Psoriasis, the initial stage of which can appear under a certain combination of factors, manifests itself in the form of reddish plaques with clear borders.After that, they are covered with silver-white scales, which merge with each other.Plaques are usually found in the head, knees and elbows.
Psoriasis can affect patients of any age and gender.The etiology of the disease, which is not fully elucidated, does not allow psoriasis to be completely cured, however, it is possible to significantly reduce the symptoms of the disease and achieve a long-term remission if the therapy is started in the initial stage of psoriasis development, with an adequate evaluation of the initial signs of psoriasis.
Symptoms of the initial stage of the disease
To recognize the initial stage of the disease, it is important to know what the primary symptoms look like.
At the very beginning, individual papules appear that can be from a few mm to 2-5 cm and have the form of a plaque covered with white scales.When they are scraped off, a characteristic symptom of the psoriatic triad appears:
- "stearic stain" (slight separation of scales during scraping);
- "terminal film" (exposure of shiny, thin and moist skin after descaling);
- "bloody dew" (with further removal of the terminal film on the surface of the skin, small drops of blood resembling dew appear).
The initial stage of the disease is characterized by the appearance of psoriatic lesions in places that are most often susceptible to trauma of any kind.As a rule, these are the elbows, the knee area in places of scratches or scrapes.These manifestations are called "Koebner's sign".
At the very beginning, the papular rash spreads linearly, directly at the site of irritation and can exist for a long time without dynamics.These rashes are called "sentinel" rashes.The rash is very itchy and itchy.
The initial phase lasts several weeks.After that, the papules enlarge and coalesce into psoriatic plaques, which can cover large areas of the body.
Psoriasis can appear anywhere.The most dangerous rashes are on the face, but this form of the initial stage develops very rarely.
Characteristic places of localization of the disease in the initial stage
The most common rashes observed are:
Legs. The initial stage of psoriasis on the legs develops from individual small rashes, which are mainly located on the feet and knees, but can appear on any surface of the legs.
Elbows. The type of plaque most often occurs on the elbows, the symptoms of which are characterized by small red rashes with severe peeling.In this case, the roughness of the skin is observed on the elbows (pictured).In addition, the rash on the elbows can be symmetrical.
The head. Symptoms often affect the scalp, as well as the back of the head and the ear area (pictured).A papular rash on the head is accompanied by itching.Very often, scalp psoriasis is characterized by moist scales.
Nails. On the hands and nails, psoriatic manifestations resemble a fungal infection.First of all, longitudinal stripes (dots) appear at the very edge of the nails (in the photo), and then spread towards the roots of the nails.At the same time, the nail plate begins to thicken and fade.As the symptoms of the disease progress, the nail area may peel off completely.
Face. Psoriasis rarely occurs on the face, as this form of psoriasis is considered atypical.Hyperemic papules appear in the area of the eyelids, nasolabial folds, near the eyes and eyebrows (pictured).In rare cases, a rash on the face appears near the red border of the lips and mucous membranes (cheeks and tongue).
The specificity of the rash on the face is associated with tender, sensitive skin and an abundance of nerve endings.First, papules (small, slightly raised nodules above the skin) appear, followed by severe itching.After that, epithelium and plaques appear on top of the nodule.
Hands. Symptoms of psoriasis on the hands appear suddenly, appearing in the form of a small rash (pictured), which many patients mistake for an allergy.And only when gray, dry scales appear on the hands, palms and elbows, patients turn to a dermatologist for help.It is characteristic that if there is a psoriatic rash on the palms, similar manifestations are also observed on the legs.Psoriatic manifestations on the palms are most often localized between the fingers, which is explained by the most favorable environment in this place.The backs of the hands are much less commonly affected.When psoriatic patches appear on the fingertips, they may lose sensitivity.
Development of the initial stage of psoriasis at an early age
Psoriasis can affect not only adults, but also small children, including newborns.The initial stage of psoriasis in children, unlike adult patients, is mild and develops rather slowly.
The first signs of psoriasis most often appear in children under the age of 2, which is associated with improper care and feeding, which can cause skin irritation.As a rule, the first rashes appear on the hands, elbows, in the folds of the skin (pictured) on the legs and buttocks, which is caused by contact irritation (diapers, diapers, etc.).
The initial symptoms of psoriasis should be distinguished from diaper dermatitis in babies.The surface of the head is affected by psoriasis in children older than 10 years, since from this age the clinical symptoms of the disease in children are exactly the same as in adults.Most often, psoriasis in children is caused by previous staphylococcal infections.
Important!A child can develop any form of psoriasis, except guttate psoriasis, which affects only adult patients.
Treatment of the initial stage of psoriasis
To get rid of negative manifestations, you can use traditional medicine and home therapy.Treatment of the initial stage of the disease shows good results, which allows you to quickly get rid of visual pathological manifestations.
Therapeutic treatment of the early stage of the disease includes the use of, first of all, external agents, as well as ultraviolet treatment and the use of systemic drugs that actively suppress the inflammatory process.
In the early stages, the disease can be treated with ointments with salicylic acid and naphthalene oil.In addition, sedatives and antihistamines are prescribed.These products relieve tissue swelling and neutralize painful itching.
It is important to remember that not all external products can be used on the face, so prior consultation with your doctor is necessary.In addition, psoriasis cannot be treated without proper nutrition and giving up bad habits.
Treatment at home
There are many ways to get rid of early stage psoriasis at home. This treatment is primarily aimed at strengthening the immune system and alleviating the inflammatory process.
- Honey and products containing it, oak bark, pine needles, chamomile, etc. are actively used in treatment.With the participation of these drugs, poultices are made to alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis;
- folk methods include cleansing the body by taking decoctions of lemon, rosehip, etc.In addition, the use of baths with the addition of sea salt is effective;
- at home, it is recommended to moisturize the skin with natural oils (buckthorn, peach, olive).However, it should be remembered that traditional methods of treatment are used as a supplement to traditional medicine.
In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to certain preventive measures in order to minimize the symptoms of psoriasis:
- Skin damage such as scratches on hands and feet, insect bites, burns, etc. should be avoided.
- It is necessary to moisturize the skin regularly with creams and avoid infectious diseases.
- It is recommended to give up alcohol and smoking and take only those medicines prescribed by your doctor.
The effectiveness of treatment in the initial stage of the disease depends on the time of seeking professional help.Early treatment provides a high probability of preventing the transition of an acute process to a chronic form.