Psoriasis on the hands

This form of psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects:

• palm
• The areas between the fingers.
• Hands.

People suffering from this form of the disease often develop serious psychological complexes.

This form of the disease does not pose a serious threat to human life, but with the development of severe forms, this disease can be accompanied by the development of a number of very serious complications.

One of the most common complications is damage to the joint area of the lower and upper limbs. This complication leads to the development of psoriatic arthritis. This disease is quite dangerous, because it can lead to the development of temporary disability and even disability.

Most people with psoriasis of the hands are diagnosed with lesions, especially on the palms and soles.

This form of the disease causes many different concerns to the patient, because the main foci of the development of this disease cannot be hidden under clothes, and the appearance of cracks is accompanied by the appearance of painful sensations.

The lesions themselves are small pink plaques. The plaques stand out strongly from the surface of the skin and eventually become covered with gray scales.

In some cases, the formation of yellow pustules is observed.

The main symptoms of the development of this form of the disease:

• Dry Skin.
• Thickening of the skin.
• Appearance of redness.
• Appearance of cracks.
• The appearance of callus-like formations.

Reasons

Among the many factors that can cause the disease:

• Allergic reactions;
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Diseases of kidneys, liver and pancreas;
• Excessive weight;
• Metabolism and endocrine system dysfunction;
• Hereditary tendency;
• Chronic depression, stress or nervous tension.

As we have already mentioned, the exact causes of psoriasis have not yet been determined. Experts have not been able to determine exactly what causes psoriasis and in what cases it appears.

At the same time, diseases or conditions that cause skin damage in the patient are identified:

1. Heredity.
2. Immune system disorders and metabolic problems.
3. Psycho-emotional overload.
4. Bad habits and eating disorders.
5. General intoxication.
6. Viruses, bacteria, fungal infections.
7. With a sharp change in climate living conditions.
8. In case of chronic skin disease.
9. If the patient takes drugs of different pharmacological groups for a long time.

Sometimes the manifestation of the disease can occur if a person uses detergents that deprive the skin of its natural covering. It is important to remember that since psoriasis is not contagious, there is no need to worry too much about personal hygiene.

Eczema on the hands can be caused by various factors:

• hereditary tendency;
• weakened immunity;
• disorders in the work of endocrine glands;
• changes in hormonal levels;
• chronic diseases;
• infections;
• nervous tension;
• frequent stress;
• constant exposure to chemicals (detergents, dyes, solvents) on the skin;
• uncontrolled use of drugs (for example, anti-inflammatory drugs);
• clothing made of synthetic fabrics;
• rings and bracelets made of certain alloys;
• cheap low-quality cosmetics;
• pollen;
• Poplar hair;
• animal hair;
• insect bites;
• mold;
• household dust;
• helminthic infections;
• some food products.

The mechanism of psoriasis is not fully defined, but it is determined that it occurs as a result of a violation of the division of skin cells, and the diseased cells begin to multiply and grow 5-10 times. Soon, immune cells join the process and blood vessels grow.

After the cells die, keratinized areas remain on the smooth surface of the skin - convex psoriatic plaques. In addition to genetic predisposition, the characteristics of immunity, skin structure, and indirect causes affecting the onset of psoriasis development have been identified.

Recent medical research shows the connection between the disease and other pathologies:

• metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, increased production of free radicals and nitrogen oxides associated with keratinization of the skin);
• atherosclerosis;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• liver and kidney pathologies;
• osteoporosis;
• obesity.

Risk factors include:

• to smoke;
• alcohol abuse;
• change in weather conditions.

You cannot come into contact with a sick person, there are no external carriers of the disease. The inflammatory process occurs in the body, and a genetic predisposition to a characteristic disease cannot be excluded. Other causes of psoriasis on hands are detailed below:

• disturbed metabolism;
• hormonal imbalance;
• occupational hazard;
• tendency to allergic reactions;
• the presence of bad habits;
• poor nutrition;
• immune disorders of the body;
• violation of personal hygiene rules.

Dermatosis is heterogeneous. The disease has exogenous and endogenous triggers.

Exogenous factors include changes in environmental temperature, bad habits, long-term use of drugs, infections, injuries, and an atherogenic nutritional profile. Endogenous factors include hereditary predisposition, weakened immunity, stress and sensitivity of the body.

Inciting factors stimulate the development of the pathological process. Modern dermatologists consider psoriasis of the palms and soles to be the result of a combination of several triggers.

The causes of the disease are not fully understood. Scientists identify several theories:

1. Psoriasis is a genetic disease.
2. Psoriasis is caused by disorders of the immune, endocrine and nervous systems.
3. Psoriasis is a disease caused by bad ecology and the accumulation of harmful substances in the body.

