How to ease the worsening of psoriasis on the head, arms, face, during pregnancy

Aggravation of psoriasis is manifested by skin redness and severe itching

Psoriasis is a genetic disease that has no cure, but is characterized by periods of remission and flare-ups. The pathology often leads to severe itching, pain and excessive peeling of the skin, which is why it is so important to know how to relieve an exacerbation of psoriasis and relieve your condition.

Signs of worsening psoriasis

Psoriasis relapse begins quickly and acutely. New rashes form on the body after a long period of remission. Especially affected are those areas of the body where the skin is the driest: sacral area, feet, palms, scalp. The patient's condition worsens significantly and the following signs appear:

  • The formation of a terminal film at the site of the removed scales, especially with guttate psoriasis;
  • Severe itching, sometimes unbearable;
  • Peeling and redness of the skin in the affected areas;
  • Skin feeling tight.

Papules that appear after remission with a red or pale pink shade have clear and rough borders. Gradually, the rash develops into plaques, which can reach more than 10 cm in diameter. The scales covering the affected areas of the skin peel off well and blood may appear beneath them.

The best time to return

The best time for worsening psoriasis is the cold season (winter, autumn), when many viruses and bacteria circulate in the air. There are several reasons for this:

  • During the sun season, the rays have a beneficial effect on the skin and the human body as a whole. Vitamin D3 deficiency often leads to relapse.
  • In winter there is a decrease in immunity and this is a trigger for the worsening of psoriasis.

At the same time, there is a possibility of worsening psoriasis in the summer. The reason is that the excessive amount of ultraviolet radiation also negatively affects the skin, causing it to become inflamed and new plaques to appear.

What causes an aggravation

To date, the reliable causes of worsening psoriasis are unknown. What can lead to the return of pathology in some patients is absolutely safe for others. Let's mention only a number of factors that most often lead to the return of psoriasis:

  • Stress, chronic fatigue, constant emotional stress;
  • Any skin damage, mechanical and chemical;
  • Non-compliance with the recommended diet. Relapse is possible if the body lacks the necessary minerals and vitamins;
  • Deterioration of human immunity due to exposure to various factors;
  • Sudden climate change;
  • Excessive drinking of alcohol and even smoking;
  • Hormonal imbalance caused by taking hormonal medications or thyroid gland dysfunction;
  • Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause are conditions in which hormonal levels also change in the body;
  • The use of new cosmetics that can be applied directly to skin areas affected by psoriasis and worsen the course of the disease.

All of the above are just the most obvious and common causes of worsening psoriasis. In this case, a relapse can occur even after taking different, simpler and more harmless medications. With this in mind, doctors recommend taking only those medications that are necessary for health reasons.

Scaly, voluminous plaques on the elbow during exacerbation of psoriasis

How to quickly relieve an aggravation

Since the symptoms begin to increase quickly and sometimes become unbearable, the question of how to quickly relieve a psoriasis flare-up is the most pressing issue. The reason is that the disease has severe and painful symptoms, the patient suffers not only from the appearance of spots, but also from severe itching. All this worsens the quality of life.

People suffering from psoriasis note that the most effective means that can make life easier during this period are:

  • Sequential baths for significant lesions or creams for small and minor spots. Such solutions relieve itching, but tighten the skin. Therefore, it is better to take them in combination with petroleum jelly or baby cream.
  • Sodium salt and thiosulphuric acid in ampoules. The pharmaceutical preparation can be replaced with natural remedies such as prunes, senna grass, dried apricots or raisins.
  • Baths with pine needles and sedge, which can be taken every 2 days. The proportions are as follows: for one bath one bottle of sanaz and 50 ml. pine needle extract.
  • Lotions with emollient cream and the addition of a decoction of flax seeds. The product promotes rapid healing of cracks and is most effective for psoriasis on the palms or soles.
  • Rubbing with vinegar (one tablespoon of vinegar for 0. 5 liters of water). It helps to relieve itching quickly.

All the listed recipes will only help relieve acute symptoms, while traditional therapy cannot be considered a treatment. If the disease recurs, you should contact a dermatologist, who will prescribe treatment depending on the provoking factor.

