Psoriasis

It must be said that the suffering that psoriasis brings is underestimated by others. According to scientists, psoriasis is not inferior to chronic heart failure and chronic lung diseases in terms of its negative impact on the quality of life.

This disease does not kill directly, but it significantly ruins people's lives.

Let's talk about psoriasis.

It is a chronic skin inflammatory process that modern medicine classifies as autoimmune, i. e. related to allergies to your own tissues.

Psoriasis is one of the most common skin diseases and occurs in 1-2% of the population in developed countries.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches covered in silvery scales that itch. Psoriasis usually appears between the ages of 20 and 30 and is often hereditary.

This pathology is not an infectious disease. In addition to physical suffering, even mild psoriasis can cause serious psychological problems: low self-esteem, shame and social isolation. It is impossible to die from psoriasis, but the impact of this disease on a person's life is very serious.

Causes of psoriasis

The causes of psoriasis are not fully understood. The mechanism of the disease is related to a violation of the division of skin cells, which in turn causes a reaction of the immune system. Such a reaction is one of the autoimmune, since it occurs in response to a malfunction in the organism itself, and not to the penetration of a threat from the outside.

Is psoriasis contagious?

Psoriasis is not contagious and being afraid to shake hands with someone with this disease is stupid and cruel.

As already mentioned, psoriasis is not an infectious disease and a number of studies show that it has an autoimmune origin. In psoriasis, immune T cells that should attack foreign organisms are thought to tragically mistakenly attack healthy skin cells. This leads to a thickening of its upper layer, the epidermis, and an inflammatory process that penetrates deeper into the dermis.

The autoimmune theory of the origin of psoriasis has its place, but the autoantigen that should trigger this process has not yet been discovered, that is, the point has not been set.

However, it's obvious: you can't catch psoriasis - you can just get it.

Is psoriasis inherited?

As with rosacea, psoriasis tends to be hereditary. The hereditary nature of psoriasis is confirmed by the fact that the frequency is higher in those families in which psoriasis has already been diagnosed; moreover, in twins, the incidence concentration is also higher than in other groups.

But heredity must wake up. This is done by provoking factors:

• psychological traumas and chronic stress conditions;
• past infectious disease;
• skin injuries;
• certain medications;
• hormonal changes in the body;
• allergies (for example, citrus fruits, eggs, chocolate can make the disease worse);
• alcohol intoxication;
• even climate change.

Symptoms of psoriasis

The first symptoms of psoriasis: skin rashes in the form of bright pink plaques with a scaly surface. The plaques are single, rise above the level of healthy skin and are located on the elbows and in the popliteal cavities.

Most often, psoriatic plaques appear on the skin of the knees, elbows, chest, abdomen, back and scalp, but as the disease progresses, they can also appear in any other, most unexpected places on the skin.

In the beginning, the papules are small - 3-5 mm, the color is bright pink. Gradually, they increase in size and become covered with silvery scales, after which they merge into larger formations called plaques.

Fresh elements of the papules are usually bright in color, even red, while the "old" ones are more faded. In the initial stage of psoriasis, the edges of the papules do not peel off. They represent a hyperemic border - a growth crown

The hallmark of psoriasis is the Auspitz triad. This triad can be observed when scraping the surface of the papule with a sharp object. It includes three phenomena:

• the phenomenon of stearic stain - layering of a large number of silver-white flakes that are easily separated when scraped;
• a symptom of a psoriatic film is an exuded surface made up of a spike-like layer that opens after peeling off the lower layers of the corneum plates;
• the phenomenon of "blood dew" - exposure of surface capillaries in the form of small blood spots after the separation of the psoriatic film

Stages of psoriasis

The main element of psoriasisis a single pink or red papule that is covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.

Psoriasis develops quite slowly, the increase in the number of plaques and their growth can be observed for several months or years. In a small percentage of patients, the disease may become more severe. As a rule, this is preceded by severe mental stress or a serious illness requiring massive drug treatment. In this case, the papules are not pale pink, but bright red, with obvious signs of inflammation, swollen, causing itching.

Second stagepsoriasis is characterized by more extensive lesions. At the place of scratching, new papules appear, forming new plaques. As a result of growth, new growths merge with existing ones. Plaques affect symmetrical limbs and form similar patterns and lines.

