Psoriasis is a pink rash with silvery scales. It is pruritic and occurs in millions of people around the world. If a person or his relatives 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 to a severe degree.
Psoriasis can be inherited, but not in all cases.
Features of the disease
Psoriasis is not an infection, and the cause of its appearance is considered to be a violation of the functions of the immune system. And also the disease can be the result of external factors, skin injuries, stress, alcohol, antibiotics, infections.
Sores can cover any part of the body. Rashes are especially common on the arms and legs. They also occur on the palms, feet, scalp, and nails.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that has an undulating course. The person may experience periods of lessening of the rash or cause an exacerbation. Relapses can be triggered by various external factors.
Psoriasis does not affect the usual lifestyle and does not require a constant stay in the hospital. Despite this, it is a serious pathology that brings a lot of inconvenience and limitations.
The manifestations of psoriasis can fade and become almost invisible.
Conditional division of psoriasis
There are several forms of psoriasis:
- vulgar;
- seborrheic;
- drop-shaped;
- palmar-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 degrees of psoriasis, depending on the size of the affected area:
- Lightweight. About 3 percent of the skin is affected.
- Average. The number of rashes ranges from 3 to 10 percent of the skin's surface.
- Heavy. Rashes occupy 10 or more percent of the skin surface.
Sometimes the disease invades the joints. This is the most severe degree, no matter how many percent of the skin is affected by plaque. It can lead to the development of psoriatic arthritis, which is accompanied by pain and swelling in the articular parts of the bones.
There are three stages of psoriasis according to the degree of exacerbation:
- progressive;
- stationary;
- regressive.
Even a doctor may not always be able to 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 has a bright pink color.
Progressive stage
At the initial stage, psoriasis develops quite rapidly. 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 severe itching of the affected areas, which become wet and can cause infection.
Early psoriasis is treatable. Therefore, it is important to make the correct diagnosis on 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 trouser belt, elastic bands.
- Itchy rash is covered with gray scales.
- If you remove the scale, you can see thin, moist 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 the formation of stretch marks, thinning of the epidermis and addiction.
Usually, your doctor will prescribe a zinc-based non-hormonal drug. 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 at a progressive stage.
Psoriasis appears mainly in places where the skin and clothing come into contact.
Stationary stage
The previous stage is replaced by the stationary stage of psoriasis. The inflamed nodules do not disappear, but they do not grow. The plaques become dry and the inflammation diminishes.
For the treatment of the stationary stage of psoriasis, preparations containing tar 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 by the end of this stage, small rings and patterns remain on the skin. Itching and peeling 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 recur at any time. If left untreated, the plaques will appear regularly.
After psoriasis, spots and patterns may remain on the skin.
Treatment and prevention of psoriasis
Each person should monitor their health and pay increased attention to the skin:
- Avoid hard washcloths that can scratch your skin.
- It is preferable to use special medicated shampoos. This is especially true for psoriasis of the scalp.
- It is necessary to take care of the optimal humidification of the indoor air in order to avoid overdrying the skin.
- Avoid abrasions, injuries and cuts on the skin.
- A certain diet should be followed that improves the course of the disease.
- One of the main rules of prevention is the rejection of alcohol. You shouldn't drink alcoholic beverages and quit smoking.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing that will not cause chafing.
For the prevention and treatment of psoriasis, a special massage is used. It improves blood circulation so that the skin is cleansed faster. The areas of the body around the plaques are stretched a few centimeters and returned back. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.
Symptoms of the disease occur against the background of psychoemotional stress. Therefore, it is important to keep stress to a minimum. They recommend practicing various relaxation methods, getting enough sleep and getting more rest, using herbal preparations and sedatives.
Some patients use folk remedies at home. To do this, use various herbal infusions and decoctions, ointments from eggs and lard, garlic compresses and lotions before bedtime. Alternative methods should be used after consulting a specialist.
Some medications can cause relapse and side effects. They should only be taken as directed by your healthcare professional. Unfortunately, there is not a single drug that can get rid of psoriasis by 100 percent forever. You can only keep the disease in remission by choosing the right drugs.