What is psoriasis: causes, symptoms and treatment

In the last few decades, dermatology has increasingly started to deal with cases of psoriatic dermatitis. Statisticians note that most often these cases affect fair-skinned people. And although experts have not yet set an age limit for widespread disease, the most active stages of the disease are recorded precisely between the ages of 15 and 45. In terms of prevalence, psoriasis can now affect every 25 people on the planet, which in general, according to WHO (World Health Organization) data for 2016, is about 4. 2% of the total world population.

What is the type of psoriasis and what external signs does it have?

The name of such a sore was given by its characteristic external sign - red plaques and papules with scales, which arise as a result of a rash accompanied by itching and inflammation of the skin. Psoriasis disease is also called scaly lichen and has its own rather extensive classification of types, symptoms, causes that cause the onset, progression and worsening of the disease. The general picture of the pathology today is such that it does not give doctors a clear idea of its unequivocal origin and treatment methods. Therefore, doctors must find ways of partial healing together with the patient.

The definition of what psoriasis is today is accepted by all specialists as a non-contagious disease that mostly occurs for various reasons, and according to it, it must be treated carefully, extremely cautiously, under the constant supervision of several specialists, not just dermatologists. The word psoriasis itself means "itch" (from the Greek word "psora"), "mange" (from the English word, which is also spelled "psora"). The diagnosis of the disease is carried out comprehensively, not only by skin or blood tests.

More information:The specificity of the disease, which has not been fully studied, is such that patients must prepare for persistent, persistent and long-term healing, as well as alternating periodic exacerbations with remissions, stages of relief, which last from several weeks to several weeks. years.

Classification of psoriasis types

When experts want to accurately determine psoriasis in a sick patient, what are the rashes on the skin and the unbearable desire to constantly scratch the wounds, what type of disease the disorder belongs to, what the patient is suffering from, then the experts can focus on a special classification of the disease. Moreover, it is not alone, today there are at least four of them, which should be briefly reviewed for a general idea.

According to ICD-10

According to the International Classification of Diseases in the 10th revision, such dermatitis is divided into the following types:

1. Plain or plate-shaped. Prevalence – 90-95%. Manifestations – papulo-scaly structures of gray, white, pink shades. As they grow, whole "islands" and "lakes" of diseased skin are formed.
2. Generalized pustular or "impetigo", "Tsumbusha" disease, exudative. It starts with blisters and blisters that contain fluid (exudate). Ulcers and self-infection occur after cracking.
3. Persistent or Allopo epidermal disorder, Setton's or Crocker's acrodermal disorder. Liquid or pustular formations in plaques and papules are sterile and do not have widespread self-contamination. Nails and fingers are often affected.
4. Palmar and plantar lesions. Small ulcers on the palms and soles that are not self-infecting. It is very difficult for the patient to have a quality life while walking and working with his hands.
5. in the shape of a tear. Small purple, pink, gray spots on the body most often begin to appear after severe sore throat, streptococcus, pharyngitis and other infectious viral diseases.
6. Arthropathic appearance. Damage to finger joints, hand, knee, lower leg. Prevalence – 10% of all patients with psoriasis.
7. Other, reverse and unspecified. Smooth spots with a low percentage of peeling that appear on sensitive areas of the skin.

According to this classification, which reveals the essence of what this or that type means, what the disease is, what psoriasis is, the pathology is assigned a special code - L40. Different numbers can be added to this code to indicate a specific type of illness.

According to clinical parameters

The disease can also be classified according to clinical criteria expressed as follows:

• by location - body parts are marked;
• according to clinical pictures - nature, texture of psoriasis;
• by progressive stages - progressive, stationary, regressive disease;
• according to manifestations in a certain season;
• by surface area of the skin - less than 20% of the epidermis, more than 20% or the entire skin is affected.

According to the American classification

The American National Foundation, when defining psoriasis, what kind of disease it is, its type, classifies it in the following order:

• mild skin lesions - less than 2%;
• average spread weight – from 2 to 10%;
• severe stage of skin damage - from 10% and more.

According to the PASI index

Another international approach to defining early psoriasis, which is in the arsenal of medical diagnosticians, distributes the types of the disease according to the following principle:

• the presence of the PASI index ranges from 0 to 72 values;
• the index shows the severity of dermatitis;
• Only experts calculate the index.

Doctors can use any of these classifications when determining the type of disease, but practice shows that the ICD-10 system is most actively used. Without an accurate definition of the type, it will be difficult for doctors to understand what psoriasis is and how to treat it.

