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Psoriasis

methods of treating psoriasis

Is psoriasis transmitted or not?

When answering the question of whether psoriasis is contagious or not, it is necessary to understand that the disease is not transmitted either sexually, or by airborne droplets, or by contact, or by any other means. It is impossible to get infected by it.

Due to disruption of the exfoliation process of keratinized skin scales, dry patches appear on the body. You can't die from them, but patients experience severe psychological distress because of their appearance.

Causes of psoriasis

It has not yet been established exactly what causes psoriasis. There are several theories about the development of the disease. Experts are inclined to believe that damage to the skin and nails can be caused by:

  • stress, negative emotional experiences;
  • endocrine pathologies;
  • hereditary predisposition;
  • a malfunction of the immune system, due to which the growth and division processes of epithelial cells are interrupted.

The autoimmune cause of psoriasis is that T-helper and T-killer immune cells, normally responsible for protecting the body from cancer cells, pathogenic viruses and bacteria, begin to penetrate the upper layers of the skin. Here they produce substances that activate the inflammatory process. As a result, skin cells begin to divide and multiply rapidly. Proliferation is observed.

The development of psoriasis is also possible with the combined action of several factors listed below:

  • Very thin and poorly hydrated skin (little sebum is produced).
  • Frequent contact with irritating compounds: low-quality cosmetics, alcoholic solutions, household chemicals.
  • Washing your body and hands too often (especially if you use a hard washcloth and antibacterial soap/shower gel).
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • The development of infectious diseases caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus, fungi.
  • Taking antidepressants, lithium carbonate, beta blockers, antimalarial drugs and anticonvulsants.
  • Climate zone change.
  • Mechanical injuries to the skin.
  • Tendency to allergic reactions.
  • HIV infection.

Classification of the disease

If you study various photos of psoriasis in the initial stage, you will notice differences: there are several varieties of this dermatological pathology. Depending on the location of the lesion, the following happens:

  • Scalp psoriasis (manifested by itchy, cracked and bleeding skin).
  • Nail psoriasis (the nail plate gradually separates from the bed and becomes painful, red spots form on it).
  • Palmoplantar psoriasis (the disease is common only on the soles of the feet and/or palms of the hands).
  • Cutaneous psoriasis (dry plaques appear in different parts of the body).
  • Arthropathic psoriasis (joints are affected).
  • Genital psoriasis (disease affecting the skin of the genital organs).

Clinical forms of psoriasis:

  • Ordinary or vulgar. It appears as small, flat, pink-red papules that rise slightly above healthy skin. The top of the papules is covered with light scales, which begin to fall off even with a light touch. If psoriasis treatment is not started promptly, small lesions merge into larger lesions.
  • exudative. It is more common in people with obesity, hypothyroidism, and diabetics. Symptoms of psoriasis of this form are as follows: the papules are bright red, with yellow-gray scales visible on top. Plaques affect the folds of the skin: the armpits, the area under the mammary glands in women. Patients complain of itching and burning.
  • Seborrheic. Psoriasis is observed on the head, behind the ear, in the nasolabial and nasolabial folds, between the shoulder blades and on the chest. The boundaries of the spots are not clearly defined. The peeling is silvery-yellow. If you look at a photo of psoriasis on the head, associations with such a common fungal disease as dandruff will arise.
  • Palmoplantar. The disease occurs in people aged 30 to 50 years, whose work involves heavy physical labor. With this form, skin rashes can also appear on the body.
  • Pustular. Pustular elements form on the body. In medicine, another type of pustular form is identified: Tsumbusch psoriasis. It can be idiopathic (primary): blisters appear on the skin that turn into pustules. The pustules open and dry up. Subsequently, scaly skin rashes typical of the disease appear. And also secondary with a benign course. In this case, pustules appear on the surface of typical psoriatic plaques due to the irritating effect of drugs.
    Another type of pustular form is Barber's psoriasis. It only affects the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Purulent pustules appear on the skin. They do not open and over time they turn into dark, dry crusts. Barber's psoriasis is characterized by the symmetry of the lesion.
  • Arthropathic (joint). Severe form. It occurs in patients who have skin rashes. It usually occurs five to six years after the first symptoms of the disease appear, if the treatment of psoriasis was inadequate. Pathologies of the joint system can be different, from mild arthralgia which does not lead to changes in the joint system, up to deforming ankylosis (the joint becomes completely immobile).
  • Psoriatic erythroderma. It is a consequence of vulgaris or exudative psoriasis. Almost all skin is affected. It becomes red, sprinkled with a large number of dry scales. The body temperature increases, an enlargement of the lymph nodes is observed (especially femoral and inguinal). If the patient does not learn to treat psoriasis, hair loss and brittle nails are possible.

According to the criterion of seasonal relapses, psoriasis is divided into:

  • summer;
  • winter (most common);
  • uncertain.

Symptoms of psoriasis

Treatment depends on the dominant symptoms of psoriasis, so at the first appointment the doctor carries out a thorough examination of the patient and carefully examines the localization of psoriatic lesions.

