To start, it is worth understanding what psoriasis is and what are the causes of this disease.Psoriasis is a non -infectious chronic skin disease, which is characterized by the eruption of red yellow nodules and spots with a coat on the body.Most often, psoriasis is recorded in young people aged 18 to 45, but there are cases of psoriasis in children and the elderly.The essence of the disease is that, for the unknown reason, the epidermis cells begin to share in an accelerated way, forming thickening of the skin and additional growth under these places of capillaries.
This disease accompanies humanity not a hundred years, and perhaps from the moment of its appearance.Researchers find the remains of mummified ancient people who were sick with psoriasis.In the Middle Ages, this disease was often confused with leprosy, and only in the middle of the 19th century.Psoriasis has been defined as a distinct disease - from that moment, the scientific study of the disease began.Surprisingly, to date, scientists cannot entirely discover the cause of the disease.On this occasion, several theories were put forward:
- Heredity.The cause of the disease is breakdowns in the immune system, inherited.So, if one of the parents is sick of psoriasis, the probability of a disease in a child is around 20%.If both parents have a disease, the probability of psoriasis in a child increases 80%.Scientists note that not the disease itself is inherited, but only a predisposition to its occurrence.
- Viral theory.The justification that the psoriasis causal agent can be a virus has tried to find many scientists.For the moment, the confirmation of this theory has not been found.However, other infectious diseases - influenza, amygdalite, acute respiratory viral infections can affect the course of the disease, causing exacerbation or becoming a trigger of the first external manifestations of psoriasis.
- Immune theory.The most justified and universally recognized version of the appearance of psoriasis.The main thing is that the cause of the disease is a violation of the cellular link of immunity.More and more scientists are inclined to the fact that the disease is autoimmune-that is to say that the body defenses turn against themselves and begin to reject the skin cells, perceiving them as extraterrestrial.
- Exchange theory.In order to discover the causes of pathology, scientists have carried out numerous exams of patients with psoriasis.During this process, it was found that all had violations of metabolism.In particular, low body temperature;increase in blood cholesterol;Disturbed the balance of vitamins.All this leads to the conclusion that the disorders of the exchange process play an important role in the occurrence of the disease.
Factors provoking the development of psoriasis
The fact that there are triggers that cause the disease or provocation of exacerbation are known by both the patients themselves and the treatment of doctors.These reasons include:
- Stress, on a nervous case, psychological trauma;
- Hormonal violations;
- Take certain drugs: antibiotics, vitamins B, anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Mechanical skin injuries: cuts, burns, deep scratches;
- Infectious diseases: amygdalite, average otitis, sinusitis, as well as infections caused by Streptococcus - Scarlet fever, Erysipelas, etc.;
- Drink alcohol, not compliance with diet, malnutrition, smoking;
- A clear change in the climate, long -term in the sun.
Psoriasis symptoms
How to recognize the signs of an insidious disease and prevent it from spreading?The course of psoriasis is cyclic: periods of exacerbations are replaced by periods of remission.The disease has several forms, each of them has its own distinctive characteristic characteristics, but there are general symptoms, of which the whole clearly indicates the presence of psoriasis in the patient.This is the psoriatic triad if called:
- The phenomenon of stearine drops.If you disperse the surface of a psoriac plate with a nail, keratinized skin scales, similar to frozen startin droplets, separate you.
- Under the separate layer of keratinized particles, a slim brilliant red film is found.
- "Bloody Dew."If you scratch this film with a nail, small drops of blood will occur.The fact is that, below, there are capillaries with thin walls, and several punctual hemorrhages arise from the slightest physical effect.
All these symptoms are accompanied by itching in the affected area.Most often, the first psoriatic plates appear in places such as knees, elbows, inguinal region, scalp, armpits.First, rashes are single, but as the disease develops, their number increases and the plates can merge with each other, affecting the growing surface of the body.Kebner syndrome also occurs - the occurrence of new rashes in places of skin irritation.
Vulgar or ordinary psoriasis
One of the most common forms of the disease is that 80% of patients with psoriasis are diagnosed precisely by vulgaris psoriasis.The most characteristic characteristic is the appearance on the body of the reddish papules - nodules which have a rounded shape, clearly defined limits and rise slightly above the skin.The spots are covered with a grayish raid of separate scales.Skin rashes can affect both individual parts of the body and spread over the whole skin, mainly located in the skin folds, joint joints, frequent contact places and skin friction on clothes.
Scalp psoriasis
In this form of the disease, mainly part of the head, covered with hair, but with another disease lesson, plates can spread to the face, ears and neck.Since it is quite difficult to see what is happening on the head independently, often at the initial stage of hair psoriasis, they confuse with ordinary dandruff and do not fix much importance to symptoms.What are the signs of you to alert:
- Dry scalp;
- Severe itching;
- Pain and burn in the affected area;
- The appearance of peeling similar to dandruff;
- Hair loss.
Nail psoriasis
The psoriatic onichestrophy or the psoriasis of nail can manifest itself as an independent disease and constitutes a complication of ordinary psoriasis.The external signs of the disease are very similar to a fungal infection.The nail plate thickens, its color changes - it can vary from yellowish to gray.Naked eyes are visible traces of sub -immersal hemorrhages - Red or purple spots.There is an oil syndrome - a yellowish stain under the nail plate.The nail itself is flattened, it becomes rough to the touch, in the center, there are crowded traces.Small holes also appear - like injections with a needle, the surface begins to look like a tear.Under the nail bed, the process of accumulating dead cells begins, in the future, this can lead to the detachment of the nail and its loss.The two nails on the fingers of both hands or just a few can be affected.
