Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic dermatoses. With such a pathological process, damage to the skin as well as skin appendages is noted. The great urgency of this problem lies in the fact that it leads to a deterioration in the quality of life of a sick person due to aesthetic disorders.
Most often, the first episode of psoriasis occurs between the ages of fifteen and forty-five. According to statistics, this disease is diagnosed in about three percent of the total population. Moreover, the number of women and men with such pathology is in equal proportions.
There are several theories about the mechanism of psoriasis development. The main one is the autoimmune theory, which says that this pathological process arose as a result of a wrong immune response to any external factors. Excessive immune response leads to the development of an inflammatory reaction in the layers of the skin, which triggers the mechanisms of division and multiplication of cellular structures. In addition, it is suggested that hereditary predisposition and exposure to various infectious agents may play a role in the development of this disease.
It has been noticed that psoriasis most often occurs in those people who:
- You have any other dermatological conditions;
- You have thin and dry skin;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- They come into systematic contact with irritating chemicals;
- They often damage the skin by mechanical influences;
- Adhere to excessive hygiene;
- They are subject to severe stress;
- You have a reduced level of immune defense or use drugs that suppress immunity.
Depending on the symptoms of psoriasis, it is common to classify this pathology into several forms:
- Plaque shape. This shape is a classic version. It affects more than eighty percent of people. The clinical picture in this case is characterized by typical scaly plaques, which have a tendency to peripheral growth;
- The shape of a tear. The disease that runs in this form is accompanied by the appearance of numerous small foci on the surface of the skin. Such lesions can have very different colors, they are raised above the surface of the skin and they peel intensively. As a rule, they do not increase in size, only their number grows;
- Exudative form. This is one of the most unfavorable options. In this case, bubbles and blisters filled with serous fluid form on the surface of the plaques. Very often such elements go through a secondary infection with the subsequent appearance of pus in them;
- Psoriatic onychodystrophy. It is characterized by the inclusion of nail plates in the pathological process, which become striped and thickened. In most cases, the nails change color, peel and break. In advanced cases, complete loss of the nail plate is possible;
- Psoriatic arthropathy. The symptoms of psoriasis in this case are manifested by inflammation of the joints and connective tissue. In some cases, this form develops on its own, but is most often accompanied by cutaneous manifestations;
- Psoriatic erythroderma. This form is characterized by a very difficult course and is often fatal. The development of inflammation on large parts of the body is observed, which is accompanied by intense peeling and detachment of the skin.
The main symptoms of psoriasis
We will discuss the classic form in more detail. What does psoriasis look like? First of all, individual papules that have a pink or red color appear on the surface of the skin. These papules are covered with silvery-white scales that are easily scraped off. Over time, the number of papules increases, they begin to merge into plaques.
Plaques formed during this disease have a hyperemic and edematous appearance. In some cases, mild itching of the skin may be present. Pathological foci tend to grow quite rapidly, and their surface is intensely scaly. Over time, plaque growth stops and their boundaries become clear. A specific sign of such a pathological process is a pseudoatrophic edge, localized along the periphery of the focus. In the stationary phase, the appearance of a stagnant cyanotic nuance on the surface of the plaques is noticed.
Symptoms of psoriasis in the regression phase are characterized by the gradual disappearance of desquamation, starting from the central part. After that, the skin takes on a normal color, after which the tissue infiltration disappears.
Diagnosis and treatment of this disease
First of all, psoriasis is determined on the basis of its clinical picture. There are a triad of specific phenomena that indicate this pathological process: stearin stain, terminal film and blood dew. The phenomenon of stearin stain is that when the lesion is scraped, the peeling becomes more intense. If we continue to scrape, then peeling of the thin film is noticed and the appearance of a wet and hyperemic surface - the phenomenon of the terminal film. The phenomenon of blood dew implies the presence of punctate bleeding with further scraping.
Of the drugs for this disease can be used the following:
- Glucocorticosteroids;
- Cytostatics;
- Antihistamines;
- Keratolytic and anti-inflammatory ointments.
In addition, various physiotherapeutic treatments are widely used.
Prevention of exacerbations in psoriasis
To prevent exacerbations, it is recommended to avoid stressful situations, give up bad habits and eat well. In addition, you should limit any irritating effects on the skin and avoid contact with substances to which you are allergic.