General symptoms

All doctors and scientists are convinced that psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one. Characteristic pustular-scaly rashes are called papules if their formation was initially a swelling with fluid, which then ruptures, leading to a wound, desiccation of the sheath and scales. "Papula" from lat. means "knot". But if the redness was not watery, their swellings above the surface of the skin were dense, then they turned into wounds from constant scratching, suppuration and the formation of scales, then we are talking about plaques.

Note!Psoriasis is something that will always have scaly formations above the surface of the affected skin. "Squama" from lat. means "scales", so the diagnosis can be entered in the line on the examination sheet: "papulosquamous disorder of the epidermis".

Symptoms of psoriasis

When defining psoriasis, we focus on its symptoms, which can be represented by the following unified list of manifestations:

1. Papules are swellings above the surface of the skin that contain an infectious or sterile fluid.
2. Plaques are red spots that grow and fester over time.
3. Plaques can be gray, reddish, yellowish or spotted purple.
4. The surface texture of the affected skin varies from moist, pustular to dry with scales.
5. Flaking and flaking are characteristic of all types of diseases.
6. The general condition of the patient varies from irritability, nervousness, to drowsiness, fatigue and apathy.

Phases and stages of psoriasis development

The stages show not only the characteristics of the type of psoriasis disease and its type, but they can also tell the doctor how to deal with the disease. It is usually divided into 3 stages.

Weak phase

• papules and plaques are rare and solitary;
• no unbearable itching;
• There is no strong swelling yet;
• often appears after stress or severe infection.

Intensive phase

• defined as Koebner's syndrome;
• lesions appear unexpectedly in different parts of the human body;
• fusion and growth of papules and plaques into entire "paraffin lakes";
• pain and itching are typical during this period.

Aggravation of the disease

• the shape of the scales;
• dry skin;
• the lesional rash no longer grows;
• the scales fall off;
• skin hurts;
• the thickness of the skin on which there are plaques increases.

For reference:remission is a separate phase and is considered to be the calming down of the pathological condition.

Causes that cause the appearance of the disease

Despite the fact that no answers have been found to the questions of what kind of disease psoriatic dermatitis is, and what are the reasons for its occurrence, certain prerequisites that can cause the onset of the disease are still naturally evident.

Such patterns indicate the following likely reasons:

1. Hereditary predisposition.
2. Weak immune system.
3. Recently experienced severe psychological trauma, exposure to infection, virus.
4. Side effects from medications.
5. A sharp change in the climatic conditions for life.
6. Allergies in humans.
7. Imbalance of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine, excretory, cleansing systems.
8. Slow metabolism (metabolism) due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, sleep and wakefulness.

Important!The wound can come out even after severe sunburn, constant friction of synthetic clothing fabrics in parts of the body where the skin folds. Even excessive consumption of low-quality food (with an abundance of chemicals, preservatives, food synthetics), alcohol, drugs (toxic substances) or tobacco can affect the deterioration of the condition. All this was recorded by the method of exclusion - for example, when the patient was limited by bad habits, his condition improved.

Psoriasis diagnosis - what is it?

If people who ask about psoriasis, what it is and which doctors they should contact, have already discovered similar symptoms in themselves, or in their loved ones, friends, then they should first of all contact a dermatologist. After that, an examination will be scheduled, which may include a number of other highly specialized specialists:

• histologists - the study of blood cells in this case;
• immunologists - determination of the cause of the body's weakened resistance to viruses;
• endocrinologists - if there is a suspicion of disturbances in the hormonal level and functioning of the endocrine system;
• infectologist - detecting the presence of infections or viruses in the human body;
• nutritionists who will determine the proper diet for the patient and other specialists.

Diagnostics is carried out using the following mechanisms and techniques:

1. External examination of the affected areas of the skin.
2. A blood test will show whether the joints are affected by the disease.
3. Biopsy reveals the stage and verification (diagnosing a certain type of disease).

When determining a specific type of psoriasis, the internet alone is not helpful. Moreover, encyclopedic manuals are usually filled by all Internet users, both knowledgeable in the specifics of the disease and laymen.

Note!A biopsy is one of the main diagnostic procedures in which a piece of affected skin is taken for laboratory examination. Its results show the level of T-lymphocytosis, which cells are strong and which are weak.

Difficulties in the life of patients with psoriasis

When a patient encounters psoriasis for the first time and does not know what kind of disease has befallen him, he tends to experience the following conditions that accompany the course of dermatitis:

• depression;
• inferiority complexes;
• difficulties in the social sphere - people out of ignorance often believe that the disease is contagious and stop communicating with the sick person;
• cardiovascular disorders - sometimes even heart attacks;
• pressure imbalance - hypertension;
• diabetes mellitus – type 2 is particularly common;
• you must limit yourself in food and drink;
• you have to adapt to an active lifestyle, which is extremely difficult to do when your psychological mood is depressed;
• physical discomfort - difficulty wearing clothes, showering, bathing, moving arms, legs, sleeping, etc.