In the third stagegrowth slows down, changes mainly affect the structure of the rash. The boundaries between healthy and affected skin become clearer. Plaques acquire a bluish tint and begin to actively peel off. In the absence of therapy, they thicken and sometimes form papillomatous nevi (brown) and warts (body).

There is one more stage -disease regression, at which time the symptoms disappear. Peeling disappears, the definition of the border disappears, the skin normalizes and returns to its original state.

Types of psoriasis

• Plaque psoriasis presents as pale pink, lightly infiltrated patches. Reminds me of toxicoderma.
• Irritable psoriasis - occurs due to exposure of the skin to aggressive environmental factors (sunlight, cold, heat) and irritating drugs. The color of the plaque becomes more intense, increases in size, rises more above the surface of the skin and forms a belt in the form of redness at the edges.
• Seborrheic psoriasis - often develops in patients with seborrhea. The clinical picture is very similar to seborrheic eczema.
• Exudative psoriasis is quite common. It occurs due to excessive secretion of an inflammatory liquid - exudate. It impregnates scale clusters, turning them into scale crusts.
• Psoriasis of the palms and soles presents either as simple plaques and papules or as hyperkeratotic formations similar to calluses and calluses.
• Follicular psoriasis is quite rare. The rash consists of white miliary nodules with a funnel-shaped depression in the center.
• Psoriasis of mucous membranes is also rare. Found on the mucous membrane of the mouth and bladder. It appears as gray-white areas with a red border

Depending on the seasonality of the exacerbation, several types of psoriasis are distinguished:

• summer - exacerbation occurs as a result of exposure of the skin to sunlight;
• winter - occurs due to severe cold that affects the skin.

In non-seasonal psoriasis, there are no periods of remission;

On the affected area of the skin:

• limited psoriasis - occupies less than 20% of the skin of the body;
• often - more than 20%;
• generalized – the whole skin is affected.

In fact, there are several subtypes of the disease, and sometimes one patient develops two or three forms at once. Most often - in 80-90% of cases - plaque psoriasis develops.

30% of patients have psoriatic arthritis, in which the joints become inflamed along with external manifestations, and 10% have a teardrop-like form of the disease.

Other, rarer subtypes are also known. All of them are manifested by specific rashes that can appear on any part of the body and itching, sometimes very painful. But there is good news: according to statistics, in 80% of cases, psoriasis occurs in a mild form, and the lesions cover less than 3% of the body surface.

Forms of psoriasis

1. Pustular form of psoriasis. It is characterized by the presence of plaques with cortical scales impregnated with exudate. If they are damaged, for example, as a result of scratching or self-injury in the folds of the body, the rashes become wet. They cause itching and burning and cause physical discomfort. This type of disease is more often diagnosed in people with excess body weight, hypothyroidism and diabetes.
2. Pustular (generalized) form. It has a classic pattern of development, starting with a single vesicle that develops into plaques. The lesions are symmetrical and can affect any part of the body. The severe course of this form of psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of intraepidermal pustules. They can unite, forming "pus lakes".
3. Arthropathic form. The most severe form of psoriasis, in which the changes first affect the small joints, and then the large ones, including the spine. This is expressed in pain symptoms and their deformation. Possible fusion of joints, loss of mobility. Against the background of this form of psoriasis, other pathologies arise: ankylosis, osteoporosis, which leads to disability.

Complications

Many people know what psoriasis looks like, but the disease, in addition to external manifestations, has a number of complications. They are expressed in reduced functionality of the skin, disturbances in temperature regulation and water-salt balance. The protective function against various bacteria is also reduced.

For example, psoriasis of the hands is only part of the clinical picture. People with this diagnosis often suffer from chronic gastrointestinal and heart diseases.

Severe psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and overall cardiovascular mortality.

The group of complications also includes:

• arthritis of psoriatic joints. Approximately 30% of psoriasis patients will develop psoriatic arthritis during their lifetime, which is characterized by joint stiffness, pain, and swelling. The disease can progress to the point of joint destruction. 80-90% of patients develop psoriatic nail lesions and onycholysis.
• psoriatic erythroderma;
• generalized pustular psoriasis;
• autoimmune diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease);
• erectile dysfunction in men;
• metabolic syndrome, meaning a combination of visceral obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia.

