Leg psoriasis is a skin disease in which itchy papules, spots, or pustules appear on parts of the limbs. Over time, they grow and merge into plaques. This disease is incurable and chronic. Well-designed complex therapy helps to quickly relieve symptoms of psoriasis on the legs. Therefore, wishing to obtain a stable remission (to free the skin completely or partially of the elements of the rash), it is not necessary to prescribe treatment.
Causes of pathology
Scientists have yet to understand why psoriasis appears on the feet and other parts of the body. Many researchers associate psoriatic rashes with genetic dysfunction of cells in the epidermis and subsequent excessive activity of the immune system. This pathological condition occurs as follows:
- Due to a malfunction of the skin, keratinocytes (90% consisting of the cells of the epidermis) do not have time to mature, but at the same time they multiply rapidly, which leads to a change in the structureindividual areas of the skin.
- In response to such a failure, the body's immunity sends out T lymphocytes (killer cells) and macrophages (eating cells) to destroy the immature and pathologically altered keratinocytes.
- Due to the accumulation of a large number of immune cells and keratinocytes in the upper layers of the epidermis, the skin grows and begins to peel. No drug can help completely normalize the functions of skin renewal.
The progression of psoriasis on the legs is facilitated by a bacterial infection that can enter the skin through small scratches, as well as a disturbed hormonal background, allergic contact dermatitis and a number of other external factors.
What psoriasis looks like on the legs, depending on the type of disease
Psoriatic lesions on the feet and knees of the legs may look different from person to person. This factor is explained by the cyclical course of the disease. In addition, one or more forms of psoriasis can develop on the skin of the legs, including palmoplantar, common (vulgar), teardrop-shaped, punctate psoriasis, as well as nail and joint psoriasis.
Psoriasis of the legs and feet
Elements of psoriatic rashes can be localized on different parts of the skin of the legs:
- on the knees ;
- on the shins;
- on the heels;
- in the thighs.
Psoriasis of the lower leg, foot, knee joint and inner thigh begins with the appearance of single red papules and severe itching (typical of the point and vulgar form of the disease)or small pink and purple colored spots (with teardrop-shaped psoriasis).
In the first case, the elements of the rash protrude slightly from the surface of the skin, differ in density and have a top with a silvery scale, which flakes when scratched with a fingernail. Over time, the papules increase, and those that are close to each other merge into a single plaque. As a result, they completely cover the skin of the knees or cover solid areas of skin from the knees to the feet. A peeling appears on the surface of the plaques.
At the initial stage, the teardrop-shaped elements of the psoriatic rash affect all the skin on the legs with the same type of small rash. Then, due to the progression of the disease, isolated spots merge into groups and cover large areas of skin on the legs. Such psoriatic lesions rarely occur on the heels.
Palmoplantar psoriasis often develops on the sole of the foot. Elements of the rash form on the inflamed skin of the feet in the form of small spots and pustules with clear boundaries and yellow sterile contents. If the pustules on the legs open, their fluid drains out, dries up and forms a yellowish crust, the underlying ulcers also dry out.
Pustules that do not burst become covered with dry scales. Gradually they increase and regroup, the scaly layer begins to tighten the skin strongly, which causes discomfort when walking. The skin around the patches becomes thick and dry, cracking. Through such cracks, an infection usually penetrates the deep layers of the dermis, after which crying and decay of the skin begins.
Psoriatic arthritis
In most cases, plaque psoriasis of the legs causes psoriatic damage to the joints. This arthritis is divided into 5 types:
- Symmetrical - simultaneous inflammation of the paired joints of the knees, hip area, ankles or feet.
- Asymmetric - pathological changes simultaneously affect large and small joints, for example, the joints of a knee and the joints of the toes.
- Inflammation of the distal joints - the small joints in the toes that are closer to the nails swell.
- Spondylosis - Arthritis affects the lumbosacral spine, causing pain in the hips and lower limbs.
- Arthritis deformans is a rare inflammatory condition in which the small joints of the fingers are completely destroyed.
The skin of the swollen joints swells, turns blue-purple, and becomes hot.
Damage to nail plates
Psoriatic nail damage occurs against the background of:
- psoriatic arthritis in 80-90% of cases;
- vulgar or pustular psoriasis in 50 to 60% of cases.
