Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious disease, dermatosis, which mainly affects the skin.Currently, the autoimmune nature of this disease is assumed.Typically, psoriasis is manifested by the formation of red, excessively dry, raised spots above the surface of the skin - so-called papules, which merge with each other and form plaques.These papules are by nature places of chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of lymphocytes, macrophages and skin keratinocytes, as well as excessive angiogenesis (formation of new small capillaries).
It appears with equal frequency in men and women and lasts for years with alternating periods of relapse and remission.This is one of the most common, difficult to treat and often severe dermatoses.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a widespread chronic skin disease characterized by a monomorphic rash of flat papules that tend to coalesce into large plaques that quickly become covered with loose silver-white scales.
Psoriasis is characterized by periods of worsening (relapse) and temporary well-being, when the manifestations of the disease become less severe.This disease is not contagious and the patient is not dangerous to others.Because the occurrence of psoriasis is not related to microorganisms.
The primary element of psoriasis is a single pink or red papule, which is covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.
As a rule, psoriasis does not disturb the usual rhythm of a sick person's life.The only inconvenience is peeling and inflammatory processes on the skin.Unfortunately, this disease cannot be cured, but it is quite possible to stop its development or prevent relapses.To do this, it is enough to follow all the recommendations of the doctor and undergo systematic treatment in the hospital.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is absolutely not contagious.Not a single case of transmission of the disease from person to person has been recorded.The causative agents of the disease are not infections and microbes, which are potentially dangerous for others, but leukocytes produced by the patient's body.
It is impossible for a healthy person to get psoriasis from a patient.Psoriasis is not transmitted:
- In case of skin contact, using the same household items as the patient (bed linen, towels, dishes).
- Through saliva, sweat.
- Sexually.
- During patient care.
- Through the blood.
Classification
Experts distinguish between two forms:
Non-pustular form of psoriasis
what is thatThis form of the disease differs from others in its stable course.The non-pustular form of psoriasis is characterized by damage to almost the entire surface of the body.This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- vulgar, common or tabula.
Simple psoriasis occurs quite often;up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with the vulgar form of this disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to a fatal outcome - the death of the patient.Along with the disease, there is a violation of the function of thermoregulation, and the barrier function of the skin is reduced.
Pustular
- pustular background Zumbusch or generalized pustular
- palmoplantaris (pustular psoriasis of the extremities, chronic persistent palmoplantaris pustulosis)
- Annular pustular
- palmoplantar
- psoriatic impetigo herpetiformis
| Psoriasis stage | Damage percentage |
| Lightweight | less than 3% of the skin is affected |
| Average | 3-10% of the skin is covered with psoriatic plaques |
| Heavy | there are joint lesions or more than 10% of the skin is affected. |
How psoriasis begins: the first signs
In most cases, recognition of psoriasis is quite simple, because the disease is not similar to other skin pathologies.Allergic rashes have a smaller calibration compared to spots from psoriasis, and the anamnesis shows that patients practically do not suffer from swelling of the skin, as with allergies.
The initial symptoms and signs of psoriasis differ according to the main characteristics that the doctor will rely on when making a diagnosis:
- the appearance of a limited pink spot of varying intensity;
- itching of the skin in the area of psoriatic lesions;
- peeling of large amounts of epidermis of different sizes;
- characteristic whitish color of the peel;
- the appearance of grouped dirty white or gray crusts that do not extend beyond the borders of the psoriatic patch;
- dry skin.
Psoriasis is characterized by three characteristic features:
- "The stearic stain effect."When scraping the plaque, small and transparent flakes are easily peeled off.
- "The Terminal Movie Effect".If you remove the scales, the skin in this area will be thin, shiny and red.
- "The Blood Dew Effect."After scraping, tiny drops of blood appear on the skin.
Causes
Experts cannot identify the exact and only culprit of the disease, but repeated studies show that the disease is autoimmune, which means that it depends on the functioning of the immune system.
For some unknown reason, immune cells, designed to protect the body from malignant changes and damage by bacteria and viruses, penetrate the upper layers of the skin and produce substances that trigger the inflammatory process.The result of this activity is proliferation - accelerated division of skin cells.
