Plaque lesions on the skin of the hands are the most common manifestation of scaly lichen. Psoriasis on the hands is a chronic disease that significantly impairs a person’s quality of life. It has special symptoms as well as many prerequisites for development.
Causes of psoriasis on the hands
What causes a rash in the form of rough plaques on the palms and in the areas of flexion of the upper limbs? it is not always easy to understand immediately. The main causes of psoriasis on the hands are:
- hereditary predisposition to disease;
- consequences of infectious, viral and colds;
- metabolic disorders and hormonal pathologies (diabetes mellitus);
- stressful situations, nervous breakdowns, emotional upheavals;
- frequent contact with aggressive chemicals (household chemicals, cosmetics);
- skin injuries (scratches, wounds, scratches, scratches).
People prone to allergic reactions are at risk of developing psoriatic psoriasis. In addition, malnutrition, alcohol and tobacco abuse, prolonged use of antidepressants, steroid medications can cause scaly lichen.
Symptoms of manifestation
In adults, psoriasis begins in the elbows and hands. The first signs are noticed on the extensor part, when small flat papules appear, which eventually increase in size, forming rough, round plates of pale pink or red color. Furthermore, a rash appears on the palms. The skin becomes dry, thickened, gets a dark red color and sometimes cracks.
The development of psoriasis on the fingers can reach the nails. Initially, smaller bones form on them, and over time, the nail plate thickens, loses and resembles a fungal infection. So people often wonder if scaly lichen is contagious? Psoriasis is a chronic disease that is not transmitted by handling or other contact. The predisposition to the disease can be transmitted genetically, but not the disease itself.
Another symptom of scaly lichen is the appearance of plaques with scales between the fingers. The skin in these places resembles blisters, the same rough and rough.
Forms of hand psoriasis
The nature of the course and clinical manifestations of scaly lichen are very different. The rash can affect not only the hands, but also the shoulders, neck, chest, especially if the child suffers from the disease. Psoriasis on the hands is the most common type of dermatosis and can occur in several basic forms, described below.
Plaque or common
The skin in the affected areas becomes thicker, covered with white crusts and cracks, which sometimes bleed. Plaques coalesce into groups, forming large lesions.
The shape of a tear
The rash most commonly affects the upper arms and shoulders. The plaques are densely covered with white scales and look like droplets. This type of psoriasis spreads rapidly throughout the body, affecting the forearms and hips. It worsens mainly after taking streptococcus (the cause of tonsillitis, tonsillitis, ARVI).
Exudative or pustular flat lichen
It is localized on the forearms, has a difficult course - more bubbles with clear fluid, purulent processes, as well as the exit of the rash outside the upper extremities.
Nail psoriasis
This shape is characterized by the appearance of longitudinal or transverse lines of white or gray hue. The skin around the plate thickens, and the nail itself peels and loosens, leading to its further destruction.
What each shape of scaly hands looks like is clearly visible in the photo.
If you do not start treatment for hand psoriasis on time, the disease can cause inflammation of the joints (psoriatic arthritis). The rash can spread to other areas of the body (head, legs, back, abdomen, chest).
Stages of skin disease
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that has a specific sequence of development. Depending on the intensity of disease manifestations and the frequency of relapses, there are 3 main stages of the disease:
- progressive - initial stage - the appearance of several scaly papules on the hands, shoulders, between the fingers and in the extension of the elbows, accompanied by edema, inflammation, itching;
- stationary phase - no new rashes appear, and old plaques are densely covered with white scales, the affected areas stop itching (the disease freezes in one place);
- regression stage - symptoms begin to disappear (papules fade, dry deposits dissolve, skin is cleansed, only minor dark spots remain).
In a state of remission, psoriasis can last from 2-4 months to several years. New recurrences are more and more pronounced each time, which leads to a gradual roughening and thickening of the stratum corneum on the hands, elbows, between the fingers and around the nail plates.
Pharmaceutical treatment
Scaly lichen, although not a contagious disease, brings a lot of discomfort and inconvenience. The main goal of drug treatment is to improve the general condition of the patient:
- remove peeling and itching;
- relieve inflammation;
- soothe the skin.
