Psoriasis is a pinkish rash with silvery scales. It is itchy and occurs in millions of people around the world. If a person or their family members do not have such rashes, this does not mean that they will not appear. It is important to start treating the disease at an early stage of psoriasis and not to start it in a severe degree.
Psoriasis can be inherited, but not in all cases.
Characteristics of the disease.
Psoriasis is not an infection, and the cause of its occurrence is considered a violation of the functions of the immune system. And also the disease can be the result of external factors, skin lesions, stress, alcohol, antibiotics, infections.
The sores can cover any part of the body. The rashes are especially frequent on the arms and legs. They also occur on the palms of the hands, feet, scalp, and nails.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that has a wavy course. The person may experience periods of diminishing the rash or cause an exacerbation. Relapses can be triggered by various external factors.
Psoriasis does not affect normal life and does not require constant hospitalization. Despite this, it is a serious pathology that brings many drawbacks and limitations.
The manifestations of psoriasis can disappear and become almost invisible.
Conditional division of psoriasis
There are several forms of psoriasis:
- vulgar;
- seborrheic;
- drop-shaped
- palmo-plantar;
- psoriasis on the genitals.
The most common psoriasis is the vulgar form of the disease. With it, there are edematous rashes of a bright color, which are accompanied by severe itching.
There are three grades of psoriasis, depending on the size of the affected area:
- Light. About 3 percent of the skin is affected.
- Average. The number of rashes varies from 3 to 10 percent of the skin surface.
- Heavy. Rashes occupy 10 percent or more of the skin's surface.
Sometimes the disease invades the joints. This is the most severe grade, regardless of the percentage of the skin that is affected by plaque. It can lead to the development of psoriatic arthritis, which is accompanied by pain and swelling in the joint parts of the bones.
There are three stages of psoriasis depending on the degree of exacerbation:
- progressive;
- stationary;
- regressive.
Even a doctor cannot always recognize psoriasis at a particular stage. In many cases, special monitoring of the development of the disease is required. This will help determine if the psoriasis is going into remission or not.
Psoriasis vulgaris is bright pink in color.
Progressive stage
In the initial stage, psoriasis develops quite quickly. Various rashes appear on the arms, back, buttocks and legs, which grow over time and form plaques. The progression of the disease is characterized by intense itching of the affected areas, which become moist and can cause an infection.
Early psoriasis is treatable. Therefore, it is important to make the correct diagnosis in time. At the first symptoms of psoriasis of the initial stage, you should consult a doctor. Only he can determine the nature of the skin disease and the stage of its development.
You can independently understand what psoriasis looks like by some signs:
- Rashes appear in places where clothing is in close contact with the body. For example, on the arms in the elbow area, under the belt of the pants, elastic bands.
- The itchy rash is covered in gray scales.
- If you remove the scale, you can see a thin, wet skin underneath.
- The condition of the nails is disturbed, dimples appear on them.
Do not use any ointment without consulting your doctor. The use of some remedies at an early stage of the disease can lead to stretch marks, thinning of the epidermis, and addiction.
Generally, your doctor will prescribe a non-hormonal zinc-based medication. This is an effective remedy that allows you to relieve itching, reduce the proliferation of skin cells and inflammation, restore the protective functions of the skin, and reduce the development of psoriasis in a progressive stage.
Psoriasis appears mainly in places where skin and clothing come into contact.
Stationary stage
The previous stage is replaced by the stationary stage of psoriasis. The swollen nodules do not go away, but they do not grow. The plaques dry out and the inflammation subsides.
For the treatment of the stationary stage of psoriasis, tar-containing preparations are very often used. Sometimes systemic therapy is used and the body is affected by ultraviolet radiation.
Regressive stage
This is the last stage of psoriasis, in which the plaques begin to shrink and slowly disappear. Resorption occurs from the middle of the sore, and at the end of this stage, small rings and patterns remain on the skin. The itching and flaking go away. After a rash, barely noticeable pigmented areas remain on the skin.
This process is the end of the psoriasis cycle, but it is not a complete recovery. The disease can reappear at any time. If left untreated, plaques will appear regularly.
After psoriasis, spots and patterns may remain on the skin.
Treatment and prevention of psoriasis.
Each person must monitor their health and pay greater attention to the skin:
- Avoid hard wipes that can scratch your skin.
- It is preferable to use special medicinal shampoos. This is especially true for psoriasis of the scalp.
- It is necessary to take care of the optimal humidification of the indoor air to avoid drying out the skin.
- Avoid abrasions, injuries and cuts to the skin.
- A certain diet must be followed that improves the course of the disease.
- One of the main prevention rules is the rejection of alcohol. You should not drink alcoholic beverages and stop smoking.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn't cause chafing.
For the prevention and treatment of psoriasis, a special massage is used. Improves blood circulation so that the skin clears itself more quickly. The areas of the body around the plates are stretched a few inches and rolled back. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.
Symptoms of the disease occur against the background of psycho-emotional stress. Therefore, it is important to keep stress to a minimum. They recommend practicing various methods of relaxation, getting enough sleep, and getting more rest, using herbal preparations and sedatives.
Some patients use home remedies at home. To do this, use various infusions and decoctions of herbs, ointments from eggs and lard, garlic compresses and lotions before going to bed. Alternative methods should be used after consulting a specialist.
Some medications can cause relapses and side effects. They should only be taken as directed by your healthcare professional. Unfortunately, there is no single drug that can eliminate psoriasis 100 percent forever. You can only keep the disease in remission by choosing the right medications.