Symptoms and first signs of psoriasis

The characteristic, species-specific signs of psoriasis play a decisive role in diagnosis and treatment.

The most common type of chronic dermatosis, according to statistics, is psoriasis. This is a complex and multiple disease of polyetiological origin. For various reasons, a large number of different types have been identified that have their own characteristic signs of psoriasis. The need to distinguish types according to symptoms arose because of the ambiguous reaction of the skin to drugs and other methods of exposure.

Until recently, the disease was considered harmless to health and life, until cases of death were recorded due to incorrect identification of the cause, type and treatment. In addition, a person may be affected by several forms of the disease at the same time, the symptoms of which must be taken into account when prescribing treatment.

The disease affects people regardless of gender and age category. The first symptoms of psoriasis can appear in both infants and adults for no apparent reason. Depending on the type, not only the onset, but also the development of the disease differs, it can be fast or slow, with gradual intensification of symptoms.

Timely detection of the initial symptoms and signs of psoriasis is the key to the effectiveness of the treatment, it will allow:

• Do not allow the disease to affect large areas of the skin;
• Quick removal of external symptoms of the disease and prevention of damage to internal organs;
• Take timely measures to prevent relapse and prolong the quiet periods of the disease.

The terms "symptoms" and "signs", although similar in meaning, have significant differences. Symptoms are subjective feelings of a person that can be confirmed or refuted by examination data.

Signs are the objective data of the examination and examination by which the doctor makes a diagnosis.
For example, pain is only a symptom, while skin rashes are a sign.

This is important to remember, because it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis just by feeling the symptoms, and only an expert can determine the signs of psoriasis, its specific type and form.

General signs

Regardless of whether the disease appeared suddenly and began to develop rapidly or the initial manifestations were gradual, clinicians consider the beginning of the formation of papules on different parts of the skin - small scaly nodules of dark pink color, dense to the touch and raised. above the surface.

The first thing the patient may notice is the formation of a rash in those places that are more exposed to friction than others, and the skin on them is the driest, namely:

• On the hands, palm areas or elbows;
• Below the knee;
• In the inguinal folds;
• On the side of the lower back;
• On the lower leg;
• On the scalp under the hair.

The location of the lesion directly depends on the form of the disease. Vulgar psoriasis tends to appear on the elbows, and the tear type begins to spread from the lower back, the skin area under the chest and shoulder blades.
The first rashes on the skin are usually barely noticeable, they do not form in clusters and do not cause discomfort. But if you do not consult a specialist at this stage and ignore the onset of the disease, damage to the nails on the hands and feet will gradually begin, then the disease will spread to the mucous membrane and then to the joints.

The appearance of the first signs of psoriasis may differ depending on gender or age. In infants, psoriatic rash most often begins with inguinal folds and resembles the signs of miliaria. In adults, the onset can be of two types:

1. A round rash of various sizes, dark pink or red in color, with many visible whitish scales. Gradually, although each patient has his own way, the rash areas thicken and noticeably rise above the surface of the skin. The rash forms a psoriatic plaque, similar to drops from a paraffin candle.
2. Small, dense papules form small clusters on the elbows, palms, and sometimes along the knee joints and ankles. These signs are so insignificant that a person simply does not pay attention to them, confusing them with ordinary irritation. It is important to listen to yourself to see if the characteristic symptoms of psoriasis, such as itching and pain to the touch, have appeared. If you miss the initial symptoms of psoriasis, then individual papules quickly turn into plaques that are very difficult to get rid of.

Psoriasis can be distinguished from other skin diseases by a triad of characteristic symptoms, namely:

1. "The Stearic Stain Effect". When scraping the surface of the plaque, the transparent, small scales are easily peeled off.
2. "Terminal Movie Effect". If you remove the peeling scales, in their place there will be a thin shiny surface of skin, light in color.
3. "Blood Dew Effect". Microscopic drops of blood appear at the scraping site after a short period of time.

