Symptoms and first signs of psoriasis

The type-specific characteristics of psoriasis play a decisive role in diagnosis and treatment.

The most common type of chronic dermatosis, according to statistics, is psoriasis. This is a complex and multifaceted disease of polyetiological origin. For various reasons, a large number of different types of psoriasis have been identified, each with their own characteristic symptoms. The need to distinguish types based on symptoms arose due to the uncertain reaction of the skin to drugs and other methods of action.

Until recently, the disease was considered dangerous to health and life, until deaths were recorded due to improper identification of the cause, type and treatment. In addition, a person can be affected by several forms of the disease at the same time, the symptoms should be taken into account when prescribing treatment.

The disease affects people regardless of gender and age. The first signs of psoriasis can appear in both babies and adults for no apparent reason. Depending on the type, not only the onset of the disease, but also its development differs, it can be fast or slow with a gradual increase in symptoms.

Timely awareness of the initial symptoms and signs of psoriasis is the key to the effectiveness of treatment, which will allow:

• Do not allow the disease to take over large areas of the skin;
• Quickly eliminate the external symptoms of the disease and do not damage the internal organs;
• Take timely measures to prevent relapse and prolong the quiet periods of the disease.

Although the terms "symptoms" and "signs" are similar in meaning, they have important differences. Symptoms are subjective feelings of a person that can be confirmed or refuted by examination data.

Signs are objective examination and examination data that the doctor diagnoses.
For example, pain is just a symptom, while a skin rash is a sign.

It is important to remember this, because it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis just by feeling the symptoms, and only a specialist can determine the symptoms of psoriasis, its specific type and form.

General symptoms

Regardless of whether the disease appears suddenly and begins to develop rapidly, or whether the initial manifestations are gradual, clinicians consider the beginning of the formation of papules in various areas of the skin - small scaly nodules of dark pink color, dense to the touch and protruding. above the surface.

The first thing that the patient may notice is the formation of a rash in the places that are most exposed to friction, and the skin on them is the driest, this is:

• On the hands, palms or elbows;
• Below the knees;
• In the groin folds;
• On the lower back sides;
• On the calf;
• On the scalp under the hair.

The location of the lesion directly depends on the form of the disease. Vulgar psoriasis prefers to appear on the elbows, and the teardrop type begins to spread from the lower back, skin areas under the chest and shoulder blades.
The first rashes on the skin are usually barely noticeable, do not form clusters and do not cause any discomfort. However, if you do not consult a specialist at this stage and ignore the onset of the disease, damage to the nails on the hands and feet will gradually begin, then the disease will move to the mucous membranes, and then spread to the joints.

The appearance of the first symptoms of psoriasis may differ by gender or age. In babies, psoriatic rash most often begins in the inguinal folds and resembles the symptoms of miliaria. In adults, the onset can be of two types:

1. Round rashes of various sizes, dark pink or red color, many whitish scales appear. Gradually, although each patient has his own way, the areas of the rash become thicker and noticeably rise above the surface of the skin. Rashes form psoriatic plaques, similar to drops from paraffin wax.
2. Small, dense papules form small clusters on the elbows, palms, and sometimes the knee joints and ankles. These signs are so insignificant that a person simply does not pay attention to them, confusing them with ordinary irritation. It is important to listen to yourself to see if there are any signs of psoriasis, such as itching and pain to the touch. If you miss the initial signs of psoriasis, then single papules quickly turn into plaques, which are very difficult to get rid of.

You can distinguish psoriasis from other skin diseases using a triad of characteristic symptoms, which include:

1. "Stearic stain effect". When scraping the surface of the board, the transparent, small scales peel off easily.
2. "Terminal Movie Effect". If you remove the worn scales, in their place will be a thin shiny surface of the skin, bright in color.
3. "Bloody Dew Effect". After a short time, microscopic drops of blood appear at the site of the fracture.

