Effective treatment of psoriasis: a set of measures

Psoriasis is a very unpleasant skin disease that brings a lot of inconvenience to the patient who is unlucky enough to get it.In addition to the skin looking very unaesthetic, the patient constantly experiences many other unpleasant sensations.Yes, the disease is not fatal, but the patient often has to radically change his habits and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, even today it is simply impossible to completely cure psoriasis.However, there are many techniques and treatments that can greatly help and significantly alleviate the patient's suffering.

The best effect can be achieved by applying complex therapy, in which an attempt is made to influence the disease from different angles.To do this, different treatment methods are combined.In today's material, we will consider in more detail how to properly carry out the complex treatment of psoriasis and what can be included in it, as well as what points should be taken into account.

Factors to consider when choosing a treatment

First, let us remind you that you should never self-medicate!Even if you are completely sure of your strengths and abilities, it is still better to consult a professional dermatologist.It will be better this way.

Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will consider the following factors:

• age and gender of the patient - the older the patient, the more difficult the disease can be treated;
• hereditary factors - the risk of the disease increases when parents or close relatives also suffer from psoriasis;
• stage of the disease - the later you contact a specialist, the more difficult the treatment will be;
• severity of the disease - when psoriasis is mild, it is much easier to fight;
• the form of the course and the affected parts of the body - the more difficult it is, the more difficult it is to choose an effective treatment;
• possible allergic reactions - in this case not every medicine can be taken;
• place and type of work - some companies have very unfavorable working conditions, which has a very negative impact on the general state of health and the development of psoriasis;
• region of residence - if you live in a region with highly polluted air, this negatively affects the perception of various diseases, and psoriasis develops more intensively;
• the presence of bad habits - regular smoking and drinking alcohol affect the internal organs, which increases the risk of psoriasis;
• accompanying diseases - if you suffer from certain diseases of internal organs, psoriasis can be a complication.

It is unlikely that you will be able to correctly determine all the factors yourself.If you start self-medication, it is fraught with serious complications.Therefore, a specialist dermatologist will certainly prescribe the necessary tests to determine all other factors, and only after that prescribe treatment.

A set of measures for the treatment of psoriasis

In order to make the treatment of psoriasis at home more effective, different sets of measures are often used.In their framework, different drugs are used at the same time, which act on different body systems.Thus, a treatment regimen may include:

• external treatment— various creams, ointments to act on the skin and remove external signs of the disease;
• systemic drugs- pills, mixtures that affect the internal organs and fight against diseases from the inside;
• physiotherapeutic procedures- to reduce inflammatory processes - laser and cryotherapy, acupressure, ultraviolet radiation;

• spa treatment- therapeutic procedures, for example, leeches, mud baths, as well as clean air, because resorts are usually located in an ecologically clean area;
• special diet- exclude foods that can damage the gastrointestinal tract, for example, fried, spicy, salty and sour foods.

There are actually many methods of therapy.Let's consider in more detail each method of a set of therapeutic measures.

External treatment

Basically, how does psoriasis start to develop?First, the function of the epidermis - the stratum corneum of the skin - is disturbed.As a result, the skin no longer receives the necessary amount of moisture and becomes too dry.Dryness and peeling gradually increase, and due to the fact that dead skin particles do not have time to be removed, the so-calledpsoriatic plaques.All this is accompanied by itching and inflammation.During the period of exacerbation, they do not subside either day or night.

To eliminate all these symptoms, drugs are prescribed for the external treatment of psoriasis.They are also prescribed strictly individually.For what purpose are external preparations used?

1. Eliminate pain, relieve swelling, reduce scaling, and also improve appearance by reducing rashes and reducing the number of psoriatic plaques.
2. Minimize the influence of various external factors.
3. Affect the foci of the disease as quickly as possible and bring quick relief.

Topical preparations for psoriasis include ointments, creams, lotions, gels, and other preparations.All of them are divided into two main groups: hormonal and non-hormonal.Let's look at each group separately.

1. Non-hormonal drugs.The name speaks for itself - the drugs do not contain hormonal components.They act on the epidermis and quickly remove dead skin layers, disinfect damaged areas, have an antiviral and antimicrobial effect, and also moisturize the skin well and increase its elasticity.Such preparations contain beeswax, natural oils and other natural ingredients, as well as salicylic acid, dithranol, sulfur, urea and other substances.They have a number of excellent properties and act very quickly and effectively on the parts of the skin affected by psoriasis.
2. Hormonal drugs.They contain a certain amount of a synthetic hormone from the corticosteroid group.Many experts prefer them, because due to the presence of hormones in the composition, they work almost instantly, literally in a few minutes, giving the desired effect.But, unlike non-hormonal drugs, such drugs must be used with caution.First, if you delay the treatment a little, it can lead to hormonal imbalance and, as a result, serious complications.Second, if you suddenly stop taking the drug, a so-called "withdrawal effect" can occur, in which the symptoms not only return, but also intensify.

