Psoriasis is a disease due to which the skin appear red, peeling and keratinized precipitation, covered with silvery-white scales.
Usually, these rashes appear on the elbows, knees, scalp, and on the back, but may be observed in all other places. Most people the rash of small. In some cases, they may itch or hurt.
In Russia, the psoriasis is sick about 1% of the population, often scaly ringworm is found among the indigenous peoples of the north. Men and women suffer from it too often. The first symptoms of the psoriasis is more likely to appear before the age of 30 years, but no later than the beginning of psoriasis is not uncommon. The severity of psoriasis in each person varies significantly. Someone psoriasis just a little bit boring, other then that the psoriasis prevents them from living a normal life.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease, there are usually periods of remission without symptoms or low symptomatic, after which come with periods of exacerbation, when symptoms become more pronounced.
Psoriasis occurs when the acceleration of the process of reproduction of body cells of the skin. The cells of the skin are generally produced and are changed every 3-4 months, but in psoriasis, this process is truncated in 3 to 7 days. Following — occurs an accumulation of skin cells, which leads to the appearance of characteristic changes on the body.
The causes of psoriasis up to the end are not clear, it is considered that the increase of the cell reproduction of the skin due to a deficiency of the immune system. The immune system is the body's natural defence against infection and disease, but people with psoriasis it mistakenly attacks the healthy cells of the skin.
Psoriasis can be hereditary, and it is from this disease, there is a genetic factor. However, it is still unclear what is the role of genetics in the development of psoriasis.
A lot of people psoriasis symptoms appear or worsen after a certain event, which is called the trigger. The possible triggers in the case of psoriasis include damage to the skin, infectious diseases of the throat and certain medications. This disease is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
In case of suspicion of psoriasis, you should consult your doctor. Often, the doctor can make a diagnosis judging by the appearance of your skin. Usually, the diagnosis and the treatment of psoriasis the patient's head to a dermatologist — specialist in skin diseases.
Although curing psoriasis is not impossible, there are a number of treatment methods that may help alleviate its symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin. In most cases, will primarily be assigned to a topical treatment, for example, the vitamin D analogues or corticosteroids local action. In the most severe cases, when no help to the other treatment methods, can be applied to the treatment system. The system of treatment is the ingestion or injection of drugs that have a therapeutic action on the whole body.
For some people, the psoriasis — only a small problem, but sometimes it can have a significant impact on your life. For example, some patients with psoriasis have under-self-esteem because of the way the disease affects their appearance. Often also in the psoriasis appears very painful, the sensitivity, the pain and swelling the joints and connective tissues. This is called psoriatic arthritis.
The symptoms of psoriasis
In most cases, psoriasis goes into a loop: every few weeks or months, the disease gets worse, and then, the symptoms are less visible or disappear, and there comes the forgiveness.
There are several types of psoriasis. Many patients only a form of psoriasis, well that might be the disease of two different types at the same time. One type can transform into another type or become worse. In case of suspicion of psoriasis, you should consult your doctor.
Types of psoriasis
The psoriasis vulgaris. It is the most common form of psoriasis, which represents about 90% of all cases. Symptoms — dry red skin education, the so-called plaques covered with silvery-white scales. Usually, they will appear at you on the elbows, knees, scalp, and on the back, but can appear in all other locations. The plaques may itch and / or hurt. In severe cases, the skin over the joints may crack and bleed.
Psoriasis of the scalp (seborrheic psoriasis) can occur on the scalp or on the neighbouring land of the skin, as well as on the back and chest. Causes a rash reddish, covered with dense scales silvery. For some people, this type of psoriasis causes severe itching, while others, it doesn't give any disadvantage. In the most serious cases can result in hair loss, most often temporary.
The nail psoriasis. Almost half of patients with psoriasis disease spreads on the nails. In the case of psoriasis in your nails may appear small holes or cavities, they can lose color and shape. Often the nails can jerk off and depart the edge of the nail, in which are located. In severe cases, nails may crumble.
In the guttate psoriasis will appear to be more small (less than 1 cm), insert in the form of drops on the chest, the arms, the legs and under the hair on the head. The likelihood that the guttate psoriasis completely will take place in a few weeks, but in some people, it turns into a psoriasis. This type of psoriasis sometimes occurs after a streptococcal infection of the throat, and it is more common in children and adolescents.
Psoriasis of the folds - affects the folds of the skin, for example, under the armpits, in the groin, between the buttocks or under breasts. May appear large, smooth precipitation in some or in all of these areas. The symptoms worsen during the rubbing and sweating, therefore, can provide individuals some disadvantages in the hot weather.
Are the pustular psoriasis
More rare is the type of psoriasis on your skin appear pustular (with bubbles of purulent content). The different types of pustular psoriasis that strike different parts of the body.
Generalized pulstole psoriasis (psoriasis background Tsumbush). The pustules occur on a large surface of the skin and grow very quickly. The pus consists of white blood cells and its appearance is not always directly related to the infection. The pustules can cyclic display of all the days or a few weeks. At the beginning of these cycles, the psoriasis background Tsumbush can cause fever, chills, weight loss and chronic fatigue.
Palmo-plantar psoriasis. Pustules appear on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Gradually, the pustules turn into a rounded brown spots with scales, which are then separated from the skin. The pustules can appear again every few days or weeks.
