Psoriasis — the pathology heavy, despite the fact that it is not dangerous for the life. Psoriasis called the system a chronic disease affecting the skin and nails. It causes redness, itching and the appearance of scaly plates, manifests itself at all ages and difficult to treat. Why appear psoriasis, what are the complications of the threat and, especially, how to treat it?
What do we know about psoriasis and its treatment
Psoriasis is one of the most studied, and one of the most enigmatic of the disease. The specialists for decades to try to understand the reasons of its appearance, but as long as science is not a clear answer to the question, why people become ill with psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a disease is not contagious, as the not call fungi or bacteria, and the reaction of his own body's immune system. In psoriasis, the skin cells start to share with a great speed — if the rate of cycle life of the cells lasts approximately 30 days, the psoriasis — only 3-5.
The main symptoms of psoriasis, redness, flaking, the appearance of inflamed areas, called plaques, itching. In some cases, pustules or small eruption. Sometimes, the psoriasis almost does not manifest itself, and sometimes exacerbated virtually no apparent reason. Most often, psoriasis appears on the folds of the arms and legs, along the line of the hair growth, but also where the clothing rests too tight, or rubs; although inflammation can occur in other places.
Statistics
Psoriasis is quite widespread disease, they would suffer approximately 3% of the world population.
There are several types of psoriasis. The most common is vulgaris, or uneven, it is diagnosed in 80% of patients with psoriasis. Norman (small rash), pustular (pustules), palmo-plantar and pericardial fluid types (weeping rash), much more rare.
Most of the patients, for the first time signs of psoriasis of 15 to 25 years. Often pushed to its appearance (and, later, by the worsening) are emotional disorders. Scientists have linked this phenomenon with the emission of stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol.
Psoriasis is considered a chronic disease, that is, to cure it is impossible. However, modern medicine knows the means, the manner of its events to a minimum and to reduce the frequency of relapses.
Note
Unfortunately, psoriasis can be hereditary. In families where one of parents is sick, the psoriasis, the probability of birth of a child of the same disease is 25%. If the two parents are familiar with this disease is not hearsay, the risk of psoriasis in children increases up to 60%.
How to treat psoriasis: an approach to therapy
The scheme of treatment of psoriasis depends on the severity of the disease. In mild cases (if hit less than 3% of the surface of the body) to prescribe medicines for external use — ointments and creams. Also recommends review of the way of life and, in particular, power. In the most complex cases to prescribe physical therapy. Oral medication, including those who have a certain toxicity, as well as hormonal disorder is the extreme, which is only used if all other means of psoriasis treatment doesn't help.
Of effective methods and means of conservative treatment of psoriasis
There are several areas of the fight against the psoriasis, and for the treatment to be effective, it is better to apply an integrated approach.
Drug therapy
To fight psoriasis "from the inside" are often prescribed to be derivatives of vitamin A (retinoids), as well as drugs that reduce the activity of the immune system. For the topical treatment of manifestations of psoriasis use therapeutic ointments and creams, relieve inflammation and itching, contributing to the exfoliation of the dead skin cells that help to protect the damaged skin from fungi and bacteria. This is important because the disease course of psoriasis is often complicated by the accession of a secondary infection, which reduces the effectiveness of the therapy in general and slows down the recovery process of the skin.
In the most difficult cases, often recurring over the psoriasis, to prescribe local hormonal methods (ointments and creams) — the so-called TGKS (topical corticosteroids). With them, he needs to be careful — TGKS have a number of side-effects and contra-indications. If you apply it to their own initiative, and is not a strict schema and the recommendations of your doctor, you can worsen the course of the disease. TGKS, is generally not recommended to use more than 5 days and apply in large areas of the skin, as well as on the sensitive areas (face, neck, folds of the skin), as these tools can provide a system of action on the body, causing a withdrawal syndrome and lead to thinning of the skin and the loss of its shielding properties, and therefore at risk of relapse, repeated.
Doctors complain often that the disease could face faster and easier when the patients have not engaged in self-medicate using powerful drugs, in fact, cure psoriasis after uncontrolled use of hormonal methods much more difficult.
Science has long made a big step forward in effectiveness research, but to the security of the means for the treatment of the skin in psoriasis and other diseases. For example, you can wear the basic preparations of this substance, such as zinc (pyrithione zinc). Zinc is organic, and a natural remedy for the skin — in effect, its concentration in the health of the man's skin is about 20% of the total content in the body, and the rarity of this precious metal accompanied by a variety of lesions of the skin and degradation of wound healing.
Drug active and of zinc, the difference of the tools with the oxide of zinc, possess a set of specific properties (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal), to help relieve the itching of the skin, contribute to the development of the ceramides (lipids), which leads to the restoration of its barrier function. In contrast to ointments with zinc oxide, creams with zinc pyrithione does not dry the skin. In addition, they activate the so-called apoptosis (natural programmed death) pathologically modified cells and skin cells of the inflammation, by removing the excesses of the reproduction of the epithelium, reducing the desquamation and the formation of psoriatic plaques.
