Effective treatment of psoriasis: a set of measures

Psoriasis is a very unpleasant skin disease that causes a lot of inconvenience to the patient who is unlucky enough to contract it.In addition to the skin looking very unaesthetic, the patient constantly experiences many other unpleasant sensations.Yes, the disease is not fatal, but the patient often needs to radically change their habits and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, even today it is simply impossible to completely cure psoriasis.However, there are many techniques and treatments that can help a lot and significantly alleviate the patient's suffering.

The best effect can be achieved with the use of complex therapy, in which attempts are made to influence the disease from different angles.To do this, different treatment methods are combined.In today's material we will consider in more detail how to properly carry out complex treatment of psoriasis and what can be included in it, as well as what points should be taken into account.

Factors to consider when choosing treatment

First, we remind you that you should never self-medicate!Even if you are completely confident in your strengths and abilities, it is still best to consult a professional dermatologist.It will be better this way.

Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will consider the following factors:

• age and sex of the patient - the older he is, the more difficult the disease is to treat;
• hereditary factors – the risk of becoming ill increases when parents or close relatives also suffer from psoriasis;
• stage of the disease - the later you see a specialist, the more difficult the treatment will be;
• severity of the disease - when psoriasis is mild, it is much easier to combat;
• the form of the course and the affected parts of the body - the more severe it is, the more difficult it is to choose an effective treatment;
• possible allergic reactions - in this case, not all medications can be taken;
• location and type of work - some companies have very unfavorable working conditions, which has a very negative impact on the general state of health and the development of psoriasis;
• region of residence - if you live in a region with very polluted air, this negatively affects the perception of various diseases, and psoriasis develops more intensely;
• the presence of bad habits - smoking and regular alcohol consumption affect internal organs, which increases the risk of psoriasis;
• concomitant diseases - if you suffer from certain diseases of the internal organs, psoriasis may be a complication.

It is unlikely that you will be able to correctly determine all the factors on your own.If you start self-treatment, it can lead to serious complications.Therefore, a specialist dermatologist will definitely prescribe the necessary tests for you to determine all other factors, and only then will he prescribe treatment.

Sets of measures for the treatment of psoriasis

In order for the treatment of psoriasis at home to be as effective as possible, several sets of measures are often used.Within its structure, different medications are used simultaneously that affect different systems of the body.Therefore, the treatment regimen may include:

• external treatment— various creams, ointments to act on the skin and eliminate external signs of the disease;
• systemic medications- tablets, mixtures that affect internal organs and fight the disease from the inside;
• physiotherapeutic procedures- to reduce inflammatory processes - laser and cryotherapy, acupressure, ultraviolet irradiation;

• spa treatment- therapeutic procedures, for example, leeches, mud baths, as well as clean air, since resorts are usually located in ecologically clean areas;
• special diet- exclude foods that may harm the gastrointestinal tract, for example, fried, spicy, salty and pickled foods.

In fact, there are many therapy methods.Let us consider each method of a set of therapeutic measures in more detail.

External treatment

Essentially, how does psoriasis start to develop?First, the function of the epidermis – the stratum corneum of the skin – is disturbed.Because of this, the skin no longer receives the necessary amount of moisture and becomes very dry.Gradually, dryness and flaking intensify and, because the dead skin particles do not have time to be removed, so-called psoriatic plaques appear.All this is accompanied by itching and inflammation.During periods of exacerbation, they do not decrease day or night.

To eliminate all these symptoms, medications are prescribed for the external treatment of psoriasis.They are also prescribed strictly individually.For what purpose are external preparations used?

1. Eliminate pain, relieve swelling, reduce flaking and also improve appearance by reducing rashes and reducing the number of psoriatic plaques.
2. Minimize the influence of various external factors.
3. Influence the foci of the disease as quickly as possible and bring quick relief.

External preparations for psoriasis include ointments, creams, lotions, gels and other preparations.All of them are divided into two main groups: hormonal and non-hormonal.Let's look at each group separately.

1. Non-hormonal medications.The name speaks for itself - the medicines do not contain hormonal components.They act on the epidermis and quickly remove dead layers of the skin, disinfect damaged areas, have an antiviral and antimicrobial effect, and also qualitatively moisturize the skin and increase its elasticity.These preparations contain beeswax, natural oils and other natural ingredients, as well as salicylic acid, dithranol, sulfur, urea and other substances.They have a series of excellent properties and act on areas of the skin affected by psoriasis very quickly and effectively.
2. Hormonal drugs.They contain a certain amount of synthetic hormone from the corticosteroid group.Many experts prefer them, because due to the presence of the hormone in the composition, they act almost instantly, literally in a matter of minutes, providing the desired effect.But unlike non-hormonal medications, these medications should be used with caution.Firstly, if you delay therapy even a little, this can lead to hormonal imbalance and, consequently, serious complications.Secondly, if you suddenly stop taking the medication, a so-called “withdrawal effect” may occur, in which symptoms not only return but also intensify.

