Psoriasis, the initial stage of which can occur under a certain combination of factors, manifests itself in the form of reddish plaques with clear borders.Then, they are covered with silvery white scales, joining each other.Typically, plaques are found on the head, knees and elbows.
Psoriasis can affect patients of any age and gender.The etiology of the disease, which is not fully understood, does not allow psoriasis to be completely cured, however, it is possible to significantly reduce the symptoms of the disease and achieve long-term remission if you start therapy at the initial stage of psoriasis development, adequately evaluating the initial signs of psoriasis.
Symptoms of the initial stage of the disease
To recognize the initial stage of the disease, it is important to know what the main symptoms look like.
From the beginning, single papules appear, which can be from a few mm to 2-5 cm and have the form of a plate covered with white scales.When they are removed, a characteristic symptom of the psoriatic triad appears:
- "stearic spot" (slight separation of scales when itching);
- "terminal film" (exposure of shiny, thin, moist skin after scaling);
- "blood dew" (with further removal of the terminal film, small drops of blood resembling dew appear on the surface of the skin).
The initial stage of the disease is characterized by the appearance of psoriatic lesions in places that are most often subjected to trauma of any kind.As a rule, these are the elbows, the knee area in places of scratches or scratches.These manifestations are called "Koebner's sign".
At first, papular rash spreads linearly, directly at the site of irritation and can exist for a long time without dynamics.These rashes are called "sentinel" rashes.The rash is very itchy and itchy.
The initial phase lasts several weeks.The papules then enlarge and coalesce into psoriatic plaques, which can cover large areas of the body.
Psoriasis can appear anywhere.The most dangerous rashes are on the face, but this form of the initial stage develops very rarely.
Characteristic places of localization of the disease in the initial stage
The most common rashes seen are:
The legs. The initial stage of psoriasis on the feet develops from small single rashes, which are mainly located on the feet and knees, but can appear on any surface of the feet.
Elbows. The type of plaque most often appears on the elbows, the symptoms of which are characterized by small red rashes with rough skin.In this case, there is a hardening of the skin on the elbows (pictured).In addition, rashes on the elbows can be symmetrical.
head. Symptoms often affect the scalp, as well as the back of the head and the ear area (photo).A papular rash on the head is accompanied by itching.Very often, psoriasis on the scalp is characterized by moist scales.
Nails. On the hands and nails, psoriatic manifestations resemble a fungal infection.First of all, longitudinal lines (dots) appear at the edge of the nails (pictured), and then they spread towards the roots of the nails.At the same time, the nail plate begins to thicken and fade.As the symptoms of the disease progress, the nail area may peel off completely.
The face. Psoriasis rarely appears on the face, as this form of psoriasis is considered atypical.Hyperemic papules appear in the area of the eyelids, nasolabial folds, near the eyes and eyebrows (pictured).In rare cases, a rash on the face appears near the red border of the lips and mucous membranes (cheeks and tongue).
The specificity of rashes on the face is associated with delicate, sensitive skin and an abundance of nerve endings.First, papules (small, slightly raised nodules on the skin) appear, accompanied by severe itching.Then, the epithelium and plaques appear on top of the nodule.
Hands. Symptoms of psoriasis on the hands appear suddenly, appearing in the form of a small rash (pictured), which many patients confuse with an allergy.And only when gray and dry scales appear on the arms, palms and elbows, patients turn to a dermatologist for help.It is characteristic that if there is a psoriatic rash on the palms, then similar manifestations are observed on the feet.Psoriatic manifestations on the palms are more often located between the fingers, which is explained by the more favorable environment in this place.The back of the hands is much less often affected.When psoriatic patches appear on the fingertips, they may lose sensitivity.
The development of the initial stage of psoriasis at a young age
Psoriasis can affect not only adults, but also young children, including infants.The initial stage of psoriasis in children, unlike adult patients, is mild and develops rather slowly.
The first signs of psoriasis appear more often in children under 2 years old, which is associated with improper care and nutrition, which can provoke skin irritations.The first rashes appear, as a rule, on the arms, elbows, skin folds (pictured) on the legs and buttocks, which is caused by contact irritation (diapers, diapers, etc.).
The initial symptoms of psoriasis should be distinguished from diaper dermatitis in babies.The surface of the head is affected by psoriasis in children over 10 years old, since from this age the clinical symptoms of the disease in children are exactly the same as in adults.Most often, psoriasis in children is caused by previous staphylococcal infections.
Important!A child can develop any form of psoriasis, with the exception of guttate psoriasis, which affects only adult patients.
Treatment of the initial stage of psoriasis
To get rid of negative manifestations, you can use both traditional medicine and home therapy.Treatment of the initial stage of the disease shows good results, allowing you to quickly get rid of pathological visual manifestations.
Therapeutic treatment of the early stage of the disease includes the use, first of all, of external agents, as well as ultraviolet treatment and the use of systemic drugs that actively suppress the inflammatory process.
At an early stage, the disease can be treated with salicylic acid ointment and naphthalene oil.In addition, sedatives and antihistamines are prescribed.These products relieve tissue swelling and neutralize painful itching.
It is important to remember that not all external products can be used on the face, so prior consultation with your doctor is required.In addition, psoriasis cannot be treated without proper nutrition and giving up bad habits.
Treatment at home
There are many ways to get rid of psoriasis at an early stage at home. This treatment is mainly aimed at strengthening the immune system and easing the inflammatory process.
- Honey and products containing it, oak bark, pine needles, chamomile, etc.are actively used in medicine.With the participation of these drugs, compresses are made to relieve psoriatic symptoms;
- Popular methods include cleansing the body by taking a decoction of lemon, rose, etc.In addition, the use of baths with the addition of sea salt is effective;
- at home, it is recommended to moisturize the skin with natural oils (buckthorn, peach, olive).However, it should be noted that traditional treatment methods are used as a complement to traditional medicine.
To prevent the development of the disease, some preventive measures should be followed to minimize the symptoms of psoriasis:
- Skin injuries such as scratches on arms and legs, insect bites, burns, etc. should be avoided.
- It is necessary to regularly moisturize the skin with creams and avoid infectious diseases.
- It is recommended to give up alcohol and smoking and take only those medications prescribed by your doctor.
The effectiveness of treatment in the initial stage of the disease depends on the time of seeking professional help.Early treatment provides a high probability of preventing the transition of an acute process to a chronic form.