According to official figures, approximately 3% of people across the globe suffer from psoriasis. But it must be assumed that the real number of patients with this type of dermatosis is much larger. Basically, the first signs of such a disease appear at the age of 10-25 years, although cases of diagnosis of psoriasis have been recorded in both infants and the elderly. It is not yet known for sure why it develops, but doctors have information on what the initial stage of psoriasis looks like. Therefore, with timely referral to specialists, you can manage to stop the progression of the disease in the earliest stages.
Symptoms of the initial stage
Initially, small round papules begin to appear on the patient's skin, the size of which, as a rule, does not exceed the diameter of a pinhead. These formations have a smooth, glossy surface and clear contours, but literally after a few days they begin to peel off. The resulting scales are silvery white and can be easily removed from the surface of the papule. Over time, the number and size of the rash elements increases, and the disease progresses to a progressive stage.
Papules are usually reddish or pink in color, although in some situations they become bluish. This is noticed with the formation of the main elements of a rash on the feet. Depending on the type of disease, the initial stage of psoriasis appears on the elbows (extension surfaces), knees, body, limbs or head.
If you remove all the scales from the acne, you will find an absolutely smooth glossy surface beneath them - the terminal film. But with further scratching, it is quickly damaged and smaller droplets of blood begin to appear.
Thus, psoriasis is characterized by three specific phenomena:
- stearin site- skin added during stair removal;
- psoriatic film- thinning of the thinnest layer of skin;
- blood dew- the appearance of blood drop spots after cleansing.
But it is much easier to see what the initial stage of psoriasis looks like in a photo.
Despite all the advances in medicine, no medicine has been developed today that will completely cure psoriasis. This disease is characterized by a wave-like flow, therefore, not only those who first encountered a similar disease, but also those who have lived with it for many years go through the initial stage of its development.
I would like to point out that there is no cure for psoriasis. With the help of modern medicines, physiotherapy procedures and other methods of therapy, you can "bring" the disease to a state of lasting remission and, perhaps, even forget about it for several years. But this does not mean that in an unfavorable combination of circumstances, the patient again will not notice the characteristic rashes that display the initial stage of psoriasis on the hands and other parts of the body.
How do you know if psoriasis is progressing?
The transition of psoriasis to the second or progressive stage is evidenced by the growth and melting of the previously single papule, as well as the increase of itching so far absent. In addition, the nature of the skin also changes. It is now observed only in the center of the formations and their edges remain without scales. This clearly shows quite the growth of the elements.
You can use some type of test to confirm the transition of psoriasis to stage two. Its essence consists in small lesions on the skin of the affected area. If after about a week, a psoriatic element with the same shape as the lesion forms in the same place, this clearly indicates the progression of the disease. In the special literature, such a test is described as Kebner's symptom. Moreover, this is also noticed with the banal combing of the affected skin.
In some cases, patients have an exudative form of psoriasis. It is characterized by the release of a special fluid. The scales are impregnated with it, as a result of which they turn into dense crusts. If one of these crusts is removed or damaged, the leaking skin area is exposed.