To begin with, it is worthwhile to figure out what psoriasis is and what are the causes of this disease.Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious skin disease, which is characterized by the rash of red-yellow nodules and stains with a peeling surface on the body.Most often, psoriasis is recorded in young people aged 18 to 45 years, but there are cases of psoriasis in children and the elderly.The essence of the disease is that, for the unknown reason, the cells of the epidermis begin to share acceleratedly, forming thickening of the skin and further growth under these places of capillaries.
This disease accompanies humanity not one hundred years, and possibly from the moment of its appearance.Researchers find the remains of mummified ancient people who were sick with psoriasis.In the Middle Ages, this disease was often mistaken for leprosy, and only in the middle of the XIX century.Psoriasis was defined as a separate disease - from this moment the scientific study of the disease began.Surprisingly, to this day, scientists cannot fully find out the cause of the disease.On this occasion, several theories were put forward:
- Heredity.The cause of the disease is breakdowns in the immune system, inherited.So, if one of the parents is sick with psoriasis, the probability of a disease in a child is about 20%.If both parents have a disease, the probability of psoriasis in a child increases to 80%.Scientists note that not the disease itself is inherited, but only a predisposition to its occurrence.
- Viral theory.The justification that the causative agent of psoriasis can be a virus tried to find many scientists.At the moment, confirmation of this theory has not been found.However, other infectious diseases - flu, tonsillitis, acute respiratory viral infections can affect the course of the disease, causing an exacerbation or becoming a trigger for the first external manifestations of psoriasis.
- Immune theory.The most justified and universally recognized version of the appearance of psoriasis.The bottom line is that the cause of the disease is a violation in the cellular link of immunity.More and more scientists are inclined to the fact that the disease is autoimmune - that is, the body's defenses turn against themselves and begin to reject the skin cells, perceiving them as alien.
- Exchange theory.In order to find out the causes of pathology, scientists conducted numerous examinations of patients with psoriasis.During this process, it was found that all of them have violations in the metabolism.In particular, low body temperature;increased blood cholesterol;Disrupted balance of vitamins.All this leads to the conclusion that disorders in the exchange process play an important role in the occurrence of the disease.
Factors provoking the development of psoriasis
The fact that there are some triggers that cause the disease or provoking exacerbation are known both by patients themselves and treating doctors.Such reasons include:
- Stress, nervous overstrain, psychological trauma;
- Hormonal violations;
- Taking certain drugs: antibiotics, B vitamins, anti -inflammatory drugs;
- Mechanical skin injuries: cuts, burns, deep scratches;
- Infectious diseases: tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis, as well as infections caused by streptococcus - scarlet fever, erysipelas, etc.;
- Drinking alcohol, non -compliance with the regime, malnutrition, smoking;
- A sharp change in climate, long -term stay in the sun.
Symptoms of psoriasis
How to recognize signs of an insidious disease and prevent it from spreading?The course of psoriasis is cyclic: periods of exacerbations are replaced by periods of remission.The disease has several forms, each of them has its own characteristic distinctive features, but there are general symptoms, the totality of which clearly indicates the presence of psoriasis in the patient.This is the so -called psoriatic triad:
- The phenomenon of the stearin drop.If you scatter the surface of a psoriatic plaque with a fingernail, keratinized skin scales, similar to droplets of frozen Starin, will separate from it.
- Under the separated layer of keratinized particles, a red shiny thin film is found.
- "Bloody dew."If you scrap this film with a fingernail, small drops of blood will perform.The fact is that under it there are capillaries with thin walls, and multiple point hemorrhages arise from the slightest physical effect.
All these symptoms are accompanied by itching in the affected area.Most often, the first psoriatic plaques appear in places such as knees, elbows, inguinal region, scalp, armpits.First, the rashes are single, but as the disease develops, their number increases, and plaques can merge with each other, affecting the increasing surface of the body.Kebner syndrome also occurs - the occurrence of new rashes in places of skin irritation.
Vulgar or ordinary psoriasis
One of the most common forms of the disease is 80% of patients with psoriasis is diagnosed precisely by Psoriasis vulgaris.The most characteristic feature is the appearance on the body of reddish papules - nodules that have a rounded shape, clearly defined boundaries and slightly rise above the skin.The spots are covered with a grayish raid from the separated scales.Rashes can affect both individual parts of the body and spread throughout the skin, mainly localized in the folds of the skin, joints of the joints, places of frequent contact and skin friction on clothes.
Psoriasis of the scalp
In this form of the disease, mainly part of the head, covered with hair, but with a further course of the disease, plaques can spread to the face, ears and neck area.Since it is quite difficult to see what is happening on the head independently, often at the initial stage of the hair psoriasis, they confuse with ordinary dandruff and do not attach much importance to the symptoms.What are the signs of you to alert:
- Dry scalp;
- Severe itching;
- Pain and burning in the affected area;
- The appearance of peeling similar to dandruff;
- Hair loss.
Psoriasis of nails
Psoriatic Onichestrophy, or nail psoriasis can manifest itself as an independent disease and is a complication of ordinary psoriasis.External signs of the disease are very similar to a fungal infection.The nail plate thickens, its color changes - it can vary from yellowish to gray.The naked eyes are visible traces of submarous hemorrhages - spots of red or purple.There is an oil spot syndrome - a yellowish spot under the nail plate.The nail itself is flattened, it becomes rough to the touch, in the center there are pressed traces.Small holes also appear - like from injections with a needle, the surface begins to resemble a thimble.Under the nail bed, the process of accumulating dead cells begins, in the future this can lead to detachment of the nail and its loss.Both the nails on the fingers of both hands or just a few can be affected.