It should also be noted that pathologies associated with psoriasis, especially in severe form, include depression, anxiety disorders, including suicidal tendencies.

Psoriatic erythroderma is somewhat less common. This condition occurs when the skin is completely damaged. Patients are concerned about itching and burning, excessive flaking of dead tissue and a strong reaction of the skin to changes in temperature.

The next most common type is pustular psoriasis. This complication is associated with the addition of secondary infection - staphylococci and streptococci. Clinically, pustular psoriasis is accompanied by the appearance of pustules - pustules the size of buckwheat grains. Pustules appear in different places. They rise above the surface of the skin, are characterized by rapid growth and a tendency to merge. The existing symptoms are accompanied by high fever and signs of serious intoxication.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

The diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis is carried out by a dermatologist. Initially, an external examination of the affected areas is performed and an anamnesis is collected. Sometimes the disease is similar to other diseases, especially in the first stage.

If the hands and nails are affected, it is important to exclude the presence of fungal infections. Seborrheic eczema, pityriasis rosea, and papular syphilis should also be ruled out.

But I want to say that in most cases the diagnosis of psoriasis is not difficult, it does not even require an examination, it is enough to examine the skin.

Treatment of psoriasis

Can psoriasis be cured? yes

Using the pathogenetic technique, we perfectly put the skin in a state of remission, the skin is cleaned, restored, and a person can lead a full life. The treatment regimen for psoriasis is carried out with the help of medicinal acids when activating points. The duration of therapy is different for each patient, 6 procedures may be required, 10 may be necessary. Maintenance therapy is required from 2 to 6 months, everything is individual.

I always warn patients that the treatment of psoriasis is torpid, that is, it proceeds slowly. But we can take long (about a month) breaks between procedures.

Home care is of great importance in the treatment of psoriasis. Homemade cosmetics consist of almost 99% natural ingredients. I spent about two years developing better formulas so I could care for skin with complex dermatoses at home.

Home care schemes for patients with psoriasis are chosen individually. But there are also medium regimens that are suitable for psoriasis skin care. Check out my social media. networks, there is an ocean of information out there.

Recommendations for eliminating the symptoms of the disease

I always tell my patients that effective treatment of any disease is possible only with an integrated approach. I would like to note that it is of great importance to take maximum precautions to reduce the risk of exacerbation of the disease. As always, it's all corny and nothing new, but I'll say it anyway.

Recommended:

• avoid skin injury;
• avoid hypothermia;
• give up bad habits;
• avoid stressful situations;
• timely treatment of infections and concomitant diseases;
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Psoriasis patients should be especially careful in observing the requirements of personal hygiene.

If you take a shower or bath:

• use products without dyes and fragrances;
• choose a mild shampoo;
• avoid using rough sponges, creams, gels with abrasive particles;
• Avoid harsh soap as it dries the skin too much;
• adjust the water temperature to keep it warm;
• stay in the water for no more than 10-15 minutes;
• use a soft cloth, do not rub or scratch the skin.

After showering and bathing, it is recommended to use special body moisturizers. Try to brush your hair as little as possible so as not to irritate the surface of the scalp. The same goes for blow drying. If you can't do without it, choose a warm or cold stream.

Choose light clothes made of natural materials and a loose cut so that they do not restrict movements and do not chafe.

In summer, you should not sunbathe for too long. To protect your skin from UV rays, apply sunscreen with a high SPF factor as part of your proper home care routine.

Prevention of psoriasis

Based on the fact that psoriasis is considered a multifactorial disease with a share of immunopathological, genetic, endocrine, metabolic and possibly infectious components, there are no uniform rules for prevention.

People at risk should pay special attention to their health:

• those who have relatives suffering from psoriasis;
• those that often and constantly injure the skin;
• have chronic infections;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• endocrine disorders.

Increased nervousness, stress, alcohol abuse, frequent hypothermia and sunburn increase the likelihood of pathology.

If the treatment of psoriasis according to WHO standards (hormones, phototherapy) did not help you, come, let's remove this "snow stream" from your life. After all, without timely and competent treatment, psoriasis begins to negatively affect vital organsand systems.