Psoriasis appears when these causes combine. However, the main factor is still genetic: scientists have identified several genes responsible for the onset of the disease.

Factors that provoke the appearance of psoriasis:

• stressful situations;
• hazardous industries, especially industries with a high concentration of phenols;
• injuries, scratches, burns: sometimes psoriasis appears in these places;
• alcohol, smoking;
• infections: especially streptococcus;
• wrong selection of certain drugs.

Why does palm psoriasis develop?

Psoriasis can appear in a person regardless of age and gender. However, there are some statistics that show that the disease often develops between the ages of 30 and 50.

Scientists have determined that the main reason for the development of the disease is a violation of the function of the human immune system and a genetic predisposition. However, these facts have not been fully proven, and to this day the clear causes of psoriasis remain unclear. The main factors that provoke palmar psoriasis include the following reasons:

1. Decreased immunity.
2. Mechanical damage to palms.
3. Frequent contact of hands with water.
4. Contact of the skin of the hands with chemicals, for example, household chemicals, as well as various products in the workplace.
5. Diseases such as scarlet fever, chronic tonsillitis, kidney disease and other diseases are often the cause.
6. Oncology.

Doctors associate alcohol abuse, drug use and certain medications as another cause of the disease.

The main manifestations of palm psoriasis

It should be noted that this type of disease mainly occurs in people who do physical work related to stress on their hands. In medical practice, it is customary to distinguish three types of the disease. These include:

1. It is a fan in the form of a board.
2. Circular.
3. Salty.

Types of psoriasis on the hands

Localization of psoriasis on the hands	Description of the problem
On the palm	Redness of the surface of the palm skin, itching, roughening of the upper layer, the appearance of calluses. Externally, many people confuse palmar psoriasis with mycosis or eczema. You should consult a specialist to make a correct diagnosis.
On hands and fingers	Inflammation, swelling of the fingers, peeling, cracking of the skin, pain and itching.

Depending on the localization of the process and the specific place of the appearance of the initial lesions, several types of hand psoriasis are distinguished:

• Pustules - the most dangerous type, affects any skin. First, small spots appear on the phalanges of the fingers and palms surrounding the nail plates. Then the spots merge, fill with pus, the injury spreads to the hands and other areas, causing swelling and degenerative changes in the organs.
• Droplet-shaped - the rash is pale pink, raised, in the form of small drops. It is localized on the shoulders and forearms, covering a wide area.
• Nail – This type of psoriasis causes changes in the appearance of the nails and nail bed. A "high symptom" is observed when the nail plates change color and small indentations and grooves form in them. At the same time, the nails thicken and begin to peel off until they disappear completely.
• Plaque (Vulgar) – in the first place in terms of distribution. These are typical psoriatic plaques that tend to coalesce to form "paraffin lakes". They appear above the elbow joints, on the extensor surface of the arms and affect the palms. Palmar psoriasis is characterized by thickening of the epidermis and the formation of fissured callus-like tubercles on the surface of the dermis.

Stages of the disease

In the initial stage of psoriasis of the hands, even before the first rash appears, the following disorders can be recognized:

1. swelling is observed in the joint area;
2. the skin acquires a reddish color in places;
3. nail plates become inflamed.

The following stages of psoriasis on the hands are distinguished:

1. Exacerbation is the progressive stage of the disease. It is characterized by an increase in the number and size of spots, increased itching and peeling.

2. The stationary stage is characterized by weakening of the disease, a change in the color of psoriatic plaques (they become less red, white), and also by a decrease in spots.
3. The remission stage is characterized by the complete disappearance of all symptoms of psoriasis.

Hands affected by psoriasis are extremely unpleasant to look at. But the disease is so widespread that people need to know what psoriasis looks like on their hands in order to detect the problem in time and start treatment of the disease in time.

Psoriasis of the hands develops gradually. Doctors note that in medicine there are several stages of the disease, which imperceptibly replace each other in the absence of timely therapy. The clinical outcome for the patient depends entirely on timely response to therapeutic measures. The development and symptoms of different stages of psoriasis of the upper extremities are as follows:

1. Initial stage. Small round papules have clear borders. At first, they are single, but after 2-3 days of peeling the dermis, they spread and cover large areas of damage.
2. Progressive stage. Painful nodules are distinguished by a bright red color, and there is peeling of the epidermis with the formation of crusts in the center. It occurs before the microtrauma of the pathological skin.
3. Stationary stage. Once red rashes turn blue and dry. The inflammatory process reduces its intensity, the itching stops, but there is hyperemia of the skin.
4. Regressive stage. Local manifestations of psoriasis decrease in intensity and after the removal of painful lesions. There is a long period of remission, there is no peeling, but white spots with clear borders appear.

