Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease of the skin. It occurs when the immune system malfunctions. The development of the disease is divided into clear stages: onset, progression, stabilization and regression. The different stages of psoriasis differ in the appearance of spots and rashes, itchy pain, and extensive inflammation of the skin.
Why is it necessary to distinguish between the developmental stages of the disease and what are the characteristics of the course of psoriasis at the beginning of development and in the recovery process?
Why it is necessary to know the stages of psoriasis
Doctors use the division of psoriasis into stages for the correct choice of therapeutic methods. A complex of drugs and external agents that are prescribed to treat inflammation depends on the stage of development of the disease.
At the beginning of the manifestation of the disease, general therapy is necessary: vitamin complexes, diet, external aseptic treatment of the rash, for example, a course of UV procedures. Medications that stimulate the cleansing of the intestines, blood vessels, liver are also prescribed.
Be sure to have the psycho-emotional state correction performed by a neuropathologist or psychologist.
At the initial stage of the disease, they do not use powerful drugs that suppress the immune system, do not prescribe hormonal ointments. These drugs have a large list of side effects, so they are prescribed only when it is impossible to do without them.
Psoriasis: treatment in acute phase and in remission
In the case of an acute progressive course of the disease, various drugs of various actions are prescribed. Immunosuppressants and glucocorticosteroids are often used to relieve inflammation and reduce itching. External treatments are complemented with photochemical, ultrasound and laser therapy. Also, agents are prescribed for the antiseptic treatment of damaged skin.
In a stabilized state, they continue to take anti-inflammatory hormonal drugs, gradually reducing their dose. To restore damaged skin, ointments with a regenerating effect are prescribed.
In remission: support the body. Correct nutrition, take vitamin-mineral complexes to restore immunity.
Timeliness of treatment
The earlier treatment is started, the easier it will be to control psoriasis.
Timely therapy limits the spread of skin inflammation, reduces its spread, and prevents subsequent relapses of flaking. Since psoriasis is often mistaken for an allergic rash at an early stage, it is necessary to know its initial signs so as not to miss the appearance of a skin disease.
Note:Doctors are still researching the causes of psoriasis. But it is definitely known that psoriatic skin inflammation is not contagious. You cannot get it from a sick person or an infection in case of injury. This is our own personal failure in the human body.
The cause of psoriasis is an immune failure, which can be due to several factors. Severe stress, intoxication (including powerful drugs, industrial waste, alcohol), previous infection.
Psoriasis is difficult to treat. The disease is prone to recurrence, relapse. And the therapy itself is symptomatic. It consists of preventing the appearance of new spots and alleviating existing skin itching.
What stage of psoriasis is called initial? How to distinguish early psoriasis from diathesis rash? And how will the disease develop in the future?
Psoriasis: initial stage
The first appearance of psoriasis on the skin looks like pimples. Most of the time, the rash appears on the curves of the elbows and knees, or in places where clothing is tight against the body (for example, below the belt at the waist). Rashes can also appear along the edge of the hair and under the hair, around the nails, and on the nail plates. Sometimes psoriasis occurs on the feet and palms.
Most of the time, psoriasis manifests itself symmetrically: on the elbows of both hands, on both sides of the lower back, or on two knees.
The pimples themselves (in medical terminology, papules) in the initial stage have a modest appearance. They have:
- Pink or red;
- Sharp and blurry edge;
- Small size: the grain at the base does not exceed two millimeters;
- Flat shape: the small pinpoint grains at the beginning of the disease have almost no bumps, so they look like spots.
As the disease progresses, flakes of peeling skin appear on the pimples. They are gray or silver, against the background of a red grain they appear white.
The appearance of scales is accompanied by quite intense itching. If it does not resist and scratches, then the scales are removed, exposing the bright areas of pinkish youthful skin underneath. It is very thin, vulnerable, with prolonged scratching of the itchy papules; he's injured, he's bleeding.
The initial stage of psoriasis lasts up to four weeks.
