Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, quiescent, and resolution.Such division will aid in diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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Psoriasis is a hereditary disease.Approximately 10% of the population has characteristic DNA abnormalities, of which only 2% show signs of skin dysfunction.
The appearance of pathology is caused by:
- severe emotional stress;
- Injuried;
- Alcoholism, smoking;
- Unbalanced diet;
- Infectious diseases and other diseases;
- certain medications;
- endocrine diseases;
- Have allergic tendencies;
The first signs of the disease appear due to an erroneous reaction of the immune system, which treats the epidermal tissue as a foreign element.Let’s look at the stages, symptoms, and treatment options of psoriasis.
Early stages of psoriasis
The first flag isAppearance of papules(papules).The shape is round and the color is light red or pink.In the lower extremities, a bluish appearance may occur due to slow blood flow.The papule structure is very small, only the size of a pinhead.
The early stages are characterized bymany papules, with clear boundaries.White scales also appear.They detach easily from the surface when touched.Papules can coalesce into one, forming larger units.
During early remission, the rash becomes pale.Partial discoloration of the affected skin area.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergies or constitutions.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that help diagnose psoriasis:
- When scratched, the surface of the plaque will turn white, like a drop of crushed stearin, and the scales will fall off;
- If you continue to scrape away the stain and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- Small droplets of blood will appear when scratched.
Progressive stages of psoriasis
In the progressive stages of psoriasis, the following symptoms may occur:
- The papules become red and continue to be covered with white scales.They peel off easily, revealing a smooth layer of red skin underneath.When damaged, blood appears.
- During exacerbations, papular components grow and coalesce.They are significantly different from healthy areas of skin.
- Increased itching.But it disappears when the process enters a stable phase.Pain and compulsive itching can interfere with sleep and daily activities.If you just scratch the lid, damage and new patches will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of an injury is Koebner's syndrome.The itching symptoms gradually increased and spread throughout the trunk, limbs, and head.
- The edges of the plaques are not scaly; they are hyperemic, indicating that the inflammatory process is still ongoing.
as a result of
Psoriasis can have a negative impact on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).If left untreated, severe joint pain and deformity can occur.
psoriasis quiescent phase
The main characteristic of the quiescent phase of psoriasis is the cessation of the appearance of new elements.Positive change comes with appropriate treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- Itching disappears;
- No injuries (Kobner's symptoms resolved);
- Skin peeling may increase.
All spots stop developing.If, in the progressive stage, the borders of the plaques are free of scale, then in the quiescent stage, the entire inflamed skin surface will flake and take on the typical psoriasis appearance.
Scaling is characteristic of the final stages of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales cannot keep up with the gradual growth of the plaque and cannot completely cover the plaque.Occurs half of the timepseudoatrophic corolla.
pseudoatrophic corolla
It looks like a light-colored edge around the element, and its structure is reminiscent of rough tissue paper, consisting of cuticles and no more than two millimeters wide.
psoriasis regression stages
With the resolving phase of psoriasis, the psoriasis cycle ends.Features:
- The deterioration process stops and inflammation disappears;
- The plaque gradually fades;
- The peeling stops and the rash becomes partially flat;
- The rash turns pale pink and gradually changes color;
- Pimples may remain on the arms and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy of the affected area.Areas of temporary hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation may appear at the site of the rash.
Remission occurred after complex treatment.The time to relief varies from person to person..The disease can have an incubation period that lasts for months or even years.Exacerbations are more common in winter, with the only exception being several forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of different stages of psoriasis
Treatment for any form of psoriasis includes general and topical treatments, physical therapy methods, and dietary modifications.In the early stages of treatment it is necessary:
- break bad habits;
- Strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- Use ointments containing vitamins A, D3, and hormones;
- use of systemic and sedative medications;
- Get UV light treatment.
If the plaque is on the head, doctors may prescribe shampoos containing tar, zinc sulfide, and selenium sulfide.
All products must be used as prescribed by your doctor.Long-term use of medications, especially tar, can cause skin irritation.Product should be replaced every 7 days.
Early treatment of psoriasis
The effectiveness of early treatment measures depends on when the patient sees a doctor and begins treatment.
In most cases, early treatment helps prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment.This is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medication that has beneficial effects on the affected skin area.Utilizing keratolytic action, the ointment will remove plaques from the keratinized portion of the epidermis.Moth ball ointment helps relieve itching.
The following medications are usually prescribed:
- Based on tar;
- Based on solid oil;
- Based on petroleum.
Not so long ago, there were drops and oils for treating psoriasis.This product soothes, moisturizes, prevents dryness and reduces puffiness.The drug contains ingredients such as ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, and pumpkin oil, which help reduce the number and number of plaques and make the skin better moisturized.It is recommended to use it in combination with other drugs after consulting a specialist.
Treatment of advanced psoriasis
Treatment must be comprehensive and careful.The clinical manifestations are quite serious; treatment can only be trusted to experts.Special medications are given intravenously and intramuscularly to help patients.Adsorbents help remove toxins from the body.
Salicylic acid ointments and softening lotions can relieve symptoms.They hydrate and reduce inflammation.Medications containing tar or other irritating ingredients should not be used during an exacerbation.
Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, UV irradiation, paraffin baths) are best performed during the anti-inflammatory period.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are used only if the procedure is particularly complex.
Antihistamines (reduce the occurrence of allergic reactions), sedatives (sedation), anti-inflammatory drugs, keratolytics (softening), diuretics (relieve swelling, eliminate toxins) are prescribed.
Treatment of quiescent psoriasis
Patients will need slight adjustments to their treatment.Tar-containing shampoos, oil-containing lotions, and calcipotriol are often prescribed.Systemic treatment is used when the disease affects a large area of skin.UV irradiation and PUVA technology are widely used.
If that doesn't work, some cytostatics can be used.In severe cases, patients are prescribed immunosuppressants, cytolytic agents.
Treatment of degenerative stage psoriasis
Treatment of psoriasis in its final stages must be comprehensive and tailored by a specialist.Treatments are gradually being withdrawn and replaced by preventive measures.Each stage of treatment is carefully carried out; in no case should the rash be damaged.
It is especially important to adhere to strict dietary and lifestyle corrections.Stress can be a powerful predisposing factor, significantly exacerbating the disease during its onset.
In conjunction with medical treatment, hand rashes can be treated with sea salt baths or by mixing baby cream with thread powder and lubricating the patches with this mixture.
additional therapy
People with psoriasis are deficient in vitamins, which affect the regulation of metabolic processes and have blood-purifying, calming and restorative effects.
Multivitamins should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid, etc.They can be administered orally, intramuscularly, or via a dropper.
The division of pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that helps experts correctly identify one or another stage, facilitating diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed and systematic preventive measures are taken, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and does not prevent a person from living a fulfilling life.