Psoriasis: symptoms, treatment and prevention

psoriasis-One of the most common diseases, its incidence in the population is increasing every year. Moreover, if we think that people of absolutely all ages are susceptible to this pathology, and its simple form is quickly enough to transform into more complex diseases, then the problem of correct treatment and prevention is indeed very urgent.

According to statistics, every 30 residents on the planet suffer from this disease to a different degree or degree. What to do with those who suffer from psoriasis? What drugs and folk remedies can be treated? How to arrange your meals correctly? Finally, let us make all the points.

Psoriasis and its causes

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, the cause of which is not yet clear-despite extensive research in this field, the exact cause is still unclear. It is believed that this pathology is the result of genetically determined changes in the immune system, which results in chronic inflammation of the skin. However, it does not rule out its multifactorial nature-in other words, its participation, heredity, and the influence of the external environment.

It’s worth noting that according to scientists, the triggers of different age groups are also very different: for example, if various types of bacterial infections (especially streptococcal infections) are considered to be triggers for children, then for adults, stress stimulationAnd nicotine abuse is the most important, alcohol, obesity and the use of certain drugs (for example, adrenergic blockers) are crucial.

It is impossible to completely cure psoriasis, but modern medicine is quite capable of significantly reducing the disease process and maintaining long-term remission of the patient.

There are several theories to explain the onset of psoriasis:

• Infectious and parasitic;
• Neurogenic
• endocrine;
• Metabolism;
• Immunological
• Genetic;
• Molecular imitation theory.

As in many other situations, the cause of skin problems should be found in the intestines. Its length ranges from 4 to 6 meters and the inner surface is covered with fluff. The total area of fluff is comparable to the size of a tennis court-this allows the absorption process to proceed more efficiently. Interestingly, the mucosal cells of the small intestine are completely renewed every 3-5 days. In addition, as many as 70% of human immune cells are concentrated here. Therefore, one of the most common causes of psoriasis is considered to be leaky gut syndrome (LEPS).

The deviation from the normal function of the intestinal mucosa is full of malabsorption, which violates the absorption of basic nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals). In addition, the negative effects of toxins and allergens on the human body increase: in this case, they enter the blood more easily. The direct link between psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease has been proven in many studies.

Scientists’ other work has confirmed that psoriasis patients’ skin will form a special flora, which is significantly different from the microbiota of healthy skin.

In the area of psoriatic skin lesions, a large number of bacteria gather together, and its stability is significantly lower than that of normal skin-especially the colonization of Staphylococcus aureus is observed, which has a great negative impact on the course of the inflammatory process of Staphylococcus aureus.

Types of psoriasis

1. Plaque psoriasis. . . In 90% of cases, dermatologists will face this special form of disease, also known as simple or common disease. First, separate small areas appear on the skin, above the level of healthy dermis. These inflamed areas are called psoriatic plaques. They gradually grow and merge with neighboring spots as a whole.
2. Psoriasis reversed.This diagnosis is suitable for patients who have smooth red spots in the skin folds and inside the folds (in the groin area, inner thighs, under the breasts). Unlike simple psoriasis, the inflamed lesions are hardly covered by scales, but due to their location and constant friction, they cause severe discomfort to the patient. In addition, there is a risk of re-infection due to streptococcus or fungi, because the high humidity and high temperature in the local location create ideal conditions for the reproduction of microorganisms.
3. Intestinal psoriasis.The name of this type of disease comes from the shape of the ground. The lesions are in the form of droplets and are higher than the level of healthy skin. As we mentioned earlier, the common cause of this psoriasis is a previous streptococcal infection. The fact is that in the process of fighting infection, the patient's immunity is severely weakened-his resources are not unlimited, and like all living things, recovery also takes time-in this context, autoimmune diseases are active.
4. Pustular psoriasis.It is considered the most severe form, accompanied by the formation of blisters filled with transparent liquid. Inflammation of the skin begins around the lesion with swelling and thickening. The possibility of secondary exacerbations is high, and the blisters are filled with pus. The local lesions of pustular psoriasis are on the arms and legs. In difficult situations, blisters are everywhere on the body, they grow rapidly, and there is a danger of infecting the entire skin surface.

