Psoriasis, also known as psoriasis, is a skin dermatosis that occurs in a chronic form. The disease is non-infectious in nature and manifests itself in the form of the formation of characteristic plaques on the surface of the skin, covered with dry scales.
Psoriasis, the symptoms of which are quite specific, can develop at any age, regardless of the person's gender. Dermatosis is also diagnosed in childhood.
Reasons for the development of psoriasis
About 4% of all skin conditions are due to psoriasis. The reasons why dermatosis develops are not known with certainty to doctors. But there are several practically confirmed theories.
The most common cause of the formation of psoriasis medicine considers violations in the work of the human immune system. The impulse is the already existing predisposition to psoriasis, which a person received from his ancestors. The first symptoms of a lesion can appear against the background of any chronic infection, for example, sinusitis or tonsillitis. The immune system during this time is unable to contain the psoriasis and "breaks through" in the form of characteristic rashes. If blood biochemistry is performed during this period, the analysis will easily reveal autoimmune antibodies.
The next theory on the development of psoriatic skin lesions is contagious. Doctors have long tried to identify an infectious agent. In particular, spirochetes, streptococci and epidermophytes have been "blamed" for the development of psoriasis. But the theory has been debunked. Today it has been practically proven that psoriasis - symptoms and treatment will be discussed shortly later - can occur against the background of a weakened immune defense during tonsillitis, flu and SARS.
The genetic version of the transmission of the disease is also considered. But here we can only speak of a predisposition dictated at the genetic level.
Additional reasons that can cause the development of psoriasis, doctors call:
- deviations in the work of the endocrine system;
- violations of the passage of metabolic processes;
- the presence of parasites in the human body.
Neurogenic and allergic versions are not excluded.
Factors that can provoke the development of psoriasis
Doctors identify several factors that can become an impetus for the development of psoriasis. This:
- a state of habitual stress;
- infectious pathology;
- administration of a vaccine;
- hormonal changes;
- skin injuries;
- taking medications;
- food poisoning;
- excessive consumption of chocolate and citrus fruits;
- excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- changing climatic conditions.
Psoriasis - the first signs of the disease
Psoriasis has enough characteristic symptoms to be confused with other skin dermatitis. Treatment of the disease is always long-term and aims to achieve remission.
Symptoms of the pathology will be as follows:
- In the initial stages, psoriatic formations can form on the surface of the knees and elbows, as well as in the sacral region and scalp. It is these places that are most often affected by psoriasis.
- Small nodules form on the skin, covered with whitish scales of dry skin. Initially, they do not have too large a volume. But rather quickly they begin to increase, reaching the size of a coin. The only exception is the teardrop form of psoriasis.
- The gradually growing rash merges with each other, forming plaques typical of psoriasis.
Along with the rash, the following symptoms may occur:
- there is an increase in body temperature;
- an increase in lymph nodes is fixed;
- the rash is very itchy (in some cases patients complain of a burning sensation).
Sometimes primary psoriatic rashes can appear in atypical places:
- under the mammary gland;
- on the surface of the genital organs;
- under the armpit.
When typical symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor. If you leave the situation without attention, psoriasis goes into the second stage.
At this stage of dermatosis, no primary psoriatic rashes appear. But at the same time, existing plaques can actively increase in size, capturing large areas of the skin. The second stage of the disease is called "stationary".
The third stage of the pathology- regressive - characterized by the disappearance of rashes. Here begins the period of remission.
Psoriatic lesions can affect the joints. This is where psoriatic arthritis develops. Both the phalanges of the fingers and the joints of the spine can be involved in the inflammatory process. The disease, current in this format, is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain in inflamed joints;
- mobility limitation;
- swelling of the affected joint.
Lack of adequate therapy can lead to the following:
- irreversible deformity of the joint;
- ankylosis;
- partial / total disability.
Treat the symptoms of psoriasis
The causes of psoriasis and its treatment are still a mystery to doctors, but there is a certain method of therapy. There are no standards of treatment: in each case, an individual scheme is selected based on the format of the dermatosis and the complexity of the course of the pathology.
When prescribing drugs, the following points are taken into account:
- a type of psoriatic lesion;
- a history of dermatosis;
- the prevalence of the disease;
- characteristics of psoriatic plaques;
- age;
- sex of the patient.
Local treatment
Treatment of psoriasis involves the use of various ointments. Means contribute to the elimination of severe symptoms of the disease.
Preparations should contain such components as:
- phenolic acid;
- hydroxyantrone, an anthracene derivative;
- sulfur;
- urea.
Scalp psoriasis is treated with lotions containing glucocorticosteroid components.
With a complex course of dermatosis, more "heavy" drugs are prescribed - hormonal agents.
With an exacerbation, drugs containing a high percentage of fluoride are prescribed for admission. On average, the symptoms of exacerbation (about 70%) are eliminated in two weeks.
Psoriasis in children during an exacerbation can be treated with drugs containing non-halogenated glucocorticosteroids, as they do not give side effects. Means of this category can be prescribed to elderly patients.