Psoriasis of any form and localization, including hand psoriasis, goes through 3 stages:

1. Progressive stage (exacerbation) - the spots grow, new ones appear, the manifestations of psoriasis intensify.
2. Stationary stage - the manifestations of the disease fade, the spots become pale and decrease in size.
3. Regressive stage (remission) - manifestations disappear completely.

The initial stage of psoriasis of the arms and hands can manifest itself in different ways: either faintly noticeable, as in the acute stage (less often), or bright spots appear immediately.

Features of therapy in pregnant women and children

Due to the weakening of the mother's immunity and the immature immunity of the child, the treatment of eczema on the fingers is required:

1. Adjusting the diet of the nursing mother and child, limiting the intake of milk, eating green fruits and vegetables and fermented milk products. At an older age, flour products, smoked meats and foods high in salt should be excluded from the child's menu.
2. Taking vitamin complexes to support the immune system of a pregnant woman.
3. One of the recommended measures is to limit contact with household chemicals and water.
4. Use of antihistamine ointments or dermatotropic substances.

The following drugs can be prescribed for the treatment of children:

• Preparation of lotions based on boric acid
• Taking calcium-based drugs, taking into account the reduced content of this trace element, which is characteristic of this pathology in children.
• To eliminate the symptoms of severe infection, the use of ointments containing antibiotics is applied.
• The use of antihistamines to reduce the intensity of itching.

The complex of measures aimed at the recovery of mother and child should include compliance with personal hygiene standards and maintaining the sanitary condition of buildings.

Psoriasis on the hands

Official medicine classifies hand psoriasis as a chronic disease with multifactorial etiology. This means that the exact causes of the disease have not been determined and doctors consider them as possible factors. Doctors classify it as a skin disease because of its main symptom - red scaly plaques that appear on the skin. However, the culprit of the disease is hidden in the depths of the human body.

During long studies of the mechanism of development of psoriasis, scientists have identified a connection with autoimmune deficiency.

The first signs of psoriasis appear in the form of small red papules with clear outlines on the hands. 2-3 days pass and the papules are covered with scales. Then begins a long process of development of the disease, marked by periods of exacerbation and remission. Thus, psoriasis that initially occurs between the fingers can spread to the entire surface of the palm. Individual plates grow and fuse to form a continuous scaly crust. The photo clearly shows how psoriasis looks on your hands.

The first changes are formed on the back of the hand, gradually affecting the sides of the hand. Unnoticeable at the beginning of the negative process, when it is already difficult to hide the presence of the disease in a person, they cause an obvious cosmetic defect. What could have happened?

Symptoms of psoriasis on the hands

Symptoms characteristic of psoriasis on the hands should be considered in the context of their manifestation on any part of the patient's body. When the lesion begins, small areas of the dermis are affected, but the process does not end there, and over time the plaques can cover the entire hand. Common symptoms look like this:

• the appearance of small papules;
• scale formation;
• drying and peeling of the skin of the hands;
• nail plates lose their natural color, their structure changes;
• signs of skin hyperemia;
• the skin in the affected area becomes red;
• pain appears in the joints;
• feelings of inner restlessness.

We have given the general symptoms of the disease, but experts divide them according to the stages of the disease.

What forms of the disease are there?

The versatility of the manifestations of psoriasis faced by doctors forced them to describe different forms of the disease. Experts have combined the existing types into two main groups: pustular and non-pustular.

The pustular group includes the following forms of the disease:

• generalized;
• annular centrifugal erythema-like;
• palmoplantar.

The non-pustular group includes:

• classic form of psoriasis with early or late onset;
• psoriatic erythroderma.

The presented classification does not include disease types such as seborrheic, exudative, napkin disease, atypical and drug-related psoriasis.

Causes of psoriasis on the hands

Among all sites affected by the disease, the hands account for 85% of all diagnoses. Many years of observations of patients suffering from the unpleasant disease have led scientists to the conclusion that the causes of psoriasis on the hands depend on the gender and age of the patient.

Psoriasis is extremely rare in black people. The scientific explanation of this fact has not yet been obtained.

What causes psoriasis on women's hands?

The main reason is what doctors call genetic predisposition. It is interesting that even if a woman's parents do not have psoriasis, it is likely that one of her relatives has such a diagnosis. Other causes include:

• climatic characteristics (very humid, cold or hot);
• hormonal imbalance;
• bad habits (alcohol, smoking, drugs);
• stress and nervous tension;
• taking antibiotics, some vaccines, overdose of vitamin preparations;
• injuries, burns, cuts.

The same reasons can lead to exacerbation of the disease. It is difficult to eliminate the listed factors from your life, but some of them can be eliminated.

