What is psoriasis: causes, stages, treatment

Psoriasis is a common skin disease of neurogenic etiology. The disease is not contagious and is not transmitted from person to person. Most often, psoriasis becomes chronic due to its latent course. Usually, the disease develops in people under the age of 30, but it can also occur in old age.

External symptoms may be absent, the clinical picture of the disease depends on the type and stage. Most often, psoriasis begins with the appearance of bright red spots, which are covered with dry scales, so the disease has a second name - scaly lichen.

Skin spots can be of different sizes, some can combine in an affected area of the skin and protrude significantly above the surface.

Psoriasis causes physical and mental discomfort to the patient, the disease periodically worsens, in the meantime a period of remission occurs and the symptoms subside.

Skin patches are called psoriatic plaques or papules, most often affect the elbows and knees, spread to the head and lumbar region. The plaques can affect other parts of the body, depending on the type of disease. The treatment can last more than a year.

Causes of the onset of the disease

Doctor examining a patient with psoriasis

Psoriasis causes several causes associated with various factors, both external and internal:

  • a common cause is genetic inheritance;
  • the disease can develop due to constant stress, anxiety, shock, depression and mental disorders;
  • various autoimmune diseases and a malfunction of the immune system create ideal conditions on the surface of the skin for the onset of the disease;
  • chronic psoriasis can also cause metabolic disturbances as well as endocrine system malfunction.

The type of psoriasis and its course depend on the etiology of the disease.

Psoriasis classification

Forms of psoriasis

The disease has various forms, on which the external manifestation and symptoms depend:

  1. The most common form of the disease is scaly psoriasis. The surface of the skin is covered with red or pink spots covered with scales. They are in stark contrast to healthy skin, which is denser and higher than the underlying surface. The scaly layer is easily removed and, if disturbed, begins to bleed, causing severe itching and burning. As the disease worsens, the spots can grow and merge with each other, forming large areas of damage.
  2. Guttate psoriasis has a different appearance, the spots can be pink or purple, during the period of exacerbation they become brighter. The scales may be larger and resemble droplets in appearance; they can also merge in large areas.
  3. Another form of psoriasis that affects only the points of the folds and folds of the skin: elbows, armpits, areas under the fat folds of the abdomen or chest, in the groin. The spots are smooth, uniform, do not itch and have no scales. If there is friction with clothing in the affected areas, the surface of the stains is easily injured.
  4. The chronic form of nail psoriasis is also common, mainly the nail plate of the fingers or toes. Nails lose their shape, deform and change color. The nails begin to thicken and exfoliate, the disease can provoke the loss of the nail plate. In the initial stage, nail psoriasis is easily confused with a fungal infection, so you need to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
  5. The most severe form of the disease is pustular, characterized by the appearance of light-colored fluid-filled blisters, which can be easily broken by rubbing clothing. When the pustules are destroyed, pus forms and a secondary skin infection occurs. This form of psoriasis is dangerous because it can cover almost the entire body, which aggravates its course.
  6. Rheumatoid psoriasis affects not only the surface of the skin, but also the joints and periarticular soft tissues. This mainly affects the knee, shoulder and hip joints. Injuries are manifested not only with external symptoms, but also with pain inside the joint, which brings further suffering to the patient. If the hands or feet are affected, swelling of the fingers is observed, their sensitivity decreases and deformation begins. In the most severe and neglected form, the patient can lose sensitivity in the limbs and become disabled.

All these forms can progress on their own, or they can appear together, it all depends on the severity of the disease.

Stages of psoriasis

Psoriatic plaques under the breast

The chronic form of the disease has several stages, each of which has its own symptoms and characteristics:

  1. with a progressive stage, spots, covered with scales, quickly appear and increase in size. They are usually red in color, but they can change their shades depending on the form of the disease. The skin in these places is very itchy, burning and painful;
  2. in a stable stage, the disease does not cause painful sensations, it flows in a measured way, the scales gradually grow, they can periodically merge;
  3. with a regressive stage, the papules can resolve on their own, they do not cause any concern except external signs.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that alternates between exacerbation and remission.

Reasons for exacerbation

Laboratory diagnostics of psoriasis

An exacerbation of the disease can be caused by many reasons, both external and internal:

  • prolonged exposure to cold with frostbite of the skin;
  • violation of the hormonal background of the body during puberty, pregnancy or menopause;
  • long-term therapy with certain drugs (antibiotics), self-medication, dosage violation when taking complex vitamins and herbal supplements;
  • the disease can be exacerbated by climate change or exposure to sunlight;
  • alcohol abuse can not only provoke an exacerbation of the disease, but also complicate its course;
  • trauma, burns, frostbite and other mechanical damage to the skin always cause exacerbation of psoriasis;
  • infection with viruses and bacteria can cause an outbreak of disease, sometimes a common respiratory disease causes an exacerbation of skin diseases.

The rheumatoid form of psoriasis has a seasonal exacerbation:

  • in summer - in case of sun exposure;
  • in winter - due to hypothermia.

Ultraviolet rays help papules heal, but infrared rays from the sun irritate the skin.

Psoriasis is diagnosed without much difficulty, the disease has vivid symptoms, additional studies are carried out in the form of a blood test and a skin biopsy to rule out other diseases.

Treatment

Rheumatoid psoriasis can affect the hands

Medicine today has made great strides in the treatment of skin diseases, including psoriasis; there are several methods that can be used to treat an advanced form of the disease. The doctor determines the method of treatment on a purely individual basis, based on the form, stage, causes and symptoms. Treatment is always carried out comprehensively, combining drug therapy and physical therapy.

Drug treatment includes the use of both internal and external drugs:

  • to eliminate skin diseases, salicylic acid, sulfur, ditranol and urea-based ointments are used;
  • glucocorticoid ointments;
  • lotions for the treatment of the scalp.

At the stage of exacerbation, hormonal ointments are used to eliminate the inflammatory process, treatment is always started with less strong ones. If the disease begins to progress again, use strong fluorinated agents. They are used for two weeks to achieve the result.

For the elderly and children, ointments with the least side effect are used.

With an increase in dosage, ointments based on ditranol are prescribed to eliminate the inflammatory process, itching and swelling.

Preparation with kalkipotriolhas a direct medicinal effect on pathogenetic provoking factors. It has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Usually, a course of treatment in two months has a noticeable positive result, the rash can disappear completely. This remedy has no side effects in the form of skin atrophy and has a persistent effect. The medicine is used to treat a teardrop-shaped form of psoriasis, which is difficult to treat.

All drugs must be alternated, otherwise addiction may occur and the body will stop responding to them.

Aromatic retinoid treatment is also considered effective.

In addition to drug therapy, certain requirements must be met for the success of treatment:

  • follow a dietary diet;
  • take the necessary vitamins under the supervision of a doctor;
  • avoid stressful situations, in case of a depressive state, it is necessary to consult a doctor to prescribe the necessary funds;
  • protect the affected areas as much as possible from contact with chemicals, especially hands and nails;
  • wear only cotton clothes so as not to cause further irritation to the skin;
  • do not consume alcoholic beverages and sweets and contact with allergens should also be avoided.

If all the recommendations and rules of treatment are followed, it is possible to achieve remission of the disease and, in some cases, a complete cure.