A good result is given by preparations containing the hydroxyantrone component (anthracene derivative). They have anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects.
Medicines need to be changed from time to time, as there is an addictive effect and the effectiveness of the therapy decreases.
Systemic treatment of psoriatic lesions
The basis of therapy is the intake of the following drugs:
- Drugs of the category of retinoids. Means perfectly cope with the symptoms of exacerbation of psoriasis.
- Means from the group of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- With a complex course of dermatosis, an immunosuppressant can be prescribed, which selectively acts on T-lymphocytes.
- To suppress the division of pathological cells, a cytostatic drug from the group of antimetabolites, folic acid antagonists is prescribed. But its use is justified only in severe forms of psoriatic lesions - erythrodermal, pustular and arthropathic forms - since the drug has many side effects.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of psoriasis
Psoriasis on the body is successfully treated with ointments prepared by the patient himself.
For cooking you will need:
- cow's milk butter (200 grams);
- propolis (10 grams).
Melt the butter and add the crumbled propolis. The composition must be boiled and cooked on low heat for fifteen minutes. The product must be poured hot through gauze, folded several times. Ointments should be allowed to harden and used to treat diseased areas of the skin. Keep the product in a cool place.
For the next ointment you need to take:
- St. John's wort, celandine herb, propolis (20 grams each);
- marigold color (10 grams);
- a small amount of vegetable oil.
The herbs must be carefully rubbed and a little oil is added to "bind" the preparations. The resulting ointment should be smeared with inflamed plaques up to three times a day.
Wash the fish scales, dry them and grind them. Combine the powder with liquid fish oil to make a cream with a consistency similar to sour cream. Lubricate the psoriasis plaques with the resulting composition every four hours. Before starting treatment, clean the inflamed area with warm water.
With fatty herring, it is necessary to remove the skin and clean the psoriatic plaques with it. After an hour, the treated surface should be washed with fragrance-free soap (preferably for children) and further cleaned with a 9% vinegar solution (two teaspoons of vinegar essence should be dissolved in a glass of water). The treatment will take a long time, but gives excellent results.
It is necessary to take in equal proportions (by weight) powdered celandine and petroleum jelly. The components must be connected, achieving complete uniformity. Ointment to treat the inflamed surface of the skin and do not rinse. Then it is necessary to take a four-day break and repeat the treatment. Treatment is carried out until the symptoms of exacerbation disappear.
To fill in the following ointment, you will need:
- chicken eggs (2 pieces);
- vegetable oil (large spoon);
- vinegar (40 grams).
The components must be combined until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. The resulting product must be stored in the refrigerator. The formations should be lubricated once a day before sleeping at night. The agent gives the maximum effect at the initial stage of dermatosis.
Another set of ingredients for making an ointment is as follows:
- birch tar (50 grams);
- honey (30 grams);
- petroleum jelly (20 grams);
- boric acid (10 grams);
- fish oil (10 grams);
- egg white (1 piece).
All the ingredients must be mixed and brought to full uniformity. For storage, use a dark glass container and a cool place.
It is necessary to combine celandine grass (four parts), nuts (two parts), wolf berries, ichthyol / tar (one part each). The ingredients will need to be mixed and applied as an ointment.
Other recipes
There are other recipes that can relieve the symptoms of dermatitis. For example, you can make an alcoholic tincture of budra in the shape of an ivy. To do this, for half a liter of vodka you need to take two hundred grams of the product. Leave the remedy to insist for a day. So the composition can be used to treat psoriatic plaques three times a day. Shake the container well beforehand.
You can use vinegar instead of vodka. Here, for a glass of vinegar, you need to take two large spoons of chopped budra. Insist for seven full days. The container with the composition must be shaken well every day.
In an enameled saucepan, bring the milk to the boil and heat it over low heat for another five minutes. Then pour the liquid into another container. Remove the milky white plaque formed on the walls with your finger and apply it to the surface of the psoriatic formations.
Every day it is necessary to bathe in a warm bath with the addition of herbal infusions such as chamomile, twine, sage or celandine. After taking a bath, there is no need to use a towel.
It is necessary to mix equal parts by weight of freshly dug burdock root, grape leaves, milk and flax seeds. Cook over low heat for five minutes. The remedy should be used in the form of compresses on inflamed skin.
Steam the flax seeds and use the resulting liquid to treat psoriatic plaques.
Well helps the use of gruel from the leaves of Kalanchoe in the form of compresses.
Dietary nutrition for psoriasis
Diet in psoriasis plays no less important role than drug treatment. To reduce the number of relapses, it is necessary to give up the following products:
- Pig;
- spices;
- chocolate
- Fat;
- smoked products;
- coffee;
- alcoholic beverages.
The main part of the diet should consist of sour-milk products, fresh herbs, fish dishes. It is necessary to introduce into the diet oils containing fatty acids and products with lecithin. It is helpful to have a day or two of fasting per week.