What is psoriasis: causes, symptoms and treatment

During the last decades, dermatology has increasingly begun to deal with cases of psoriatic dermatitis. Statisticians note that more often these cases affect fair-skinned people. And although experts have not yet set an age limit for the rampant disease, however, the most active stages of the disease are recorded precisely at the age of 15 to 45 years. In terms of prevalence, psoriasis can now affect every 25 people on the planet, which in general, according to the WHO (World Health Organization) for 2016, is about 4. 2% of the entire world population.

What kind of disease is psoriasis and what external signs does it have?

The name of such a wound was given according to the characteristic external sign - red plaques and scaly papules, which are formed as a result of a rash accompanied by an itchy sensation and inflammation of the skin. Psoriasis is also called scaly lichen and has its own rather wide classification of types, symptoms, causes that provoke the onset, progression and worsening of the disease. The general picture of the pathology today is such that it does not give doctors a clear idea of its unclear origin and treatment methods. Therefore, doctors must find ways of partial healing together with the patient.

The definition of what psoriasis is today is accepted by all specialists as a non-infectious disease that appears mainly for various reasons and must be treated carefully, extremely carefully, under the constant supervision of several specialists and not just a dermatologist. The word psoriasis itself means "itching" (from the Greek term "psora"), "scab" (from the English term, which is also spelled "psora"). The diagnosis of the disease is carried out comprehensively, not only by skin tests or blood tests.

Additional information:The specificity of the disease, which has not been fully studied, is such that patients must prepare for continuous, continuous and long-term recovery, as well as to alternate periodic exacerbations with remissions, phases of relief, which last from several weeks tosome. years.

Classification of psoriasis types

When experts want to determine exactly psoriasis in a sick patient, what are these rashes on his skin and the unbearable desire to constantly scratch the wounds, what type of disease the disorder belongs to, what the patient suffers from, then experts can focus on the classification ofspecial diseases. Moreover, it is not the only one, today there are at least four, which should be briefly reviewed for a general idea.

According to ICD-10

According to the International Classification of Diseases in the 10th revision, such dermatitis is divided into the following types:

1. Plain or plate-like. Prevalence – 90-95%. Manifestations - papulo-scaly structures with a gray, white, pink tint. As they grow, whole "islands" and "lakes" of diseased skin are formed.
2. Generalized pustular disease or "Impetigo", "Tsumbusha", exudative. It starts with blisters and blisters containing fluid (exudates). After the eruption, ulcers and self-infection form.
3. Persistent or Allopo epidermal disorder, Setton's or Crocker's acrodermal disorder. Fluid or pustular formations in plaques and papules are sterile and do not have widespread self-contamination. Nails and fingers are often affected.
4. Palmar and plantar lesions. Small ulcers on the palms and soles of the feet that are not self-infectious. It makes it very difficult for the patient to have a quality life when walking and working with their hands.
5. teardrop shaped. Small purple, pink, gray spots on the body most often begin to appear after experiencing severe sore throat, strep throat, pharyngitis and other viral infectious diseases.
6. Arthropathic appearance. Damage to the joints of fingers, hands, knees, lower legs. Prevalence – 10% of all psoriatic patients.
7. Other, opposite and unspecified. Smooth spots with a low slip percentage that appear on delicate skin areas.

According to this classification, which reveals the essence of what this or that type means, what is a disease, what is psoriasis, the pathology is assigned a special code - L40. Different numbers can be added to this code to indicate a specific type of illness.

According to clinical parameters

The disease can also be classified according to clinical criteria, which are expressed as follows:

• by location - body parts are determined;
• according to clinical pictures - nature, quality of psoriasis;
• according to progressive stages - progressive, stationary, regressive disease;
• according to the manifestations in a certain season;
• according to the area of skin areas - less than 20% of the epidermis is affected, more than 20% or the entire skin.

According to the American classification

The US National Foundation, when determining psoriasis, what kind of disease it is, its type, classifies it in the following order:

• mild skin lesions - less than 2%;
• average spread severity - from 2 to 10%;
• severe stage of skin damage - from 10% and above.

According to the PASI index

Another international approach to determining psoriasis lesions, which is in the arsenal of medical diagnosticians, distributes the types of the disease according to the following principle:

• the presence of the PASI index ranges from 0 to 72 values;
• the index indicates the severity of the dermatitis;
• Only specialists calculate the index.

Doctors can use any of these classifications when determining the type of disease, but practice shows that it is the ICD-10 system that is most actively used. Without an accurate determination of the type, it will be difficult for doctors to understand what kind of disease psoriasis is and how to treat it.

