What is psoriasis and how to treat it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is not contagious, but anyone can get sick.

What is psoriasis

Global report on PSORIASIS is a common, chronic, non-communicable disease that affects about 100 million people worldwide.

What are the symptoms of psoriasis

The disease manifests itself as follows. Psoriasis skin cells divide up to 10 times faster than normal, layering on top of each other and form raised red patches covered with silvery white scales. These sores can appear anywhere, but most often on the head, elbows, knees, and lower back.

Here are a few more signs of Psoriasis that appear with spots:

• itching and burning;
• thickening and tiny pits on the nails;
• swollen and painful joints.

There may be other symptoms as well, depending on the type of psoriasis.

What are the types of psoriasis

There are seven of them 7 Types of Psoriasis:

1. Ordinary, he's vulgar. The most common type is raised, red and inflamed skin with white scales.
2. Drop-shaped. Small pinkish-red spots that usually appear on the head, thighs, forearms and torso.
3. Psoriasis of the nails. They turn yellow-brown, soft and may separate from the hole. Notches or thickenings appear.
4. Pustular. A rare form of the disease, it can be accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, muscle weakness, and rapid pulse. Purulent tubercles, surrounded by red skin, pop out on the arms, legs and fingers.
5. Inverse. Smooth and shiny red patches without scales. Most often appear in the groin, armpits, under the breasts and buttocks.
6. Erythrodermic. A rare but dangerous species. Covers most of the body with a red, itchy, and scaly rash.
7. Psoriatic arthritis. In addition to plaques on the skin, it causes pain and swelling of the joints.

See what psoriasis looks like Close

Where does psoriasis come from?

Anyone can get psoriasis, but it happens to adults more often than to children.

The exact causes of the onset of the disease are unknown. But Psoriasis is believed to be an autoimmune disease: the cells of the immune system, or leukocytes, become overactive and mistakenly attack healthy tissue.

One or more factors can cause Psoriasis psoriasis:

• infection;
• stress;
• smoking or drinking alcohol;
• sunburn;
• vitamin D deficiency;
• some drugs and substances - lithium preparations, beta-blockers, antimalarial drugs, iodides.

Psoriasis cannot be infected with psoriasis. It is not transmitted by contact with the patient's skin.

How is psoriasis treated?

You cannot get rid of psoriasis, but you can relieve its symptoms. It is rather difficult to select procedures and preparations. What has helped one person is sometimes not suitable for another. A dermatologist should draw up and adjust the treatment plan.

The doctor selects the treatment of psoriasis individually. The choice depends on:

• the variability of symptoms and their severity;
• the presence or absence of other diseases;
• forms of manifestation of psoriasis and complications - eye diseases, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, heart disease.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all program. Someone needs only external treatment, while someone needs a long hospital stay.

Your doctor may recommend the following.

Skin creams and ointments

They are used to soften plaque, relieve itching, and slow the growth of skin cells. These are the external remedies:

• hormonal ointments;
• shampoos and ointments with coal tar;
• calcitriol ointments;
• drugs with retinoids.

Phototherapy

Irradiation of the skin with natural or artificial ultraviolet light is carried out in a hospital under the supervision of a dermatologist. Usually, phototherapy is used in parallel with topical medications.

The lightest form is ordinary sunlight. But even if you decide to sunbathe in the sun, you should first discuss this with your doctor. This method is not for everyone.

Systemic treatment

This is heavy artillery when other methods do not help. The doctor prescribes a course of pills or injections that affect the entire body.

It is a very bad idea to prescribe drugs for yourself or take them on the advice of someone you know.

Self-medication for psoriasis can spread the disease to intact areas of the body and increase the frequency of flare-ups.

The patient does not take into account the side effects of different drugs and hurts himself.

Alexey Osipov dermatovenerologist at the Intermed multidisciplinary medical center.

Do not do this, but go to the doctor!

How to reduce the frequency of psoriasis flare-ups

In addition to the prescribed treatment, do the following:

• Do not smoke or drink alcohol. Bad habits make Healthy diet and other lifestyle changes that can improve psoriasis treatment less effective.
• Monitor your weight. After losing those extra pounds, many patients found that drugs that had not worked before began to work.
• Eat a balanced diet. This will reduce the risk of complications associated with psoriasis - high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis.
• Practice yoga and meditation. They reduce Stress and quality of life in psoriasis: an update. stress and anxiety that can trigger outbreaks.
• Apply MANAGING ITCH a thick moisturizer. Smear your skin as needed throughout the day to soften it. Be sure to do this after showering and before bed.
• Take a Psoriasis bath with colloidal oatmeal or salt every day for 10 minutes. Just make sure that the water is not too hot. And don't use harsh soaps that dry out your skin a lot.