The best way to relieve severe itching in case of recurrence

The most effective way to combat severe itching during psoriasis flare-ups is with medication. 1-2% salicylic acid ointment in combination with local glucocorticosteroid drugs has been proven to be effective. In this case, it is necessary to ensure proper care of the affected skin. The patient should take a bath and apply moisturizing cream to the affected areas.

The following medications will help eliminate severe itching:

  • anti-allergic drugs that will help relieve itching when psoriasis symptoms become unbearable.
  • ointments based on tar, salicylic acid, zinc oxide, a synthetic analogue of vitamin D - ointments that help relieve inflammation, itching, soften the skin and disinfect it. Apply to the rash 2-3 times a day.

Relief of inflammation and redness in psoriasis

In addition to systemic therapy, during the worsening of psoriasis, medications are also prescribed that help alleviate the external manifestations of the disease. Ointments, creams, gels, pastes, which include sulfur, tar, solid oil or salicylic acid, help relieve inflammation and redness. The following remedies have proven to be effective:

  • ointments based on naphthalene oil;
  • zinc oxide ointment;
  • ointment based on salicylic acid;
  • products containing tar;
  • solid oil products.

Such products have an antibacterial and antiseptic effect. They dry the skin, accelerate the healing process of plaques and stimulate the exfoliation process.

If the relapse of the disease is extremely acute, the doctor may prescribe ointments with hormonal steroids to relieve inflammation. It is strictly forbidden to use such tools yourself, as they have many bad consequences.

Unbearable itching of the head is a sign of psoriasis in the acute phase

How to relieve a heaviness in the head

An exacerbation of psoriasis on the scalp brings, perhaps, some of the most unpleasant symptoms. Here you can not do without complex therapy, which includes:

  1. Taking medications for various purposes: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system modulators, sedatives, and allergy medications. It is also recommended to take vitamins B, A and D as part of vitamin complexes.
  2. Medicines that have a local effect will help cope with itching and inflammation on the scalp. They have a restorative, antibacterial, exfoliating effect. Ointments are applied to the affected areas of the head 2-3 times a day.
  3. Shampoo for psoriasis.

Before using any of the above remedies, you should consult a specialist. Really effective therapy can be prescribed only if the factors that provoked the deterioration are taken into account.

How to ease the worsening of psoriasis during pregnancy

Changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy are a trigger for psoriasis to return. During an exacerbation, a woman suffers from severe intoxication and allergies. Red plaques form on the body, which itch and hurt. Body temperature rises, appetite disappears.

Exacerbation of psoriasis in pregnant women is a dangerous condition that threatens the health and even the life of the child. Spontaneous abortion, early birth, prematurity - all these are catastrophic consequences of such a disease in pregnant women. It is for this reason that at the first symptoms you should immediately go to the hospital and do not self-medicate.

Treatment methods for psoriasis exacerbations

Since most often the factors that provoked an exacerbation of psoriasis remain unknown, complex treatment is indicated. The use of only one drug can relieve the patient's condition, but it will not relieve him of all the symptoms of relapse. Therefore, comprehensive therapy is used, which is designed to solve several problems:

  • Stop the growth of plaques and restore the skin;
  • Elimination of provoking factors;
  • Eliminate the possibility of the patient being in stressful situations;
  • Cleanse the body and improve the functioning of the digestive tract.

The choice of methods and treatment regimen directly depends on the stage and form of the disease, the nature and location of plaques and the general condition of the patient.

To combat the worsening of psoriasis, doctors prescribe various medicines

Relapse medication

It is impossible to do without medicines in the fight against the worsening of psoriasis. The treatment regimen is selected individually and depends on many factors. But, as a rule, the treatment comes down to taking the following drugs:

  • Sedative medications that have a calming effect on the nervous system. The most commonly prescribed tinctures are valerian and amullia.
  • Antihistamines.
  • Tablets that improve the functioning of the digestive tract and cleanse the body: activated carbon.

Affected areas of the body are treated with local medications. These include ointments and creams:

  • Zinc and salicylic acid have a beneficial effect on damaged areas; such components must be present in the oil;
  • Solid oil based;
  • With tar as the main ingredient;
  • Sulfur ointment.

Since the patient's immunity weakens during an exacerbation, the doctor may prescribe lipoic or folic acid, vitamin complexes or fish oil as additional treatment.

