Psoriasis is a long-lasting and virtually incurable, non-communicable disease. It mainly affects the skin, nails and joints. Psoriasis can occur in people of any age, even children.
There are several theories about the causes of psoriasis:
- Theory of neurogenic disorders;
- Theory of problems in the endocrine system;
- Theory of viral disorders or the theory of metabolic disorders.
But none of these theories have been practically scientifically proven. To date, scientists have come to the conclusion that the occurrence of the disease is influenced by heredity or genetic predisposition of a person to pathological changes in skin cells.
These cells form in the basal layer and, reaching the outer stratum corneum, form scales. Genetic factor proves the presence of the disease in relatives. In other words: if your relatives suffer from psoriasis, then it can occur in you or your children.
Factors influencing the occurrence of psoriasis
The following factors affect the occurrence of psoriasis:
- Nervous breakdowns;
- Mental and physical shock, body overload;
- Diseases of the endocrine system;
- Biochemical and enzymatic disorders;
- Body hypothermia;
- Decreased immunity.
It is difficult to identify and confirm what caused this disease. It is often said that the disease appeared for no reason.
What is the disease of psoriasis: how does it manifest itself?
With this disease, papules and plaques appear on the skin. Plaques are sharply demarcated, dense spots on the skin of pink or reddish hue with small light scales. Plaques are of different shapes, but are more often round or oval. They can be found anywhere on the human body, but are more commonly seen on large joints, the sacrum and lower back, under the hair on the head.
Psoriatic papules are characterized by rapid growth with the formation of plaques of a few centimeters, which then merge into large skin lesions.
How is psoriasis diagnosed?
The following indicators are important for diagnosis:
- If you try to scrape the papule, the scales are easily sprayed, a "stearin stain" is formed.
- A reddish shiny surface appears on the skin - the final film of the stain;
- If you continue to scrape the stain, then spotting - "bloody dew" - appears on its surface.
Stages of psoriasis
Disease-related rash is characterized by the following stages of development:
- Progressive stage (appearance of small papules, which grow over time and merge into larger ones);
- Stationary stage (plaques grow and do not change over time);
- Regressive stage (the rash fades, becomes thinner and disappears from the surface of the skin).
Depending on the condition of the organism, the disease can last for a very long time.
The first stage of the rash is characterized by the Kebner effect: new psoriatic lesions appear at the site of damaged skin after about a week.
During the period of remission on the skin in the area of the elbow or knee joints, isolated, so-called "duty" plaques can remain.
Types of psoriasis
There are several types of diseases:
- Exudative form: it also expresses swelling and shine of papules with yellowish crusts on the surface;
- Follicular form: small papules are localized in the area of the follicle opening;
- Palmar-plantar form of psoriasis: the skin of the soles and palms is covered with cracks and scales, psoriatic plaques are visible on them;
- Seborrheic psoriasis: localized mainly on the scalp;
- Psoriatic erythroderma. In this form, the disease is very severe, psoriasis affects the entire skin surface, peripheral lymph nodes increase, fever, itching, sleep disturbances, changes in blood and urine are observed;
- Arthropathic psoriasis: affects and deforms the joints, restricting movement in them. It is characterized by severe pain and swelling in the affected joint area. This is a very painful form of psoriasis that often leads to disability.
In all forms of psoriasis, a change is noticed on the nails: they become blurred, thickened and small spots appear on them, as if they were pricked with a needle.
The disease lasts for many years with periods of deterioration and improvement of health, it is characterized by seasonality: worsening in the cold and remission in the warm season.
Treatment of psoriasis
Psoriasis should be treated under the supervision of a doctor in the dermatology department. Treatment is prescribed by optimally combining therapeutic drugs with fats and physiotherapy, as well as limiting animal fats and carbohydrates in food, alcohol and spicy foods.
Patients should be under the dispensary supervision of a doctor and need annual spa treatment. For psoriasis, it is recommended to visit radon springs and hydrogen sulfide baths, swim in the sea and sunbathe.