Psoriasis: stage of progression
In the progressive stage, individual grains fuse in a common place, forming so-called psoriatic plaques. They rise above the surface of the skin and are almost completely covered in flaking. At the edges of psoriatic plaques there is a pinkish red border that does not flake.
The presence of a border is a sign of a progressive stage of the disease. The edge is one to two millimeters wide. The skin is inflamed, its structure resembles parchment paper.
The border represents the expansion area of the place. This is skin that is already inflamed, but not yet peeled. After a while, it will also be covered in scales. And the patch will expand to cover new areas of the skin and form a new, wider border.
With the active development of the disease, adjacent points merge with each other. At some point, a large inflamed red spot can form on the human body.
Psoriatic plaques are very itchy, causing unpleasant sensations in the person, interrupting their work, rest and sleep. They grow, occupy a large area, and form a new rash on clean, healthy skin.
The main sign of the progressive stage is the appearance of new eruptions. As soon as new pimples and spots stop appearing, the next stage of psoriasis begins: stationary. This is not yet a complete victory, but it is already a turn towards recovery.
In the progression stage, psoriasis is almost always accompanied by weakness, fatigue, weakness. Depression is common. Possible temperature.
Note:some medical theories say otherwise. Depression is not a consequence of psoriasis. And psoriasis is a consequence of neurology, the depressive psyche.
The duration of the progressive stage of psoriasis can be prolonged, several months.
Psoriasis: stationary stage
The main sign of the stationary stage is the cessation of the appearance of new spots and eruptions. At the same time, the itching also subsides, it becomes more bearable. The rash loses its bright color, becomes discolored, becomes invisible. This is also one of the signs that the process is stabilizing.
The pink bands around the perimeter of the plates disappear when the inflammation stops spreading. Active exfoliation and healing begins, regeneration of new healthy skin.
At first glance, it can be seen that flaking increases in the stationary stage. The scales completely cover the entire surface of the psoriatic spot, leaving no space for the tires.
Psoriasis takes on the characteristic scaly appearance that is commonly recognized by the general public. Extensive peeling in the stationary stage is not dangerous.
When all the dead cells come off the surface of the psoriatic spot, the healthy skin with a slight light tone will remain in place.
Other signs of progression or stabilization
In addition to the appearance of the rash, spots and peeling, there are other signs that can be used to judge the development of the disease. This is the nature of the sensations of itching (strong or tolerable), general state, depressed mood. And also the presence of temperature.
In the initial stage, the itching is variable and the rash is incomprehensible. Also, the itching intensifies every day. In the acute stage of psoriasis, it becomes intolerable. Disrupts sleep, rest, interferes with work. The person becomes irritated because the itching sensations do not give him a chance to rest.
In the stationary stage, the itch subsides. Every day a person feels better. The general state of the psyche changes, negativity and depressive moods weaken. The duration of the stationary stage is several weeks, from 2 to 5.
Psoriasis in the attenuation stage
The fading stage of psoriasis is the almost complete disappearance of plaques, spots, redness, inflammation, and itching.
At this stage of the disease, psoriasis is only reminiscent of a different pigmentation of the skin. At the site of the ancient psoriatic spots, it appears lighter. The surface of healthy skin is darker in tone.
In some cases, so-called hyperpigmentation is formed. The skin at the site of psoriasis spots does not become lighter, but darker. In either case, differences in skin pigmentation will be visible for another month or two.
Psoriasis after recovery: possibility of relapse
The possibility of psoriasis relapse is determined by the person's lifestyle, diet, allergic mood, and general body condition. It is also determined by the amount of toxins in your body, blood, liver. You can reduce the likelihood of repeated skin inflammation by strengthening the immune system and cleansing the body of toxins in the liver, blood vessels, and intestines.
Seasonal relapses of psoriasis are usually rare after cleansing. A person remains susceptible to the disease, but the likelihood of it occurring is markedly reduced.
Cleansing the body of toxins and taking vitamin-mineral complexes helps boost immunity. This is especially important if immunosuppressants were used during treatment, in the progressive stage of psoriasis. Its need was due to the work of inflammatory mediators. After suppressing the autoimmune defense, it is necessary to restore the immune system.