Psoriasis- one of the most common and
mysterious skin diseases. The name "psoriasis" comes from the Greek word "psoriasis", which means itching, scabies.
"Devil's Roses"- so in old age they called the disease characterized by peeling skin.
In the time of Hippocrates, the term "psora" was introduced to denote a group of skin diseases accompanied by flaking, dryness, and itching.
The famous Greek physician Claudius Galen, at the beginning of our era, was the first to use the term "psoriasis" to refer to scaly changes in the skin with severe itching, but this disease has nothing to do with psoriasis.
In the old days psoriasis was at the level of leprosy, scabies and vitiligo, and people suffering from these diseases had to wear a special suit, rattle or bell.
In the early 19th century, the English physician Willlen and his students distinguished psoriasis from leprosy.
In the future, the science of dermatology will be enriched with new information about the causes of the disease (metabolic disorders, immune changes in the body, viral nature, environmental troubles, genetic predisposition, etc. ), but the exact causes of the disease remain a mystery.
During the entire existence of the Earth, 5, 5 billion people have suffered from psoriasis.
Psoriasis is considered to be a "sign of God" for people of special artistic talent.
Among people suffering from psoriasis there are many successful and great personalities, for example, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Winston Churchill, John Rockefeller
Blacks suffer from psoriasis much less frequently than whites. Drinking green tea reduces the risk of psoriasis. The risk of developing psoriasis in women who smoke is 78% higher than in non-smokers. Often, during pregnancy, psoriasis goes untreated. World War II, the number of patients with psoriasis. In September 2009, a fashion show was held in the United States for the first time, especially for patients with psoriasis.
In the entire history of mankind, there has not been a single case of transition from psoriasis from sick to healthy, even with a blood transfusion.
Causes of disease
Psoriasis is considered a multifactorial disease. This means that psoriasis appears suddenly, due to certain circumstances. Despite many years of research, scientists have still not been able to find out the exact causes of the disease, but there are many hypotheses.
- heredity (although the presence of a person suffering from psoriasis in the family does not always mean that their offspring will be sick);
- nervous stress (especially during adolescence) causes worsening of the disease;
- diet (abuse of fatty, salty foods, citrus fruits, chocolate, is directly related to the appearance of psoriasis);
- weakened immunity - long-term drug therapy, frequent colds, other diseases that lower immunity, affect the condition of the skin, provoking the development of psoriasis;
- vitamin and mineral deficiency;
- violation of metabolic processes.
And much more "Every person has their own psoriasis with its own causes. "
Symptoms of the disease
People under the age of 30, regardless of gender, are most susceptible to this disease. The first symptoms of the disease are small, scattered nodules of reddish or pink color, covered with silvery-white scales on top, when scraped under them, a reddish surface with small drops of protruding blood ("dew from the blood") is revealed. As psoriasis develops, the nodules grow, merging with each other, covering an increasing area of skin. The patient feels constant itching of the affected areas, combs them, and after intense scratching psoriatic "plaques" are formed - areas of thick, thickened, irritated skin.
The areas of psoriasis on the skin are endless, but the most commonly affected are the elbows, knees, extensor surfaces of the arms and legs, and the scalp. Sometimes the disease completely recedes, then suddenly returns, sometimes the patient's condition improves (more often in summer), sometimes worsens (more often in winter), in general, sheer unpredictability.
Psoriasis does not make a person physically disabled, but it inflicts a crushing blow on the patient’s psyche, denying him adequate communication with others.
If you have psoriasis. . .
- Make sure the rash is actually psoriasis.
- Don't panic.
- Try to analyze the events that precede the onset of the disease, in the future this will help you avoid repeated exacerbations.
- Self-medication is dangerous!
- Don't be fooled by expensive therapy, each psoriasis has its own treatment.
- Do not indulge in illness, drive away anxiety, adjust to a favorable outcome. Your attitude is the first aid in overcoming the disease.
Forms of psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis. Well-defined, pale pink, scaly spots appear on the scalp, and hair never falls out (hair loss in a limited area of skin indicates another condition, such as lichen).
Nail psoriasis(psoriatic onychodystrophy). Fingernails and toenails were affected. It is characterized by discoloration of the nail plate and nails, the appearance of spots, spots, transverse lines, thickening of the skin under the nails, thickening and stratification of the plate, all the way to the complete loss of nail plates.
Palmar-plantar psoriasis.Papules appear on the surface of the palms and soles, usually in combination with nail psoriasis (to distinguish them from fungal diseases).
