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Psoriasis

psoriasis treatment methods

Is psoriasis transmitted or not?

When answering the question of whether psoriasis is contagious or not, it should be understood that the disease is not transmitted either sexually, or by airborne droplets, or by contact, or by any other means. It is impossible to get infected with it.

Due to the interruption of the exfoliation process of keratinized skin scales, dry areas appear on the body. You cannot die from them, but patients experience serious psychological discomfort due to their appearance.

Causes of psoriasis

It has not yet been established exactly what causes psoriasis. There are different theories about the development of the disease. Experts are inclined to believe that damage to the skin and nails can be caused by:

  • stress, negative emotional experiences;
  • endocrine pathologies;
  • hereditary predisposition;
  • a poor functioning of the immune system, due to the interruption of the growth and division processes of epithelial cells.

The autoimmune cause of psoriasis is that T helper and T killer immune cells, normally responsible for protecting the body from tumor cells, pathogenic viruses and bacteria, begin to penetrate the upper layers of the skin. Here they produce substances that activate the inflammatory process. As a result, skin cells begin to divide and multiply rapidly. Proliferation is observed.

The development of psoriasis is also possible with the combined action of several factors from the following list:

  • Very thin and poorly hydrated skin (little sebum is produced).
  • Frequent contact with irritating compounds: low-quality cosmetics, alcohol solutions, household chemicals.
  • Washing your body and hands too frequently (especially if you use a hard washcloth and antibacterial soap or shower gel).
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • The development of infectious diseases caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus and fungi.
  • Taking antidepressants, lithium carbonate, beta blockers, antimalarial and anticonvulsant medications.
  • Change of climatic zone.
  • Mechanical skin injury.
  • Tendency to allergic reactions.
  • HIV infection.

Classification of the disease.

If you study several images of psoriasis in the initial stage, you will notice differences: there are several varieties of this dermatological pathology. Depending on the location of the injury, it happens:

  • Psoriasis of the scalp (manifested by itching, cracked and bleeding skin).
  • Nail psoriasis (the nail plate gradually separates from the nail bed and becomes painful, red spots form).
  • Palmoplantar psoriasis (the disease is common only on the soles of the feet and/or palms).
  • Cutaneous psoriasis (dry plaques appear in different parts of the body).
  • Arthropatic psoriasis (the joints are affected).
  • Genital psoriasis (disease that affects the skin of the genital organs).

Clinical forms of psoriasis:

  • Ordinary or vulgar. It appears as small, flat, pinkish-red papules that rise slightly above healthy skin. The upper part of the papules is covered with light scales that begin to fall off even with a light touch. If psoriasis treatment is not started on time, small lesions become large ones.
  • Exudative. It is more common in people with obesity, hypothyroidism and diabetics. The symptoms of psoriasis of this form are as follows: the papules are bright red, with yellowish-gray scales visible above them. Plaques affect the skin folds: the armpits and the area under the mammary glands in women. Patients complain of itching and burning.
  • Seborrheic. Psoriasis is seen on the head, behind the ear, nasolabial and nasolabial folds, between the shoulder blades and on the chest. The boundaries of the places are not clearly defined. The peeling is silvery yellow. If you look at a photo of psoriasis on the head, associations with such a common fungal disease as dandruff will arise.
  • Palmoplantar. The disease occurs in people between 30 and 50 years old, whose work involves intense physical work. With this form, rashes may also appear on the body.
  • Pustular. Pustular elements are formed in the body. In medicine, an additional type of pustular form is identified - Tsumbusch psoriasis. It can be idiopathic (primary): blisters appear on the skin that turn into pustules. The pustules open and dry. Later, scaly rashes typical of the disease appear. And also secondary with a benign course. In this case, pustules appear on the surface of typical psoriatic plaques due to the irritating effect of medications.
    Another type of pustular form is Barber's psoriasis. It affects only the soles and palms. Purulent pustules are seen on the skin. They do not open and over time turn into dark, dry scabs. Barber psoriasis is distinguished by the symmetry of the lesion.
  • Arthropathic (articular). Severe form. It occurs in patients who have skin rashes. It usually appears five to six years after the first symptoms of the disease appear, if the psoriasis treatment was inadequate. Pathologies of the joint system can be different, from mild arthralgias that do not cause changes in the joint apparatus to deforming ankylosis (the joint remains completely immobile).
  • Psoriatic erythroderma. It is a consequence of vulgar or exudative psoriasis. Almost all of the skin is affected. It turns red, strewn with a large number of dry scales. Body temperature increases, enlargement of lymph nodes (especially femoral and inguinal) is observed. If the patient does not learn to treat psoriasis, hair loss and brittle nails may occur.

According to the criterion of seasonal relapses, psoriasis is divided into:

  • summer;
  • winter (most common);
  • uncertain.

Symptoms of psoriasis

Treatment depends on the dominant symptoms of psoriasis, so at the first appointment the doctor performs a thorough examination of the patient and carefully examines the location of the psoriatic lesions.

