Psoriasis is a chronic, non-communicable skin disease. This disease recurs. Very rarely, psoriasis can affect the joints, nails and mucous membranes. People of all ages are susceptible to psoriasis. According to statistics, there was a tendency to develop the disease in childhood.
Psoriasis is absolutely not a contagious disease of a chronic nature. Most dermatologists believe that psoriasis is a systemic disease. According to them, the disease affects not only a certain area of the skin, but also involves almost all body systems (endocrine, immune, nervous) in the pathological process.
From the outside, psoriasis may appear to be a mild disease. But in reality this is far from the case. The disease is dangerous. Deaths are known in dermatology. In case of untimely or improper treatment, psoriasis affects the whole body, leading to severe complications. For example:
- psoriatic arthritis
- swollen lymph nodes
- conjunctivitis
- mucosal damage
- leveling and damaging nail plates
- spontaneous pain
- amyotrophy
- rarely - heart damage
As a rule, psoriasis does not disrupt the normal rhythm of a sick person's life. The only inconvenience is peeling and inflammation of the skin. Unfortunately, it is impossible to recover from this disease, but it is quite possible to stop its development or prevent recurrence. To do this, it is enough to comply with all the prescriptions of the doctor and undergo systematic treatment in the hospital.
Causes of psoriasis
There is no specific cause for the disease. There are many factors that can lead to the development of psoriasis. There is no unequivocal opinion on one reason or another in dermatology. There are many versions. Most dermatologists believe that the disease has a genetic predisposition. It is impossible to unequivocally confirm or deny that inheritance is the main reason. There are cases when the whole family was sick with psoriasis.
In other words, we can say this: if the mother is sick with psoriasis, then it is not necessary for her offspring to definitely show signs of this disease. But it is also impossible to rule out a genetic predisposition. For example, if a grandmother suffers from this disease, it is possible that the grandchildren will never be diagnosed with psoriasis. The question of the cause of the development of diseases at the gene level remains open to this day.
The next factor, which according to many dermatologists can cause psoriasis, is a disease of the endocrine system. For example, adrenal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, pituitary dysfunction. The percentage of signs of psoriatic disease in people who suffer from pathologies in the endocrine system is quite high. Therefore, the link between the diseases exists and is proven by numerous examples.
In addition to the above reasons, there are many endogenous factors. For example:
- Delayed diseases of an infectious nature, for example, tonsillitis. According to statistics, 17% of patients surveyed believe that psoriasis is the result of complications of angina.
- Chronic infectious pathological processes, such as laryngitis or tonsillitis, can also cause psoriatic disease.
- Long-term use of certain drugs: interferons, NSAIDs, beta-blockers and others.
- Strange as it may sound, pregnancy can also lead to the development of psoriasis. Significant hormonal changes occur in the female body, which often trigger a dormant pathological process in the body.
- It is impossible to exclude the negative effect on the human body of excessive consumption of ultraviolet radiation, ie prolonged exposure to the scorching sun or frequent visits to the solarium.
Naturally, in addition to endogenous factors, there are a number of exogenous causes. For example, skin diseases (dermatitis, mycosis, pyoderma), mechanical damage to the integrity of the skin, allergic dermatitis.
An interesting fact. Psoriasis is significantly more common in people living with HIV than in healthy people. It is important to note that women are more susceptible to psoriasis than the male population. Dry, thin and sensitive skin is another predisposing factor.
You should know that if a person has disorders of the immune system, then very often this pathology causes psoriasis. Immune disorders and psoriatic disease are closely related.
There are a huge number of reasons that lead to psoriasis, but there is no one that would completely lead to the development of the disease.
Types and forms of psoriasis
Psoriasis is a multiform disease. According to statistics, people usually suffer from only one form of psoriasis at a time. But there are cases where a person has had several forms of psoriasis at the same time. Often in dermatological practice, in cases when one form of psoriasis has smoothly passed into another. Such a "rebirth", as a rule, leads to a sudden cessation of prescribed treatment.
In dermatology, there are two main groups of types of psoriasis: non-pustular and pustular.
Pustular forms- Barbera psoriasis, psoriasis of the soles and palms (see photo), psoriasis Tsumbusha, ring pustulosis. This form of psoriasis is conventionally divided into generalized and localized. The last pustular psoriasis can appear on absolutely any area of the skin. There are cases when pustules form on plaques in psoriasis vulgaris.
As an example of an independent disease you can consider Allopo acrodermatitis. As a rule, this disease is characterized by lesions of pustules and crusts of the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes. Another example of an independent disease of a localized form of psoriasis is pustular psoriasis of the soles and palms. It is important to note that some dermatologists tend to believe that this disease is a form of pustular bacteria.