When and how to choose the right group of medicines?What medicines are best to use?

1. In the progressive phase, ointments containing salicylic acid, as well as anti-inflammatory hormonal ointments, are the most used.Naturally, at first, attempts will be made to achieve the desired effect with medicines with a weaker concentration of the active substance.If there is no effect, the strongest ones will be used.These medications contain a higher dose of fluoride.In most cases, patients experience positive dynamics two weeks after starting regular use.
2. For the treatment of elderly people and children, drugs that do not contain chlorine and fluoride are used, which significantly reduces the number of possible allergic reactions.These drugs are relatively new, they appeared on the pharmaceutical market only a few years ago, but they are gradually becoming more and more popular.
3. Detranol-based ointments and creams have a quick and long-lasting effect when used.Starting treatment involves prescribing minimal doses with a gradual increase.Medications primarily aim to reduce inflammation.However, other adverse reactions may occur, such as swelling, itching and redness, which, against the background of similar symptoms of psoriasis, somewhat limits the scope of use of drugs in this group.
4. One of the new drugs is a medicine that directly affects the causes of psoriasis.Its main active ingredient is calcipotriol, which suppresses the development of pathogenic processes.After just two months, the general condition of the skin improves significantly, the number of inflamed and damaged areas, as well as peeling, decreases.It is worth noting that in most cases there are no side effects characteristic of other medications for psoriasis.There are cases when one course of treatment was enough for a remission that lasted up to a year.The strongest effect is achieved when the treatment is carried out in an integrated manner, and the effect occurs in conjunction with other means, most often physiotherapeutic procedures.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that prolonged use of drugs is not recommended as it can develop dependence.As a result, the effectiveness of the treatment decreases significantly.

Systemic medications

As already mentioned, one of the possible causes of psoriasis is diseases of internal organs.Therefore, to get rid of psoriasis, it is necessary to take medications that can help in the treatment regimen for diseases of internal organs.These can be tablets, injections, intravenous fluids and other medications, which must be selected individually.What therapy can be prescribed for psoriasis?

1. Anti-inflammatory medications relieve inflammation and reduce the influence of various viruses and microbes.A comprehensive treatment regimen for psoriasis is often used.
2. Antiallergic medications.Because allergies often make psoriasis symptoms worse, these medications can help significantly.
3. Antipsoriatic medications.They work in the skin restoration process, normalize the life cycle of its cells and also eliminate the side effects of the disease.
4. Antifungal medications.Since fungal infection significantly complicates the course of psoriasis, it is very important to combat it effectively.
5. Medicines to combat the pathological formation of new cells that have no specific purpose.Over time, in the absence of a treatment regimen, these cells can accumulate in large numbers in the body.

Depending on the complexity of the condition and the degree of damage to other organs, other, more potent medications may be used.However, despite the good effect, you should not abuse them, as the side effects can be very serious.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

Although it is impossible to cure psoriasis with physiotherapeutic procedures alone, with proper selection they can enhance the effect of medications and speed up the recovery process at the final stage of complex treatment.What procedures are prescribed for the complex treatment of psoriasis?

1. Ultraviolet irradiation or phototherapy.A special agent is prescribed that improves the body's perception of ultraviolet radiation, after which the surface of the skin affected by psoriasis is irradiated with ultraviolet waves of a certain length.
2. Laser therapy.It is worth noting that the laser waves act only on diseased skin, without affecting healthy tissues.
3. Cryotherapy.Liquid air, nitrogen or helium, with a temperature of up to -296 degrees, is briefly applied to the damaged areas of the body's surface.
4. Ichthyotherapy.The affected areas are treated with a special type of fish.
5. Hirudotherapy is treatment with leeches.

6. Therapeutic baths with calming and anti-inflammatory herbs such as chamomile or celandine, as well as starch and flax seeds.
7. Acupuncture.It is true that care must be taken when choosing a specialist, as a procedure carried out incorrectly can have unpredictable consequences that can take a long time to treat.

spa treatment

A visit to a sanatorium or resort can significantly improve the patient's well-being.True, they are sent there only at the final, regressive stage of the disease, as the final means of complex therapy.In addition to the fact that various procedures are prescribed to the patient in this institution, the opportunity to take a break from everyday worries and a more favorable environmental environment further contribute to recovery.

In addition to prescribing conventional medicines, the sanatorium or resort will necessarily provide dietary nutrition, physiotherapy, as well as baths and medicinal procedures.Depending on the location, the sanatorium can offer hydrogen sulfide, silicon, radon, iodine-bromine and other baths.A good sanatorium will fill you with energy for many months.

Conclusion

Complex therapy is most often used to treat psoriasis.Only an integrated approach can achieve good results, as any type of individual treatment will be ineffective, especially at a later stage of treatment.