More often the disease manifests itself in winter. In summer, under the influence of solar radiation, signs of psoriasis can disappear completely. However, in the "summer" form of pathology, on the contrary, sun exposure should be avoided. During an exacerbation, the patient complains of very intense itching. Damage to the nail plates is observed in only 25% of patients.

When there is a disease of the scalp, the hair does not participate in the pathological process. First, the skin begins to peel off. Over time, areas of rashes may "spread" to the neck area, behind the ears. The inflammatory process is caused by the very rapid division of keratinocytes.

In psoriasis of the palms and feet, the stratum corneum thickens and becomes covered with deep cracks. A photograph of psoriasis in the initial stage shows pustules with transparent contents. They later turn white and turn into dark scars.
Regarding the nail plates, the most common types of damage are:

  • The nail is covered with holes that look like puncture marks ("thimble type").
  • The nail changes color and begins to peel off, which resembles a fungal disease. Through the nail plate you can see a psoriatic papule surrounded by a red border.

Stages of psoriasis

Although there is still debate about what psoriasis is and what exactly can trigger its appearance, the stages of the disease have already been well studied. There are three of them:

  • Progressive (initial). New growths appear on the surface of the skin in the form of a rash, which tend to grow along the periphery. They spread to healthy skin and form oval or round plaques. The spots are pink or red. They do not yet have a scaly bark, only whitish scales. The edges of the lesions are slightly compacted. As a result of scratching, new rashes appear.
  • Stationary. It occurs one to four weeks after the first symptoms of psoriasis. The plates become lighter. New rashes do not appear, old ones slowly dissolve. Papules heal in the direction from the center to the edges, so their shape becomes ring-shaped. The entire surface of the healing lesions is covered with white, scaly scales.
  • Regressive (fading). The color of psoriatic plaques becomes almost indistinguishable from that of healthy skin. Itching is minimized. A "Voronov collar" forms around the lesions, which is a ring of dense layers of keratinized skin. If the patient uses a high-quality psoriasis ointment, the regression stage lasts about a month. Otherwise, the "fading" process can take up to six months.

The task of a patient diagnosed with psoriasis is to keep the disease in remission at all times.

    If you notice similar symptoms, see a doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to face its consequences.

    How is psoriasis diagnosed?

    A dermatologist diagnoses psoriasis. The procedure is based on an external examination, evaluation of the condition of the skin and nails and study of the location of the lesions. Additional tests are not prescribed for obvious symptoms. If difficulties arise in making a diagnosis, a skin sample is taken from the inflamed area (biopsy), which is studied in the laboratory.

    If there are complaints of pain in the joints, an x-ray is taken. A blood test is also ordered to make sure other types of arthritis are not present. To rule out a fungal infection, a potassium hydroxide test is performed.

    How to cure psoriasis

    The treatment of psoriasis is complex. Includes:

    • general therapy;
    • local therapy;
    • physiotherapy.

    Before determining how to treat psoriasis, a dermatologist determines the stage of the disease, its clinical form and the extent of the process. When prescribing medications, the patient's age and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. Usually, the safest drugs for health, characterized by a minimum number of side effects, are selected first. If they do not ensure the transition of psoriasis to the regression stage, the treatment is adjusted.

    Systemic medications for psoriasis.

    Medications taken orally help in moderate to severe stages of psoriasis. These include:

    • Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids). Reduce the maturation rate of keratinocytes. Normalize cell differentiation and maturation.
    • Immunosuppressants. Reduce the activity of T lymphocytes, which cause greater division of epidermal cells.
    • Medicines for the treatment of malignant tumors. Inhibits the reproduction and growth of atypical skin cells.

    Physiotherapy for psoriasis

    Physiotherapeutic procedures significantly improve the well-being of patients with psoriasis. In some cases, they allow you to stop taking medications completely. The most used:

    • Selective phototherapy. The affected skin is irradiated with ultraviolet rays with a wavelength of 280-320 nm. From 15 to 35 procedures are prescribed.
    • Photochemotherapy (PUVA therapy). The method involves the combined use of a photosensitizer internally and longwave UV irradiation externally. Ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into the skin and the photosensitizer blocks the DNA synthesis process of skin cells and reduces the speed of their division. The duration of the course is 20 to 30 procedures.
    • Laser therapy. Laser radiation with different wavelengths is used. The laser ensures accelerated resorption of plaques and eliminates the formation of scars in their place.
    • Use of monochromatic ultraviolet radiation. Each lesion is treated in turn with a UV lamp/laser source. Healthy skin is not affected. The method is optimal if less than 10% of the skin is affected. The duration of treatment is 15 to 30 sessions.
    • Electrosleep. There is a mild effect of electrical impulses on the brain for 20 to 60 minutes. As a result, the patient calms down, the functioning of the central nervous system normalizes, and psoriatic plaques begin to disappear.
      Ultrasound therapy. It is a decongestant, antipruritic and analgesic. Accelerates scar resorption. If necessary, it can be combined with phonophoresis. To achieve a therapeutic effect, 7 to 14 sessions are required.
    • Magnetic therapy (Betatron device). It has a general healing effect on the body. Relieves inflammation, reduces itching and burning, helps eliminate joint pain.
    • Treatment with bee venom. Using an electrophoresis or ultrasound machine, bee venom is injected into the body. It is characterized by a regenerating and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizes metabolic processes.
    • Hyperthermia. Tissues affected by psoriasis are heated with pads containing a thermal mixture at a temperature of 40 degrees. Treatment helps improve the functioning of the immune system and reduce the negative impact of the disease on the skin.