General symptoms

All doctors and scientists are convinced that psoriasis is not a contagious phenomenon and cannot be transmitted from an affected person to a healthy one. Characteristic pustular-scaly rashes are called papules if their formation was initially a swelling with fluid, which then burst, leading to a wound, drying from the cover and scales. "Papula" from Lat. means "knot". But if the rash was not diluted with water, their bumps on the surface of the skin were compressed, then turned into wounds from constant scratching, suffocation and the formation of scales, then we talk about plaques.

Note!Psoriasis is something that will always have scaly formations on the surface of the affected skin. "Squama" from Lat. means "scales", so the diagnosis can be written on the line on the examination sheet: "papulosquamous disorder of the epidermis".

Symptoms of psoriasis

When defining psoriasis, we focus on its symptoms, which can be represented by the following unified list of manifestations:

1. Papules are swellings on the surface of the skin that contain infectious or sterile fluid.
2. Plaques are red spots that grow and become irritated over time.
3. The plaques can be gray, reddish, yellow, or purple with spots.
4. The texture of the surface of the diseased skin varies from moist, pustular to dry scaly.
5. Scale and skin are characteristic of all types of disease.
6. The general condition of the patient varies from nervousness, nervousness, drowsiness, fatigue and apathy.

Stages and degrees of development of psoriasis

The stages show not only the characteristics of what kind of disease psoriasis is and its types, but they can also tell the doctor how to deal with the disease. It is usually divided into 3 phases.

Weak phase

• papules and plaques are rare and solitary;
• no unbearable itching;
• There is no severe swelling yet;
• often occurs after stress or severe infection.

Intensive phase

• defined as Koebner syndrome;
• lesions appear suddenly in different parts of the human body;
• melting and growth of papules and plaques into whole "paraffin lakes";
• pain and itching are typical during this period.

Aggravation of the disease

• scale shape;
• dry skin;
• Red lesions no longer grow;
• scales fall;
• the skin hurts;
• the thickness of the skin where the plaques are located increases.

For reference:remission is a separate phase and is considered as a calming of the pathological condition.

Causes that provoke the appearance of the disease

Despite the fact that no answers have been found to the questions of what kind of disease psoriatic dermatitis is, what are the reasons for its occurrence, however, of course, some prerequisites are already appearing that can provoke the appearance of the disease.

Such patterns indicate the following possible reasons:

1. Inherited predisposition.
2. Weak immune system.
3. Recently, he has experienced severe psychological trauma, exposure to infection, virus.
4. Side effects from medications.
5. A sharp change in the climatic conditions to live.
6. Allergies in humans.
7. Imbalance of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine, excretory, cleansing systems.
8. Slow metabolism (metabolism) due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, sleep and wakefulness.

Important!The wound can also appear after a severe sunburn, constant rubbing of synthetic fabrics of clothing on areas of the body where the skin folds. Even excessive consumption of low-quality foods (with an abundance of chemicals, preservatives, food synthetics), alcohol, drugs (toxic substances) or tobacco can affect a deterioration. All this was recorded by the method of exclusion - for example, when the patient was limited by bad habits, his condition improved.

Diagnosis of psoriasis - what is it?

If people who ask about psoriasis, what it is and which doctors they should contact, have already discovered similar symptoms in themselves, or in their loved ones, friends, then first of all they should contact a dermatologist. After that, an examination will be scheduled, which may include a number of other highly specialized specialists:

• histologists - studying blood cells in this case;
• immunologists - identification of the cause of the body's weakened resistance to viruses;
• endocrinologists - if there is a suspicion of interruptions in hormonal levels and the functioning of the endocrine system;
• infectious disease specialists - detection of the presence of infections or viruses in the human body;
• nutritionists who will determine the right food for the patient and other specialists.

Diagnostics is carried out using the following mechanisms and techniques:

1. External examination of the affected areas of the skin.
2. A blood test will show if the joints are affected by the disease.
3. A biopsy reveals the stage and verification (diagnosis of a specific type of disease).

When determining the specific type of psoriasis, the Internet alone is not a help. In addition, encyclopedic reference books are usually completed by any Internet user, both knowledgeable about the specifics of the disease and laypersons.

Note!A biopsy is one of the main diagnostic procedures in which a part of the affected skin is taken for laboratory examination. Its results show the level of T-lymphocytosis, which cells are strong and which are weak.

Difficulties in the life of patients with psoriasis

When a patient encounters psoriasis for the first time and does not know what kind of disease he has, he tends to experience the following conditions that accompany the course of dermatitis:

• depression;
• inferiority complexes;
• difficulties in the social sphere - people, out of ignorance, often believe that the disease is contagious and stop communicating with the sick;
• cardiovascular disorders - sometimes even heart attacks;
• pressure imbalance - hypertension;
• diabetes mellitus - type 2 is especially common;
• you must limit yourself in food and drink;
• you have to adapt to an active lifestyle, which is extremely difficult to do when your psychological mood is depressed;
• physical discomfort - difficulty in dressing, showering, bathing, moving arms, legs, sleeping, etc.