Most often the disease occurs in winter. In summer, under the influence of solar radiation, the signs of psoriasis can disappear completely. However, with the "summer" form of the pathology, exposure to the sun, on the contrary, should be avoided. During an exacerbation, the patient complains of very severe itching. Nail damage is observed in only 25% of patients.

When there is a disease of the scalp, the hair is not involved in the pathological process. First, the skin begins to peel. Over time, areas of the rash may "spread" to the neck area, behind the ears. The inflammatory process is caused by the very rapid division of keratinocytes.

With psoriasis of the palms and feet, the stratum corneum thickens and becomes covered with deep cracks. A photo of psoriasis in the early stage shows pustules with transparent contents. They later turn white and turn into dark scars.
As for nails, the most common types of damage are:

  • The nail becomes covered with cavities that look like puncture marks ("thimble-like").
  • The nail changes color and begins to peel off, which resembles a fungal disease. A psoriatic papule surrounded by a red border is visible through the nail plate.

Stages of psoriasis

Although there is still debate about what psoriasis is and what exactly can trigger its onset, the stages of the disease have already been well studied. There are three of them:

  • Progressive (initial). New growths appear on the surface of the skin in the form of rashes, which tend to grow along the periphery. They spread to healthy skin and form oval or round plaques. The spots are pink or red. They don't have any flaky crust yet, just whitish flakes. The edges of the lesions are slightly compacted. As a result of scratching, new rashes appear.
  • Stationary. It occurs one to four weeks after the first symptoms of psoriasis. The plaques become lighter. New rashes do not appear, old ones slowly dissolve. Papules heal in the direction from the center to the edges, which is why their shape becomes ring-shaped. The entire surface of healing lesions is covered with flaky white scales.
  • Regressive (fading away). The color of psoriatic plaques becomes almost indistinguishable from healthy skin. Itching is reduced to a minimum. A "Voronov collar" forms around the lesions, which is a ring of dense keratinized skin layers. If the patient uses a high-quality ointment for psoriasis, the regression phase lasts about a month. Otherwise, the "fading" process may take up to six months.

The task of a patient diagnosed with psoriasis is to keep the disease constantly in remission.

    If you notice similar symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with its consequences.

    How is psoriasis diagnosed?

    A dermatologist diagnoses psoriasis. The procedure is based on an external examination, assessment of the condition of the skin and nails and study of the localization of the lesions. No additional tests are prescribed for obvious symptoms. In case of difficulty in diagnosis, a skin sample (biopsy) is taken from the inflamed area, which is studied in the laboratory.

    If joint pain is complained of, an x-ray is performed. A blood test is also asked to make sure there are no other types of arthritis. To rule out a fungal infection, a test is performed using potassium hydroxide.

    How to cure psoriasis

    The treatment of psoriasis is complex. Includes:

    • general therapy;
    • local therapy;
    • Physiotherapy.

    Before deciding how to treat psoriasis, the dermatologist determines the stage of the disease, its clinical form and the extent of the process. When prescribing drugs, the patient's age and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. Usually the safest drugs for health are selected first, characterized by the minimum number of side effects. If they do not guarantee the progression of the psoriasis to the regression stage, the treatment is adjusted.

    Systemic drugs for psoriasis

    Medications taken by mouth help with moderate to severe stages of psoriasis. These include:

    • Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids). Reduce the rate of maturation of keratinocytes. Normalizes cell differentiation and maturation.
    • Immunosuppressants. Reduce the activity of T lymphocytes, which cause increased division of epidermal cells.
    • Drugs for the treatment of malignant tumors. Inhibits the reproduction and growth of atypical skin cells.

    Physiotherapy for psoriasis

    Physiotherapeutic procedures significantly improve the well-being of psoriasis patients. In some cases, they allow you to stop taking medications completely. The most commonly used ones:

    • Selective phototherapy. The affected skin is irradiated with UV rays with a wavelength of 280-320 nm. From 15 to 35 procedures are prescribed.
    • Photochemotherapy (PUVA therapy). The method involves the combined use of an internal photosensitizer and external long-wave UV irradiation. Ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into the skin, and the photosensitizer blocks the process of DNA synthesis of skin cells and reduces the speed of their division. The duration of the course is from 20 to 30 procedures.
    • Laser therapy. Laser radiation with different wavelengths is used. The laser ensures accelerated resorption of plaques and eliminates the formation of scars in their place.
    • Use of monochromatic ultraviolet radiation. Each lesion is treated in turn with a UV radiation lamp/laser source. Healthy skin is not compromised. The method is optimal if less than 10% of the skin is affected. The duration of the treatment ranges from 15 to 30 sessions.
    • Electrosleep. There is a mild effect of the electrical impulses on the brain for 20-60 minutes. As a result, the patient calms down, the functioning of the central nervous system normalizes, and the psoriatic plaques begin to resolve.
      Ultrasound therapy. It is a decongestant, anti-itch and analgesic. Accelerates the resorption of scars. If necessary, it can be combined with phonophoresis. To obtain a therapeutic effect, 7 to 14 sessions are necessary.
    • Magnetotherapy (Betatron device). It has a general healing effect on the body. Relieves inflammation, reduces itching and burning, helps get rid of joint pain.
    • Treatment with bee venom. Using an electrophoresis or ultrasound machine, bee venom is injected into the body. It is characterized by a resolving and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizes metabolic processes.
    • Hyperthermia. Tissues affected by psoriasis are heated with pads containing a thermal mixture to a temperature of 40 degrees. The treatment helps improve the functioning of the immune system and reduce the negative impact of the disease on the skin.

