Psoriasis is a long-lasting and virtually incurable, non-communicable disease. Mainly affects the skin, nails and joints. Psoriasis can occur in humans at any age, even in children.
There are several theories about the cause of psoriasis:
- Theory of neurogenic disorders;
- Theory of problems in the endocrine system;
- Theory of viral diseases or the theory of metabolic disorders.
However, none of these theories have been scientifically proven in practice. To date, scientists have concluded that the onset of the disease is caused by heredity or a genetic predisposition to pathological changes in human skin cells.
These cells form in the basal layer and reach the outer corneal layer to form scales. Genetic factors prove that the disease is in relatives. In other words, if your relatives suffer from psoriasis, then it may appear in you or your children.
Factors affecting the appearance of psoriasis
The appearance of psoriasis is influenced by the following factors:
- Nervous disorders;
- Mental and physical shock, overloading the body;
- Diseases of the endocrine system;
- biochemical and enzymatic disorders;
- Hypothermia of the body;
- Decreased immunity.
It is difficult to determine and confirm the cause of this disease. They often say that the disease occurs for no apparent reason.
What is psoriasis: how does it manifest itself?
With this disease, papules and plaques appear on the skin. The plaques are sharply limited, compacted spots on the skin of pink or reddish color with small light scales. The boards have different shapes, but are more round or oval. They can be located anywhere on the human body, but are more common in the large joints, sacrum and lower back, under the hair on the head.
Psoriatic papules are characterized by rapid growth with the formation of plaques of several centimeters, which then merge into large skin lesions.
How is psoriasis diagnosed?
The following indicators are important for diagnosis:
- If you try to remove the papule, the scales are easily scattered, and a "stearin stain" appears.
- A reddish-glossy surface appears on the skin - the terminal film of the stain;
- If you continue to rub the stain, a spot of bleeding will appear on its surface - "blood stain".
Stages of psoriasis
The following stages of development are characteristic of disease-related rashes:
- Progressive stage (appearance of small papules that grow over time and merge with larger ones);
- Stationary stage (plaques grow and do not change over time);
- Regressive stage (rash fades, thins and disappears from the skin surface).
Depending on the condition of the body, the disease can last for a very long time.
The Kebner effect is characteristic of the first stage of the rash: after about a week, new psoriatic lesions appear on the damaged skin.
In the area of the elbow or knee joints, so-called "duty" plaques may remain isolated in the skin during remission.
Types of psoriasis
There are several types of the disease:
- Exudative form: with it, swelling and brightness of papules with yellowish crusts on the surface are expressed;
- Follicular form: small papules are localized in the area of follicular holes;
- Palmar-plantar form of psoriasis: with it the skin of the heels and palms is covered with cracks and scales, they show psoriatic plaques;
- Seborrheic psoriasis: mainly localized on the scalp;
- Psoriatic erythroderma. In this form the disease is very severe, the entire surface of the skin is affected by psoriasis, peripheral lymph nodes are enlarged, fever, itching, sleep disturbances appear, changes in blood and urine are observed;
- Arthropathic psoriasis: affects and deforms the joints, restricting their movement. It is characterized by severe pain and swelling in the affected joint area. This is a very painful form of psoriasis, often resulting in disability.
In all forms of psoriasis, changes are observed in the nails: they become cloudy, thicken, and small spots appear as if injected.
The disease lasts for many years with periods of deterioration and improvement of health, characterized by seasonality: exacerbation in the cold and remission in the hot season.
Treatment of psoriasis
Psoriasis should be treated under the supervision of a physician in the dermatology department. Treatment is determined by the optimal combination of therapeutic drugs with ointments and physiotherapy, as well as the restriction of animal fats and carbohydrates in food, alcohol and spicy foods.
Patients should be monitored by a physician at the dispensary and should receive annual spa treatment. With psoriasis, it is recommended to visit radon springs and hydrogen sulfide baths, swim in the sea and sunbathe.