Pustulenia psoriasis
It differs from the usual in that the lesion is characterized by the appearance of redness and pustules - bubbles with purulent contents.With the further development of the disease, the bubbles begin to peel off, exposing the erosion surface.Pustular psoriasis has a more severe course, can be complicated by the connection of a secondary infection, intoxication of the body up to death.
Genital psoriasis
A fairly rare form of disease.It is characterized by the appearance of small drop -shaped plaques up to 1 centimeter in diameter.Favorite places: limbs and body.The appearance of rashes is accompanied by severe itching, often this is preceded by the transferred streptococcal infection.
Ladomary-sustained psoriasis
It is diagnosed in 15% of all patients with psoriasis.This form is characterized by the occurrence of papules on the palms and soles of the feet.In the affected areas there is severe itching and heat, often the skin cracks and bleeds.Patients experience strong difficulties when walking, the inability to perform any actions with their hands.The pustular type of palmar psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of redness and bubbles with liquid contents on the skin.
Exudation psoriasis
This type of disease is characterized by the formation of weeping plaques with uneven edges, covered with numerous layers of a gray -haired crust.Such crusts are formed from impregnation of keratinized particles by exudate, when trying to remove them, the plaque acquires a reddish color, can begin to bleed.This form is often found in patients, in the history of which there are problems in the work of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus.
Psoriatic arthritis
It is characterized by a set of symptoms of psoriasis and arthritis.Patients experience joint pain, limited in their mobility, fingers swell strongly, the skin around them acquires a bluish tint.In addition, the disease can affect the spine and the sacrum.In addition to joints, tendons and joint cartilage also suffer.
Diagnosis of psoriasis
As in the treatment of any other disease, the main thing is to find out the enemy by person and start a comprehensive treatment as soon as possible.The first thing to do if you suspect the presence of psoriasis is to contact a dermatologist.The doctor will conduct a visual examination, make a scraping from the affected area and prescribe the tests:
- General blood test;
- General urine analysis;
- Calais analysis for eggs Golist.
- Blood test
- Urine analysis
- Calais analysis
Sometimes these measures may not be enough for an accurate diagnosis, since symptoms of psoriasis can be expressed lubricated.In this case, in order to distinguish psoriasis from other similar skin diseases, a biopsy is prescribed - separating a piece of tissue and subsequent histological examination in the laboratory.Additionally, the doctor collects information about the clinical manifestations, complaints of the patient, as well as the image of his life, the presence of bad habits and hereditary predisposition to the disease.
Treatment of psoriasis
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis.However, this does not mean that you can simply not pay attention to the presence of this diagnosis.Subject to all the recommendations prescribed by the attending physician, you can achieve a persistent long remission and live for years, not remembering that you are sick with psoriasis.There is no universal treatment methodology, since it depends on factors such as:
- Patient's age;
- Type of psoriasis;
- The size of the affected areas and the place of their location;
- The severity of the disease.
As a rule, the treatment of psoriasis is a set of measures aimed at eliminating and mitigating the symptoms of the disease, maintaining the body's strength, eliminating the cause that caused the exacerbation of the disease.
Drug therapy
The rest of the disease will have to fight the disease, therefore, for patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis, the following treatment technique was developed: first, sparing drugs with the least number of side effects are prescribed.If therapy does not have the proper effect, the drugs are replaced with more potent.But even a well -chosen course of medicines will have to be changed from time to time.This is necessary so that the body is not used to a certain drug and the effect of its action does not come to naught.Treatment includes taking medicines and local ointments.The following drugs are prescribed:
- Antihistamines - relieve itching, make it possible to sleep peacefully at night;
- Retinoids - derivatives of vitamin A - have a favorable effect on the condition of the skin;
- Enterosorbents - their goal is to cleanse the body of toxins;
- Hepatoprotectors - have a protective and restoring effect for liver cells;
- Enzymes-help the gastrointestinal tract cope with the load;
- Non -steroidal drugs - relieve inflammation and pain;
- Antibiotics - are necessary in cases where the course of the disease is complicated by the connection of the infection;
- Cytostatics - reduce pathological increased increased cell division;
- Immunosuppressors;
- Biological products.
At the initial stage of psoriasis, unpleasant symptoms can eliminate various ointments and creams, which are also an obligatory component of a complex of measures in the treatment of advanced cases of the disease.These funds can be divided into two large groups: non -hormonal and hormone -containing.
Physiotherapy
- A few decades ago, the positive effect of UV rays on the skin affected by psoriasis was proved.Today, this method is successfully used in the treatment of the disease.O radiation is carried out using special installations, and both the whole body and only individual areas can be exposed.
- Patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis often begin to suffer from depressive disorders associated with experiences about the disease.In this case, electron can help.The procedure has a sedative effect, the patient relaxes, his psychological state is stabilized.All this favorably affects the course of the disease.
- Magnetotherapy helps to improve blood circulation, reduce itching, normalizes metabolism.
- The procedure of cryotherapy or cold treatment has also proved its effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis.The affected areas are exposed to vapor of liquid nitrogen, as a result, itching decreases, active metabolic processes in the skin cells are launched.
- Resort-sanatorium treatment can have a very beneficial effect and promote the patient entering the stage of remission.
If you diagnosed psoriasis, try not to fall into despair.Medicine does not stand still and every year more and more advanced drugs appear that allow you to get rid of the symptoms of the disease for a long time.Follow all the doctor’s recommendations, lead a healthy lifestyle and, as far as possible, avoid factors that can provoke an exacerbation.