    Ointments for the treatment of psoriasis

    According to reviews, the treatment of psoriasis with ointments can achieve excellent results if the drug is selected correctly. At the first symptoms, non-hormonal formulations are prescribed:

    • salicylic ointment (makes the skin soft, relieves inflammation, removes dead epidermal cells);
    • anthralin (slows down DNA synthesis, reduces the activity of cellular enzymes, slows down the process of cell division);
    • sulfur ointment (disinfects, softens, removes white plaque from lesions);
    • naphthalane ointment (relieves itching, relieves pain, normalizes immune reactions).

    If the treatment of psoriasis with non-hormonal ointments does not give the expected effect, hormonal drugs or strong ointments containing the following glucocorticosteroids are prescribed:

    • Hydrocortisone. Removes the feeling of tightness and itching. Suppresses the increased activity of leukocytes, prevents their movement in the skin.
    • Flumethasone. Helps in the exudative form of psoriasis. It is characterized by pronounced anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects.
    • Triamcinolone acetonide. It has anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory effects. Indicated in periods of exacerbation.

    Scalp psoriasis occurs in 50% of patients and causes the most serious discomfort. If you are sick, you should avoid hair dryers, gels and hairsprays. It is important that the hairpins and comb do not scratch the skin. Otherwise outbreaks will start to spread.

    Treatment of scalp psoriasis is carried out using:

    • UV comb (promotes the formation of skin cells profiled by keratinocytes, thanks to which existing plaques are reabsorbed).
    • Photochemotherapy (UVR combined with Beroxan, Puvalen and Psoralen).
    • Medicinal shampoos (Tana, Nizoral, Friederm tar). We recommend purchasing several different products and alternating them. This will avoid addiction.
    • Salicylic ointment (apply to the partings, cover the head with cellophane and leave for two hours).
    • Hormonal lotions (Belosalik, Elokom, Diprosalik). Contains steroid hormones. It is easily applied to the scalp and effectively eliminates flaking and itching.
    • Kirkazon decoction (normalizes the process of skin cell division, cleanses).

    The effect of any treatment on the scalp is observed after a few weeks, so it is not necessary to interrupt the course of treatment after several sessions.

    Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

    To cure psoriasis forever at home, if we are talking about a mild form of the disease, folk remedies help:

    • Herbal tea made from dandelion roots, St. John's wort or nettle leaves.
    • Therapeutic baths with the addition of string, soapwort or yarrow decoction.
    • Wipe the affected areas with cabbage brine, celandine juice and birch tar.
      Compresses based on garlic infusion.

    Also, according to reviews, treating psoriasis with hydrogen peroxide can achieve good results. It is necessary to lubricate psoriatic plaques twice a day with a cotton swab soaked in a three% solution. The duration of the course depends on the severity of the symptoms and can take up to two months.

    Diet for psoriasis

    Products allowed for exacerbation of psoriasis are:

    • fruit (apples, apricots, peaches);
    • fruit juices;
    • vegetables (beets, potatoes, radishes, watermelon, pumpkin);
    • green;
    • berries (all except red ones);
    • lean meats (beef, veal, turkey, rabbit) – up to 200 grams per day;
    • any nuts;
    • lean fish;
    • fermented milk products, cottage cheese and cheese;
    • wholemeal bread;
    • sea cabbage.

    People with psoriasis should not eat:

    • smoked dishes;
    • Red fish;
    • animal fats;
    • egg;
    • pork and duck meat;
    • bakery products.

    It is forbidden to drink coffee, carbonated and alcoholic drinks. It is advisable to limit your sugar intake. To cleanse the body, it is recommended to spend fasting days twice a week: vegetable, apple or kefir.

    Is psoriasis dangerous?

    Psoriasis is a serious but not fatal disease. It reduces the quality of life because it has an unsightly appearance. Plaques on the body prevent patients from working in groups or resting. They often lead to limited movement and difficulty performing simple physical tasks. Premature treatment of psoriasis can lead to damage to the organs of vision and joints.

    It is impossible to completely cure psoriasis. It is a chronic dermatological disease that must always be kept in a "dormant" state.

      Risk group

      The risk group includes people who have:

      • chronic skin diseases;
      • skin lesions;
      • disorders of the central nervous system and autonomic system.

      Prevention

      To prevent the disease, doctors recommend:

      • moisturize the skin;
      • avoid long stays in cold and dry environments;
      • do not take beta-blockers and lithium (except in extreme cases), because they cause psoriasis.

      This article is published for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.