Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.Such a division will facilitate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population has characteristic DNA abnormalities, and only 2% of them show signs of skin dysfunction.
The appearance of pathology is provoked by the following factors:
- severe emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain medications;
- endocrine diseases;
- predisposition to allergies;
Due to an incorrect response of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissue as if it were foreign elements, the first signs of the disease appear.Let's look at the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
Initial stage of psoriasis
The first sign isthe appearance of a pimple(papules).The shape is round, the color is reddish or pink.On the lower extremities, due to slow blood flow, manifestations of a bluish tint may occur.Papular formations are small, the size of a pinhead.
The early stage is characterizedmany papules, which have clearly defined limits.Whitish scales also appear.They separate easily from the surface when touched.Papules can merge into one, forming larger elements.
During early remission, the rashes turn pale.Affected areas of the skin partially discolor.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergies or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that can help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scratched, the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembles a crushed drop of stearin, the scales peel off;
- if you continue to scratch the stain and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- When scratched, small drops of blood appear.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
In the progressive stage of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules turn red and continue to be covered with white scales.They peel off easily, revealing a smooth layer of reddened skin underneath.When damaged, blood appears.
- During an exacerbation, the papular elements grow and merge.They are clearly different from healthy areas of the skin.
- The itching intensifies.But this disappears when the process enters the stationary phase.Painful, obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the cover, wounds and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of injury is Koebner syndrome.The number of itching manifestations gradually increases and covers the torso, limbs and head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the plates;they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have negative effects on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Then, severe joint pain and deformity occurs if the process is left untreated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main feature of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing.Positive changes occur with proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- the itching disappears;
- there are no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- flaking may increase.
All spots stop growing.If at the progressive stage the plaques had a border without scales, then at the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the skin will peel off and take on a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not follow the progressive growth of the plaques and cannot cover them completely.In half of the cases, it appearspseudoatrophic corolla.
Pseudoatrophic corolla
It looks like a slight edge around the element, which has a structure reminiscent of rough tissue paper, consisting of a horny layer and not exceeding two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
With the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriatic cycle ends.Characteristic features:
- the exacerbation process stops, inflammation disappears;
- the plaques gradually disappear;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash flatten;
- the rash turns pale pink and gradually fades;
- papules may still remain on the arms and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy of the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas lacking pigment may occur at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The respite period varies from person to person..The disease can last several months, even several years, in a latent form.Exacerbations occur more often in winter, with the exception of a few forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis at different stages
Treatment of any form of psoriasis includes general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods and dietary adjustments.At an early stage of treatment, it is necessary:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments containing vitamin A, D3 and hormones;
- use systemic and sedative medications;
- undergo ultraviolet therapy.
If the plaques are localized on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.
All products should be used as directed by a doctor.Long-term use of medications (especially tar) may cause skin irritation.Products should be changed every 7 days.
Treatment of early stage psoriasis
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures at an early stage depends on when the patient came to the doctor and started treatment.
In most cases, early treatment prevents the disease from becoming chronic.
Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment.This is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on affected skin areas.Thanks to the keratolytic effect, the ointment will remove plaque from keratinized parts of the integument.Moth repellent ointment will help relieve itching.
The following medications are usually prescribed:
- tar-based;
- solid oil based;
- petroleum-based.
Not so long ago, drops and oil for psoriasis appeared.The product can soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent the skin from drying out and relieve puffiness.The medicine contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, there are fewer of them, and the skin is better hydrated.It is recommended to use it in combination with other medications and after consultation with a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in a progressive stage
Therapy should be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite severe;treatment should only be entrusted to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs.Absorbents help remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are relieved by salicylic acid ointment and softening emulsions.They moisturize and eliminate inflammation.During an exacerbation, you should not use drugs containing tar or other irritating components.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin baths) are best carried out during the period of reduction of inflammation.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complex.
Prescribe antihistamines (reduce the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatories, keratolytics (softeners), diuretics (relieve swelling, eliminate toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary stage
The patient requires a slight adjustment of treatment.Tar shampoos, oil emulsions and calcipotriol are usually prescribed.Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the skin.Ultraviolet irradiation and PUVA techniques are widely used.
If there is no effect, certain cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, cytotastic.
Treatment of psoriasis at a regressive stage
Treatment in the last stage of psoriasis should be comprehensive and adjusted by a specialist.Therapy is gradually canceled and replaced by preventive measures.Processing at all stages is carried out carefully;in no case should the rash be damaged.
Compliance with a strict diet and lifestyle correction is especially important.Stress can be a powerful provoking factor, significantly worsening the condition at the beginning of the disease.
In combination with drug treatment, rashes on the hands can be treated with sea salt baths or by mixing baby cream with string powder and lubricating the plates with this mixture.
Additional therapies
A patient with psoriasis has a deficiency of vitamins, which affect the regulation of metabolic processes and have a purifying, sedative and restorative effect on the blood.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly and also in the form of droppers.
The division of pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists to correctly identify one or another stage, facilitates diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and not prevent a person from living fully.