What causes psoriasis on men's hands?

Doctors trying to determine the main ones were forced to admit that they could not determine them with high accuracy. The basis of the occurrence of psoriasis in men is a malfunction of the immune system, which is expressed by the following:

• improper metabolism;
• imbalance of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism;
• increased sugar level;
• cholesterol.

Men with a family history of psoriasis are more likely to develop psoriasis. The reasons may be:

• chronic lack of sleep;
• poor nutrition;
• cold climate.

Those who moved from the southern country to the northern region say that the cold climate causes the disease to worsen and is difficult to treat.

Causes of psoriasis on the hands of children

In recent years, cases of diagnosis have become more frequent. It often takes a generalized form, with plaques covering large areas of the body. The first thing that is determined as the cause of the disease is the hereditary factor. According to statistics, among parents with psoriasis, the child will inherit the disease in 50% of cases. In addition to genetics, the disease can be caused by:

• childhood infectious diseases (measles, ARVI, tonsillitis);
• stressful situations;
• severe fear, loss of a loved one;
• heat stroke;
• unbalanced diet;
• hypothermia of the body;
• prone to allergies.

Diagnosis of the disease

To make an accurate diagnosis, it is enough for the doctor to know what psoriasis looks like on the hand. Special studies are not conducted to identify the disease. If the patient says that the plaques on his hands have been visible for a long time, the doctor may prescribe additional tests. Their list includes:

• blood biochemistry;
• general blood test to determine the amount of ESR;
• checking the presence of rheumatoid factor and special proteins;
• biopsy to detect immature skin cells, accumulation of Rete bodies, macrophages, and T-leukocytes.

How to treat psoriasis on hands?

Treatment of psoriasis on the hands depends entirely on the stage of the disease. Although the disease cannot be cured, when using an integrated approach to treatment, the symptoms are almost invisible and the remission lasts quite a long time.

External means

In the early and middle stages of the disease, it is enough to use drugs for external use. These can be creams and ointments from different groups:

• Non-hormonal. As a rule, they do not cause side effects and their effect is mild and gentle.
• Hormonal.

These tools are used when other ointments do not help, when obvious symptoms appear (persistent rash, brittle nails). Only prescribed by a doctor, they can cause strong side effects. The frequency and duration of the use of external agents depends on the severity of the symptoms: 1-2 times a day for 10-20 days. A break is required after each course.

Systemic drugs

Tablets and injections are prescribed in the later stages of psoriasis on the hands when external drugs are ineffective:

• Tablets: antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory. Medicines from the groups of cytostatics, monoclonal antibodies, immunosuppressants, immunomodulators, sedatives and vitamins are also used.
• Injections: antihistamines, hepatoprotectors, immunosuppressants, immunomodulators, hormonal.

The form and type of medicine depends on the stage of the disease and the intensity of its manifestations. The use of systemic drugs is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.

Physiotherapy and traditional methods

Psoriasis is a chronic disease with multifaceted symptoms. Therefore, treatment is always comprehensive. Alternative methods can be used:

• Physiotherapy: phototherapy, bioresonance and PUVA therapy, cryotherapy, ozone therapy, ichthyotherapy.
• Folk remedies: birch resin, linseed or tea tree oil, aloe, bay leaf, baking soda, sea salt, etc.

Their purpose and use should also be agreed with a dermatologist.

Use of herbs

Many medicinal plants have the following properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• restorative;
• antibacterial.

To treat palm psoriasis, celandine, St. John's wort, horsetail, oregano, nettle and others are used. An infusion or decoction is prepared from the herbs. They are also used to add to the bathroom.

Treatment with soda

One of the methods offered by alternative medicine to get rid of psoriasis on the palms is the treatment with ordinary baking soda. Its use has the following effects on the affected skin:

• cleaning;
• softening;
• elimination of inflammatory processes;
• improvement of local blood circulation;
• eliminates peeling;
• relieves itching.

The recipe for preparing a solution for external use is quite simple: dilute a certain part of the product in purified water. You should get a viscous mixture. This product should be applied to the affected areas. No need to wash.

Prevention: what rules should be followed

Psoriasis on the hands will be easier to treat if the factors that provoke it are eliminated or minimized, if possible. In this case, the treatment will be much more effective and the development of the disease will stop.

Correct therapy, even at the earliest stage, can only be prescribed by a specialist, so examination is mandatory. And using all available methods and means: from ointments and creams to injections, tablets and physiotherapy. The doctor will determine the order and dosage, but we must not forget about prevention even in the regression phase. Hands should be treated with extreme care: the use of protective creams and the exclusion of aggressive household chemicals.