The classification of specific forms of psoriasis is of great importance in determining the disease. An unequivocal system has not yet been developed, experts distinguish the main groups according to characteristic symptoms and signs.

Classification

The basic division of the disease is into two large groups according to the nature of the skin rash, namely:

1. Non-pustular forms, which is characterized by distribution over the entire surface of the skin, including such types as:
   • Simple (vulgar) or ordinary psoriasis, which is characterized by a stable chronic course with the development of plaques. The vulgar type of the disease is the most common, occurring in 85% of cases.
   • Psoriatic erythroderma. The dangerous type, which always occurs in a severe form, affects the thermoregulatory and barrier abilities of the skin. Very often, erythrodermic psoriasis ends with pyoderma or sepsis.
2. Pustular forms, which is characterized by the formation of not papules, but pustules - inflamed skin blisters filled with serological fluid. These forms of the disease in their course can be generalized (spread over the entire surface of the skin) or localized, mainly in the area of the palms and soles.
   • Generalized psoriasis of the Tsumbusha type;
   • A type of erythema annulare;
   • Barber's palmoplantar type (chronic pustulosis of the extremities);
   • Annular type of pustular psoriasis;
   • Persistent acrodermatitis (psoriasis of the soles and palms);
   • Psoriatic herpetiform impetigo.

This classification system has not yet included such types of diseases as:

• Seborrheic;
• Exudative;
• Drug dependent form;
• Inverse psoriasis surface folds and folds of the skin.

Characteristic signs of different types of psoriasis

The general symptoms of psoriasis fully characterize only the vulgar form of the disease, which is the most common of all known forms of the disease. A characteristic feature of plaque psoriasis are the places where the first rashes appear, namely:

• Folds in the arms and legs;
• The border between the forehead and the scalp;
• The back of the hand.

of the tear type

The peculiarity of this type of disease is the formation of individual papules in the form of drops. The first signs of guttate psoriasis appear on the thighs, and then spread over the entire surface of the skin. In the vast majority of cases, guttate psoriasis develops against the background of infectious diseases caused by streptococcus.

Atypical appearance

This form is characterized by the creation of the first manifestations in places atypical for psoriasis, namely:

• skin folds,
• Lateral surfaces of the body
• Armpit.

Pustular (exudative) appearance

The beginning of the disease is characterized by the appearance on the surface of the palms, feet or legs of small blisters (papules) filled with non-infectious serous fluid. The skin around the papules is always inflamed, and the blisters themselves are very unstable and open the door to infection.

In most cases, exudative psoriasis develops in patients suffering from endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders and obesity.

Psoriasis surface folds

The peculiarity of this form is the appearance of manifestations on the skin. The rash appears in the form of large red spots that are not covered with scales and do not protrude above the surface. This type covers areas with intense sweat glands, such as:

• Bend the wrists at the hands and below the knees;
• Armpits and inguinal folds;
• External genitalia;
• The skin area under the breast in women.

Often this form is complicated by the addition of a fungal or streptococcal infection.

Psoriatic arthritis

One of the most insidious forms of the disease, characterized by a long latent course. The patient notices the first symptoms of psoriasis when the damage to the joints is complete. The signs of this type of psoriasis are expressed in pain and swelling of the joints, and their subsequent deformation.

Seborrheic appearance

The localization of this type of rash is initially concentrated on the face, the first signs appear in the area of the nasolabial triangle, behind the ears, along the edge of hair growth. Further distribution goes along the shoulder blades on the back and along the chest. Rashes are covered with yellowish scales, and the borders with healthy skin are blurred.

Onychodystrophy, nail psoriasis

This type is almost incurable. The pathology affects only the nail plates, which change color to dark yellow or gray. The nail structure becomes thinner, and the cuticle area becomes inflamed for no apparent reason.

Conclusion

It is important to always remember that psoriasis is not only a skin disease, but also a very serious disorder of the body's internal systems. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or turn to healers. Choosing an effective treatment regimen can only be done by an experienced specialist after a careful examination.