Psoriasis is a common, chronic, non-communicable disease that affects approximately 100 million people worldwide.
What are the symptoms of psoriasis?
This is how the disease appears.Skin cells divide 10 times faster than normal, stacking on top of each other and forming raised red patches covered in silvery white scales.Such sores can appear anywhere, but most often on the head, elbows, knees and lower back.
Here are some other signs that appear along with spots:
- itching and burning;
- thickening and small pits in the nails;
- swollen and painful joints.
There may be other symptoms, depending on the type of psoriasis.
What types of psoriasis are there?
There are seven in total
- Ordinary, aka vulgar.The most common type: raised, red, inflamed skin covered with white scales.
- Tear shaped.Small pink-red spots usually appear on the head, thighs, forearms and torso.
- Psoriasis of the nails.They become yellow-brown, soft and can be separated from the plug.Scarring or thickening appears.
- Pustular.A rare form of the disease, it can be accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, muscle weakness and rapid pulse.Purulent lumps appear on the arms, legs and fingers, surrounded by red skin.
- Vice versa.Smooth, shiny red patches without scales.They most often appear in the groin, armpits, under the chest and buttocks.
- Psoriatic arthritis.In addition to plaques on the skin, it causes pain and swelling of the joints.
Where does psoriasis come from?
Anyone can get psoriasis, but it happens more often in adults than in children.
The exact causes of the disease are not known.But it is believed to be an autoimmune disease: immune system cells, also known as white blood cells, become overactive and mistakenly attack healthy tissue.
Psoriasis can be caused by one or more factors:
- infection;
- stress;
- smoking or drinking alcohol;
- sunburn;
- lack of vitamin D;
- some drugs and substances - lithium preparations, beta blockers, antimalarial drugs, iodides.
You cannot get psoriasis.It is not transmitted by contact with the patient's skin.
How is psoriasis treated?
There is no way to get rid of psoriasis, but you can ease its symptoms.The selection of procedures and drugs is quite difficult.What works for one person sometimes doesn't work for another.A dermatologist should design and adjust the treatment plan.
The doctor may recommend the following.
Skin creams and ointments
They are used to soften plaques, reduce itching and slow the growth of skin cells.These are the external remedies:
- hormonal ointment;
- shampoo and ointment with coal tar;
- retinoid preparations.
Phototherapy
Irradiation of the skin with natural or artificial ultraviolet rays is carried out in a hospital under the supervision of a dermatologist.Phototherapy is usually used in parallel with external medications.
The lightest form is ordinary sunlight.But even if you decide to sunbathe, you should first discuss this with your doctor.This method is not suitable for everyone.
Systemic treatment
This is heavy artillery when other methods fail.The doctor prescribes a course of tablets or injections that affect the whole body.
Prescribing yourself medications or taking them on the advice of friends is a very bad idea.
Self-medicating psoriasis can cause the disease to spread to unaffected areas of the body and increase the frequency of flare-ups.
The patient does not take into account the side effects of various drugs and harms himself.
Don't do this, go to the doctor!
How to reduce the frequency of psoriasis flare-ups
In addition to the prescribed treatment, do the following:
Do not smoke or drink alcohol.Treatment with bad habits is less effective.
Watch your weight.After losing extra pounds, many patients find that medications that didn't work before begin to work.
Eat a balanced diet.This will reduce the risk of psoriasis-related complications - high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis.
Do yoga and meditation.They reduce stress and anxiety that can cause flare-ups.
Apply a thick moisturizer to your skin as needed throughout the day to soften it.Make sure you do this after showering and before bed.
Take a colloid bath with oatmeal or salt every day for 10 minutes.Just make sure the water is not too hot.And don't use harsh soap, which dries out the skin too much.