Guttate psoriasis.It is characterized by the appearance on the patient's skin of a large number of small circles raised above the surface of healthy skin, red or purple (to purple), very dry, similar in shape to drops, tears or small spots. It occurs mainly on the thighs.
Exudative psoriasis.The scales on the surface of the papules get a yellow tinge, become multilayered, stick together. When such a papule is scraped off, a moist, bright pink surface of the skin is exposed.
Pustular psoriasis.Small blisters with purulent contents appear on various parts of the skin, the general condition of the patient deteriorates, and the body temperature rises.
Psoriatic erythroderma.Defeat of large areas of skin (sometimes on the entire body surface), inflammation is pronounced, skin color is bright pink, the patient feels strong, unbearable itching and worsening of the general condition.
Arthropathic psoriasis.Not only the skin is affected, but also the small joints (hands, feet). When moving, joint pains appear, the joints are limited in movement, edematous.
Isomorphic psoriasis or the Koebner phenomenon.This form of the disease develops at the site of physical skin injury (scratches, surgical wounds, burns).
Plaque psoriasis.At the onset of the disease, red, clearly demarcated, scaly papules appear, which fuse as the disease progresses, creating stable round or oval deposits of dark red color.
Inverse (intertriginous) psoriasis.An unusual shape that occurs below the mammary glands and in the groin area. The plates are smooth, red, with clear borders and superficial maceration.
Erythrodermic psoriasis.Severe shape, the surface of the skin is red, painful, the patient has a high temperature, cold.
Complications of psoriasis
Psoriasis- this is not just a skin disease, it is unequivocally clear that psoriasis is a systemic disease that affects not only the skin, but also almost all body systems, so in the background of psoriasis in humans, the following disorders occur:
- psoriatic arthritis;
- nail plate degeneration;
- mucosal damage (mouth, gastrointestinal tract, urethra, bladder, etc. );
- eye damage;
- liver violations;
- organic disorders of the central nervous system;
- heart damage (myocarditis, myocardial dystrophy, etc. );
- amyotrophy;
- lymphadenopathy.
Characteristics of psoriasis in children
As a rule, psoriasis in children develops at the age of 4-8 years, its appearance is often associated with an infectious disease (tonsillitis, chickenpox, etc. ), stress, skin trauma, etc. It is manifested primarily on the scalp, as well as on the skin of the face and groin. The most common in childhood is the tear form and the exudative form of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis
Because it is extremely difficult to identify the cause of the disease, it is also difficult to identify a single recipe for fighting psoriasis. This disease is very individual and the approach to treatment should be strictly individual.
Diet.In most cases, dietary advice is enough to stop the development of psoriasis. It is necessary to exclude foods that are traditionally considered allergens - citrus fruits, chocolate, eggs, honey, peppers, strawberries, and it is recommended to limit the consumption of acidic, spicy, fatty foods (oil, fat), alcohol.
Strengthening agents.It is necessary to take multivitamin preparations, means for strengthening the body's immune system, removing nervous stress.
Puvotherapy.Application of special therapeutic agents on the skin, followed by activation by ultraviolet radiation.
Cryotherapy.Placement in a cell with a very low temperature.
Bioresonance therapy.Exposure to weak electromagnetic vibrations.
Ozone therapy.Use of gas treatments and ozonized cosmetics.
Hirudotherapy.Use of medicinal leeches.
Spa treatment.This type of treatment is carried out without exacerbation of the disease, in the summer-spring period with great care, because sometimes climate change can, on the contrary, cause the disease. Spa treatments in the Dead Sea (Israel), Baku, etc. are recommended for psoriasis.
External treatment(ointments, creams, etc. ).
Systemic treatment(tablets, injections, etc. ).
Photochemotherapy.Exposure to ultraviolet rays directly to the affected areas of the skin is done using special devices that radiate only the right places without touching healthy skin (which is important in the treatment of limited forms of psoriasis, for example, the treatment of nail psoriasis).
Traditional methods of treatment.Based on the therapeutic effect of medicinal herbs (celandine, kalanchoe, eucalyptus, honey, kombucha, etc. ).
Phytotherapy.Treatment with medicinal herbs.
Hypnotherapy.Hypnosis treatment.
Acupuncture.Restores the physical and mental condition of a patient with psoriasis.
Homeopathy.
Treatment of psoriasis with folk remedies.
Today you can easily find many articles on the treatment of psoriasis folk remedies, there are really many remedies for treatment, we will present to your attention some of them.