In the same way, all this affects those patients who have encountered the disease not for the first time, but are already mentally ready to cope with it and work hard to reduce its intensity.

For reference:remissions (stages of disease mitigation) can last for several years only with a competent approach to therapy and the prescription of courses, methods, methods of treatment.

Methods for treating psoriasis

When the doctors themselves do not fully know all the reasons for the worsening of the disease and how all this can be eliminated forever, it also greatly affects the mood of the patient himself. But you just have to convince yourself that if the disease cannot be cured, then you can improve the quality of your life for several years. Therefore, psoriasis should be cured only with an integrated approach of all practices, methods and methods that are available in nature. Even doctors do not despise folk remedies, if only the patient discusses one method or another with the doctor in advance.

Traditional methods

As soon as they determine the type of dermatitis - psoriasis is also dermatitis, what kind of disease it is, its type, doctors immediately start specific procedures that supposedly give a positive effect in the end.

Treatment begins with the following procedures:

1. Affected areas are disinfected to prevent self-infection.
2. Mandatory relief of inflammatory processes with drugs.
3. The plaques must be removed and special medications are prescribed for this.
4. The same applies to scales - so that they do not fall off painfully, they are softened with creams, applications with various softening ointments, tinctures, mixtures.
5. Injections and tablets are prescribed - for example, an immunosuppressant, which restores the functioning of the immune system along with improving the psychophysical state.
6. They use ultraviolet radiation, purify the blood using plasmapheresis and other methods.
7. Sanatorium-resort treatments with mud and salt water. For example, resorts in Israel at the Dead Sea. The method is not cheap, it should last 28 days, but it is 100% effective.
8. Taking baths with salt and plants.
9. Special diet, exercise.

In addition to the above methods, operations are also performed on the valve of the small intestine, which is responsible for cleaning the system. Usually, after such operations, patients feel better for 5-6 years.

Important!The basic drug will always be an antimetabolite of the group of structural analogs of folic acid, which is supplied to the body by intramuscular injection.

Traditional medicine for psoriasis

The disease can also be treated with traditional methods, because some plants, seeds and fruits have their medicinal properties. This is a budget option for those who cannot afford resort travel. At home, you can prepare medicinal baths for yourself, make various ointments using Kalanchoe, honey and other ingredients. Only the patient should always consult his doctor first. Here you also have to follow a strict diet, sleep, work and physical activity.

Additional measures

Any attending physician will always prohibit the patient from staying in the sun for more than 6 hours a day for 2 sunbathing sessions. At the same time, the sun should not be at its zenith and burn strongly, otherwise you can only provoke burns and worsen the condition. In addition to sun exposure, psoriasis can be temporarily cured by adding a special diet. The most common system now is the Pegano diet. In addition, you need to remove all the usual whims, such as smoking, alcohol, an abundance of sweets and other hobbies.

Additional information:It is not recommended to go on a sudden diet. In addition, you should always remember about your intestines, which should be helped by the presence of sunflower fibers and oils. Therefore, you can eat sunflower seeds, and also add various permitted foods rich in fiber to your dishes.

5 preventive measures for people predisposed to psoriasis

So that a person does not have questions about psoriasis - what kind of disease it is and how to treat it, you should also listen to some recommendations from experts on how to protect yourself as much as possible from such a disease. Pay attention to this list of 5 basic recommendations, even if you do not have a predisposition to this type of disease:

1. Protect yourself from various infections, dress warmly, don't get cold, create the most positive attitude in life.
2. Move actively, maintain a normal diet, sleep and wake up.
3. Give up all bad habits or hobbies such as baking, sweets, which contain a lot of sugar.
4. Wear clothes made mainly from natural fiber fabrics.
5. All sedatives or other medications should be taken in consultation with a doctor and not self-medicated.

For reference:slow metabolism leads not only to psoriasis, but also to obesity, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease and other dysfunctions. Therefore, reducing carbohydrates in your menu, more walks in the fresh air and physical exercises will help anyone to always remain healthy!

There is still no complete cure for this disease, specialists are identifying the causes after certain cases of psoriatic disorders have been registered. Therapy procedures are very long, lengthy and difficult. The patient will need not only a change in lifestyle, but also self-observation along with keeping his diary, where he will record all his conditions. Therefore, any delay in contacting the doctors will only worsen the situation. Patients should not torture themselves like this, be afraid to tell doctors, it is better to immediately start looking for a solution to the problem than to build it like a snowball.