Generalized pustular psoriasis includes:
- herpetiform impetigo,
- psoriasis Tsumbusha,
- exanthema generalized psoriasis.
Men aged 15 to 35, as a rule, suffer from psoriasis Tsumbush. This disease is much rarer in women.
Exanthema pustular psoriasis occurs suddenly (suddenly) and acutely. In most cases, there is a close link with other infectious diseases, such as tonsillitis. The rash is localized mainly on the trunk. Children, adolescents, and less often adults are more susceptible to the disease.
Herpetiform impetigo is a serious disease that can lead to death. This disease is usually characteristic of pregnant women, more often in the second trimester. But in dermatological practice there are still extremely rare cases of the disease in men, non-pregnant women and children.
Non-pustular psoriasis. . . In other words, we can say simple psoriasis. This form of the disease differs from others by a stable course. For the non-pustular form of psoriasis, almost the entire body surface is affected. This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- psoriasis vulgaris, or common, or plaque.
Ordinary psoriasis occurs quite often, and up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with a vulgar form of the disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to death - the death of the patient. The disease is accompanied by a violation of the function of thermoregulation, as well as a reduction of the barrier function of the skin. These pathologies lead to pyoderma or sepsis.
Classification and symptoms of psoriasis
There is no single classification of psoriasis generally accepted by dermatologists. There is still debate about how to classify this skin disease. Some sources have their own list of forms of psoriasis. The most common classification of diseases:
- Guttate psoriasis
- Pustular psoriasis
- Psoriatic onychia
- Mucosal psoriasis
- Exudative psoriasis
- Psoriasis of the soles and palms
- Arthropathic psoriasis
- Intertriginous psoriasis
- Psoriatic erythroderma
- Seborrheic psoriasis
- Vulgar psoriasis
- Pustular bacteria
- Tsumbusha psoriasis
Arthropathic psoriasisat first it is almost asymptomatic. Patients sometimes notice only mild joint pain. Over time, the pain intensifies, becoming sharp and acute. The affected joints swell. If the disease is not treated, then the joints are deformed and there is a limitation of their mobility. As a rule, arthropathic psoriasis is often accompanied by rheumatoid pain. In winter, the disease worsens, ie seasonality is characteristic of such psoriasis.
Pustular psoriasis. . . Uncommonly, only 1% of the total weight of patients with psoriasis is due to this type of disease. In most cases, the rash is symmetrical and localized on the soles and palms. Pustular psoriasis is generalized and localized. The latter form is more common than the former. Generalized pustular psoriasis is severe. In dermatology, deaths as a result of sepsis and severe intoxication of the body are common.
Psoriatic erythroderma. . . Severe psoriasis resulting from exacerbation of existing psoriasis. This disease can also be a consequence of the worsening of the underlying disease and the first time it occurred. Secondary psoriatic erythroderma develops as a rule in 2% of patients with this disease.
Often this disease occurs spontaneously, but cases of psoriasis as a consequence of improper, irritating treatment of dermatosis in the acute period of the disease are not excluded. Patients notice an increase in pathological foci of desquamation, an increase in temperature, and dehydration is detected. In dermatological practice, there have been cases of death in psoriatic erythroderma.
Guttate psoriasis- the second most common disease among all forms of psoriasis, children and adolescents suffer more often. It is characterized by the appearance on the skin of a large number of dry, purple and small elements that rise slightly above the surface of undamaged skin. The rash is in the form of drops, circles or tear drops. As a rule, the elements cover the entire human body, but are most densely localized on the thighs. In most cases, the appearance of psoriasis in the form of tears is caused by a streptococcal infection. For example, streptococcal sore throat, streptococcal pharyngitis.
Psoriatic onychia. . . This disease is characterized by various changes in the appearance of the nail plate, both on the hands and on the feet. First of all, the color of the nail changes, sometimes the nail together. The nail becomes gray, yellow or white. Spots or small spots appear on the nails, and sometimes even under the nail plate itself. The nail plate thickens, streaks and brittleness appear. The next clinical manifestation of the disease is thickening of the skin around the nail layer. The difficult outcome of psoriatic onychia is spontaneous nail loss.
Mucosal psoriasis- is a type of pustular psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris. The mucous membranes of the cheeks, tongue and lips are most often affected, less often the mucous membranes of the genitals and eyes. With the pustular form of psoriasis, the rash is wider, a large area of mucosa is affected, and geographic glossitis has been reported. In ordinary psoriasis, flat white-gray papules with clear borders, which rise above the undamaged surface, rise on the mucous membranes.