Pustulia psoriasis
It differs from the usual in that the lesion is characterized by the appearance of redness and pustules - bubbles with purulent contents.With the subsequent development of the disease, the bubbles begin to take off, exposing the surface of erosion.Pustular psoriasis has a more serious course, can be complicated by the connection of a secondary infection, the poisoning of the body to death.
Genital psoriasis
A fairly rare form of disease.It is characterized by the appearance of small drop -shaped plates up to 1 centimeter in diameter.Favorite places: members and bodies.The appearance of rashes is accompanied by severe itching, often it is preceded by the transferococcal infection transferred.
Psoriasis supported by women
It is diagnosed in 15% of all patients with psoriasis.This form is characterized by the occurrence of papules on the palms and the soles of the feet.In affected areas, there are serious itching and heat, often the skin cracks and bleeds.Patients have great difficulties when walking, the inability to perform all the actions with their hands.The pustular type of palm psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of redness and bubbles with liquid content on the skin.
Psoriasis exudation
This type of disease is characterized by the formation of crying plates with unequal edges, covered with many layers of a gray crust.Such crusts are formed from the impregnation of the keratinized particles by exudat, when you try to remove them, the plate acquires a reddish color, can start to bleed.This form is often found in patients, in the history of which there are problems in the work of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus.
Psoriatic arthritis
It is characterized by a set of symptoms of psoriasis and arthritis.Patients feel joint pain, limited in their mobility, the fingers swell strongly, the skin around them acquires a bluish hue.In addition, the disease can affect the spine and the sacrum.In addition to the joints, tendons and articular cartilage also suffer.
Diagnosis of psoriasis
As in the treatment of any other disease, the main thing is to discover the enemy by person and start a complete treatment as soon as possible.The first thing to do if you suspect the presence of psoriasis is to contact a dermatologist.The doctor will carry out a visual examination, will scratch the affected area and prescribe the tests:
- General blood test;
- General analysis of urine;
- Calais analysis for Golist eggs.
- Blood test
- Urine analysis
- Calais analysis
Sometimes these measures may not be sufficient for a precise diagnosis, as the symptoms of psoriasis can be expressed lubricated.In this case, in order to distinguish psoriasis from other similar skin diseases, a biopsy is prescribed - separating a piece of fabric and a later histological examination in the laboratory.In addition, the doctor collects information on clinical manifestations, patient complaints, as well as the image of his life, the presence of bad habits and the hereditary predisposition to the disease.
Psoriasis treatment
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis.However, this does not mean that you just can't pay attention to the presence of this diagnosis.Subject to all the recommendations prescribed by the attending physician, you can make a long persistent remission and live for years, without reminding you that you are sick of psoriasis.There is no universal treatment methodology, because it depends on factors such as:
- The age of the patient;
- Type of psoriasis;
- The size of the affected areas and the place of their location;
- The severity of the disease.
As a rule, the treatment of psoriasis is a set of measures aimed at eliminating and alleviating the symptoms of the disease, maintaining the body's strength, eliminating the cause that caused exacerbation of the disease.
Pharmacotherapy
The rest of the disease will have to fight the disease, therefore, for patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis, the following treatment technique has been developed: first, savings medications with the least side effects are prescribed.If therapy does not have the right effect, drugs are replaced by more powerful.But even a well -chosen medication course should be changed from time to time.This is necessary for the body to be used for a certain medication and that the effect of its action does not succeed.Treatment includes taking medication and local ointments.The following drugs are prescribed:
- Antihistamines - relieve itching, allow you to sleep peacefully at night;
- Retinoids - derived from vitamin A - have a favorable effect on the state of the skin;
- Enterosorbents - their goal is to clean the body of toxins;
- Hepatoprotectors - have a protective and restoration effect for liver cells;
- Enzymes-HELP The gastrointestinal tract faces the load;
- Non -steroidal drugs - relieve inflammation and pain;
- Antibiotics - are necessary in cases where the evolution of the disease is complicated by the link of the infection;
- Cytostatics - Reduce increased pathological cellular division;
- Immunosuppressants;
- Organic products.
At the initial stage of psoriasis, unpleasant symptoms can eliminate various ointments and creams, which are also a compulsory component of a measurement complex in the treatment of advanced cases of the disease.These funds can be divided into two large groups: no hormonal and containing hormones.
Physiotherapy
- A few decades ago, the positive effect of UV rays on the skin affected by psoriasis was proven.Today, this method is successfully used in the treatment of the disease.O The radiation is carried out using special installations, and the whole body and only individual areas can be exposed.
- Patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis often start to suffer from depressive disorders associated with the experiences of the disease.In this case, the electron can help.The procedure has a sedative effect, the patient relaxes, his psychological state is stabilized.All this favorably affects the course of the disease.
- Magnetotherapy helps improve blood circulation, reduce itching, normalize metabolism.
- The cryotherapy or cold treatment procedure has also proven its effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis.The affected areas are exposed to liquid nitrogen steam, consequently, itching decreases, metabolic processes active in skin cells are launched.
- The treatment of the sanatorium of the complex can have a very beneficial effect and promote the patient entering the stage of remission.
If you have diagnosed psoriasis, try not to fall into despair.Medicine does not remain motionless and each year increasingly advanced drugs appear which allow you to get rid of the symptoms of the disease for a long time.Follow all of the doctor's recommendations, lead a healthy lifestyle and, as far as possible, avoid factors that can cause exacerbation.