Skin diseases are accompanied by the appearance of unpleasant symptoms and psychological discomfort. One of the common diseases requiring immediate skin treatment is psoriasis of the elbows, and the choice of remedies is not limited to the use of local preparations. If you do not do therapy in time, a small inflammation will soon turn from a cosmetic problem into a medical problem.
What is psoriasis on the elbows
The disease, which is characterized by the appearance of several spots at the fold of the limbs, is characterized by its unpredictability and cyclicity. Psoriasis of the elbows is a chronic skin disease that begins with the appearance of papules and transforms into plaques (large diffuse lesions) with scales of white, silver and reddish hues. Slightly raised damaged areas form due to the buildup of dry dead cells. If the inflammation is not treated, the disease will progress with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission.
Symptoms
When scabs form on the elbows, you can immediately notice the damaged areas of the skin. The signs of the disease are clearly visible immediately, and it is rarely possible to completely cure psoriasis in the area of the flexion of the arms. The chances of a successful recovery are those patients who saw a doctor in a timely manner. A cause for concern should be violations of the condition of the skin on the elbows, which are similar to the following symptoms of psoriasis:
- Red plaques or scaly spots that initially look like papules with a white film, and as the disease worsens and develops, they grow, connect with each other and become covered with white scales.
- Itchy skin, which causes further damage to the skin. Like other mechanical damage to the skin, such as scratches, cuts, such inflammation of the elbows is combed, injures the skin, which leads to the appearance of new spots.
- Severe redness, inflamed areas of the skin begin to bleed.
Elbow plates
Psoriasis can occur in the groin area, on the trunk, limbs or head, but wherever the disease is localized, its sure sign is plaque. Sores on the elbows in the form of red spots with white scales occur more often due to the opening of this area of the skin, since it is easy to damage. The damaged area of the epidermis becomes inflamed, red scaly spots gradually increase and can cover the entire elbow. With a neglected form, the plaques can bleed, and when trying to scrape, the phenomenon of "stearin stain" appears, as after a drop of hardened wax.
causes
Scientific studies that continue to be conducted have not yet been able to determine with certainty the source of the onset of the disease, and among the medical versions of the causes of psoriasis in the elbow area there are thefollowing:
- Genetic predisposition is an important statistical factor. If one of the parents suffers from chronic skin inflammation, there is a high probability that the child also suffers from psoriasis.
- The penetration of specific substances penetrating through injured areas of the skin. The affected areas of the epidermis begin to thicken, the body begins to struggle with abnormal symptoms and rejects the cells, which is externally manifested by a fungus on the elbows.
- Violation of the work of T-lymphocytes, which are faced with the task of creating a barrier against pathogens.
- Silicon deficiency in the body.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Serious injury to limbs.
- Severe mechanical damage, non-healing wounds.
- Emotional, mental stress.
- Long-term medications.
- Weak immunity.
steps
A chronic inflammatory process on the elbows, which, under the influence of a number of reasons, intensifies or decreases and progresses without proper treatment. The course of treatment should be prescribed by a dermatologist, but to determine the effectiveness of the method, the choice of drugs, procedures, the doctor must assess the course of the disease. Further tactics will depend on the clinical picture, while it is customary to distinguish the following stages of skin lesions of elbows with psoriasis:
- Initial. The surface of the skin on the outside of the elbows is covered with a rash. Reddish spots of a rounded shape with a white film develop, become covered with scales, and after 2-3 weeks plaques form. With prompt treatment, the signs of psoriasis may go away for a while and then come back, or the lesion may occur in another part of the body.
- Progressive. This stage of the disease can be characterized by the presence of psoriatic elements with numerous scales. The appearance of such signs indicates the beginning of an exacerbation of psoriasis, and it is easy to notice it by the presence of a hyperemic rim (redness) along the edge of the scaly plaque.
- Stationary. It is characterized by a decrease in the inflammatory process, which indicates the effectiveness of the treatment used. The appearance of new plaques on the elbows stops, there is no red edge around the psoriatic elements, their diameter decreases, while the scale completely covers the inflamed area.
- Regressive. It indicates partial healing, while the desquamation is almost imperceptible or disappears, pigmented areas of the skin appear instead of the plaques. Another set of measures will be aimed at preventing exacerbations of psoriasis.
Shapes
The undulating course of the disease, when a spontaneous period alternates with an improvement, is not the only component of the insidiousness of psoriasis. The severity of the course of the inflammatory process depends on the nature of the rash, another important factor is the form. With localization of rashes on the elbows, a simple (vulgar) type of disease is often found, characterized by redness, peeling, itching. The neglected form of the disease threatens with complications and the appearance of pustular, erythrodermic and seborrhoeic psoriasis - with them the area of the lesion will expand.
How to Treat Psoriasis on Elbows
There are effective therapeutic methods, but it will not work to completely clean the skin of the elbows, since psoriasis belongs to the group of incurable diseases. The whole complex treatment system will be aimed at the maximum elimination of external signs. The duration of remission depends on many factors, and in order to eliminate the manifestation of psoriasis, it is recommended to carry out a treatment regimen using such basic methods as:
- local therapy (ointment, cream, lotion);
- physiotherapy procedures;
- phototherapy;
- special diet;
- take vitamin-mineral complexes.
The cure for elbow psoriasis
Drugs are actively used in the treatment of a multifactorial disease, but their effectiveness is noticeable only in combination with other means. For the treatment of psoriasis, it is customary to use external drugs, and if they are ineffective, the following drugs can be prescribed:
- cytostatics;
- antihistamines;
- enterosorbents.
Ointment
Topical treatment is a quick way to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of psoriasis. Ointments with vitamin D, zinc, tar are in demand to help remove dead cells, moisturize the skin of the elbows, and hormonal agents help to cope with the most severe forms of the disease. Corticosteroids are relatively safe if used as directed by a doctor who has examined the psoriatic plaques on the elbows, assessed the condition of the upper layers and the extent of the lesion. Only a dermatologist can introduce hormonal ointments into the treatment regimen, self-medication is strictly prohibited!
Alternative treatment
Compresses, lotions, decoctions, baths can rightly be considered no less useful methods of treating psoriasis. If the patches on the elbows are covered with a white film, itching at home, redness can be easily removed by immersing the affected areas for 7-10 minutes in a cool herbal solution. The composition should be selected individually, brewed with boiling water, but hot baths should be avoided. Some of the herbs useful for the treatment of psoriasis include:
- celandine;
- chicory root;
- valerian root.
Prevention
There is no reason to assume that psoriasis will go away on its own, but self-medication is also not worth it, since there is a risk of aggravating the course of a chronic disease. Suppression of the inflammatory process is the first step towards recovery, because for long-term remission you will need to follow certain recommendations of doctors. To avoid exacerbation of psoriasis, it is necessary to adhere to such preventive measures:
- follow the right diet;
- exclude the use of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, sweets, spicy foods;
- get enough sleep, while the duration of sleep should be at least 8 hours a day;
- avoid mechanical damage to the skin, injuries;
- monitor the internal state of the body;
- develop skills to cope with stress;
- support the functioning of the immune system, avoiding infectious diseases;
- minimize contact with household chemicals.
Photo of psoriasis on the elbow
