Symptoms and first signs of psoriasis

The characteristic, species-specific signs of psoriasis play a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment.

According to statistics, the most common form of chronic dermatosis is psoriasis. It is a complex and multifaceted disease of polyetiological origin. For various reasons, a variety of different forms have been identified, each with their own characteristic signs of psoriasis. The need to distinguish the types by symptoms arose due to the ambiguous reaction of the skin to medications and other methods of exposure.

Until recently, the disease was considered harmless to health and life until deaths occurred due to misidentification of the cause, type and treatment. In addition, a person may be affected by several forms of the disease at the same time, the symptoms of which must be taken into account when prescribing treatment.

The disease affects people regardless of gender and age group. The first symptoms of psoriasis can appear in both infants and adults for no apparent reason. Depending on the type, not only the onset but also the development of the disease differs; it can progress quickly or slowly, with a gradual increase in symptoms.

Timely detection of the first symptoms and signs of psoriasis is the key to the effectiveness of treatment. This makes possible:

• Do not allow the disease to affect large areas of the skin;
• Quickly eliminate external symptoms of illness and prevent damage to internal organs;
• Take timely measures to prevent relapse and prolong the dormant periods of the disease.

Although the terms "symptoms" and "signs" have similar meanings, they have significant differences. Symptoms are subjective sensations of a person that can be confirmed or refuted by examination data.

Signs are objective examination and examination data that the doctor uses to make a diagnosis.
For example, pain is purely a symptom, while skin rashes are a symptom.

This is important to remember because it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis just by feeling the symptoms, and only a specialist can determine the signs of psoriasis, as well as its specific type and form.

General characters

Regardless of whether the disease appeared suddenly and began to develop quickly, or whether the first manifestations were gradual, doctors believe that papules - small scaly nodules of a dark pink color that feel dense and protrude - form in different areas of the skinabove the surface.

The first thing a patient may notice is the formation of a rash in those areas that are more exposed to friction than others and where the skin is the driest. This is:

• On the hands, areas in the palms or elbows;
• Below the knees;
• In the groin folds;
• On the sides of the lower back;
• On the shinbone;
• On the scalp under the hair.

The location of the lesion directly depends on the form of the disease. Vulgar psoriasis occurs preferentially on the elbows, and the teardrop-shaped type begins to spread from the lower back, the skin areas under the chest and the shoulder blades.
The first rashes on the skin are usually barely noticeable, do not form clusters and do not cause any symptoms. However, if you do not consult a specialist at this time and ignore the onset of the disease, damage to the nails on the hands and feet will gradually occur, then the disease will spread to the mucous membranes, and then to the joints.

The appearance of the first signs of psoriasis can vary depending on gender or age. In infants, the psoriatic rash usually begins in the groin folds and resembles the signs of miliaria. In adults it can occur in two forms:

1. Round rashes of varying sizes, deep pink or red in color, with many whitish scales visible. Gradually, although each patient has its own style, the areas of the rash thicken and noticeably protrude above the surface of the skin. The rashes form psoriatic plaques, similar to the drops of a paraffin candle.
2. Small, dense papules form small clusters on the elbows, palms of the hands, and sometimes along the knee joints and ankles. These signs are so insignificant that a person simply does not pay attention to them, confusing them with ordinary irritation. It is important to listen to yourself to determine whether you have experienced characteristic symptoms of psoriasis, such as itching and pain to touch. If you miss the first symptoms of psoriasis, individual papules quickly turn into plaques that are very difficult to remove.

You can distinguish psoriasis from other skin diseases based on a triad of characteristic symptoms:

1. "Stearic acid spot effect". When the surface of the plaque is scraped, transparent, small scales easily come off.
2. "Terminal film effect". When you remove the exfoliated scales, a thin, shiny skin surface with a light color remains in their place.
3. "Bloody dew effect". After a short time, microscopic drops of blood form at the scraping site.

