Pain lichen is a very common skin disease and is most commonly seen by dermatologists. The disease is not only aesthetically pleasing (irregular red spots on the skin scare many), but also causes mental distress, physical and psychological problems and serious complications in the future.
Therefore, in a family with already paid lichen patients, knowing the intricacies of the disease and the pitfalls of its chronic course (frequent recurrences), members are especially afraid of getting sick and are afraid of any changes in the skin.
How to recognize the first signs of psoriasis (another name for paid lichen)? How does the disease begin? At what age does the disease manifest itself the most? What do you need to know to avoid the first symptoms of psoriasis and start treatment on time? Is there a difference in the early manifestations of the disease in men and women? We will try to answer these and many other questions in this article.
What triggers the first symptoms of psoriasis?
Although psoriasis is not inherited (as evidenced by recent studies), there are many factors that can trigger the clinical manifestation of a predisposition to psoriasis.
- Generally, psoriasis is preceded by a kind of nervous breakdown or mental trauma. This factor most often causes the development of psoriasis.
- A hormonal imbalance can trigger the disease, so women during pregnancy, lactation and menopause should be especially careful about themselves - follow a healthy lifestyle, avoid negative emotions, do not stay in the sun for a long time and be outdoors more often.
- The trigger for the development of psoriasis may be a change in the surrounding climate (moving to another place of residence, resting in a warm country in January). Therefore, if there is a paid lichen in the family history, it is better to refrain from a sharp change in latitude and even from winter to summer (to move in an area with a climate with a large temperature difference). In the event of a forced movement, it is very important to be especially careful with your body during such a period.
- Chronic foci of infection can also cause the appearance of psoriatic plaques. Chronic diseases should always be treated, but the focus of streptococcus on the body is especially dangerous in a family where there are already cases of psoriasis. But caries, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, gingivitis - all these slow diseases pose a threat to any organism.
At what age do the first signs of psoriasis generally appear?
The first signs of psoriasis can appear at any age. Paid lichen does not spare the elderly or children. There are cases of onset of the disease in infancy and the appearance of psoriatic plaques after 80 years. However, more often the first signs of psoriasis appear at a young age of 14-30 years. As a rule, such patients have diseases at such a young age, which are already accompanied by diseases such as obesity, allergies, diabetes, neurasthenia, thyroid pathology.
The first signs of psoriasis in humans
The manifestation of psoriasis depends on the type of disease. But in any case, the first symptom in the skin forms of psoriasis is the appearance of a rash. The rash is a round epidermal papule. What is the mechanism of development of historic papules?
Triggers trigger the inflammatory process based on hyperkeratosis (pathological cell proliferation). As a result, the epidermis thickens, begins to appear on healthy skin and forms a knot. This scaly lichen is a key element of psoriatic papules.
The papule has a bright pink color with varying intensity. Initially, the papule is dark pink (until dark red), then pale and scaly. The dead scales of the epithelium have a gray-silver color and are easily separated by shaving. In the lower layer of the dermis, new blood vessels form that supply nutrients to the emerging cells of the epidermis. Therefore, during remission, the skin will be red even in the absence of plaque. As the process gets harder, the elements increase and take up more and more space. In these places, the skin is dry, cracked, bleeding, that is, there is a clear psoriasis clinic.
The most popular places for the first rash on the scalp are the scalp, face (in adolescents), natural skin wrinkles (in children), joints (elbows, knees), feet and heels. Psoriatic plaques, unlike eczema, usually occur on the outer extensor surfaces of the joint.
If more than 10% of the skin surface is not affected, it is referred to as the initial stage of psoriasis. An experienced dermatologist will immediately recognize the symptoms of psoriasis, but sometimes allergic dermatitis or rheumatoid arthritis (with psoriatic joint damage) is confused with psoriasis.
The first signs of plaque psoriasis
Plaque disease is a vulgar skin psoriasis, so it is easiest to find the first symptoms. Psoriasis usually begins with the appearance of a small number of small nodules localized in the area of the joints. They are reminiscent of a small abscess filled with light-colored contents. The initial elements of psoriasis do not bother the patient and are almost invisible. They can pass on their own, but after a while they appear in greater numbers and become more noticeable. If you shave the papule, it is immediately covered with silver scales. In the summer, the rash may disappear under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. As the disease progresses, its magnitude increases, it covers wider areas, and individual elements combine into larger plaques.