In 5-10% of clinical cases, psoriasis of the toenails is primary, that is, it appears on its own, it is not preceded by psoriatic lesions of the joints or skin of the legs.
Initially, common psoriasis on the soles of the feet or psoriatic inflammation of the distal joints of the fingers causes pathological changes in the skin of the periungual area. Then the pathology spreads to the nail bed or affects the nail plate there. There is a deformation of the nail - the formation of bumps, transverse lines - and discoloration of the plaque.
Similar signs of psoriasis in women are rarely seen in young people, most often the disease occurs in young men. In old age, psoriatic nail damage affects both women and men.
Steps of progression
Psoriasis of the lower limbs, if left untreated, goes through 3 stages of development:
- initial;
- progressive;
- Stationary.
After that, the pathological changes are suspended, the phase of remission begins. Without preventive treatment, the disease resumes over time.
The manifestation of the initial stage of the disease on the legs is characterized by the formation of a single small rash, in the form of spots, papules or pustules. At first, it can occur on the folds of both knees of the legs at the same time. The elements of the rash are red or pink, then their tops are covered with white scales. The initial stage of psoriasis lasts about 3 weeks. During this time, the papules or pustules grow larger and cluster together.
The initial stage of psoriasis can be stopped if you seek help from a specialist quickly. But most often people ignore the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease, which is why psoriasis continues to develop. At a progressive stage, the number of psoriatic plaques on the skin of the legs increases, those that are close to each other merge into "paraffin lakes" of various shapes and sizes. Psoriasis on the toes leads to inflammation and peeling of the periungual tissue and damage to the nails.
For the progressive period, Kebner's phenomenon is characteristic, when a psoriatic rash forms on the scarred skin, for example, after a cut or scratch.
At the stationary stage, psoriasis of the feet and other areas of the skin of the legs is still manifested by severe itching and peeling. However, new elements of the rash no longer appear and the plaques stop growing. There is no inflammatory edge around them; dry scales appear in its place. If treatment is stopped at this stage, the exacerbation of the disease will start again. Otherwise, the psoriatic plaques stop peeling off, some go away completely, others clear up - the stage of remission begins.
How to treat psoriasis on the legs
The treatment regimen for psoriasis on the legs is established for each patient separately, taking into account the localization of the rash, the form of the disease, the stage of progression and a number of other factors. It is dangerous to independently invent a treatment for this disease, since complications can arise in the form of extensive skin lesions, inflammation of the joints, up to their destruction and the addition of bacterial infection (staphylococcus, streptococcus).
Medication
First, the foci of psoriasis are affected by non-hormonal ointments:
- tar, naphthalan - ointments relieve inflammation, are antiseptics, but they should only be used as directed by a doctor, since they have serious contraindications.
- Sulfur-salicylic ointment, salicylic acid - refer to keratolytic agents (destroying the stratum corneum). They have an exfoliating effect and help the plaques to dissolve.
- ointments that contain solidol, soften the skin of the legs, have a regenerating effect.
- ointments that contain the active form of vitamin D3 slow down the process of cell division, thereby reducing inflammation and flaking of the skin on the legs.
If non-hormonal drugs do not help stop psoriasis of the legs, corticosteroid ointments are prescribed, which are divided into:
- Weakly active - the funds act on the surface of the skin, suitable for the initial stage of psoriasis. Some ointments in this group are approved for use by children, pregnant and lactating women.
- Moderately active - prescribed for the treatment of psoriasis on rough areas of the skin on the legs, especially on the knees and soles of the feet.
- Strongly active - prescribed if ointments of moderate quality cannot stop the increase in psoriatic plaques on the skin of the legs.
If no ointment for psoriasis helps, then at the stage of disease progression, pills are prescribed simultaneously with external drugs for:
- suppression of immune cell activity;
- prevent proliferation of epidermal cells;
- they also take retinoids - derivatives of vitamin A, which are necessary for the restoration of epidermal cells.
How to get rid of psoriasis on the feet with home methods
Folk remedies for psoriasis are drugs for external and internal use, but in the treatment they should be used with as much caution as drugs.
Questions such as how to permanently cure psoriasis at home remain unanswered. Some homemade recipes help to eliminate the symptoms of the disease for a long time, but do not completely eliminate them.
