Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious disease, dermatosis, which mainly affects the skin.Currently, the autoimmune nature of this disease is assumed.Typically, psoriasis manifests itself in the formation of red, excessively dry, raised spots above the surface of the skin - so-called papules, which merge to form plaques.These papules are by nature sites of chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of lymphocytes, macrophages and skin keratinocytes, as well as excessive angiogenesis (formation of new small capillaries).
It occurs equally frequently among men and women and lasts for years with alternating periods of relapses and remissions.This is one of the most common skin conditions, difficult to treat and often serious.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a widespread chronic skin disease characterized by a monomorphic eruption of flat papules that tend to coalesce into large plaques that quickly become covered with loose, silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis is characterized by periods of deterioration (relapses) and temporary well-being, when the manifestations of the disease become less severe.This disease is not infectious and the patient does not pose a danger to others.Because the appearance of psoriasis is not associated with microorganisms.
The main element of psoriasis is a single pink or red papule, covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.
As a rule, psoriasis does not disturb the patient's usual rhythm of life.The only drawback is peeling and inflammatory processes on the skin.Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure this disease, but it is quite possible to prevent its development or prevent relapses.To do this, it is enough to follow all the doctor's prescriptions and undergo systematic treatment in a hospital.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is absolutely not contagious.Not a single case of person-to-person transmission of the disease has been recorded.The causative agents of the disease are not infections and microbes, potentially dangerous for other people, but leukocytes produced by the patient's body.
It is impossible for a healthy person to contract psoriasis from a patient.Psoriasis is not transmitted:
- In case of contact with the skin, use the same household items as the patient (bedding, towels, crockery).
- Through saliva, sweat.
- Sexually.
- By caring for the sick.
- Through the blood.
Classification
Experts distinguish two forms:
Non-pustular form of psoriasis
What is that?This form of the disease differs from others in its stable course.The non-pustular form of psoriasis is characterized by damage to almost the entire surface of the body.This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- vulgar, common or tabula.
Common psoriasis occurs quite frequently;Up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with the vulgar form of the disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to death - the death of the patient.With the disease, a violation of the thermoregulation function occurs and the skin barrier function is reduced.
pustulate
- Zumbusch pustular fundus or generalized pustular
- palmoplantar (pustular psoriasis of the extremities, chronic persistent palmoplantar pustulosis)
- Annularly pustular
- palmoplantar
- herpetiform psoriatic impetigo
| Psoriasis stage | Damage percentage |
| Light | less than 3% of the skin is affected |
| Average | 3-10% of the skin is covered by psoriatic plaques |
| Heavy | there are joint injuries or more than 10% of the skin is involved. |
How psoriasis starts: first signs
In most cases, identifying psoriasis is quite simple, as the disease is not similar to other skin pathologies.Allergic rashes have a lower calibration compared to psoriasis patches, and medical history shows that patients practically do not suffer from skin swelling, as happens with allergies
The initial symptoms and signs of psoriasis differ in the main characteristics that the doctor will base on when making a diagnosis:
- the appearance of a limited pink spot of varying intensity;
- itchy skin in the area of psoriatic lesions;
- exfoliation of large amounts of epidermis of various sizes;
- characteristic whitish color of the shell;
- the appearance of clustered whitish or gray crusts that do not extend beyond the limits of the psoriatic patch;
- dry skin.
Psoriasis is characterized by three distinct features:
- "Stearic taint effect."When scraping the plaque, small, transparent scales come off easily.
- "Terminal Film Effect".If you remove the scales, the skin in that area will become thin, shiny, and red.
- "The bloody dew effect."After scraping, small drops of blood appear on the skin.
Causes
Experts cannot identify the exact, single culprit of the disease, but repeated studies show that the disease is autoimmune, meaning it depends on the functioning of the immune system.
For some unknown reason, immune cells, designed to protect the body against malignant changes and bacterial and viral damage, penetrate the upper dermal layers and produce substances that trigger the inflammatory process.The result of this activity is proliferation - accelerated division of skin cells.