Psoriasis of the soles and palms. . . This disease is a form of localized pustular psoriasis. As a rule, this form is chronic and recurrent. In dermatology, there are cases when Barber's psoriasis progressed at the same time as plaque psoriasis. Pustules appear on the inner surface of the hands and / or feet. Over time and under the influence of medical therapy, the vesicles-pustules dry out. Then such dried elements form a thick brownish crust.
Intertriga psoriasis. . . This disease is characterized by the appearance of a rash in mostly large folds of skin. For example, intergluteal, folds between the fingers, groin, armpits and the area under the mammary gland. Intertriga psoriasis is more common in patients with diabetes mellitus, VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia), obesity, who do not adhere to simple hygiene rules.
Erythematous-papular edematous foci, erosive and tearful, form in the folds. An important characteristic of the elements of this disease is that the separation of the stratum corneum is pronounced along the periphery. Intertriga psoriasis is very similar to epidermophytosis, candidiasis, or rubromycosis. It is important to note that the clinical picture of candidiasis or dermatomycosis is much brighter and sharper than that of psoriasis.
Seborrheic psoriasis. . . According to its symptoms, seborrheic psoriasis is very similar to seborrheic eczema. The psoriatic rash usually has the same localization as the elements with seborrheic eczema. It can be:
- nasolabial folds
- scalp
- ear shells
- chest area
- interscapular region
In seborrheic psoriasis, areas of the head appear where severe flaking of the skin is observed. An important feature of this disease is the formation of a kind of psoriatic crown. The skin lesion arises from the forehead and spreads smoothly to the scalp, in such a simple way the outlines of the crown appear. It should be noted that dandruff is an alarm signal that "speaks" about the development of seborrheic psoriasis.
Behind the earlobe, red eczema usually forms, and the purulent crusts are often layered. Gray-yellow scales are characteristic of rashes with localization on the chest and face. A psoriatic rash always causes severe itching. It is important to note that seborrheic psoriasis is difficult to diagnose because it is often confused with seborrhea.
Exudative psoriasis. . . This type of psoriasis is more common in children and the elderly. Quite a high risk of developing this disease in patients with disorders of the endocrine and immune systems. Exudative psoriasis often affects the healthy skin of people who are overweight or have diabetes.
This disease is characterized by excessive accumulation of exudate in the papule, which gradually comes to its surface, forming a yellowish crust. If the crust is removed, a crying and bleeding surface is detected. The shells dry out over time and lie on top of each other, thus creating a fairly dense and massive conglomerate.
The main characteristic of exudative psoriasis is a clear localization of pathological foci. As a rule, the lower limbs and large folds are most affected. The rash gives a person the strongest feeling of itching and burning. The clinical picture of this disease is sharp and acute.
Vulgar psoriasis. . . There are different names in different sources. For example, plaque, plain, simple. This type of psoriasis ranks first in prevalence - in almost 90% of patients with psoriasis, this type is noticed. The disease usually begins acutely enough. The first symptoms appear almost immediately.
Vulgar psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of typical elements that rise slightly above the intact areas of the skin. The rash is inflamed, red and hot to the touch. The elements are thickened, covered with a silvery-white, scaly, dry film (skin) that peels easily.
You should be aware that gray crusts are easily removed, leading to injury to the lower layer of the papule which is equipped with numerous small vessels. This usually results in minor undermining. Affected lesions in dermatology are called psoriatic plaques.
Such deposits tend to coalesce, leading to their increase. Over time, slabs with tiles have an unusual name - "paraffin lakes". Psoriatic eruptions in common psoriasis are very scaly. Treatment is long-term and requires inpatient treatment.
Pustular bacteria. . . According to statistics, this disease mainly occurs in young people (from 20 years of age) and middle-aged people (up to 50 years of age). The exact etiology of pustular bacteria has not been determined. There is a presumption that the disease develops against the background of strong and long-lasting allergies associated with infectious foci. For example, carious teeth, tonsillitis or tonsillitis.
Psoriatic eruptions affect the skin of the palms and soles. Pustular bacteride is chronic, recurrent. The first foci appear, if on the palms, then in the center, if on the sole, then on the arch. The primary psoriatic elements are small in size, not exceeding the size of the needle head. Over time, the pustules dry out and form lamellar crusts. Patients feel severe itching and pain in the affected areas.
The paroxysmal course of the disease is characteristic of pustular bacteria. At the same time, inflammation occurs in all areas affected by psoriasis. Gradually the psoriatic foci increase and after a few weeks almost the entire surface of the palms or soles is drawn into the pathological process. Pustular bacteria usually last for years and with constant recurrences.
