What is psoriasis and what does it appear?Psoriasis is the non -infectious condition of the skin, whose result is inflamed red plaques, as well as dry scales, the result of excessively rapid growth of skin cells.The disease often affects the skin in the elbows, knees and scalp.
In some people, it manifests itself in a mild form, the symptoms are practically absent.Others indicate serious symptoms, frequent relapses.What is psoriasis, where does it come from?
Psoriasis is an incurable long -term (chronic) skin condition.Exacerbation stages are rapidly replaced by improvement stages.Many patients point out the aggravation of symptoms from November to February (winter months), as well as in hot summer.Psoriasis affects all ethnic races and representatives of both sexes.Although psoriasis can appear in people of any age, from babies to the elderly, the disease is often diagnosed in adolescence of less than 20 years.
At what age Psoriasis appears?The disease is rare in babies (less than 4% of patients), in children, psoriasis can manifest if parents are carriers of the disease.Psoriasis in such young children is often preceded by acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis or respiratory infection, for example, cold, influenza or pneumonia.People with psoriasis are more likely to obtain diabetes, hyperlipidemia and heart disease.
Why does psoriasis happen?The causes of psoriasis are unknown to the end, but generally the disease is associated with the problem of the immune system.What and how does psoriasis appear?The key element is a special type of lymphocytes, called T lymphocytes or T cells. As a general rule, these white blood cells move throughout the body to detect and eliminate strange substances, such as viruses or parasites (Streptococcus).However, in patients with psoriasis, T lymphocytes mistakenly attack healthy skin cells (to combat a false infection).
Hyperactive lymphocytes cause immune reactions, including expansion and increased vessels around papules and pústulas of passion.These changes lead to an increase in the production of healthy skin cells and other white blood cells.This causes a continuous cycle, against which the new skin cells move to the upper layers of the epidermis too fast, in a matter of days.
The researchers also found genes associated with the development of psoriasis, which shows that the disease is inherited, but the external environmental factors (physical, chemical, thermal effect on the skin) and internal (stress, unbalanced nutrition, violation of the day and sleep, infection, excessive/regular use of alcohol and smoking) also play a certain role.
Signs and symptoms
Psoriasis is manifested in the form of red or pink scheme cones that merge in large papules (plates) of the skin.Sometimes, when combing these little dry white scales, there is a slight bleeding.
There are several types of psoriasis: non -pustular (affects large areas of the skin) and pustular (rarest form, generally manifested in the hands or legs).The eruption can have several contours and shapes from the point and rocky to a visible monetary.
The first signs of psoriasis are the increase in fatigue, weakness throughout the body, sometimes a slight dizziness, general discomfort.As the eruptions develop and increase, symptoms such as itching, burning, pain, sometimes fever, chills are added.
Stages
In the absence of treatment, psoriasis develops quite quickly.In the initial stage, the small pink or reddish scales appear on the skin (which are usually found symmetrically, for example, in both hands, the spots will be located in the same way).In addition, at the top of reddish spots, a squamous surface layer begins to develop.
This is a keratinized skin, which is easily eliminated independently.After scales formation, reddish spots gather in large red plates, this stage is accompanied by itching and severe burning, as well as the skin fight.
Exacerbation
The aggravation stage is characterized by the appearance of large stains (often fans) on the skin (plaque, dad), severe, ardor, often pain.The area of the spread of the disease also increases significantly (the plates become more than 10 cm in diameter).A peculiar feeling of skin oppression appears.When moving the disease to the exacerbation stage, you must immediately communicate with a specialist.During this stage, cracks appear on the skin (due to tension, dryness and keratinization).
Danger to life
During the aggravation stage, the keratinized dry areas crack, the skin begins to bleed and becomes more susceptible to infections, which causes the appearance of new plates (Köbner syndrome).
The most serious consequence of exacerbation can be psoria arthritis (the disease will spread to bones and joints and cause their inflammation and deformation) or psoriatic erythroderma (a very serious incurable skin disease, which can cause death).
Psoriasis remains one of the most complex skin diseases.A wide range of procedures available for the treatment of psoriasis illustrates it.It is very important to take measures to restrict the disease and prevent it from going to the exacerbation stage, for this it is necessary to seek help from a specialist, as well as change their lifestyle, resort to medicines and methods of traditional medicine.