Psoriasis is a chronic disease and has an undulating course.This disease affects the human skin and, less commonly, the joints.Aggravation of the pathology occurs due to the influence of certain negative factors and is characterized by the worsening of symptoms.Then the disease recedes, a period of remission begins, which can also be replaced by an exacerbation.
Characteristics of the course of the disease
The disease manifests itself differently in different patients.Moreover, symptoms can vary from one patient to another, from small local lesions to extensive lesions affecting large areas of skin.
Typically, the disease progresses with age.Over time, periods of remission become shorter, and the affected area increases significantly.
It is important to know what psoriasis looks like in its early stages and how it can be treated to prevent further progression of the disease.
Causes of disease
According to most experts, this disease is a genetically determined pathology.If the parents suffer from dermatosis, there is a high probability of developing psoriasis in the child when they are exposed to certain factors.
The factors that determine the beginning of the development of pathology are:
- allergic reactions;
- severe infectious diseases;
- reduced immune defense of the body;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- exhaustion of the nervous system.
Also, the stimulus for the development of the disease in a person prone to dermatoses can be the long-term use of certain drugs used for the treatment of chronic diseases.
Types and stages of the disease
There are two types of psoriasis – type 1 and type 2 disease.Pathology of the first type is diagnosed in children and adolescents.This form of the disease is genetically determined, while the child's parents may be healthy, and there are cases of psoriasis in older generations.
As a rule, this disease can be transmitted through 3-4 generations.The first type of disease affects the skin and almost never affects the joints.
The second type of disease occurs mainly in middle-aged people over 45 years old.A characteristic feature of this form of the disease is joint damage.
The disease develops slowly.There are 4 phases or stages of psoriasis development:
- wound (initial stage of psoriasis);
- progressive;
- stationary;
- regression.
Favorite places for the disease are elbows, head and trunk.In rare cases, severe cases of the disease affect the flexor parts of the upper and lower extremities.
The initial stage of the disease
Psoriasis in the initial stage has symptoms and signs of an allergic skin reaction.The disease begins suddenly, small reddish rashes appear on the skin.In childhood, the symptoms and signs of psoriasis are often confused with diathesis or the manifestation of an allergic reaction to food, which makes timely treatment difficult.
In young children, the manifestation of stage 1 psoriasis can be located in areas that are subject to friction when wearing clothes, while in adults, the first signs of the disease are noticed on the hands or body.
Over time, the papules (as pimples are called in psoriasis) group together, forming scaly plaques.Islands of the disease can be covered with grayish scales that detach painlessly from the rash.All this is accompanied by swelling and irritation of the epidermis.
Many people are interested in whether psoriasis is itchy in the initial stage and how to recognize the symptoms of stage 1 skin psoriasis.The following signs will help you determine what early psoriasis looks like:
- when the rash is scraped off, the plaque becomes white, the scales come off easily;
- if you continue scraping, a reddish smooth spot ("thermal film") forms at the plaque site;
- If you continue to scrape the resulting stain, it will become covered with small drops of blood due to the exact bleeding.
The above-mentioned techniques are used during the examination of the patient and help to recognize psoriasis at an early stage.
The initial form of psoriasis can last up to a month.In some cases, exudate can be released at the places of the formed plaques.Wounds are covered with a crust, under which they become moist due to the release of fluid.This course of the disease can be complicated by the addition of infection and the beginning of an extensive inflammatory process.
Arthropathic form of the disease
If the disease affects the hands, palms and the area between the fingers, the arthropathic form of psoriasis is diagnosed.This form is considered the most difficult, because over time the skin becomes inflamed and cracked.There is a high probability of damage to the joints, which leads to the development of arthritis.This is fraught with loss of work ability and disability of the patient.
This form of the disease is dangerous because it affects the nail plate, causing it to separate from the fingers.The arthropathic form of the disease is very difficult to treat and is characterized by frequent exacerbations.Due to the inflammation and swelling of the skin of the hands, the patient feels serious discomfort at work and at home, because every movement of the hands leads to increased pain.
Drug treatment
Doctors, unfortunately, cannot give a positive answer to the question of whether psoriasis can be cured in the initial stage.However, timely treatment will remove the acute phase of the disease and return the patient to a normal life.
If the initial diagnosis is psoriasis, treatment should be chosen only by a dermatologist after all examinations.Self-medication without consulting a specialist may not bring the expected result and only worsen the course of the disease.
Whether psoriasis can be cured in the early stages depends to a large extent on the degree of damage and the location of the plaques.
The initial form of psoriasis is treated with the following means:
- ointments for topical skin treatment;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physiotherapeutic methods;
- dietary adjustments;
- immunomodulators.
Ointments for the treatment of the affected skin are selected by the doctor depending on the degree of damage.Preparations based on tar or grease are usually used.For extensive skin lesions, treatment can be done with ointments containing corticosteroids.Such drugs have a number of side effects, so they are prescribed only in cases of severe disease.The course of treatment should not be long, and after the relief of acute symptoms, such ointments should be replaced with milder preparations.
If psoriasis is diagnosed at a very early stage, only a doctor can tell you how to treat the disease.In some cases, a good effect is observed when physiotherapy is used - paraffin baths or ultraviolet radiation.
For psoriasis in the initial stage, treatment at home should be agreed with the doctor.Having understood how psoriasis manifests itself in the initial stage, it is necessary not to delay a visit to a specialist, because the disease progresses quickly.
An exacerbation may begin suddenly;in this case, folk remedies will help alleviate the patient's condition.For this purpose, medicinal baths are used with the addition of honey, medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula), as well as natural oils.The purpose of this treatment is to reduce itching and swelling, but it must be used in combination with medications recommended by a doctor.
The answer to the question whether psoriasis can be cured in the early stages and whether psoriasis can be cured in the very initial stage in children can only be given by a doctor, based on the characteristics of the patient's disease.