What is psoriasis and what does it appear from?Psoriasis is the non -infectious condition of the skin, the result of which are red inflamed plaques, as well as dry scales - the result of excessively rapid growth of skin cells.The disease most often affects the skin on the elbows, knees and the scalp.
In some people, it manifests itself in a mild form, symptoms are practically absent.Others note severe symptoms, frequent relapses.What is psoriasis from, where it comes from, why it appears, the causes of the appearance, how they become infected - we will try to answer these and other questions on the pages of our portal.
Psoriasis is an incurable, long -term (chronic) condition of the skin.Stages of exacerbation are rapidly replaced by improvement stages.Many patients note the aggravation of symptoms from November to February (winter months), as well as in hot summer time.Psoriasis affects all ethnic races and representatives of both sexes.Although psoriasis can appear in people of any age - from babies to the elderly - most often the disease is diagnosed in adolescence under 20 years.
At what age does psoriasis appear?The disease is rare in infants (less than 4% of the sick), 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, a cold, influenza or pneumonia.People with psoriasis have more chances to get diabetes, hyperlipidemia, as well as heart diseases.
Why does psoriasis occur?The causes of psoriasis are unknown to the end, but usually the disease is associated with the problem of the immune system.From what and how does psoriasis appear?The key element is a special type of lymphocytes, called T-lymphocytes or T cells.As a rule, these white blood cells move throughout the body to detect and eliminate foreign 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 provoke immune reactions, including the expansion and increase in the vessels around the papules and pasriasis pustules.These changes lead to an increase in the production of both healthy skin cells and other white blood cells.This causes an ongoing cycle, against which new skin cells move to the upper layers of the epidermis too fast - in a matter of days.
Researchers also found genes associated with the development of psoriasis, proving that the disease is inherited, but environmental external 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 scaly cones that merge into large papules (plaques) of the skin.Sometimes, when combing these small dry white scales, slight bleeding occurs.
There are several types of psoriasis - Non Pustular (affects large areas of the skin) and pustular (more rare shape, usually manifested on the hands or legs).The rash can have various outlines and shapes-from point and rocky to a monetary-visible one.
The first signs of psoriasis are increased fatigue, weakness throughout the body, sometimes a slight dizziness, general malaise.As the rashes develops and increases, symptoms such as itching, burning, pain, sometimes fever, chills are added.
Stages
In the absence of treatment, psoriasis develops quite rapidly.At the initial stage, small pink or reddish scales appear on the skin (which are usually located symmetrically, for example, on both hands the spots will be located the same way).Further, on top of reddish spots, a scaly surface layer begins to develop.
This is keratinized skin, which is easily removed independently.After the formation of scales, reddish spots gather in large red plaques, this stage is accompanied by severe itching and burning, as well as peeling of the skin.
Exacerbation
The aggravation stage is characterized by the occurrence of large (often swollen) spots on the skin (plaque, daddy), severe itching, burning, often pain.The area of the spread of the disease also increases markedly (plaques become more than 10 cm in diameter).A peculiar feeling of skin tightness appears.When moving the disease to the exacerbation stage, you should immediately contact a specialist.During this stage, cracks appear on the skin (due to tightness, 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 plaques (Köbner syndrome).
The most serious consequence of the exacerbation can be psoriatic arthritis (the disease will spread to bones and joints and cause their inflammation and deformation) or psoriatic erythroderma (a very severe incurable skin disease, which can lead to death).
Psoriasis continues to be one of the most complex skin diseases.A wide range of procedures available for the treatment of psoriasis illustrates this.It is very important to take measures to restrain 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 your lifestyle, turn to medicines and methods of traditional medicine.