Likewise, all this affects those patients who are not encountering the disease for the first time, but are already mentally prepared to face it and work hard to reduce its intensity.

For reference:remissions (phases of weakening of the disease) can last for several years only with a competent approach to therapy and the prescription of treatments, methods, methods.

Methods for the treatment of psoriasis

When the doctors themselves do not fully know all the reasons for the worsening of the disease and how it can all be removed forever, it greatly affects the mood of the patient himself. But you just need to convince yourself that if the disease cannot be cured, then you can improve the quality of your life in a few years. Therefore, psoriasis must be treated only with an integrated approach of all practices, methods and methods that are available in nature. Even doctors do not disdain folk remedies, if only the patient discusses one or another method with the doctor in advance.

Traditional methods

As soon as they determine the type of dermatitis - psoriasis is also dermatitis, what kind of disease it is, the type, the doctors immediately start with specific interventions that supposedly give a positive effect in the end.

Treatment begins with the following procedures:

1. Affected areas are disinfected to prevent self-infection.
2. Mandatory relief of inflammatory processes with drugs.
3. Plaques must be removed, and special drugs are prescribed for this.
4. The same applies to scales - so that they do not fall off painfully, they are softened with lotions, applications of various softening ointments, tinctures, mixtures.
5. Injections and tablets are prescribed - for example, an immunosuppressant, which restores the functioning of the immune system while improving the psychophysical condition.
6. They use ultraviolet radiation, purify blood with plasmapheresis and other methods.
7. Sanatorium-resort treatments with mud and salt water. For example, resorts in Israel on the Dead Sea. The method is not cheap, it must last 28 days, but it is 100% effective.
8. Taking salt and herbal baths.
9. Special diet, exercise.

In addition to the above methods, operations are also performed on the valve of the small intestine, which is responsible for cleaning the system. Usually, after such operations, patients feel better even 5-6 years in advance.

Important!The basic drug will always be an antimetabolite of the group of structural analogs of folic acid, which is introduced into the body by intramuscular injection.

Traditional medicine for psoriasis

The disease can also be treated with traditional methods, as some plants, seeds and fruits have their own healing properties. This is a convenient option for those who cannot take advantage of trips to the resort. At home, you can prepare medicinal baths for yourself, make various ointments from kalanchoe, honey and other ingredients. Only the patient should always consult his doctor first. Here you also have to adhere to a strict diet, sleep, work and physical activity.

Additional measures

Every doctor will always prohibit the patient from being in the sun for more than 6 hours a day during 2 tanning sessions. At the same time, the sun must not be at the zenith and burn strongly, otherwise you can only cause burns and worsen the condition. Apart from sun exposure, psoriasis can also be temporarily cured by adding a special diet. The most common system now is the Pegano diet. In addition, you should remove all the usual whims, such as tobacco, alcohol, an abundance of sweets and other hobbies.

More information:A sudden diet is not recommended. In addition, you should always keep your intestines in mind, which should be helped by the presence of fiber and sunflower oils. Therefore, you can eat sunflower seeds, and add various permitted fiber-rich foods to your meals.

5 preventive measures for people prone to psoriasis

So that a person has no questions about psoriasis - what kind of disease it is and how to treat it, you should listen to several recommendations of experts on how to protect yourself from such a disease as much as possible. Pay attention to this list of 5 basic recommendations, even if you do not have a predisposition to this type of disease:

1. Protect yourself from various infections, dress warmly, don't catch a cold, create the most positive attitude in life.
2. Move actively, maintain a normal diet, sleep and wakefulness.
3. Give up all bad habits or hobbies like baking, sweets, which contain a lot of sugar.
4. Wear clothing made primarily of natural fibers.
5. All painkillers or other medicines should be taken in consultation with a doctor, and not self-medicated.

For reference:slow metabolism leads not only to psoriasis, but also to obesity, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and other dysfunctions. Therefore, reducing carbohydrates in your menu, more walks in the fresh air and physical exercises will help everyone to always stay healthy!

There is still no complete cure for this disease, and experts are determining the causes because certain cases of psoriatic disorders are being registered. Therapeutic procedures are very long, lengthy and difficult. The patient will need not only a change in lifestyle, but also self-observation with keeping a diary in which he will record all his conditions. Therefore, any delay in contacting a doctor will only make the situation worse. Patients should not suffer like that, to be afraid to show themselves to doctors, it is better to start looking for a solution to the problem right away than to pile it up like a snowball.