5. Psoriasis on the nails.This disease changes the appearance and structure of the nail plates on the hands and feet. The nails thicken, lose their natural color, and give off an unpleasant smell. The skin around the nail bed thickens, forming thick ridges. In advanced cases, the nails may disappear and not grow up later.
6. Psoriatic arthritis. In this case, the disease affects the joints and connective tissues. Most commonly, inflammation affects the distal phalanx of the limbs. There is psoriatic mastitis-finger swelling. The hip and knee joints are also devastatingly affected by ongoing diseases. In many cases, people with disabilities will lose the ability to move independently.
7. Psoriasis erythroderma.Flaky spots will appear on the skin, and peeling of the affected layer will be observed. Due to the constant itching and swelling, the patient will experience extreme discomfort. In most cases, this diagnosis is made for patients who have been treated for simple psoriasis but have not yet completed the treatment or changed their medications.

Disease symptoms

The first manifestation of psoriasis is a small rash on the skin. Magnolias grow rapidly, growing to spots with a diameter of 4 to 8 cm, they become more and more, and dry scales are formed on the surface. In the late stage, the spots will merge with each other, and the lesion will affect most areas of the body. The round shape of psoriasis papules has clear borders, red or bright pink and silvery white scales, which can be distinguished from other skin diseases. They first appear in those areas of the skin, and their integrity is destroyed by abrasions, wounds, frostbite, and continuous friction. There are three characteristic signs that confirm the development of psoriasis:

1. Stearic spot phenomenon-Dry particles are easily separated from the affected area, exposing an area that looks like a drop of wax or sterol.
2. Psoriasis phenomenon(Terminal) Movie. Further cleaning of the pimples from the balance will allow you to see a transparent and moist film that is inflamed under the skin.
3. Ospitz phenomenon. . . the removal of the end film will result in the smallest drop of blood on the stained surface.

This triad of psoriasis is unique-its existence can make the correct diagnosis without a doubt. Nevertheless, different parts of the body also have their own characteristics of disease manifestations.

• The effect of psoriasis on the body.The back, neck, abdomen, thighs and calves are most commonly affected by psoriasis. Small papules, drop-shaped, gradually growing, rising above the surface of the skin. This disease is usually diagnosed in people with staphylococcal infections.

• Psoriasis on the hands.The most common places where psoriasis papules appear on the hands are the elbows and the interdigital spaces, and what is usually observed is in the form of plaques, in which individual small fragments merge into a single lesion covered with dry scales. The possibility of forearm involvement is much less.
• Psoriasis on the legs. The disease begins with a single rash in the knee area. The inflamed area will be severely peeling and itchy, disturbing the patient, and its size will rapidly increase and merge with the neighboring area.
• Put it on the palms and feet.In most cases, simultaneous failures of the palms and feet are recorded, but in some patients, the disease affects the pure upper or lower extremity stratum corneum. Due to the growth of psoriasis papules, the skin thickens, thickens and breaks further.
• Scalp psoriasis.First, the rash appears on the forehead, back of the head and behind the ears. First, the patient himself will notice the formation of a single scale, which merges with nearby scales and affects the entire scalp over time. The pimples are very itchy, so they will constantly scratch the skin-the resulting wounds and cracks are likely to be the entrance to the infection. The dry particles are separated from the destructive formation, first small, somewhat similar to dandruff, and then larger flakes.

• On the face, ears, neck.The localization of psoriasis papules on the face is an exception in the usual clinical situation. In rare cases, this does happen, and the disease affects the area around the eyes and eyelids, as well as the cheeks and tongue. The skin on the neck spreads quickly to the back or head. The ear is where seborrheic psoriasis develops. Papules can appear on the inside and outside of the cartilage shell. When diagnosing, it is important not to confuse the disease with seborrheic eczema with similar symptoms.
• On the nails.There are three options for the initial manifestations of psoriasis on the nail plate. The first is the appearance of small dot-like depressions. The second is the thickening of the nail, its natural color becomes gray or yellow. With the further development of nail psoriasis, the plates fall off and the upper particles are easily separated. Finally, the third point is the deformation of the nail, which is accompanied by a decrease in the smoothness of the steel plate and the appearance of recessed areas.

• Symptoms of psoriasis in children.In childhood, the disease develops in a different way: the main part of the red scaly rash is the skin folds: the groin (at the elbow) and the pop crease on the neck. Papuas often itches, and the child is constantly tortured and becomes irritable. Generally, all clinical variants observed in children are similar to those observed in adults. The difference only concerns the presentation, the location of the pathological process and the course of the disease itself.

