Psoriasis is a chronic disease with a fluctuating course.This disease affects the human skin and, less commonly, the joints.Pathological exacerbation occurs due to the influence of certain negative factors and is characterized by a worsening of symptoms.The disease then subsides and a period of remission begins, which may also be replaced by exacerbations.
Disease course characteristics
The disease manifests itself differently in different patients.Additionally, symptoms may vary from patient to patient, ranging from small, localized lesions to widespread lesions affecting large areas of skin.
Typically, the disease progresses with age.As time goes by, the remission period becomes shorter and shorter, and the area affected increases significantly.
It’s important to understand what psoriasis looks like in its early stages and how to treat it to prevent further progression of the disease.
disease cause
Most experts believe the disease is a genetically determined pathology.If a parent has a skin disease, the child is more likely to develop psoriasis when exposed to certain factors.
Factors that determine the occurrence of pathology include:
- allergic reactions;
- Serious infectious diseases;
- Decreased immune defense capabilities of the body;
- Endocrine system diseases;
- Nervous system fatigue.
In addition, long-term use of certain medications used to treat chronic conditions may also be an impetus for people who are susceptible to skin disease to develop the disease.
Types and stages of disease
There are two types of psoriasis – type 1 and type 2.The first type of pathology is diagnosed in childhood and adolescence.This form of the disease is genetically determined, and while a child's parents may be healthy, an older generation may have cases of psoriasis.
Generally speaking, this disease can be transmitted for 3-4 generations.The first type of disease affects the skin and hardly affects the joints.
The second type of disease mainly occurs in middle-aged people over 45 years old.A characteristic feature of this disease is joint damage.
The disease develops slowly.There are 4 stages in the development of psoriasis:
- Early stage (initial stage of psoriasis);
- progress;
- fixed;
- fall back.
The disease's favorite sites are the elbows, head, and trunk.Rarely, severe cases of the disease can affect the flexor muscles of the upper and lower limbs.
Early stage of disease
In the early stages of psoriasis, there are symptoms and signs of allergic skin reactions.The onset is sudden and a small red rash appears on the skin.In childhood, the signs and symptoms of psoriasis are often confused with manifestations of a predisposition or food allergic reaction, making prompt treatment difficult.
In young children, the first signs of psoriasis may appear on areas prone to friction when wearing clothes, while in adults the first signs of the disease appear on the hands or body.
Over time, papules (pimples in psoriasis) clump together to form flaky plaques.Islands of disease may be covered with gray scales that painlessly separate from the rash.All of this is accompanied by swelling and irritation of the epidermis.
Many people are interested in whether it is itchy in the early stages of psoriasis and how to recognize the first symptoms of skin psoriasis.The following signs will help identify early stage psoriasis:
- After scraping off the rash, the plaques turn white and the scales fall off easily;
- If scratching continues, reddish smooth spots ("heat films") will form on the plaque;
- If you continue to scratch the resulting stain, it will become covered in small droplets of blood due to needle bleeding.
The techniques described above are used to examine patients and help identify psoriasis in its early stages.
The initial form of psoriasis can last up to a month.In some cases, exudate may be released at the site of plaque formation.The wound is covered by a layer of crusty skin and becomes moist underneath due to the release of fluid.The course may be complicated by an increase in infection and the development of an extensive inflammatory process.
Arthropathic form of the disease
Arthropathic psoriasis is diagnosed if the disease affects the hands, palms, and areas between the fingers.This form is considered the most severe because the skin becomes inflamed and breaks down over time.The potential for joint damage is high, leading to the development of arthritis.This can lead to incapacity and disability for the patient.
This disease is dangerous because it affects the nail plate, causing it to separate from the finger.The arthropathic form of the disease is very difficult to treat and is characterized by frequent exacerbations.As the skin on the hands becomes inflamed and swollen, patients experience severe discomfort at work and at home, as any movement of the hands causes the pain to worsen.
drug treatment
Unfortunately, doctors cannot give a definite answer to the question of whether psoriasis can be cured in its early stages.However, prompt treatment will eliminate the acute phase of the disease and allow the patient to return to a normal life.
If initial psoriasis is diagnosed, treatment options can only be chosen by a dermatologist after all examinations.Self-treatment without consulting a specialist may not bring the desired results and will only worsen the course of the disease.
Whether psoriasis can be cured in its early stages depends largely on the extent of the damage and the location of the plaques.
Treat initial forms of psoriasis using the following methods:
- Ointments for topical skin treatment;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physical therapy methods;
- dietary modification;
- Immunomodulators.
Doctors choose ointments to treat the affected skin based on the extent of the damage.Usually, preparations based on tar or grease are used.Extensive skin lesions may be treated with ointments containing corticosteroids.This type of medication has many side effects and is therefore used only in severe cases.The course of treatment should not be long and should be replaced with a milder preparation after the acute symptoms are relieved.
If psoriasis is diagnosed in its early stages, only your doctor can tell you how to treat the disease.In some cases, good results can be observed with the use of physical therapy (paraffin baths or ultraviolet irradiation).
For early stages of psoriasis, you should ask your doctor for permission to treat it at home.After understanding the manifestations of psoriasis in its initial stages, it is necessary not to postpone seeing a specialist, since this disease progresses very quickly.
The condition may suddenly worsen; in this case, folk remedies will help relieve the patient's condition.To do this, add honey, herbs (chamomile, calendula) and natural oils to the medicinal bath.The goal of this treatment is to reduce itching and swelling, but it must be used in conjunction with medications recommended by your doctor.
As for whether psoriasis can be cured in its early stages and whether it can be cured in early childhood, the answer can only be given by the attending physician based on the characteristics of the patient's condition.