Studies have proven that the active zinc has comparable to TGKS efficacy and a good safety profile, because it is virtually not absorbed at the surface of the skin has no irritation and the action causing damage.
What drug (s) or has been assigned, the remember that, from the writing to the recipe, the doctor always takes into consideration the possible relationship of the use and harm of drug use — taking into account your mitigating features, history, etc, Therefore no medication: after they have cured, you can mutilate the other. In the case of psoriasis this applies primarily to the use of hormonal methods. Thoughtless application of ointments and creams with TGKS can lead to the effect of "vicious circle" — the more you use, the more often will be walking with the exacerbation.
In order not to risk, upon the first manifestation of the symptoms of psoriasis is worthwhile to begin a safe non-hormonal means, and definitely consult a doctor. And while the chronic and activity in the course of the use of drugs non-hormonal medicinal properties immediately after the withdrawal of the aggravation (after application of the TGKS) can prolong periods of remission and help the skin to recover fully.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is the treatment of psoriasis also help to eliminate the manifestations of this disease. As we know, the pathology of the fear of the sun, so in the treatment of psoriasis is widely used phototherapy — irradiation with the ultraviolet light. The course of psoriasis treatment may also include laser therapy, ultrasound examination of the impact, the magnetic therapy.
Power
Patients with psoriasis is extremely important to follow a good diet. Excluded are all products that can cause allergies, and foods heavy on the stomach and the liver. The diet must contain high doses of vitamins (including vitamin A) and fiber. It should be to give up alcohol, processed meats, animal fats and trans-fatty acids, eggs, coffee and carbonated water, muffins.
Psychotherapy
As it has already been said, the stress and the shock-psychic psoriasis can degenerate. At the same time, for many people, in particular young women, psoriasis itself is a source of experience and low self-esteem. The goal of therapy in psoriasis is to teach people how to manage their emotions and do not admit the nervous tension. In addition, group therapy can provide emotional support and improve self-esteem.
Plasmapheresis
During plasmapheresis the doctor takes out the diseased portion of blood, separates the plasma from the red blood cells and returns it to the help of the injection back. Together with plasma displays, toxins, and auto-antibodies.
Elsewhere
Psoriasis is not an excuse for low self-esteem. Many famous people throughout life are struggling with this disease, that does not prevent them from being idols to millions, and icons of style. The psoriasis suffer from model Cara Delevingne and Kim Kardashian, actress Cameron Diaz, the singer Britney Spears.
Alternative approaches
There are alternatives to popular and exotic, the methods of treatment of psoriasis. The first, for example, is part of the oil of milk thistle on the damaged areas, decoction of marshmallow, valerian, sage, and chamomile. The exotic is possible to assign a treatment with the help of tropical fish species Garra rufa — they pyrithione skin psoriatic platelets, without damaging the healthy skin. Such an original service to offer in Thailand, and in recent years, this procedure has emerged and in some Russian spa.
The traditional methods are considered safe, but this is not quite as allergic to the herb may worsen the condition of the skin, and the lining of the blister ointments of dubious origin, and the achievement of treatment exotic in unsanitary conditions prone to the onset of inflammation and of the accession of a secondary infection.
How to improve the effectiveness of the therapy
Choose the right therapy will give a positive effect. Accelerate the recovery process will adhere to certain rules:
- Try not to worry. The skin is an indicator of the state of your nervous system. Today, there are many possibilities to manage stress without drugs: the visit of master classes with drawing, modelling and carving, sports activities and spa treatments.
- The time to treat infectious diseases, don't let the cold and all in all, watch your health — "anchored" in the body of repeated infections cause a relapse.
- Do not neglect the houses of the spa treatment. Mineral water and mud of many resorts to really help improve the condition in psoriasis. These stations around the world, many — the treatment of psoriasis, you can go to the Dead sea in Israel, in Slovenia (Portoroz), Italy (Abano Terme), Bulgaria (Kyustendil).
- Do not use while bathing hard wool and the brush, and a solid soap — you need a soft sponge and a shower gel with a neutral ph. After the bath or the shower, apply the cream, you help to maintain the moisture of the skin, for example, for children.
- Avoid synthetic materials and choose comfortable, airy clothes natural and soft-tissue — cotton, silk and other.
It is often said that psoriasis is not a disease, but a consequence of the mode of life. The share of truth in this adage. If you have been diagnosed "psoriasis", should seriously review his habits and strictly follow the rules. Compliance with the recommendations and began a treatment you will get a receipt and a long remission in many people with psoriasis, in fact, have not, so that the disease does not occur. But the psoriasis does not suffer from the distraction — if it is not treated or dealt with independently, without the participation of a physician, a worsening of the soon to be almost monthly, and regain a beautiful skin and well-being will be very difficult.