Therapy should be comprehensive and include several different groups of drugs for external and internal use.
- Hormonal - relieve inflammation, irritation, swelling, itching and pain, reduce fluid papules in exudative psoriasis. In addition, fats eliminate allergic manifestations.
- Non-hormonal - zinc ointment, salicylic ointment - relieve the main symptoms, do not cause side effects, act gently on the skin, but are less effective than glucocorticosteroid (hormonal) drugs.
- Homeopathic - used for severe peeling, itching, help in the period of joint damage.
Homeopathy is effective only if properly selected, taking into account all the nuances of the course of the disease and the characteristics of the patient's body.
In case of poor results of topical medications, the doctor may prescribe systemic therapy in the form of injections and pills. The drugs suppress the intensive division of skin cells, detoxify the body, thus eliminating the main symptoms, which helps to improve the quality of life.
In addition to the main drugs to prevent psoriasis, complex therapy uses means to support the whole body:
- vitamins;
- liver support drugs - hepatoprotectors;
- sorbents - cleansing the intestines of toxins and poisons;
- antihistamines;
- immunomodulators.
It is better to treat this or that form of psoriasis, a specialist will determine. It will combine medications to achieve maximum effect and not harm your body as a whole.
Folk remedies
Patients are often interested in how to cure psoriasis at home. Herbal preparations and medicinal baths help to fight against scaly lichen on the hands. In addition, folk remedies help to enhance the action of drugs and the transition of the disease into remission.
Celandine baths
Pour 3 liters of boiling water over the chopped grass (100 g) and leave for 1-1, 5 hours. Pour the filtered liquid into a warm bath (37-40 degrees). The duration of one procedure is not longer than 15 minutes.
The course of treatment is 10-12 sessions, which can be performed daily.
Herbal collection for water manipulation
It is necessary to mix in equal proportions (50 g each):
- St. John's wort;
- sage;
- valerian root;
- celandine;
- success.
Boil 30 g of the collection for 5 minutes in 250 ml of water. Let the soup cook for 1, 5-2 hours, strain and add to a large bathtub.
Herbal baths facilitate the course of the disease, soothe the skin, reduce inflammation and peeling and, most importantly, stop the further spread of plaques.
Ointment with propolis
Melt 300 g of butter, add 20 g of chopped propolis, boil everything until a uniform consistency is created. Treat the affected areas on the hands with the finished cooled ointment. The product is also suitable for coatings. Apply a small amount of the drug on a cotton pad, apply to injured areas, fix with a bandage.
Before using the ointment, it is necessary to treat the plaques with hydrogen peroxide and wait for them to dry. This will enhance the effect of the folk remedy.
Birch tar
For 30-45 days you need to lubricate the affected areas of the hands with birch tar. It is better to do it an hour before bedtime. The substance should remain on the skin for at least 10 minutes, after which it is rinsed off with warm water. Gradually the tar retention time on the plates is increased to 30 minutes.
This medicine is most effective in treating skin diseases. Folk remedy well removes unpleasant symptoms and prolongs the period of remission for a long time.
Prevention of psoriasis on the hands
Hands suffer from rashes more often than other areas of the skin. The disease is difficult to treat due to constant hand contact with provoking factors. To achieve long-term remission, it is important to adhere to preventive measures:
- do not allow the skin to dry;
- use household chemicals in gloves;
- use specially selected hand creams;
- avoid contact with aggressive substances;
- seek medical attention immediately when the first rash appears;
- do not abuse alcohol and smoking.
In the prevention of hand psoriasis, attention should be paid to proper nutrition. Fried, smoked, salty, fatty, spicy foods should be excluded from the diet. It is not recommended to get carried away with chocolate and flour products. It is better to cook, steam or bake food, and heat fruits and vegetables with red pigment (cherries, strawberries, tomatoes) for heat treatment.
Psoriatic rash on the hands has a tendency to recur. The disease is not curable, but only temporarily goes into remission. The duration of psoriasis relief depends on proper treatment and prevention. Pay attention to your lifestyle, stick to your diet, avoid stress and treat the first manifestations of the disease in time.