Sometimes the first symptoms appear immediately, violently and profusely. In response to the stimulus, the skin is covered with bright pink-red psoriatic plaques that cause severe itching. But such a start is rare for psoriasis.
The first signs of psoriasis of the nail
The first changes in the nails can be different and resemble a fungal infection. Delamination, brittleness, thickening of the nail cavity is visible, compressed spots or grooves are visible along the nail. In addition, the first pathological symptoms appear on the edge of the nail, and then go to the root. One of the first signs of psoriasis is a change in the color of the nail. The nail plate can turn yellow, gray or white. Bleeding may appear under the nail. All of these marks can be on all nails or just one.
The first signs of psoriasis of the soles of the feet and palms
In some patients, the only clinical sign of psoriasis is damage to the scales or palms in the form of dense psoriatic lesions covered with scales. During peeling, a shiny shiny surface appears that begins to bleed with more damage ("bloody raw" syndrome).
The first signs of psoriasis of the scalp
Psoriasis of the scalp resembles seborrhea due to its large scale. It can last for a long time without affecting other areas of the skin. Patients are treated with special shampoos against dandruff, without realizing that they have psoriasis on their heads. After a while, the lesion affects the back of the ear, neck and goes down. And only in this case, patients begin to sound the alarm and go to the doctor.
The first signs of psoriatic arthritis
There may be no rash with psoriatic arthritis. The first signs of psoriasis will be complaints of deformity of the joints, growing in size and becoming painful. The fingers and toes are swollen and look like sausages. As the disease progresses, the gait changes. It can be difficult to diagnose psoriasis in this form, and many patients are treated for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, the presence of psoriasis in relatives and a careful differential diagnosis with diseases affecting the joints helps to make a correct diagnosis.
The first signs of psoriasis in women
Pearls are the same for both men and women. However, unlike men, where the first symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between the ages of 25 and 30, the first signs of psoriasis appear earlier in women. The trigger mechanism for the development of the disease is often hormonal changes during puberty. In general, the development of psoriasis in women is associated with frequent changes in hormonal levels throughout their lives. The most important and dangerous periods in a woman for the onset of psoriasis are:
- menstrual cycle (especially appearance);
- pregnancy;
- birth;
- lactation period;
- menopause.
If psoriasis already occurs at the moment of conception, pregnancy can have a beneficial effect on skin manifestations, and a period of remission will begin. But after childbirth, perhaps the aggravation of all processes. In most cases, according to statistics, the first symptoms of psoriasis in women occur during childbirth and menopause. For other positions, the symptoms and signs of psoriasis do not differ in women and men. But childhood psoriasis has its own characteristics.
What to do when the first signs of psoriasis are detected?
In any case, if the first signs and symptoms of psoriasis are detected, it is necessary to immediately consult a dermatologist to begin timely treatment of the disease. The doctor will prescribe treatment for psoriasis, taking into account the severity of the course and the characteristics of the manifestations of the disease. It has been proven that all symptoms can be relieved if less than 5% of the skin is affected by psoriasis. However, treatment should be selected by an authorized specialist.
Besides:
- If you find the first signs of psoriasis in yourself or in your family, try to remember that they can cause the disease and avoid these factors in the future;
- be outdoors more often and don’t forget to sunbathe;
- temperament - take a contradictory shower, do not forget about doating;
- try to go to sea and swim more;
- take good care of your skin, protect it from damage, use moisturizers;
- Choose shampoos that do not contain aggressive substances for psoriasis; do not dye your hair;
- review your diet;
- avoid conflicts and stressful situations; learn to control your emotions (but don't bury them), the ability to stay calm in dramatic moments of life will help maintain remission for a long time;
- if you are emotionally sensitive, you can take valerian, breast milk (consult your doctor);
- wear cotton, especially pay attention to underwear that should be made only of natural fabrics, do not wear synthetics;
- timely treatment of chronic infections;
- go to bed earlier, have a good rest.
If possible, consult a dermatologist in Germany at the first sign of psoriasis or suspicious symptoms:
- You will be sure of the reliability (or error) of the diagnosis:
- Thanks to experienced professionals, you will quickly eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis (especially when these are the first signs of the disease);
- You will receive expert advice with recommendations and detailed instructions;
- You will receive quality medication prescribed by your doctor to eliminate a possible exacerbation;
- In the future, you will be able to contact your doctor using Skype, phone or email if needed.