What to do if psoriasis appears on the face?

Psoriasis is a non-infectious autoimmune disease that manifests as severe redness, inflammation and scaling of the skin. The disease is difficult to treat and has a wave character - it proceeds with remissions and relapses. It is especially unpleasant when it touches the face, since this part of the body cannot be covered with clothes. Psoriasis on the face brings not only itching and discomfort from skin irritation, but also moral depression due to the attitude of others who do not understand that this disease is not contagious.

Is there psoriasis on the face?

In most cases, psoriatic skin defects affect the scalp, elbows and knees, neck, armpits, and inguinal cavities. Can there be psoriasis on the face? Perhaps, but this form is considered atypical and rare.

Psoriasis can be vulgar (common) and seborrheic. It is the face that is often affected by the second form, which is considered more severe due to large, particularly dense papules, as well as scales covered with a layer of sebum of a yellowish tint.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease

Doctors cannot yet reach a common opinion on the causes of the skin condition, but suggest that psoriasis is caused by:

  • autoimmune disorders;
  • metabolic disturbances.

Autoimmune disorders arise due to improper work of the immune system, when it begins to perceive its own body aggressively. The predisposition to such disorders is hereditary, autosomal dominant or recessive.

Alcohol addiction and smoking can cause the development of psoriasis on the face

Metabolic disturbances are provoked by nervous tension, malnutrition, chronic infections, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, hormonal disturbances. Also, the cause of improper metabolism can be uncomfortable climatic conditions and bad habits.

Psoriasis cannot occur on the face for just one reason. This usually leads to many unfavorable factors. In a separate group, doctors identify factors that increase the likelihood of manifestation of pathology:

  • chronic inflammation;
  • exchange chess;
  • weakening of the immune system;
  • hidden infections;
  • regular skin injuries (the main cause that provokes psoriasis on the nose and other protruding places);
  • severe or prolonged stress;
  • frostbite and overheating;
  • poisoning, including alcoholism;
  • uncontrolled intake of antibiotics, beta-blockers and antivirals.

What does psoriasis look like on the face: varieties

Psoriasis on the skin of the face is of two types:

  1. It occurs at a young age - up to 40 years. The peak incidence occurs at the age of 16-24 years. Early pathology often becomes generalized, severe, difficult to treat and often relapses.
  2. It affects people over the age of 40. The peak incidence occurs at the age of 55-60 years. This type is less persistent, the symptoms are not as strong as in the previous version, it is easier, it is better treatable.

There are also two main types of facial psoriasis: vulgar and seborrheic. Vulgaris is diagnosed in most patients and rarely affects the face. For such a place, the seborrheic type of psoriasis is more characteristic, which often gives relapses, is more difficult to treat and is characterized by the maximum severity of symptoms. The papules are especially dense and large, the scales are covered with a layer of sebum and have a yellowish tint, which is why they are very noticeable.

The disease can be localized in the following places on the face:

  • on the cheeks;
  • In the nose;
  • on the eyelids;
  • under the eyes;
  • on the eyebrows;
  • around the mouth.

Sometimes the disease affects the forehead, less often psoriasis on the lips is diagnosed. In a neglected version, skin defects can extend to the ears.

Clinical stages

Pathology is not instantaneous, proceeds in stages, the stages are called stages. It is advisable to start treatment at the first stage, but for this you need to know how psoriasis begins.

The stage of the pathology can be determined by the symptoms:

  1. At the very beginning, facial psoriasis is manifested by papules resembling acne marks. They itch, grow, form dry patches. The skin underneath is white.
  2. Later, the affected skin turns red, the disease becomes active (sebopsoriasis or seborrheic). This stage is called progressive. The skin is very itchy, painful, flaky, covered with dense yellow crusts.
  3. Then the affected areas begin to bleed and itch severely. Droplets of blood come out after scraping off a dense scale. The wound surfaces do not heal. The peel affects the whole face, the itching becomes unbearable.
  4. After that, the stationary phase begins, during which the growth of the papules stops and the peeling decreases. The plaques on the face acquire a bluish tint.
  5. The last stage is regressive. All symptoms gradually disappear. The disease goes into remission, peeling and itching disappear completely, papules and plaques disappear.

Since psoriasis is chronic, after remission there will definitely be a relapse. The duration of remission is individual and largely depends on the correct treatment, as well as care for the skin of the face. If the pathology is not treated, then instead of remission, various complications can be obtained.

Consequences and complications

Complications of skin pathology can be local (the disease spreads to other parts of the body) and systemic. The neglected form of psoriasis often turns into arthritis, and if it passes to the eyelids and ears, then it can cause blindness and deafness. In addition, comorbidities worsen in patients: diabetes, hypertension, obesity, Crohn's syndrome, heart failure. This is why it is so important to be treated on time.