Pustular acrodermatitis (acrobustulosis). Pustules appear on the fingers of your hands and your feet. Pustules implode after them remain the bright red areas that may secrete a fluid, or covered with scales. Can lead to a painful deformity of the nails.
The erythrodermic psoriasis (psoriatic erythroderma)
The erythrodermic psoriasis rare form of psoriasis affects almost the entire surface of the skin. It causes itching or a burning sensation. Because of the erythrodermic psoriasis your body can lose of proteins and liquid. This can lead to the appearance of other complications, such as infection, dehydration, heart failure, hypothermia and exhaustion.
The causes of psoriasis
Psoriasis occurs when skin cells divide and are updated more quickly. The causes of psoriasis up to the end are not clear. The body produces new cells of the deep layer of the skin. These cells gradually move up. Out on the surface, they die. This process is normal, flowing slowly and silently for us. The cells of the skin are updates every 3-4 weeks.
People with psoriasis, this process only lasts for 3 to 7 days. As a result, are not yet fully formed cells accumulate rapidly on the surface of the skin, causing the appearance of red, scaly and keratinized skin rash, covered with silvery-white scales. It is believed that the psoriasis patients skin cells change more rapidly due to disorders of the immune system.
The immune system is to protect the body, which allows him to fight the infection. One of the main types of cells that uses the immune system, called T-lymphocytes.
T lymphocytes usually migrate through the body, find the infection, and fight with them. People with psoriasis they are in error attack the healthy cells of the skin. This causes the immune system to produce more T-lymphocytes, but also to read, new skin cells more quickly.
Up to the end is not clear who is originally a disorder of the immune system, well that might be a role played by specific genes and environmental factors.
Psoriasis is hereditary. One of three patients with psoriasis has a parent of this disease. However, it is still unclear what is the role of genetics in the development of psoriasis. The results of the study indicate that, for the development of psoriasis may respond to many genes. That may make a person more vulnerable to this disease can their various combinations. However, legacy is not itself the psoriasis, but only a predisposition to it, that is to say, the presence of these genes does not mean that you do not need to develop this disease.
Triggers of psoriasis
A lot of people psoriasis symptoms appear or worsen after a certain event, which is called the trigger. If you know your triggers, it can help you to avoid the worsening of the symptoms. Examples of triggers:
- the damage to the skin, for example, a cut, a scratch, an insect bite or sunburn (this is called Kebner);
- the abuse of alcohol;
- smoking;
- the stress;
- hormonal changes, especially in women (for example, during the period of puberty and menopause);
- some drugs, for example, lithium, some antimalarial medicines, anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors (for the treatment ) and beta-blockers (for the treatment of congestive heart failure);
- an infection of the throat, in some people, in particular children and young people, after a streptococcal infection of the throat, develops a form of psoriasis is called guttate psoriasis, although in most cases, after a streptococcal infection of the throat, psoriasis does not occur;
- other immune system disorders, such as HIV, causing the onset or exacerbation of psoriasis.
Psoriasis is not contagious and therefore cannot spread from one person to another.
The diagnosis of psoriasis
Generally, for the diagnosis of psoriasis rather the external inspection of the skin.
In more rare cases, require taking a biopsy (a small sample of skin), which is then sent to a laboratory for study under the microscope. Detect the type of psoriasis and rule out other diseases of the skin such as seborrheic dermatitis, flat red moth, a simple chronic ringworm and pink moth.
Generally, the diagnosis and the treatment of psoriasis is performed under the control of a dermatologist specialized in skin diseases. If the doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which sometimes occurs as a complication to psoriasis, you should consult a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in arthritis.
You can take blood tests to exclude other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, as well as make x-rays of the joints affected by the disease.
The treatment of psoriasis
Completely cure psoriasis is not possible, however, thanks to a treatment impossible to reduce the severity and frequency of exacerbations. Usually, the treatment of psoriasis takes place under the control of a dermatologist, in the case of the involvement in the process of the joints is assigned to the consultation of the rheumatologist. If the symptoms of psoriasis are raised significantly, and respond poorly to treatment, your doctor may refer you to the hospital in the hospital, at the service of dermatology.
One or the other method of treatment is applied depending on the type and severity of psoriasis and the area of the skin, prey to the disease. If the symptoms of psoriasis are expressed moderately and does not accumulate, the doctor may be limited to the appointment of outside facilities, for example, in the form of a cream. The acute phase is generally attributed to the more severe, the treatment by medicines, taken inside.
There is a wide range of tools for the treatment of psoriasis, but it can be difficult to determine which is the most effective way. Talk to your doctor if you feel that the treatment is not working or you have side effects, causing discomfort.
The treatment methods are divided into 3 categories:
- the local treatment — are applied on the skin for the creams and ointments;
- phototherapy — your skin is exposed to a certain type of ultraviolet rays;
- the system of the reception inside, or in the form of injection of drugs that have a therapeutic action on the whole body.
Often, the different methods of treatment combine. As the patients with psoriasis requires a long-term treatment, it is logical to establish a plan of drugs in the manipulation, all of which are the days to do it. The doctor should regularly monitor your state of health and, if necessary, adjust the treatment plan.