It can appear at any age, but the first symptoms usually appear gradually between the ages of 15 and 35.
An infection can be very annoying due to ugly spots all over the body, which also cause discomfort and sometimes even pain. The manifestation can vary in severity: from a few spots with scales that resemble scales to wide areas of skin with a rash. Most often, psoriasis develops on the elbows, knees, waist, and head. Pits or other irregularities may appear on the nails. The rash can manifest itself in many ways, including pustules, cracked skin, itching, and scratched areas. Psoriasis is not contagious.
Signs and symptoms
- Dry red spots on the skin covered with silvery scales.
- Small smooth spots (more common in children) all over the body.
- Swollen and tight ligaments.
Warning signs and symptoms
Redness and hair loss all over the skin.
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that affects the life cycle of cells. It usually takes about a month for new cells to emerge from the lower layer of the skin, where they are formed. Outside, they die and are separated by tiny particles. In psoriasis, this whole process takes place within a few days: the cells die quickly, and areas without hair, covered with a thick crust, spread over the skin.
Arthritis accompanies psoriasis in 1 in 10 cases. For most of these people, the effects of psoriatic arthritis are minimal. Some pain can be felt in the affected joints, but this does not affect the health of the entire organism. Rarely does this pain restrict mobility, similar to rheumatoid arthritis.
causes
In psoriasis, skin cells multiply quickly and form a thick, less cohesive layer of skin. This usually only happens when the treatment intervenes.
Factors That Can Cause Psoriasis:
- Systemic diseases (such as tonsillitis).
- The immune system's response to disease.
- Damage to the skin.
- Response to a drug or vaccine.
- Emphasize.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Environmental influences such as direct contact with sunlight or chemicals (disinfectants, paints).
Doctors suggest that psoriasis is a disease that is caused by many factors and is inherited. However, scientists have not yet fully figured out how much it is related to the genetic apparatus.
diagnosis
A diagnosis of psoriasis is usually made based on a physical exam. The doctor may need a sample of skin cells for analysis to determine the type of disease and the possibility of a fungal infection.
treatment
Psoriasis is very difficult to control for one reason - there are very many types of psoriasis by type, severity, and response to treatment. Each of them has its own characteristics, and each requires a special approach, so the doctor has to deal with each individual case for a long time. The aim of treatment is to regulate the growth and maturation of your skin cells. In mild cases, moisturizing soaps, shampoos, lotions and ointments are sufficient.
Treatment can be carried out with:
Creams and ointments
A calcipotriene ointment with vitamin D is usually prescribed. Calciporie controls the overproduction of skin cells. This is a medicine for mild to moderate psoriasis. Another option is treatment with retinoids such as tazarotene. The doctor may also prescribe medications that contain a norcotic steroid and a resin.
Preparations for external administration
A second generation retinoid can slow the growth of skin cells in severe psoriasis. Great caution should be exercised when treating with this drug because it can cause side effects such as eye and lip irritation, hair loss, excessive sensitivity to the sun, and complications in childbirth when ingested by a pregnant woman.
Another is an anti-metabolite drug, which inhibits the growth of skin cells in psoriasis, and a drug that blocks the immune system. These medicines can also cause side effects, including kidney and liver damage, and are usually only used in the most severe cases.
Phototherapy
Psoriasis ointment along with Ultraviolet A (PUVA), a combination of photosensitive drugs, Ultraviolet A (UVA) together suppress the growth of skin cells in some cases of psoriasis. However, long-term PUVA treatment (250 times or more) can increase your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Sunbathing in the warm sun (taking into account all measures to avoid burns) and the use of coal tar together with ultraviolet B radiation (Heckermann method) are also effective treatment methods. A newer form of phototherapy called "Narrow Band Ultraviolet B" (NB-UVF) can be as effective as PUVA and does not require medication before each session. It is not prone to skin cancer like PUVA.
personal hygiene
To keep your disease under control, you need to:
- Eat foods fortified with vitamins, rest for the number of hours the body needs, and exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Psoriasis often occurs in the folds of the skin in overweight people.
- Do not rub or scratch areas with psoriatic lesions.
- Wash daily to remove dead cells. Avoid hot water or harsh soap.
- Moisturize the skin. Dab the skin after a bath, apply an oily moisturizer immediately after the procedure, while the skin is still moisturized. Do not use lotions or creams that contain alcohol. Use air conditioning and keep the room temperature cool at all times.
- Use soaps, shampoos, and ointments that contain liquid coal tar and salicylic acid.
- Bask in moderate sun but avoid sunburn.
- If the symptoms of the disease are extremely pronounced, use a cream containing 0. 5-1 percent cortisone for several weeks.