    Ointments for the treatment of psoriasis.

    According to reviews, the treatment of psoriasis with ointments can achieve excellent results if the drug is selected correctly. At the first symptoms, non-hormonal formulations are prescribed:

    • salicylic ointment (softens the skin, relieves inflammation, removes dead epidermal cells);
    • anthralin (slows down DNA synthesis, reduces the activity of cellular enzymes, slows down the process of cell division);
    • sulfur ointment (disinfects, softens, removes white plaque from lesions);
    • naphthalan ointment (relieves itching, relieves pain, normalizes immune reactions).

    If the treatment of psoriasis with non-hormonal ointments does not give the expected effect, hormonal drugs or strong ointments containing the following glucocorticosteroids are prescribed:

    • Hydrocortisone. Eliminates the feeling of tightness and itching. Suppresses the increased activity of leukocytes, prevents their movement to the skin.
    • Flumetasone. Helps with the exudative form of psoriasis. It is characterized by pronounced anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects.
    • Triamcinolone acetonide. It has antipruritic and anti-inflammatory effects. Indicated during periods of exacerbation.

    Scalp psoriasis occurs in 50% of patients and causes the most severe discomfort. If you are sick, you should avoid hair dryers, gels and hairsprays. It is important that the hairpins and comb do not scratch the skin. Otherwise, the sprouts will begin to spread.

    Treatment of scalp psoriasis is done by:

    • UV comb (promotes the formation of profiled skin cells from keratinocytes, thereby reabsorbing existing plaques).
    • Photochemotherapy (UVR combined with Beroxan, Puvalen and Psoralen).
    • Medicated shampoos (Tana, Nizoral, Friederm tar). It is advisable to purchase several different products and alternate them. This will prevent addiction.
    • Salicylic ointment (apply to scratches, cover head with cellophane and leave for two hours).
    • Hormonal lotions (Belosalik, Elokom, Diprosalik). Contains steroid hormones. It is easily applied to the scalp and effectively eliminates flaking and itching.
    • Kirkazon decoction (normalizes the process of skin cell division, cleanses).

    The effect of any scalp treatment is seen after a few weeks, so it is not necessary to stop the treatment after several sessions.

    Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies.

    To cure psoriasis forever at home, if we talk about a mild form of the disease, home remedies help:

    • Herbal tea made from dandelion roots, St. John's wort, or nettle leaves.
    • Therapeutic baths with the addition of a decoction of thread, soapgrass or yarrow.
    • Clean the affected areas with cabbage brine, celandine juice and birch tar.
      Compresses based on garlic infusion.

    Also, according to reviews, treatment of psoriasis with hydrogen peroxide can achieve good results. It is necessary to lubricate psoriatic plaques twice a day with a cotton swab soaked in a three percent solution. The duration of the course depends on the severity of the symptoms and can last up to two months.

    Diet for psoriasis

    The products allowed for exacerbation of psoriasis are:

    • fruits (apples, apricots, peaches);
    • fruit juice;
    • vegetables (beets, potatoes, radishes, watermelon, pumpkin);
    • greenery;
    • berries (all except red ones);
    • lean meats (veal, veal, turkey, rabbit) - up to 200 grams per day;
    • any nut;
    • lean fish;
    • fermented dairy products, cottage cheese and cheeses;
    • wholemeal bread;
    • sea kale.

    People with psoriasis should not eat:

    • smoked dishes;
    • red fish;
    • animal fats;
    • eggs;
    • pork and duck;
    • Baked goods.

    It is prohibited to drink coffee, carbonated and alcoholic beverages. It is advisable to limit sugar consumption. To cleanse the body, it is recommended to carry out fasting days twice a week: vegetables, apple or kefir.

    Is psoriasis dangerous?

    Psoriasis is a serious but not fatal disease. It reduces the quality of life because it has an unsightly appearance. Plates on the body prevent patients from working as a team or resting. They often cause limited movement and difficulty performing simple physical tasks. Untimely treatment of psoriasis can lead to damage to the organs of vision and joints.

    It is impossible to completely cure psoriasis. It is a chronic dermatological disease that must always be kept in a "latent" state.

      at-risk group

      The risk group includes people who have:

      • chronic skin diseases;
      • skin lesions;
      • Disorders of the central nervous system and the autonomic system.

      Prevention

      To prevent the disease, doctors recommend:

      • moisturize the skin;
      • avoid prolonged stays in cold, dry rooms;
      • Do not take beta blockers or lithium (except in extreme cases), becausethey cause psoriasis.

      This article is published for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.