What is psoriasis: causes, stages, treatment

Psoriasis is a common skin disease of neurogenic etiology. The disease is not contagious and cannot be passed 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 the elderly.

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

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

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

Skin plaques are called psoriatic plaques or papules, they most often affect the elbows and knees, spread to the head and to the lumbar region. The plaques can affect other parts of the body, depending on the type of disease. Treatment can last over 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 dysfunction 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 dysfunction.

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

Classification of psoriasis

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 patches covered with scales. They contrast sharply with healthy, denser, raised skin above the underlying surface. The scaly layer comes off easily and, if disturbed, begins to bleed, which is very itchy and burning. As the disease worsens, the spots can grow and merge with each other, forming large areas of damage.
  2. Guttate psoriasis looks different, the spots may 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 blend into large areas.
  3. Another form of psoriasis that affects only the places of skin folds and folds - elbows, armpits, areas under the fatty folds of the abdomen or chest, in the groin. The spots are smooth, uniform, non-itchy, and have no scales. If there is friction with the clothes 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 is affected. The nails lose their shape, become deformed and change color. The nails begin to thicken and exfoliate, the disease can cause the loss of the nail plate. At the initial stage, nail psoriasis is easily mistaken for 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 blisters filled with light-colored fluid, which can easily be broken by rubbing clothes. When the pustules are destroyed, pus forms in them and a secondary infection of the skin occurs. This form of psoriasis is dangerous because it can cover almost the entire body, making it worse.
  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. The lesions are manifested not only by external symptoms, but also by pain inside the joint, which brings additional suffering to the patient. If the hands or feet are affected, swelling of the fingers is observed, their sensitivity decreases, and the deformation begins. In the most severe and neglected form, the patient may lose tenderness in the limbs and become disabled.

All of these forms can evolve 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 different stages, each with its own symptoms and characteristics:

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

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

Reasons for the exacerbation

Laboratory diagnosis 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, violation of the dosage when taking complex vitamins and herbal supplements;
  • the disease can be exacerbated by climate change or sun exposure;
  • 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 provoke an exacerbation of psoriasis;
  • infection with viruses and bacteria can cause an epidemic, sometimes common respiratory disease causes exacerbation of skin diseases.

The rheumatoid form of psoriasis has a seasonal exacerbation:

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

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

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

Processing

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, depending on the form, stage, causes and symptoms. The treatment is always carried out in a comprehensive manner, combining pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy.

Drug therapy includes the use of internal and external drugs:

  • to eliminate skin pathologies, ointments based on salicylic acid, sulfur, dithranol and urea 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 potent ones. If the disease begins to progress again, use strong fluorinated agents. They are used for two weeks to get the result.

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

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

Preparation with kalcipotriolhas a direct medicinal effect on pathogenic provoking factors. It has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Usually, treatment in two months has a noticeable positive result, the rash on the skin may disappear completely. This remedy does not have a side effect in the form of skin atrophy and has a persistent effect. The drug is used in the treatment of a teardrop-shaped form of psoriasis, which is difficult to treat.

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

Treatment with aromatic retinoids is also considered effective.

In addition to drug therapy, a number of requirements must be met for successful treatment:

  • follow a diet;
  • take the necessary vitamins under the supervision of a doctor;
  • avoid stressful situations, in case of depression you need to consult a doctor to prescribe the necessary funds;
  • protect affected areas as much as possible from contact with chemicals, especially hands and nails;
  • wear only cotton clothes so as not to cause additional 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, complete recovery.