How to cure psoriasis on the face

It is impossible to completely cure the disease, since it is chronic, but many years of remission can be achieved. For this, the treatment of psoriasis on the face should be comprehensive - complex, consisting of the following procedures:

  • vitamin therapy;
  • hormonal and non-hormonal therapy with special systemic and locally acting preparations;
  • physiotherapy;
  • maintaining a proper diet;
  • folk medicines.

Before treatment, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist and pass a standard set of tests to determine the features of the pathology. The therapy is selected individually and begins with special preparations for psoriasis.

Preparations

The first outbreak, especially with a complex course, is treated with systemic drugs. Retinoids quickly and powerfully combat the manifestations of psoriasis on the face. They stop pathological cell division, due to which the disease stops progressing and goes into remission.

Antiallergic drugs will help reduce itching, redness, inflammation and swelling (symptomatic treatment). A drug containing succinic acid in the composition can accelerate the recovery of the skin and improve its condition. For the general strengthening of the body, injections of vitamins of group B are prescribed. Instead of injections, children can be given a vitamin complex in tablets.

If the drugs are ineffective, the strongest immunosuppressive drug for psoriatic rashes is used instead. It is used as a last resort due to the high likelihood of side effects.

Ointment for psoriasis on the face is prescribed for a mild form of the disease

In mild forms of the disease, as well as in childhood psoriasis, they try to treat with topical drugs - ointments, creams, gels.

How to smear psoriasis on the face, the doctor will tell you. Usually assigned:

  • salicylic acid ointment 0. 5%;
  • ointment based on tar and sulfur, not less than 10% (concentration of the active substance);
  • naftalan cream 5%;
  • glucocorticoid drug;
  • non-hormonal cream of vegetable origin based on fat.

Creams and gels, as well as similar preparations for topical application, are applied to skin defects 2-4 times a day until the symptoms completely disappear. Hormonal and non-hormonal anti-inflammatories improve the effectiveness of drug treatment:

  • non-hormonal - shark oil, vitamin F, creams based on natural oils and medicinal herbs, calcipotriol ointment;
  • hormonal ointments for psoriasis.

In addition to the listed drugs, it is imperative to take sedatives (valerian, motherwort), since stress aggravates the symptoms. After the pathology has passed into a calm stage, physiotherapy is prescribed:

  • UV to accelerate skin regeneration;
  • radiotherapy for itching and inflammation;
  • ultrasound to reduce redness and swelling;
  • magnetotherapy to improve metabolic processes.

Therapy with folk remedies

How to treat psoriasis of the skin, traditional medicine recommends. Masks will help to quickly remove psoriasis from the face at home:

  • from the infusion of dry chamomile - infuse the flowers, strain, soak the gauze in the solution and apply to the face, keep for 20 minutes;
  • from aloe - cut the leaf and rub the affected areas of the face with juice;
  • from turmeric - the spice is diluted with water to a pasty state and applied to the plates. You need to keep 8-12 hours.

Face masks can be done every other day or daily before bedtime for 2-4 weeks. Then it is desirable to take a short break, after which the treatment can be repeated.

Another powerful remedy for facial psoriasis is the concentrate of essential oils (coconut, sea buckthorn, juniper). It is recommended to add oils to the care cream or washing water. They soften, nourish and moisturize the skin, facilitate the peeling of seborrheic psoriasis.

Pathology is well neutralized by sea salt, which must be added to masks, washing water and scrubs. Alternative treatment methods will not replace official methods, but will help to significantly speed up the healing process. It is recommended to combine this treatment with the use of pharmaceutical preparations.

Diet and lifestyle

All patients (even children) should follow a diet that eliminates all potential allergens: citrus fruits, coffee, chocolate, colorful vegetables, seafood. If psoriasis is on the forehead or cheeks, you should definitely give up sugarand starches.

Also, the problem can be solved by giving up bad habits - alcohol addiction and smoking. The correct way of life will have to be maintained constantly, even after the transition of the disease into remission.

Facial skin care

Care for problem skin on the face should be carefully, regularly and correctly. For care, it is better to use a daily moisturizer for the face with vitamin D in the composition. It will improve the quality of the skin, soften it and saturate it with nutrients for recovery. And you also need:

  • avoid actively rubbing the skin with a cloth towel (it is better to wipe your face after washing with paper towels);
  • during relapses, do not use decorative cosmetics for the face, especially in the warm season;
  • do not peel or injure the skin when peeling;
  • replace razors with electric razors (advice for men);
  • regularly protect the skin of the face from solar ultraviolet rays with the help of special creams and hats.

Is it possible to tan with psoriasis in open areas of the body? No, the affected skin should be protected from sunlight, especially in the acute stage, as ultraviolet rays can lead to complications.

Despite the specific nature of psoriasis on the face, with a comprehensive and competent treatment approach, if all the doctor's recommendations are followed, the prognosis for achieving a long remission will be favorable.