Psoriasis is a disease that WHO experts estimate affects 2 to 4% of the world's population. A feature of the disease is that only representatives of the white race suffer from psoriasis. Identifying the causes and treating psoriasis is one of the primary tasks of modern medicine. Today science is well advanced on these questions, but the causes of the disease are not fully understood, nor have ways to completely cure this disease have been found.
Causes of Psoriasis
Physiologically, psoriasis is caused by a skin cell life cycle that is too short. While this cycle typically lasts 21 to 28 days, the cycle lasts only 3-6 days in patients with psoriasis. This causes psoriatic plaques to form. The reason for this phenomenon is mainly discussed among those skilled in the art. While some view psoriasis as a hereditary disease, others assume that the disease is caused by malfunctions in the immune system that are a direct result of a number of different external factors.
Today, the prevailing among doctors is the multifactorial theory, which explains the occurrence of psoriasis for the following reasons:
- Inheritance;
- Immune system malfunctions due to:
- Deferred infectious diseases;
- wrong diet;
- Alcohol abuse;
- Unfavorable climatic conditions.
However, one thing absolutely all experts agree on is that psoriasis is not a contagious disease and it is impossible to "catch" it on the street like the flu or a sore throat.
Psoriasis symptoms
Nowadays, doctors consider psoriasis a systemic pathology, that is, it is customary to speak of psoriasis as a pathology with complex effects.
It is believed that the first signs of the development of psoriasis are:
- A constant feeling of general weakness;
- Feel tired;
- Common depression and depression.
These symptoms should be alarming. However, the clinical symptoms of psoriasis are manifested in skin lesions. In psoriasis, the most common are psoriatic plaques that appear suddenly on the patient's body. At first they can be small (a few millimeters), but over time they can grow significantly (up to 10 centimeters in diameter).
Due to the nature of the rash, psoriasis is usually divided into:
- Spot (the diameter of the plaques is small, does not exceed the diameter of the head of a match);
- Drop-shaped, in size with a lentil-grain, but in the shape of a drop;
- Coin-shaped, round badges that are reminiscent of a coin with a diameter of up to 5 millimeters.
A characteristic of psoriasis is the formation of scales on the plaques that are very easy to remove. This is because they are made by the cells of the keratinized epidermis. The scales form first in the center of the plaque and later spread to the edges. Sometimes a pink ring will form around the plaque, indicating the growth of the plaque itself. When the scales are removed, a smooth, shiny surface of the skin is left that is pink in color due to the proximity of the blood vessels (capillaries).
Classification of psoriasis, what does psoriasis look like (photo)
In most cases, doctors deal with common (vulgar) psoriasis. However, in about 10% of cases, the manifestations of psoriasis have other external signs, which can be clearly seen in the photo.
According to the external manifestations of psoriasis, it is customary to distinguish the following forms:
- Vulgar (common) psoriasis. It starts with a rash of small papules, the size of which ranges from the head of a matchstick to a pea. Scaling occurs on these papules and the papules turn into a typical psoriasis plaque. Plaques usually have well-defined borders so that they can be clearly depicted in relation to healthy skin. The plaque may be itchy. When the patient tries to remove a papule or plaque, flaking is observed. After the flakes have been removed, a smooth, shiny surface appears. If you continue scratching, droplets of blood called "blood dew" appear very quickly;
- Psoriatic erythroderma. This disease, which is extremely unpleasant as a form of psoriasis, occurs in around 2% of sufferers. Erythroderma manifests itself in the form of severe itching, diffuse reddening of the skin and lamellar peelings. Psoriatic erythroderma is often associated with generalized pustular psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Infections such as streptococcal infections often make the course of the disease more difficult. Sometimes erythroderma manifests itself spontaneously in the first stage of psoriasis. In some cases, erythroderma develops as a result of improper treatment of psoriasis;
- Pustular psoriasis. This form of the disease is characterized by the formation of pustules that resemble small abscesses. With the flow, this form of psoriasis can be generalized and localized. With a localized form, pustules are located in the area of the soles of the feet and palms. With a generalized form, the patient has an increase in body temperature and signs of intoxication of the body. This form of psoriasis is very dangerous and can even be fatal;
- Psoriatic arthritis. Many experts distinguish them as an autoimmune disease in their own right. Appears in the form of an inflammatory process in the joints and muscles of the patient;
- Psoriasis of the nail plates. In some cases, the common psoriasis affects the nail plates, and then it is called nail psoriasis. The defeat of the nail plates from psoriasis is very similar to a fungal infection. As a result of the disease, the nail plate can become deformed and eventually even disappear completely.
