Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.This division will help in diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
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Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population have characteristic DNA abnormalities and only 2% of them show signs of a disorder in skin function.
The appearance of pathology is provoked by the following factors:
- severe emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain drugs;
- 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 pinkish.In the lower extremities, due to slow blood flow, manifestations of a bluish tint may appear.Papular formations are small, the size of the head of a pin.
The initial stage is characterizedmany papules, which have clearly defined limits.Whitish scales also appear.They are easily separated from the surface when touched.Papules can merge into one, forming larger elements.
During remission at an early stage, the rashes become pale.The affected areas of the skin become partially discolored.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergies or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by intense itching.Signs that can help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembling a drop of crushed stearin, the scales come off;
- If you continue to scrape the stain and remove the scales, a bright red surface will appear;
- When scraping it, small drops of blood appear.
Progressive stage of psoriasis.
During the progressive stage of psoriasis the following symptoms appear:
- The papules turn red and continue to be covered with white scales.They come off easily, revealing a soft layer of reddened skin underneath.When damaged, blood appears.
- During exacerbation, papular elements grow and fuse.They are clearly differentiated from healthy areas of the skin.
- The itching intensifies.But it disappears when the process enters the stationary phase.Painful, obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the cover, lesions and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of the injury is Koebner syndrome.The number of itchy 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, if the process is not treated, severe joint pain and deformities occur.
Stationary stage of psoriasis.
The main characteristic of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing.Positive changes are obtained through proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- the itching disappears;
- there are no lesions (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- peeling may increase.
All spots stop developing.If during the progressive stage the plaques had a border without scales, during the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the skin will peel off and acquire 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 keep up with the progressive growth of the plaques and cannot completely cover them.In half of the cases it appearspseudoatrophic corolla.
pseudoatrophic corolla
It looks like a light border around the element, which has a structure reminiscent of rough tissue paper, formed by 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, the inflammation disappears;
- the plaques gradually resolve;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash flatten;
- the rashes turn pale pink and gradually discolor;
- Papules may still remain on your arms and elbows.
There are no scars or atrophy of the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas lacking pigment may appear at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The relief period varies from person to person..The disease can last several months or even years in latent form.Exacerbations occur most often in winter, with the only exception of some forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis in different stages.
Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods and dietary adjustments.At an early stage of therapy it is necessary:
- abandon bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments containing vitamin A, D3 and hormones;
- use systemic and sedative drugs;
- undergo ultraviolet therapy.
If the plaques are located on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.
All products should be used as prescribed by a doctor.Prolonged use of drugs (especially with tar) can cause skin irritation.Products must be changed every 7 days.
Treatment of psoriasis at an early stage.
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures at an early stage depends on when the patient went to the doctor and started treatment.
Early therapy in most cases helps prevent 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 the affected skin areas.Using the keratolytic effect, the ointment will cleanse the plaque from the keratinized parts of the integument.Mothball ointment will help relieve itching..
The following medications are generally prescribed:
- tar-based;
- solid oil based;
- petroleum based.
Not long ago, drops and oil for psoriasis appeared.The product can soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent it from drying out, and relieve swelling.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 consulting a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in the progressive stage.
Therapy must be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite serious;Treatment should be entrusted only to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special medications.Sorbent helps eliminate toxins from the body.
Manifestations are relieved with salicylic acid ointments and softening emulsions.They moisturize and eliminate inflammation.During an exacerbation, medications containing tar or other irritating components should not be used.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin baths) are best performed 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 (soothing), anti-inflammatories, keratolytics (softeners), diuretics (relieve swelling, eliminate toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary stage.
The patient needs a slight adjustment of therapy.Shampoos with tar, emulsions with oil and calcipotriol are often prescribed.Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of skin.Ultraviolet irradiation and PUVA techniques are widely used.
If no effect occurs, some cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, a cytotastic.
Treatment of psoriasis in the regressive phase.
Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis must be comprehensive and adjusted by a specialist.Therapy is gradually being canceled and replaced by preventive measures.Treatment at all stages is carried out carefully;under no circumstances should the rash be damaged.
Of particular importance is compliance with a strict diet and lifestyle correction.Stress can be a powerful provoking factor, significantly aggravating the condition at the onset of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated with sea salt baths or by mixing baby cream with thread 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 must contain vitamin B, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly and also in droppers.
Dividing pathology into several stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists 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 and systematic preventive measures are followed, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and not prevent a person from living a full life.