The use of internal decoctions of herbs such as chicory, dandelion, parsley gives quite good results. For treatment, the ground roots of these plants are used, which are harvested in spring or autumn on their own or bought at a pharmacy.
Dill is good for psoriasis. It is very useful to eat it in any available form, and the seeds are better ground in a coffee grinder. In the morning you can prepare a decoction of dill seeds: pour boiling water two tablespoons of dill seeds (0, 5 l), insist for an hour, then drink the resulting decoction thirty minutes before meals, 3-4 times a day.
Liver and bowel cleansing can also help alleviate psoriasis. The easiest way to clean is with pumpkin seeds, which you need to eat one glass a day for a month, as well as a tablespoon of corn oil twice a day.
Using coniferous baths, every other day, for about half an hour, will help cleanse the skin. It is easy to prepare the soup: you have to put spruce branches on the bottom of a large sherpa or bucket, add celandine leaves, pour water over it all, boil it and evaporate on a very low heat for 20 minutes. Then pour the broth for 2-3 hours and pour into the prepared bath. Water temperature should be 37-38 degrees.
You can also use other herbs to prepare baths: mint, motherwort, chamomile, valerian, lemon balm, oregano, cumin seeds, hops.
You can also use burdock oil to treat psoriasis, both externally and internally.
The most popular questions and answers about psoriasis.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is not contagious, in any case it is confirmed by numerous studies. The presence of several family members with psoriasis is explained by the possible hereditary transmission of the disease.
What are the guarantees of treatment?
There can be no guarantees, only stable remission is possible.
How much does treatment cost on average?
It is almost impossible to calculate the cost of treatment due to strictly individual methods of treatment and duration of treatment.
How is the diagnosis made?
Visual examination and scraping for fungal infection to detect concomitant pathology.
How does alcohol affect a patient with psoriasis?
Alcohol due to its toxicity has a detrimental effect on the whole body as a whole, what to say about the changed skin.
In most patients with alcohol abuse, there is a loss of seasonality during psoriasis and frequent exacerbations. The clinical course of the disease is becoming more severe.
Therefore, people with psoriasis are not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages, even in small quantities.
How do stressful situations affect psoriasis?
The human nervous system is associated with brain activity. The brain controls all the functions of the body, the intelligence organs and the human emotions. It has been determined that in people who experience negative emotions, the amount of adrenaline in the blood increases, which leads to a breakdown of the nervous system and, accordingly, all internal organs. Therefore, during stressful situations, 56. 6% of patients experience worsening of the disease.
If a relative has psoriasis, what is the probability that I will get psoriasis?
1. 2% of patients with psoriasis had no sick relatives. 5% of patients had sick relatives. If one of the twins has psoriasis, the other has psoriasis in 16% of cases, provided that one of the parents is ill. If both parents are and one of the twins is ill, the other has psoriasis in 50% of cases, and if the twins are identical - in 73%.
Practical tips for patients with psoriasis
- Wear loose, breathable clothing.
- Protect skin, avoid mechanical irritation.
- Don't dress too warm.
- Avoid contact with caustic cleaners and solvents whenever possible.
- For body care, only mild soaps are allowed, which save the acidic skin wrap.
- The shower or bath you are taking should not be hot and long. It is best to take a short to moderately warm shower.
- Try not to rub too hard with a washcloth during washing and a towel when drying.
- Control your emotions.
- Communicating with other patients can be of additional help.
- Exercise will help improve the condition, yoga is especially recommended.
- A balanced diet and a healthy gut microflora will improve the condition of your skin.
Rehabilitation of patients with psoriasis
Rehabilitation of patients includes the following activities:
- elimination of side effects of the main treatment.
- stabilization of metabolic processes in the body.
- treatment of concomitant diseases.
- increasing the body's resistance to factors that cause deterioration.
For stable remission, you may need to radically change your lifestyle, job, in some cases even place of residence (moving to rural, ecologically clean areas often maintains stable remission). The support of relatives and friends is especially important, communication with people who have the same disease will help to overcome difficulties together.
Life according to Hufeland
Prominent German physician-therapist Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland once said: "Among the influences that shorten life, the predominant place is occupied by fear, sadness, discouragement, melancholy, cowardice, envy and hatred. No one doubts that you can get sick from the idea of illness, why not imagine yourself healthy to heal? "Perhaps these wonderful words will firmly enter your life and help you overcome the disease. Live towards Hufeland! "