Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.Such division will help in diagnosis and proper therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population has characteristic DNA abnormalities, and only 2% of them show signs of disorders in the functioning of the skin.
The appearance of pathology is caused by the following factors:
- strong emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain drugs;
- endocrine diseases;
- predisposition to allergies;
Due to the improper response of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissue as a foreign element, the first signs of the disease appear.Let's look at the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
Initial stage of psoriasis
The first sign isappearance of pimples(papules).The shape is round, the color is reddish or pink.On the lower extremities, due to slowed blood flow, manifestations of a bluish hue may appear.Papular formations are small, the size of a pinhead.
The early stage is characterizedmany papules, which have clearly defined boundaries.Whitish scales also appear.They easily separate from the surface when touched.Papules can merge into one, forming larger elements.
During remission in the early stage, the rash fades.The affected areas of the skin are partially discolored.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergies or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that can help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembles a crushed drop of stearin, the scales peel off;
- if you continue to scrape the stain and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- Small drops of blood appear when scraping.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
During the progressive phase of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules become red and continue to be covered with white scales.They come off easily, revealing a smooth layer of reddened skin underneath.When damaged, blood appears.
- During an exacerbation, the papular elements grow and coalesce.They are clearly different from healthy skin areas.
- The itching intensifies.But it disappears when the process enters the stationary phase.Painful and obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the lid, injuries and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of injury is Koebner's syndrome.The number of manifestations of itching gradually increases and covers the trunk, limbs and head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the plaques;they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have negative effects on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Then there is severe pain in the joints and deformations if the process is not treated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main characteristic of the stationary phase of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing.Positive changes come with proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- itching disappears;
- no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- peeling may increase.
All freckles stop developing.If in the progressive stage the plaques had a border without scales, then in the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the skin will peel off and take on a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not keep up with the progressive growth of the plaques and cannot cover them completely.It appears in half of the casespseudoatrophic corolla.
Pseudoatrophic corolla
It looks like a light rim around the element, which has a structure reminiscent of coarse tissue paper, consisting of the stratum corneum and not exceeding two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
With the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriatic cycle ends.Characteristic features:
- the exacerbation process stops, the inflammation disappears;
- the plaques gradually recede;
- the peeling stops, the elements of the rash become flattened;
- the rash becomes pale pink and gradually loses its color;
- papules may still remain on the hands and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy of the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas without pigment may appear at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The relief period varies from person to person..The disease can last for several months or even years in a latent form.Exacerbations occur more often in winter, with the sole exception of several forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis in different stages
Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods and dietary adjustments.In the early phase of therapy, it is necessary:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use fats containing vitamin A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic and sedative drugs;
- undergo ultraviolet therapy.
If the plaques are on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.
All products must be used as recommended by a physician.Long-term use of medicines (especially with tar) can cause skin irritation.Products should be changed every 7 days.
Treatment of psoriasis in the early stages
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures in the early stage depends on when the patient came to the doctor and started the treatment.
Early treatment in most cases helps prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
Experts recommend using ointments with salicylic acid.This is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on the affected areas of the skin.Using keratolytic action, the ointment will clean the plaque from the keratinized parts of the integument.Naphthalene ointment will help relieve itching.
The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- tar-based;
- based on solid oil;
- oil-based.
Recently, psoriasis drops and oil have appeared.The product can soothe the skin, hydrate it, prevent the skin from drying out and reduce puffiness.The medicine contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, there are fewer of them, and the skin is better hydrated.It is recommended to use it in combination with other medicines and after consultation with a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in the progressive phase
Therapy must be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite difficult;treatment should be entrusted only to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs.Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are alleviated with ointments with salicylic acid and emollient emulsions.Moisturizes and removes inflammation.During an exacerbation, you should not use medicines containing tar or other irritating components.
Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet radiation, paraffin baths) are best carried out during the period of reduction of inflammation.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complex.
Prescribe antihistamines (reduce the development of allergic reactions), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatory, keratolytics (softening), diuretics (remove swelling, remove toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary phase
The patient needs a small adjustment of the therapy.Tar shampoos, oil emulsions, and calcipotriol are commonly prescribed.Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the skin.Ultraviolet radiation and PUVA techniques are widely used.
If there is no effect, some cytostatics are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, cytotastic.
Treatment of psoriasis in the regressive phase
Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis must be comprehensive and adjusted by a specialist.Therapy is gradually discontinued and replaced by preventive measures.Treatment at all stages is carried out carefully;under no circumstances should the rash be damaged.
Adherence to a strict diet and lifestyle correction are of particular importance.Stress can be a strong provoking factor that significantly worsens the condition at the beginning of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated with sea salt baths or by mixing baby cream with powder powder and smearing the plaques with this mixture.
Additional therapies
A patient with psoriasis has a lack of vitamins that affect the regulation of metabolic processes and have a purifying, sedative and restorative effect.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly, and also in droppers.
Division of pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that helps experts to correctly identify one or another stage, facilitates diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, along with systematic preventive measures, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and not prevent a person from living a full life.