Psoriasis treatment
Modern medicine does not yet have the means to completely cure psoriasis, nor is there a knowledge of the causes and features of the course of the disease. Nevertheless, there are a number of drugs in the arsenal of doctors that can significantly alleviate the manifestations of psoriasis and move from the acute phase into long-term remission. When treating psoriasis, the doctor takes into account the age, gender, lifestyle, state of health of the patient and selects a treatment strategy only taking into account all these factors.
Very often, the treatment of psoriasis begins with external therapy. These include:
- Salicylic ointment, which is used at the moment of the progression of the disease;
- Hormonal drugs prescribed when salicylic ointment is useless;
- Ditron containing creams. They have anti-inflammatory effects and help get rid of the symptoms of psoriasis quickly.
But external therapy does not always produce the desired result. Then another treatment tactic is chosen, and a systematic approach is considered one of the most effective methods today.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of psoriasis
There are a wide variety of traditional medicine recipes for psoriasis. Many of them actually help treat this disease. But do not overestimate the possibilities of such prescriptions, since traditional medicine can be used as auxiliary therapy, but in no case as a means of initial treatment.
Probably the most commonly used traditional medicine for psoriasis is celandine. Unfortunately, this method can only be treated in summer, when finding celandine will not be a problem. The essence of the method lies in the effect of plant sap on plaques. It is enough to simply break off the stem and direct the droplets of juice at this break towards the skin affected by psoriasis. This should be done every day for three months. It is believed that the maximum effect of treatment will occur in the third year of treatment.
Second in popularity is birch tar, which is simply spread over the affected area for an hour. Another method recommends using celandine juice after such tar application. The duration of treatment is 15 days in the first and in the second case.
Egg-based ointment is considered very popular in the treatment of psoriasis. To prepare it, take two raw eggs and mix them with sunflower (olive) oil and beat. After that, add half a tablespoon of vinegar to the resulting mixture. The affected areas are smeared with a mixture once a day. The mixture itself is kept in a dark and cool place.
It helps very well in the exacerbation of psoriasis and a bath to which a brew of walnut shells is added. For a bath, you need to brew shells from half a kilogram of nuts. The bath is taken for no more than 15-20 minutes at a temperature not exceeding 37 degrees. It is recommended to take ten baths with breaks in one day.
Diet for psoriasis
According to many experts, proper nutrition in psoriasis is extremely important in order to prevent the disease from worsening for a long time. It is believed that the essence of diet is maintaining the acid-base balance versus the alkaline component. So 70-80% of the products should be alkaline and only 20-25 acid-forming.
The alkali-forming include:
- Fruit (with the exception of cranberries, plums, plums and grapes from black and red currants);
- Vegetables (except legumes, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant).
It is customary to talk about acidifying products:
- Strength;
- Cheese;
- Sugar;
- meat
- Butter;
- Cream.
Therefore, the diet of a patient with psoriasis should include:
- Water (at least 2 liters per day);
- Fresh, steamed fruit (canned fruits are not welcome). Apples, dates, figs, apricots, oranges, peaches, raisins are recommended;
- Vegetables, also fresh or steamed. Recommended beets, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, celery, spinach, zucchini, watercress, cabbage.
- Cereals (in small quantities). Buckwheat, wheat, barley, millet porridge as well as rice and corn flour baked goods are recommended;
- Low-fat fish, four times a week;
- Poultry (chicken), two to three times a week. It is permissible to give mutton to a sick young one once a week;
- Milk (preferably skimmed milk);
- Soft-boiled eggs, two to three times a week;
- Vegetable oil in the amount of 3 teaspoons per day.
prophylaxis
And although there is no way to prevent psoriasis, there are ways to significantly reduce its manifestations and maximize the period of remission.
To do this, you need:
- Take care of your skin and keep it moist;
- Excessive exposure to cold or hot air should be avoided;
- Minimize the likelihood of injury to the surface of the skin;
- Refrain from alcohol and tobacco;
- All diseases start from nerves, so you need to minimize the stressful effects and try to be in harmony with yourself and the world around you.