The four stages of psoriasis

According to the differences in symptoms, degree and duration of skin lesions, clinical dermatology can distinguish the three stages of the course of psoriasis. However, there is a view that the initial stage must be considered as another mature stage of disease development.

1. In the early days.The first sign of psoriasis skin lesions is a small rash. Where they appear may be different and depend on the type of disease. The primary papules are no more than 3 mm in size, painted light pink, and replaced by gray-white flowers 3-4 days later-forming dead dander on the spot. This process is accompanied by itching and burning, and general health deteriorates. Usually, the initial stage of plaque formation takes up to three weeks, when a person has the opportunity to slow down the development of the pathology.
2. progress.At this stage, the disease affects most areas of the skin: for example, normal psoriasis will form plaques, and other forms of macula are characteristic of them. As the disease progresses, the spots merge with each other and are covered with gray scales. It is determined that the symptom of the progressive stage is the Kobner phenomenon (isomorphic reaction). Any damage to the skin after a period of time is accompanied by the appearance of a psoriasis rash. Another confirmation that the disease is actively developing is the appearance of dew-like blood drops after removing the plaque. The duration of this phase depends on the type of lesion. On average, this takes two weeks to two months.
3. Fixed stage.During this period, thick off-white or gray crusts formed. The pink rims disappeared. The skin becomes rough, and dry particles continue to fall off it. The itching and burning sensation became less annoying, but it did not disappear completely. No new pimples are formed. This stage may be very long.
4. Return stage.The final stage of disease development, during which plaques are gradually reduced and absorbed. Itching is no longer bothersome. Voronov’s symptoms are obvious signs of regression, with pimples surrounding the pimples. The fading of spots appears from the center to the periphery, and the result is the formation of weird patterns on the skin. At the end of the regression period, only areas with slightly different skin shades and healthy areas will be reminiscent of psoriasis. In the case of psoriasis, there is no need to talk about complete recovery. The end of the remission phase indicates that the cycle of the disease is over and you can return at any time. In order to extend the remission time, it is necessary to pay attention to health: avoid provocative factors, follow eating habits, and be observed by a dermatologist.

Psoriasis Checkup Plan

1. Routine clinical analysis of blood.
2. Study the content of vitamin D, B12, and folic acid in the blood.
3. ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, blood lipids and cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, insulin, total protein in blood test.
4. Rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, uric acid, ASLO in the blood.
5. Ferritin, transferrin, and serum iron are indicators of anemia (especially chronic diseases).
6. Thyroid plate: TSH, T4 SV, TK SV.
7. Common procedure.
8. According to Osipov's KhMS.
9. Ultrasound examination of abdominal organs.

Traditional treatments for psoriasis

Early treatment.

The sooner people who find signs of skin diseases go to see a doctor, the more opportunities they have to take timely measures to prevent the rapid development of the disease and its transformation into a chronic form-therefore, the incidence of skin diseases will be greatly improved. The overall standard of living.

Salicylic acid ointment is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines during the onset of the disease. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, and has a keratinizing effect, so it can remove keratinized particles in plaques. To reduce itching, naphthalene cream is also used.

Treatment in the progressive stage.

At this stage, a comprehensive treatment method is needed, and only experienced experts can provide it. Treatment aims to relieve symptoms and eliminate toxins from the body. In order to normalize the metabolic process, intramuscular injections of calcium gluconate are often required. Sodium thiosulfate can relieve inflammation and eliminate the signs of poisoning.

In order to moisturize the inflamed skin, a special cream and salicylic acid ointment can be used. The use of tar-containing drugs is prohibited in the advanced stage: they act as a stimulus and increase the suffering of the patient.

When the intensity of inflammation decreases, physical therapy procedures can be performed. Patients with psoriasis exhibited UV exposure, PUVA treatment and paraffin wax application. There is no need to use corticosteroids and cytostatics unnecessarily. These powerful drugs are only needed in difficult and advanced cases.

In order to reduce the manifestations of allergies, antihistamines were prescribed and tranquilizers were prescribed to relieve nervousness. Diuretics help reduce inflamed skin swelling and remove toxins from the body.

Fixed therapy.

At this stage, the inflammation disappears and the plaque is covered by dry crust. Therefore, funds are needed to relieve the discomfort caused by the appearance of scales. These are tar shampoos, oil-based emulsions.

In many patients, ultraviolet radiation and PUVA technology have good results. If there is no improvement, the doctor will prescribe cytostatics.

Treatment at the return stage.