When and how to choose the right group of drugs?Which drugs are best to use?

1. In the progressive phase, ointments containing salicylic acid, as well as anti-inflammatory hormonal ointments, are most often used.Of course, initially the desired effect will be achieved with drugs with a lower concentration of the active substance.If there is no effect, then stronger ones are used.These drugs contain a higher dose of fluoride.In most cases, patients experience positive dynamics within two weeks after starting regular use.
2. Medicines that do not contain chlorine and fluorine are used to treat the elderly and children, which significantly reduces the number of possible allergic reactions.These drugs are relatively new, they appeared on the pharmaceutical market only a few years ago, but they are gradually becoming more and more popular.
3. Ointments and creams based on dethranol have a quick and long-lasting effect when used.The start of treatment involves the prescription of minimum doses with a gradual increase.Medicines are primarily aimed at reducing inflammation.However, other side effects may occur, such as swelling, itching and redness, which, against the background of similar symptoms of psoriasis, somewhat limits the scope of application of drugs of this group.
4. One of the new drugs is a drug that directly affects the causes of psoriasis.Its main active ingredient is calcipotriol, which suppresses the development of pathogenic processes.Already after two months, the overall condition of the skin improves significantly, the number of inflamed and damaged areas, as well as peeling, decreases.It is important to note that in most cases there are no side effects characteristic of other psoriasis medications.There are cases when one treatment was enough for a remission that lasted up to a year.The strongest effect is achieved when the treatment is carried out with an integrated approach, and the effect occurs in combination with other means, most often physiotherapeutic procedures.

We draw your attention to the fact that long-term use of drugs is not recommended, as addiction can develop.As a result, the effectiveness of the treatment is significantly reduced.

Systemic drugs

As already mentioned, one of the possible causes of psoriasis is diseases of internal organs.Accordingly, to get rid of psoriasis, you need to take medicines that can help in the treatment regimen of diseases of internal organs.These can be tablets, injections, IV and other drugs, which must be selected individually.What therapy can be prescribed for psoriasis?

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs will relieve inflammation and reduce the impact of various viruses and microbes.A comprehensive psoriasis treatment regimen is often used.
2. Antiallergic drugs.Since allergies often make psoriasis symptoms worse, these medications can help significantly.
3. Antipsoriatic drugs.They act on the skin renewal process, normalize the life cycle of its cells, and also eliminate the side effects of the disease.
4. Antifungal drugs.Since the fungal infection significantly complicates the course of psoriasis, it is very important to fight it effectively.
5. Medicines to combat the pathological creation of new cells that do not have a specific purpose.Over time, in the absence of a treatment regimen, such cells can accumulate in the body in huge numbers.

Depending on the complexity of the condition and the degree of damage to other organs, other, more powerful drugs can be used.However, despite the good effect, you should not abuse them, because the side effects can be very serious.

Physiotherapy procedures

Although it is impossible to cure psoriasis only with physiotherapeutic procedures, with proper selection, they can enhance the effect of drugs and speed up the recovery process in the final phase of complex treatment.What procedures are prescribed for the complex treatment of psoriasis?

1. Ultraviolet radiation or phototherapy.A special agent is prescribed that enhances the body's perception of ultraviolet radiation, after which the skin surface affected by psoriasis is irradiated with ultraviolet waves of a certain length.
2. Laser therapy.It is important to note that laser waves only affect the diseased skin, without affecting healthy tissue.
3. Cryotherapy.Liquid air, nitrogen or helium, with a temperature of up to -296 degrees, is briefly applied to the damaged areas of the body surface.
4. Ichthyotherapy.Affected areas are treated with a special type of fish.
5. Hirudotherapy is the treatment of leeches.

6. Therapeutic baths using soothing and anti-inflammatory herbs such as chamomile or celandine, as well as starch and flaxseed.
7. Acupuncture.True, you should be careful when choosing a specialist, because an incorrectly performed procedure can have unpredictable consequences, the treatment of which can take a long time.

Spa treatment

A visit to a sanatorium or resort can significantly improve a patient's well-being.True, they are sent there only in the final, regressive phase of the disease, as a final means of complex therapy.In addition to various procedures being prescribed to the patient in such an institution, the opportunity to rest from everyday worries and a more favorable environment additionally contributes to recovery.

In addition to prescribing conventional medicines, the sanatorium or resort will necessarily provide dietary nutrition, physical therapy, as well as medicinal baths and procedures.Depending on the location, the sanatorium can offer hydrogen sulfide, silicon, radon, iodine-bromine and other baths.A good sanatorium will fill you with energy for many months.

Conclusion

For the treatment of psoriasis, complex therapy is most often used.Only an integrated approach can achieve good results, as any individual treatment will be ineffective, especially in the later stages of treatment.