skin even if it does not get worse.
The disease spreads periodically:
- Progressive phase (increased number of rashes);
- Fixed period (no new rash);
- Fading period (the rash subsides and appears on the skin area without the appearance of pigment).
Psoriasis vulgaris, photo
Diagnostic procedure
When diagnosing psoriasis, a detailed examination of the skin is first required.
Thin skin, bleeding, and loose plaques are signs of psoriasis. When these symptoms appear, doctors will take a variety of diagnostic measures to rule out other events with similar manifestations. In order to make the final diagnosis, blood tests, smears, and skin biopsy are required. If the joints are affected, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray examination are required to identify the lesion.
Psoriasis vulgaris, treatment
Psoriasis is a systemic disease with skin manifestations, so complex treatment methods are required: local treatment and systemic treatment. The disease is chronic, and the purpose of treatment is to reduce the number and severity of exacerbations and achieve acceptable skin conditions for patients.
In the development stage of psoriasis, all invasive procedures are cancelled: UV exposure, bathing. It is important for patients with psoriasis to handle the skin carefully and not to damage the skin, so as not to aggravate the condition and avoid the appearance of new plaques.
Psoriasis diet
Psoriasis is usually accompanied by liver disease. Therefore, it is very important to avoid alcohol, fat, fried and smoked foods. It is also important to consume carbohydrates in moderation, as this will change the pH of the skin and increase the risk of infection in the rash.
prevention
Preventing psoriasis is about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This helps prevent the occurrence of other diseases, because the body's immune system can resist stress and can resist external threats.
Measures to prevent psoriasis include:
- Proper skin care;
- Relaxing massage to improve blood circulation;
- Proper nutrition, it is recommended to avoid allergic foods, and exclude (limit) the intake of spicy, fatty, pickled, smoked, salty foods and citrus fruits;
- Dairy plant diet;
- Enough water in the body;
- Eliminate tobacco, alcohol and other bad habits;
- Increased physical activity;
- Walk in the open air
- Avoid stressful situations;
- Take vitamins in groups A, B, C, D, and E;
- Choose loose-fitting clothes made of natural materials that will not wear out and cause no irritation.
Treatment of psoriasis
Systemic treatment of psoriasis aims to reduce the proliferation of skin epithelial cells and stabilize the keratinization of skin cells and cell membranes. For this purpose, preparations based on vitamin A (retinoids), cytostatics are used. In the most modern treatment methods, so-called biological agents are used to neutralize substances that cause inflammation.
Over the years, UFOs have been used-treated with group B ultraviolet rays (on a tanning bed, group A ultraviolet rays), which can reduce inflammation and promote the death of cell changes. PUVA therapy uses ultraviolet rays and a special substance at the same time, which can increase the sensitivity of the skin to it.
Effective treatments for psoriasis
Local treatment is as important as systemic treatment. It helps reduce skin inflammation. Drugs are prescribed according to the stage of psoriasis.
Progressive stage
- Exfoliating ointments and lotions;
- Calcitriol anti-inflammatory hormone ointment;
- Emollients can relieve itching and dry skin.
Fixed stage
- UVB therapy;
- Concentrated exfoliating ointment;
- Emollients can restore the skin and reduce dryness.
Regression phase
- Concentrated exfoliating ointment;
- Emollients can restore the skin and reduce dryness.
Psoriasis Cream
Creams and ointments for psoriasis have different uses and are used at different stages of the disease; hormone anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are used to stop the inflammatory process in the skin. There are several hormone drugs. They have different absorption capacities and different activities. When using it in children, they try to avoid using hormone drugs on the face and neck area, skin folds-where the skin is thinner. Topical preparations based on calcipotriol (a vitamin D derivative) also have anti-inflammatory effects. This is the next generation drug. They are currently not used during pregnancy and lactation.
Salicylic acid ointment and salicylic acid lotion are designed to remove severely flaking skin. Salicylic acid not only has an exfoliating effect, but also improves the efficacy of topical hormonal drugs. In the steady-state and degenerative phases, when the inflammatory response becomes less active, salicylic acid drugs will be used in higher concentrations.
During the entire treatment process, and used together with ultraviolet radiation, it can be used to restore skin structure and eliminate dry skin methods to reduce skin itching. Once the outbreak disappears, these products will help maintain the protective properties of the skin and reduce the risk of new outbreaks.
Effective cream for psoriasis
Modern dry skin care and auxiliary methods are based on the epidermis being filled with moisture and are called corneal therapy (derived from the "cornea"-the cornea or stratum corneum of the epidermis).
The purpose of corneal therapy is to restore the stratum corneum of the epidermis and its protective functions, thereby making it possible to improve the condition of the entire skin, and the work of the founder of corneal therapy Albert Kligman (Albert Kligman) creates special means-Emollients become possible.
How do emollients work?
Within 1 hour after applying the emollient: -The skin condition is improved because the emollient "locks up" the moisture.
6 hours after applying emollients: -The structure of the skin is restored due to the content of special restorative natural lipids (ceramide and other useful fats).
24 hours after applying the emollient: -The skin condition has been clinically improved (from the start of application to 24 hours) as the moisturizing ingredients penetrate into the deep layer of the epidermis and restore the surface of the skin.