The classification of certain forms of psoriasis is of great importance for determining the disease. A clear system has not yet been developed; Experts differentiate between main groups based on characteristic symptoms and signs.

classification

The disease is mainly divided into two large groups depending on the type of rashes:

1. Non-pustular forms, which are characterized by distribution over the entire surface of the skin, including such types as:
   • Simple (vulgar) or common psoriasis, characterized by a stable chronic course with plaque formation. The vulgar type of the disease is the most common and occurs in 85% of cases.
   • Psoriatic erythroderma. A dangerous form that always occurs in a severe form and impairs the thermoregulation and barrier ability of the skin. Very often, erythrodermic psoriasis ends in pyoderma or sepsis.
2. Pustule forms, which are characterized by the formation not of papules, but of pustules - blisters of inflamed skin filled with serological fluid. These forms of the disease can be generalized (distributed over the entire surface of the skin) or localized, mainly in the area of the palms and soles of the feet.
   • Generalized psoriasis Tsumbusha type;
   • type of ring erythema;
   • Palmoplantar type Barber (chronic pustulosis of the extremities);
   • Annular type of pustular psoriasis;
   • Persistent acrodermatitis (psoriasis of the soles and palms);
   • Psoriasis herpetiform impetigo.

The following types of diseases are not yet included in this classification system:

• seborrheic;
• exudative;
• drug-dependent form;
• Inverse psoriasis of the surfaces of folds and folds of the skin.

Characteristic signs of different types of psoriasis

The general symptoms of psoriasis fully characterize only the vulgar form of the disease, which is the most common of all known forms of the disease. A characteristic feature of plaque psoriasis is the places where the first rashes appear. These are:

• flexions of arms and legs;
• The boundary between forehead and scalp;
• Back of Hand.

Drop type

A characteristic feature of this type of disease is the formation of individual papules in the form of a drop. The first signs of guttate psoriasis appear on the thighs and then spread over the entire surface of the skin. In the vast majority of cases, guttate psoriasis develops against the background of infectious diseases caused by streptococci.

Atypical appearance

This form is characterized by the formation of the first manifestations in places atypical for psoriasis. These are:

• skin folds,
• lateral surfaces of the body
• Armpits.

Pustular (exudative) appearance

The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of small blisters (papules) on the surface of the palms, feet or legs, filled with serous fluid of a non-infectious nature. The skin around the papules is always inflamed and the blisters themselves are very unstable, providing an open gateway for infection.

In most cases, exudative psoriasis develops in patients suffering from endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders and obesity.

Psoriasis of the wrinkle surfaces

Characteristic features of this form are the appearance on the skin. The rash appears in the form of large red spots that are not covered with scales and do not protrude above the surface. This type covers areas with intense sweat glands, such as:

• Bend the joints on the arms and below the knees;
• armpits and groin folds;
• External genitalia;
• The area of skin under the breast in women.

Very often this form is complicated by the addition of a fungal or streptococcal infection.

Psoriatic arthritis

One of the most insidious forms of the disease, characterized by a long latent course. The patient notices the first symptoms of psoriasis when the joint damage is complete. Signs of this type of psoriasis are manifested by pain and swelling of the joints and their subsequent deformation.

Seborrheic appearance

The localization of such rashes is initially concentrated on the face, the first signs appear in the area of the nasolabial triangle, behind the ears, along the edge of hair growth. Further distribution occurs along the shoulder blades on the back and along the chest. The rashes are covered with yellowish scales and the boundaries of healthy skin become blurred.

Onychodystrophy, nail psoriasis

This type is almost untreatable. The pathology affects exclusively the nail plates, which change color to dark yellow or gray. The structure of the nails becomes thinner and the cuticle area becomes inflamed for no apparent reason.

Diploma

It is important to always remember that psoriasis is not only a skin disease, but also a very serious disorder of the body's internal systems. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or turn to healers. The selection of an effective treatment regimen can only be carried out by an experienced specialist after careful examination.