Psoriasis is a common skin disease. Its name comes from the Greek word "psora" (translated as "itch"). Today, about 5% of the world's inhabitants suffer from this disease.
Psoriasis can occur in people of all ages, from babies to the elderly. Practice shows that most patients are young. They go to the doctor with suspected psoriasis.
Before visiting the clinic, you need to know which specialist you need to contact with such complaints.
Which doctor should I contact if I suspect psoriasis?
In case of manifestation of the first signs of psoriasis, it is necessary to visit a dermatologist. After all, the symptoms of this disease appear first on the skin.
A specialist who performs the competent treatment of skin diseases will make the correct diagnosis, as well as carry out all the necessary therapeutic measures.
If the patient has a complicated type of psoriasis (psoriatic arthropathy), treatment should be carried out by a professional rheumatologist.
Regardless of which specialist the patient turns to, the doctor can easily confirm or, conversely, refute the presence of this disease.
Treating any form of psoriasis is a laborious process. By the way, a complete cure does not take place in principle. Even with the disappearance of symptoms, the disease passes into the regression stage. In this case, the symptoms may disappear completely.
Which doctor treats psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a systemic disease whose symptoms are not limited to skin rashes. Often, its course is accompanied by a change in metabolism, immune disorders and dysfunctions in the endocrine system.
Violations often affect the work of internal organs. So, consulting a dermatologist in this case is not enough.
Psoriatic plaques in many patients form on the scalp. In this case, the advice of a suitable specialist is also necessary.
Dermatologist
It is very important that a patient with psoriasis is regularly monitored by an experienced dermatologist. This is very important as this disease can get worse even several years after remission.
In addition, the specialist carries out the necessary studies to determine the underlying disease, which may have caused the development of a skin disease.
In this case, it is necessary to carry out its effective treatment.
All therapeutic measures, regardless of the severity of the disease, must be agreed with a dermatologist. Sometimes psoriasis provokes the development of a pathology that affects the joints - psoriatic arthropathy. In case of any complications, the specialist refers the patient to a rheumatologist.
specialized doctors
When answering a common question, which specialist treats psoriasis, many people forget that it is important to eliminate not only the external manifestations of the disease, but also the cause that caused the deterioration of well-being. Thus, for the effective treatment of the disease, one cannot do without the help of highly specialized specialists.
The following are doctors who treat psoriasis and its common complications:
- gastroenterologist: This doctor's help is needed in cases of severe organ damage. In this case, it is often necessary to take potent drugs. Although they negatively affect the condition, the work of the stomach, the liver, the course of treatment with the use of these drugs has a good effect;
- cardiologist: the pathology can be accompanied by significant disturbances in the work of the heart (pericarditis, myocarditis). In such cases, the patient simply needs professional help from a cardiologist;
- nephrologist:certain forms of the disease are accompanied by major failures, partial dysfunction of the bladder, kidneys. The treatment of such pathologies must be carried out by a qualified physician;
- neurologist:Neurological pathologies often provoke a recurrence of a skin disease. Thus, patients prone to the development of prostatitis (or when it recurs) should undergo a preventive examination every 3-6 months;
- rheumatologist: in case of arthropathy, consultation with a rheumatologist is necessary. It is impossible to get rid of the disease without a properly selected treatment principle.
Treatment of the pathology is effective only with timely action. Compliance with the doctor's recommendations will allow you to cope with mental discomfort, as well as exclude the development of complications in the future.
It is recommended that all patients suffering from psoriasis be seen by a psychologist. More than 78% of disease exacerbations are manifested due to nervous tension, severe stress.
An experienced psychologist will help each patient deal with emotional stress. Thanks to this, it will be possible to adapt much better in society.
Clarifying the diagnosis: what medical tests do you need to do?
During the initial diagnostic examination, if psoriasis is suspected, the patient should undergo the following mandatory tests during the initial examination:
- urine analysis: needed to determine water-salt balance;
- fecal analysis:necessary to detect the possible presence of helminths in the body;
- blood test: general as well as biochemistry. Many patients mistakenly believe that blood helps to refute or confirm the diagnosis. However, this is not quite true. Such a study is carried out to identify possible complications that were caused by the disease. Blood also allows you to determine the presence of allergic reactions in the body.
Additional studies include:
- bacteriological culture: performed if rashes appear on the mucous membrane. This is necessary to exclude pharyngitis (acute);
- radiography: if the patient has joint pain and the doctor suspects the presence of psoriatic arthritis, an auxiliary study of the bone structure is performed;
- skin biopsy: to clarify the diagnosis, a cytological examination of the epidermis is performed, which has been removed from the affected skin. Samples are taken from one or more areas of the body.
What does complete patient medical support include?
The ultimate goal of the doctor's work is to preserve a person's ability to work as well as prevent the disability of a patient suffering from psoriasis.
If the patient has already requested qualified help in a serious condition, hospital treatment is required. Under satisfactory conditions, experts recommend observation of the dispensary.
In this case, you need to visit your doctor regularly. Thanks to this, it will be possible to better control the dynamics of the disease.
Comprehensive medical support for a patient suffering from psoriasis involves treatment in a sanatorium or special dispensary. It is not uncommon for patients to go to a specialized nursing home for two weeks.
In such medical institutions, the patient is under the constant supervision of experienced specialists. At the same time, not only is the effectiveness of the treatment controlled. Sanatoriums also think of the most suitable menu for guests suffering from psoriasis.
Many will agree that psoriasis is an unpleasant disease for the patient (both physically and morally). Fortunately, medicine today knows numerous ways to effectively treat psoriasis.
Patients should be aware that today there are many specialists who can help them. Regardless of the degree of the disease, this disease must be treated competently. Only in the case of the right approach will it be possible to achieve positive results and achieve sustainable remission.