Psoriasis is a pink rash with silvery scales. It is itchy and occurs in millions of people worldwide. If a person or their relatives do not have these rashes, it does not mean that they will not appear. It is important to start treating the disease in the early stages of psoriasis and not to start it to a severe degree.
Psoriasis can be hereditary, but not in all cases.
Disease characteristics
Psoriasis is not an infection and the cause of its onset is considered to be a violation of the functions of the immune system. And the disease can also be the result of external factors, skin lesions, stress, alcohol, antibiotics, infections.
Wounds can cover any part of the body. Skin rashes are especially common on the arms and legs. They also occur on the palms, feet, scalp and nails.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease with a wavy course. The person may experience periods of decreased rash or cause an exacerbation. Relapses can be triggered by several external factors.
Psoriasis does not affect normal life and does not require constant hospitalization. Despite this, it is a serious pathology that brings many disorders and limitations.
The manifestations of psoriasis can disappear 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 common form of the disease. With it, bright colored edematous skin rashes appear, which are accompanied by intense itching.
There are three degrees of psoriasis, depending on the size of the affected area:
- Light. About 3% of the skin is affected.
- Average. The number of rashes varies from 3 to 10 percent of the skin's surface.
- Heavy. Skin rashes occupy 10 or more percent of the skin's surface.
Sometimes, the disease invades the joints. This is the most serious 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 certain stage. In many cases, special monitoring of the development of the disease is necessary. This will help to determine whether psoriasis is in remission or not.
Psoriasis vulgaris has a bright pink color.
Progressive stage
In the early stage, psoriasis develops very quickly. Several 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 in the affected areas, which are moist and can cause infection.
Early psoriasis is treatable. Therefore, it is important to make the correct diagnosis in time. In the first symptoms of psoriasis in the initial stage, you should see a doctor. Only he can determine the nature of the skin disease and the stage of its development.
You can independently understand the appearance of psoriasis by a few signs:
- Rashes appear in places where clothing is in close contact with the body. For example, in the arms, in the elbow area, under the belt of the trousers, elastic.
- The itchy rash is covered with gray scales.
- If you remove the scale, you may see thin, moist skin underneath.
- The state of the nails is disturbed, dimples appear.
Do not use any ointment without consulting your doctor. The use of some drugs in the initial phase of the disease can lead to the formation of stretch marks, thinning of the epidermis and addiction.
Your doctor will usually prescribe a non-hormonal zinc-based medication. This is an effective remedy to relieve itching, reduce skin cell proliferation and inflammation, restore skin's protective functions and reduce the development of psoriasis in a progressive stage.
Psoriasis appears mainly in places where 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 decreases.
For the treatment of the stationary phase of psoriasis, preparations containing tar are 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 wound and, at the end of this stage, small rings and patterns remain on the skin. The itching and peeling will go away. After a rash, almost imperceptible 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 reappear at any time. If left untreated, the plaques will appear regularly.
After psoriasis, spots and patterns can remain on the skin.
Treatment and prevention of psoriasis
Each person should monitor their health and pay more attention to the skin:
- Avoid hard cloths that can scratch your skin.
- It is preferable to use special medicated shampoos. This is especially true for scalp psoriasis.
- It is necessary to take care of the ideal humidification of the indoor air to avoid drying out the skin.
- Avoid abrasions, injuries and cuts on the skin.
- A certain diet must be followed to improve the course of the disease.
- One of the main prevention rules is the rejection of alcohol. You must not drink alcoholic beverages and stop smoking.
- Wear loose clothing that does not cause friction.
For the prevention and treatment of psoriasis, a special massage is used. Improves blood circulation so that the skin is cleaned more quickly. The areas of the body around the plates are stretched a few centimeters and turned back. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.
The symptoms of the disease occur in the context 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, egg and lard ointments, garlic compresses and lotions before bedtime. Alternative methods should be used after consulting a specialist.
Some medications can cause relapses and side effects. They should only be taken in accordance with your healthcare professional's instructions. Unfortunately, there is no single drug that can eliminate psoriasis by 100% forever. You can only keep the disease in remission by choosing the right drugs.