The classification of specific forms of psoriasis is of great importance in determining the disease. An unambiguous system has not yet been developed, experts distinguish the main groups according to characteristic signs and symptoms.

Classification

According to the nature of skin rashes, the main division of the disease is divided into two large groups, which are:

1. Non-pustular formscharacterized by spreading over the entire surface of the skin, including types such as:
   • Simple (vulgar) or ordinary psoriasis is characterized by a stable chronic course with the development of plaques. The vulgar type of the disease is the most common, occurring in 85% of cases.
   • Psoriatic erythroderma. A dangerous type that affects the thermoregulation and barrier ability of the skin, always occurs in a severe form. Often, erythrodermic psoriasis ends with pyoderma or sepsis.
2. Pustular forms, characterized by the formation of not papules, but pustules - blisters of inflamed skin filled with serological fluid. In its course, these forms of the disease can be generalized (spread over the entire surface of the skin) or localized, mainly in the area of the palms and feet.
   • Generalized type of psoriasis Tsumbusha;
   • Annular type of erythema;
   • Barber's palmoplantar type (chronic pustulosis of the extremities);
   • Annular type of pustular psoriasis;
   • Chronic acrodermatitis (psoriasis of the soles and palms);
   • Psoriatic herpetiform impetigo.

This classification system has not yet included such diseases:

• seborrheic;
• exudative;
• Drug-dependent form;
• Inverse psoriasis of the folds and folds of the skin.

Characteristic symptoms of different types of psoriasis

General symptoms of psoriasis fully characterize only the vulgar form of the disease, which is the most common of all known forms of the disease. A characteristic feature of plaque psoriasis is the places where the first rashes appear, which are:

• Bends in the arms and legs;
• The border between the forehead and the scalp;
• The back of the hands.

tear type

A distinctive feature of this type of disease is the formation of single papules in the form of a drop. The first signs of guttate psoriasis appear on the thighs and then spread over the entire surface of the skin. In most cases, guttate psoriasis develops against the background of infectious diseases caused by streptococci.

Atypical appearance

This form is characterized by the appearance of the first manifestations in atypical places for psoriasis, which are:

• skin folds,
• Lateral surfaces of the body
• armrests.

Pustular (exudative) appearance

The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of small blisters (papules) filled with non-infectious serous fluid on the surface of the palms, soles or feet. The skin around the papules is always inflamed, and the blisters themselves are very unstable and open doors for infection.

In most cases, exudative psoriasis develops in patients suffering from endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders and obesity.

Psoriasis of folding surfaces

Distinctive features of this form are the appearance of manifestations on the skin. The rash appears in the form of large red spots that are not covered with scales and do not rise above the surface. This type covers areas with intense sweat glands, such as:

• Bend the joints under the arms and knees;
• axillary and inguinal folds;
• External genitalia;
• The area of skin under the breasts in women.

Often, this form is complicated by the addition of a fungal or streptococcal infection.

Psoriatic arthritis

It is one of the most insidious forms of the disease, characterized by a long latent course. The patient feels the first symptoms of psoriasis when the joints are damaged. Symptoms of this type of psoriasis are expressed by pain and swelling of the joints and their subsequent deformation.

Seborrheic appearance

The localization of this type of rash is initially concentrated on the face, the first signs appear in the area of the nasolabial triangle, behind the ears, at the edge of hair growth. Additional distribution goes along the shoulder blades along the back and chest. Rashes are covered with yellowish scales, and the borders with healthy skin are blurred.

Onychodystrophy, nail psoriasis

This type is almost incurable. The pathology affects only the nail plates, which change color to dark yellow or gray. The structure of the nails becomes thinner and the cuticle area becomes inflamed for no reason.

The result

It should always be remembered that psoriasis is not only a skin disease, but also a very serious disorder of the body's internal systems. In no case should you self-medicate or consult a doctor. Choosing an effective treatment regimen can only be done by an experienced specialist after a careful examination.