In the final stage of the disease cycle, the treatment method needs to be continuously corrected according to the patient's current condition. Prevention is replacing active treatment measures.

Patients usually receive advice about changing their diet and lifestyle. In order to avoid the recurrence of skin lesions, it is necessary to avoid the stressful conditions that cause the formation of psoriasis plaques.

Usually, the doctor will give the patient the following advice:

• Rethink lifestyle: Adjust your diet, get enough sleep, and exercise more;
• Ensure normal vitamin levelsD, iron, B vitamins, protein in the body;
• Normalize the digestive tract: Exclude low acidity, bile, SIBO and CIGR (excessive bacterial syndrome, and corresponding fungal growth syndrome) outflow;
• Get rid of the focus of chronic infection: Clean the mouth and receive treatment from an otolaryngologist;
• Dealing with concomitant somatic pathology: Hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, etc.

The traditional way to get rid of psoriasis

• In the early days.At the first signs of skin lesions, juniper and lavender oils are effective. They can soothe the irritated areas of the dermis, promote the healing of minor injuries, and reduce the feeling of tightness. Add a few drops of oil to a neutral cream, such as a child, and apply it to the rash that appears. Another popular method of dealing with the initial manifestations of psoriasis is to use 3% hydrogen peroxide. After consulting a dermatologist, any measure can be taken, even if it seems the most harmless at first glance. Changes in eating habits and avoiding unhealthy foods and alcohol are also common recommendations of traditional healers.

• Progressive stage.During the rapid development of the disease, celandine is injected into the therapeutic oil and hydrogen peroxide. To prepare it, you will need fresh or dried plant stems and brine. Alcohol tinctures are contraindicated, as they may worsen the condition of the affected skin. Celandine must be adhered to for at least a few hours and then treated with birch tar before applying the treatment solution to the plaque.
• Fixed stage.At the stage of stopping the formation of new papules, you can use proven folk methods that will never harm the patient. These measures include the use of sulfuric acid ointment and salicylic acid solution.
• Return stage.In the final stage of the disease course, hirudotherapy (water ech therapy) is often used. Although this method has not been officially recognized by traditional medicine, many experts do not rule out its effectiveness. Depending on the patient's health, the process will be carried out within 3 to 10 days.

Preventing psoriasis: how to prevent the development of the disease

• skin care.In order to minimize the possibility of psoriasis damage due to genetic predispositions, simple methods to maintain skin health will help: water and hardening procedures (bath in sea water, herbal extracts and salt baths, contrastShower, soak in cool water) air, etc. ); use soft sponges and avoid hard towels that can damage the skin; use natural detergents without corrosive chemicals
• Ultraviolet rays.Several studies have proven that sun exposure is beneficial to skin prone to psoriatic plaques. The right amount of ultraviolet light helps accelerate tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation. You should not abuse sunbathing: too much light can exacerbate the disease.

• clothing.Synthetic fibers, tight-fitting styles, plenty of belts and fasteners-all these are contraindications for patients with psoriasis, even in remission. Clothes should be natural, anti-allergic, loose, and not cause any inconvenience, so as not to cause the recurrence of obvious symptoms. For aesthetic reasons, dark colors should be avoided; the silver-white scales on light-colored clothing are less noticeable.
• InjuredFor psoriasis patients, any small wounds, scratches, abrasions can lead to progressive recovery and secondary skin infections. They should be extra careful to avoid injury.
• Cosmetics and household products.Not all remedies are suitable for maintaining the cleanliness of people with such diagnoses. When choosing shower gels, soaps, and shampoos, it is important to pay attention to their ingredients and give priority to those that contain natural ingredients. It is best to buy treatment series care products sold in pharmacies. It is absolutely forbidden to use scrubs with solid particles: they can start the disease process again because of the least damage to the skin. Household chemicals should also be selected based on health and safety, and do not use corrosive cleaning powders based on chlorine and alkali. Wear gloves when cleaning to avoid negative effects on the hand skin.
• Vitamin therapy.Everyone should maintain a balance of vitamins, especially for people with chronic dermatitis. Complex preparations can keep the body in good condition, help it resist viruses and prevent metabolic abnormalities.

psoriasis-This is not a death sentence, but a very serious reason to reconsider the rules of your previous life. Your allies in tame disease should be qualified professionals-dermatologists, nutritionists, therapists. With their help and through targeted treatments, you can still learn to live a comfortable life despite your diagnosis.