Diet for psoriasis
Patients with psoriasis are simply required to diet and adhere to the basic principles of proper nutrition. The main task of the diet is to maintain a normal acid-base balance. But it is important to note that the alkaline background of the body should slightly prevail over the acidic one.
Naturally, the balance of the body depends on the food that psoriasis patients consume on a daily basis. It is important to know for every person suffering from this disease that 70% of the daily diet should consist of products that create alkali in the body. To create acid - no more than 30%. Simply put, it is possible to say this: products that produce alkali must be consumed 4 times more than those that produce acids.
List of products that create alkalis in the body:
- Any vegetables except rhubarb, pumpkin and Brussels sprouts. It is important to remember that potatoes, peppers, eggplants and tomatoes are strictly forbidden.
- Fruit should not be excluded. The main thing is not to use prunes, cranberries, currants and blueberries. It is worth noting that bananas, melons and apples should not be eaten at the same time as other foods.
- Be sure to drink fresh vegetable juices from carrots, beets, parsley, celery and spinach.
- Fruit juices from grapes, pineapple, pear, orange, papaya and grapefruit, mango, lemon and apricot can be eaten daily. It is important to add lemon juice to food.
List of foods that psoriasis sufferers are forbidden to eat (they form acid):
- Consumption of foods containing starch, fats, sugars and oils should be completely eliminated or reduced to a minimum. Typically include the following foods: potatoes, beans, cream, cheese, cereals, meat, dried peas. An unbalanced daily intake of these products inevitably leads to the initiation of acidic reactions in the blood. The result is a deterioration in well-being.
- It is important to balance food properly. There are a number of foods that are forbidden to consume at the same time. For example, meat products with foods that contain a large amount of sugar, and sweets and starch should not be combined.
- It is important to limit your sugar intake. Preservatives, vinegars, dyes and various food additives should be included in the diet as little as possible.
- The main point is that it is necessary to completely exclude the consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
Every patient with psoriasis should keep in mind that proper nutrition is an important condition in the treatment of this disease. It is necessary to replace frying by stewing or boiling. It is necessary to eat food that is subject to gentle processing.
Treatment of psoriasis
Treatment of psoriasis should take place during exacerbations in a hospital setting and outpatient - during remission. Diet is an important point in treatment. Fasting days are useful.
In addition to diet and specialized treatments, it is important to carefully monitor skin hygiene. It is best to use tar soap for washing, you can also use baby soap. You should bathe as often as possible in a decoction of celandine, purple tricolor or hops.
If there are no contraindications, you can try to treat psoriasis and folk remedies. Don’t experiment and self-medicate. Only a doctor has the right to advise which folk remedy is useful and necessary.
List of safe and effective ointments for psoriasis:
- One package of butter (but not greased) butter should be put in a sherpa with crushed propolis (10 g). Put on the fire and cook after boiling for 15 minutes. After - it is necessary to thoroughly strain the mixture and leave to cool. Store this medicine in the refrigerator only. Method of application - rub into the affected area several times a day.
- In a clay pot it is necessary to grind fresh St. John's wort flowers (20 g), celandine root, propolis, marigold flower (10 g). Vegetable oil is added to the resulting mixture. Store in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. Method of application - thoroughly lubricate psoriatic eruptions 3 times a day.
- In one liter of white wine, cook the gallbladder and shells of sea fish, which weigh more than three kilograms, on a fairly low flame for half an hour. Cool, strain, then add one cup of olive oil. Method of application - thoroughly wash the affected areas with egg soap and wipe dry. Then lubricate the elements with this mixture. The course of treatment lasts until the drug is consumed.
- Thoroughly mix equal parts of celandine and vaseline powder (by weight). Method of application - the ointment is applied in a thin layer to the rash and left for up to three days. You should then take a short break, approximately 4 days. Treat until the psoriasis is completely gone.
- One tablespoon of vegetable oil is added to the beaten homemade eggs (2 pieces). The mixture was stirred again, after which acetic acid (40 g) was introduced. Store the grease in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Method of application - treat psoriatic eruptions once a day, preferably at night.
- An equally effective and common remedy for treating psoriasis is medicinal mud. The mud must be heated to 38 degrees and applied to the affected skin. This procedure should be performed in the evening, preferably before bedtime. After 30 minutes, the dirt is removed with warm water. It is important to remember that after dirt all rashes should be treated with saline. The body should dry out and excess salt fall off. Without rinsing or moisturizing the skin, you need to go to bed. And only in the morning lubricate the psoriatic elements with cream. The recommended course is 20 procedures (every other day).
Regardless of the popular method of psoriasis treatment chosen, it must be negotiated with the attending physician.