According to another theory, psoriasis develops due to a disruption in the life cycle of keratinocytes.
Possible causes of psoriasis:
- Heredity.According to the latest data from scientists, psoriasis is classified as a genotypic dermatosis with a dominant transmission type.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.When skin psoriasis is suspected, changes in these blood profiles often occur, which contributes to the development of cardiovascular pathology, endocrine dysfunction and metabolic syndrome.
- The presence of a chronic infectious focus in the body.When examining psoriatic plaques, streptococcal flora is often detected.The occurrence of genetic abnormalities can be influenced by viral and bacterial infections, for example, tonsillitis, flu.
- Climatic conditions - dry and hot weather can affect the progression of psoriasis, intensify skin manifestations or, on the contrary, weaken them;
- Anxiety or stress - as mentioned above, excessive exertion due to stress directly affects the course of psoriatic disease;
- Damage to the skin - wounds facilitate infection, and this leads to intoxication of the body due to inflammatory processes, therefore the appearance of psoriasis can cause minor damage, but provided that there are concomitant diseases;
- Infections - outbreaks of psoriasis can be caused by the presence of pathogenic purulent inflammatory areas, especially for childhood pathologies.
One theory suggests the existence of two variants of the disease:
- Type I psoriasis– is inherited in the presence of an immunological factor, more than 60% of all patients under 30 years of age suffer this way, the prognosis is good, the treatment is lifelong.
- Type II psoriasis– occurs more frequently over the age of 45, is not associated with immune system dysfunction, and most often affects the nail plates and joints.
Psoriasis symptoms
Cutaneous psoriasis can develop at any age.But often the first case of its manifestation occurs in young people and adults aged 18 to 40.There are no differences by gender.Men and women suffer from this disease equally often.
| Signs of psoriatic papules | |
| Form | round |
| edges | Of course |
| Color | hot pink or red |
| Scale color | silver white |
The first rashes, as a rule, form at the site of wounds, scratches, frostbite, burns and on areas of the body that are constantly exposed to friction.They may itch, but this is not the main symptom.
Depending on the characteristics of the rash, the following forms of psoriasis are divided:
- Point psoriasis - the size of the elements is smaller than the head of a pin.
- Teardrop-shaped - the papules are teardrop-shaped and reach the size of a lentil grain.
- Coin-shaped - the plates grow to 3-5 mm and have rounded edges.
The shapes of the eruption are also distinguished when its elements resemble rings, bows and garlands, geographic maps with jagged edges.
The general clinical picture and symptoms of psoriasis vary significantly depending on the stage of the disease.Dermatologists distinguish 3 stages that develop sequentially:
- Progressive.New skin lesions appear constantly and there is also an active spread of existing plaques with intense scaling and itching.
- Stationary.The growth of papules on the body stops slightly, new formations do not appear, but thickened folds appear on the surface of the skin, near the plaques.
- Returning.There is no spread of the disease and no increase in desquamation.As signs of psoriasis subside, areas of significant pigmentation remain on the body.
The alternation of these stages gives rise to the wavelike nature of relapses and remissions.A patient may present with different stages of the disease in different areas of the skin.
The onset of psoriasis is expressed in the appearance of papules, which are small scaly nodules.They have a dark pink color, are dense to the touch and protrude slightly above the surface of the skin.
The first sign of psoriasis may be the appearance of a rash in areas of the body that are most likely to be subjected to friction, and the skin in these areas is dry.These are the places:
- palms or elbows;
- under the knees;
- shins;
- lateral parts of the lumbar region;
- inguinal folds;
- scalp.
The initial stage of psoriasis on the skin is almost imperceptible and does not cause discomfort to the patient.But it is early treatment that will help avoid serious forms of this disease, in which the fingernails and toenails, mucous surfaces, and then human joints are affected.
According to statistics, psoriatic plaques are most often located:
- on the outer surface of the joints;
- on the back and stomach;
- on the front of the thighs and forearms.
This is different from eczema, where the rash affects the inside of the limbs and the creases between the toes.