According to another theory, psoriasis develops due to disturbances in the life cycle of keratinocytes.
Possible causes of psoriasis:
- Heredity.According to the latest data from scientists, psoriasis is classified as a genotypic dermatosis with a dominant type of transmission.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.When skin psoriasis is suspected, there are often changes in these blood profiles, which contribute to the development of cardiovascular pathology, endocrine dysfunction and metabolic syndrome.
- The presence of a chronic infectious focus in the body.When examining psoriatic plaques, streptococcal flora is often detected.The appearance of genetic abnormalities can be affected by viral and bacterial infections, for example, tonsillitis, influenza.
- Climatic conditions - dry and warm weather can affect the progression of psoriasis, intensify skin manifestations or, on the contrary, weaken them;
- Anxiety or stress - as already mentioned, overexertion of stress directly affects the course of psoriatic disease;
- Damage to the skin - wounds facilitate infection, and this leads to intoxication of the body due to inflammatory processes, therefore the appearance of psoriasis can cause minor damage, but provided that there are accompanying diseases;
- Infections - outbreaks of psoriasis can be caused by the presence of pathogenic purulent, inflammatory areas, especially in childhood pathologies.
One theory suggests the existence of two variants of the disease:
- Psoriasis type I- it is inherited in the presence of an immune factor, more than 60% of all patients under the age of 30 suffer from this form, the prognosis is good, the treatment is carried out for life.
- Psoriasis type II- occurs more often in people over 45 years old, is not related to disorders in the work of the immune system, most often affects the nail plates and joints.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Skin psoriasis can develop at any age.But often the first case of its manifestation occurs in young and adult people from 18 to 40 years old.There are no gender differences.Men and women suffer from this disease equally often.
| Signs of psoriatic papules | |
| Form | round |
| edges | clear |
| Color | hot pink or red |
| Scale color | silvery white |
As a rule, the first rash appears in the places of wounds, scratches, frostbite, burns and on parts of the body that are constantly exposed to friction.They may itch, but this is not the main symptom.
Depending on the characteristics of the rash, the following forms of psoriasis are divided:
- Point psoriasis - the size of the elements is smaller than the head of a needle.
- Tear-shaped - the papules are tear-shaped and reach the size of a lens grain.
- Coin-shaped - plaques grow up to 3-5 mm and have rounded edges.
The forms of the rash also differ when its elements look like rings, arches and wreaths, geographical maps with jagged edges.
The overall clinical picture and symptoms of psoriasis vary significantly depending on the stage of the disease.Dermatologists distinguish 3 phases that develop sequentially:
- Progressive.New skin lesions are constantly appearing, and there is active expansion of existing plaques with severe peeling and itching.
- Stationary.The growth of papules on the body slowly stops, new formations do not appear, but thickened folds appear on the surface of the skin, near the plaques.
- Regressing.The spread of the disease and the increase in peeling are not observed.As the signs of psoriasis resolve, areas of significant pigmentation remain on the body.
The alternation of these phases leads to the wave nature of relapses and remissions.One patient may have different stages of the disease on different parts of the skin.
Initial psoriasis is expressed by the appearance of papules, which are small, scaly nodules.They have a dark pink color, are dense to the touch and slightly protrude above the surface of the skin.
The first sign of psoriasis can be the appearance of a rash on the parts of the body that are most likely to be subject to friction, and the skin in those areas is dry.These are the places:
- palms or elbows;
- below the knee;
- shins;
- lateral parts of the lower back;
- inguinal folds;
- scalp.
The initial stage of psoriasis on the skin is barely noticeable and does not cause discomfort to the patient.But early treatment will help to avoid severe forms of this disease, in which fingernails and toenails, mucous membranes, and then human joints are affected.
According to statistics, psoriatic plaques are most often found:
- on the outer surface of the joints;
- on the back and stomach;
- on the front of the thighs and forearms.
This is different from eczema, where the rash affects the inside of the limbs and the folds between the toes.