Ointment for exacerbation
Ingredients:
- unrefined sunflower oil - 1 liter;
- celandine herb - 50 g;
- elecampane roots - 50 g;
- acetylsalicylic acid - 50 tab.
How to prepare: grind the tablets and herbs using a coffee grinder, pour the resulting powder into vegetable oil, mix well. Leave to infuse for 30 days in a dark, warm place. During this period, the mixture should be heated every 3 days in a steam bath, stirring, but not bringing to a boil.
How to use: strain the drug, mix the resulting liquid with petroleum jelly (3: 1), apply 3 times a day to the psoriatic plaques.
Ointment that relieves symptoms in 10 days
Ingredients:
- birch tar - 150 g;
- pharmacy alcohol - 150 mg;
- camphor oil - 75 mg;
- chicken yolk - 3 pcs.
How to cook: beat the yolks in an enamel container, gradually adding the camphor, then the tar and alcohol. Store the ointment in a dark place.
Directions: Apply with a gauze pad to the inflamed skin of the legs. After three days, you need to wash your feet with lukewarm water with tar soap suds, blot up the moisture and reapply the ointment for 3 days. If the disease does not start, the procedure is repeated again, after which the skin is cleaned.
During the period of treatment with homemade ointments, it is very important to maintain the immunity of the body. For this purpose, 1 teaspoon can be taken orally per day. sea buckthorn oil.
Diet
Good nutrition is one of the conditions for effective treatment of psoriasis not only on the legs, but also on other parts of the body. Medical scientists concluded that the allergic factor contributes to the progression of all forms of psoriasis, so allergenic foods should first of all be excluded from the menu:
- chicken eggs;
- Seafood;
- natural honey;
- chocolate, cocoa;
- grape;
- Lamb;
- pork;
- chicken meat;
- alcohol.
During this period, it is very important to give up sweet, spicy, too salty and smoked foods - they slow down the metabolism in the body. The menu should include dairy products, river fish, cereals, baked apples, vegetable oils, green peas, carrots.
Complete starvation for psoriasis, when a person drinks only one water, is contraindicated.
During an exacerbation of psoriasis on the legs, doctors recommend holding a fasting day once a week, for example, eating only apples, kefir or boiled river fish.
Physiotherapy
The answer to the question of how to treat psoriasis on the leg with physiotherapy is quite extensive. For this purpose, doctors prescribe:
- Ultrasound therapy - The ultrasonic waves emanating from the device cause the skin tissues to compress and stretch, which is done in order to restore their cells. Thus, it is possible to relieve the inflammation, itching and swelling of the skin of the legs.
- Electrosleep - prescribed for psoriasis of the skin of the legs, if a person can not cope with the stress caused by the pathology.
- Phototherapy - under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the immunity of the skin is strengthened, the rate of growth and cell division decreases.
To improve metabolic processes in the skin of the legs with psoriasis, acupressure helps. It is recommended to perform it only during the period of remission of the disease, otherwise the risk of infection of the inflamed skin is high.
Hygiene rules
In order not to provoke the appearance of new psoriatic plaques on the skin of the legs, during the period of remission, it is recommended to use only lukewarm water and baby toilet soap with a moisturizing effect for washingthe skin. As the disease progresses, the feet should be washed with lukewarm water and tar soap, which not only cleanses the skin, but also relieves the resulting inflammation. After washing, dry your skin and nails thoroughly with a soft towel.
Additional recommendations
Treatment for psoriasis on the legs will be long term if a person:
- He is engaged in active sport - the legs sweat, there is a large load on the feet. After training, it is very important to wash your feet with lukewarm water, dry them well, put on clean socks and loose shoes that will allow your skin to breathe.
- Tans regularly and for a long time in the sun - excessive sunbathing causes burns and impairs the metabolic processes of the skin. At the stage of progression of psoriasis on the skin of the legs, it is better to refuse abundant sunbathing, and in the period of remission, sunscreen should be used.
Prevention measures and prognosis
Today, psoriatic disease is considered incurable. Therefore, once a sustained reduction in symptoms has been achieved, efforts should be made to maintain this condition as recommended by the physician. There is no room for self-medication here.