Physiotherapy

After the relief of acute symptoms of the disease, the patient is prescribed physical therapy. The following methods of influencing the body have been proven to be more effective:

  • UF rays- promote rapid healing of damaged skin.
  • Hydrotherapy.Baths with real salts from the Dead Sea help to clean the skin well.
  • Cryotherapy- a method, the essence of which is the effect of low temperatures on the affected areas. In addition, it stimulates the immune system well.
  • Selective phototherapy.During the procedure, foci of inflammation are affected impulsively.
  • Shock wave therapypromotes rapid healing of the skin.
  • Climate therapy.Patients are often recommended to undergo a full course of treatment at coastal resorts.

How to relieve an aggravation at home

You can relieve the most painful manifestations of psoriasis at home. The most used recipes are those that have been tested by time and hundreds of patients:

  • Butter and propolisin the ratio of 500 gr to 50 gr. All the ingredients are placed in a pot and boiled on low heat, after the mixture has cooled, add 2 spoons of seafood oil. This ointment is applied to the skin 5-6 times a day. After only 6 sessions, people suffering from psoriasis notice the fact that the manifestations of the disease practically disappear.
  • Onion compresses.To prepare, the onion is pressed into a pulp, which is placed in gauze and applied to the affected areas. This method helps to relieve inflammation and soften the skin.

Traditional methods

It often happens that you urgently need to stop an attack, but you do not have the necessary medications at hand. In these cases creams will help a lot. To prepare you need:

  • Mix equal amounts of calamus, rowan, licorice, burdock and nettle leaves.
  • A large spoonful of this mixture is poured into a glass of water.
  • The infusion is heated over low heat for five minutes, after which it is infused for another hour.

The following remedies have been well proven in the fight against the worsening of psoriasis:

  • Ointment made from birch tar.To prepare, you need to mix alcohol, natural sea buckthorn oil and birch tar in equal amounts. The product is applied to the affected areas, covered with polyethylene and left for 1-1. 5 hours.
  • Celandine oil.5 tablespoons of chopped herbs should be poured with a glass of vegetable oil (unrefined) and kept on low heat for 5-10 minutes. The finished liquid is injected for 5 days and only then is it used to treat psoriasis.
Patients suffering from psoriasis should include vegetables and fruits in their diet.

Recovery diet

Compliance with nutrition rules is an important and integral point in the treatment of psoriasis relapses. It is also important to consume enough vitamins. To prevent the appearance of new plaques and get rid of unpleasant symptoms, the following are strictly prohibited:

  • High-carbohydrate foods (full-fat milk and other dairy products, fatty meat and fish).
  • Spicy, smoked, sour and salty foods.
  • Marinades and pickles.
  • Semi-finished products.

Dishes should be prepared by baking, boiling, boiling. It is better to eat vegetables and fruits, different cereals and vegetable soups and soups.

Nutritionists and dermatologists advise that when the first symptoms of worsening psoriasis appear, limit yourself in the diet. For the first three to five days, you can drink sweet tea or pure water in any quantity, as well as eat black bread (a little).

How to prevent deterioration, preventive measures

If you follow fairly simple rules of prevention, you can significantly extend the duration of remission and prevent deterioration. They all end in:

  • Skin care and hygiene rules.A patient suffering from psoriasis should regularly perform water treatments to avoid drying out the skin. Cosmetic and hygiene products can only be used that have already been tested and have not caused reactions.
  • Diet and proper nutrition.Not only harmful foods, but also bad habits such as alcohol and smoking should be excluded from the diet. Experienced specialists will help you create the right menu.
  • Moderate training.Fitness or swimming not only has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, but also helps strengthen the immune system.
  • Keeping a sleep schedule.Sleep should be at least 8 hours and it is recommended to avoid excessive stress at work.
  • Taking lecithin in granules.This medicine improves skin condition and normalizes liver function. Doctors also recommend a medicine based on birch mushroom extract and cobalt chloride, which improves immunity, restores hematopoiesis and improves the functioning of the digestive system.

Compliance with preventive measures makes it possible to forget about psoriasis exacerbations for a long time. In addition, doctors advise avoiding stressful situations and supporting your body in the fight against psoriasis with vitamin complexes.