Since psoriasis affects around 4% of the population of the world. It can develop at any age, from birth to old age, but is most psoriasis "loves" the young. This is demonstrated in the fact that 70% of patients develop psoriasis before the age of 20 years.
Symptoms of psoriasis: itching, rash, peeling
Who to see: dermatologist
Tests and examinations: biopsy of skin
Methods of treatment: cryotherapy, therapy, PUVA, plasmapheresis
Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious disease that is most often seen in the form of rashes and flaking of the skin.
Since psoriasis affects around 4% of the population of the world. It can develop at any age, from birth to old age, but is most psoriasis "loves" the young. This is demonstrated in the fact that 70% of patients develop psoriasis before the age of 20 years.
If the skin rashes, resembling psoriasis should consult a dermatologist. Eruptions represent the itchy scaly plaques of various sizes. While the plaque psoriasis can appear on the elbows, knees, scalp or other parts of the body. The doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and, depending on its form, to prescribe the treatment.
Causes of psoriasis
Psoriasis is a reaction abnormal of the organism to external stimuli, which for some parts of the body from the upper layer of the skin dies a lot faster than normal. If you typically the cycle of division and maturation of the skin cells takes 3-4 weeks, in psoriasis this process occurs in only 4-5 days.
Currently, psoriasis is considered to be hereditary multifactorialnyh disease: the basis of disease there is not one but a whole series of reasons – the immune changes and metabolic disorders associated with endocrine and neurological disorders. It can be said that psoriasis is not contagious, and therefore, it is not a contagious disease.
The causes of psoriasis are still not completely found. At this point there are several theories.
According to a theory, there are two types of psoriasis:
• Psoriasis type And is invoked by the inherited failure of the immune system. This form of psoriasis affects approximately 65% of the people, and the disease manifests itself at a young age, from 18 to 25 years.• Psoriasis type II appears in people over the age of 40. With this type of psoriasis is not hereditary and is not associated with damage to the cells of the immune system. In addition, the difference of the psoriasis type And that he prefers a skin, psoriasis type II more often affects the nails and joints.
According to another theory, the cause of psoriasis is the only immunity disorders caused by several factors: it could be stress, or infectious diseases, or cold climate, or poor diet. For example, he noted that alcohol can cause exacerbation of psoriasis, especially the beer, champagne, spirits and liqueurs. The use of products that contain vinegar, pepper, chocolate, also worsens the disease and can cause exacerbation of psoriasis. According to this theory, psoriasis is a systemic disease. This means that in case of serious violations of the immune system, the process can be extended to other organs and tissues, for example, of the joints. As a result, can develop psoriatricheskii of arthritis, which is characterized by lesions of small joints of the hands and feet.
The symptoms of psoriasis
The symptoms of psoriasis are inflamed, scaly patches of red color, accompanied by severe itching. These patches (plaques) often is found in the skin of the scalp, knees and elbows in the bottom of the back and in places the folds of the skin . About one-fourth of the patients affects the nails.
In function of the seasonality of relapses (worsening of the disease) there are three types of psoriasis: winter, summer, uncertain. The most common winter types of psoriasis.
In the period of exacerbation of the symptoms of psoriasis on the hands, the knees, the head and also in the lower part of the back and in places skin folds appear in the form of plates of a reddish colour. Their sizes vary from a pinhead to large areas of the palm size and much more.
The eruptions are generally accompanied by flaking and painful itching. In the process of peeling of superficial scales are more dense, arranged in depth (therefore, the second the name of psoriasis — psoriasis). Sometimes the affected areas of the skin appear cracked and festering.
For progressive psoriasis is a feature of the so-called phenomenon Kebnera: the development of plaques in the areas of trauma or scratching of the skin.
About one-fourth of the patients affects the nails. This raises a deep point and stained from the nail plate. In addition, the nails can utolzhatsya and crumble.
In the summer, under the influence of the light of the sun, in patients with the form of the winter of psoriasis, the symptoms subside, and sometimes disappear. Patients summer type of psoriasis, on the contrary, it is recommended to avoid exposure to the sun because it worsens the disease.
Diagnosis of psoriasis
Diagnose psoriasis by a dermatologist. Should be invited with the appearance of the skin lesions similar to psoriasis — plaques of various sizes, red, itchy and flaky. To clarify the diagnosis may require a skin biopsy.
The treatment of psoriasis
If the doctor detects a psoriasis in the initial phase, it is very possible that will be assigned predominantly preventive rather than curative means.
When significant symptoms of the disease are used the following methods of treatment of psoriasis:
• cryotherapy is a method of cold exposure;• plasmapheresis - purification of the blood;
• therapy with UV — a treatment in the short-term procedures, in a manner similar to the Solarium. For more effective treatment of psoriasis this method is often combined with the administration of certain medications therapy PUVA).
In no case do not try to deal with psoriasis treatment with ultraviolet radiation without medical advice. In psoriasis, small doses of ultraviolet light are medicinal, and increased, on the contrary, can podhlestnut the development of the disease. The same applies to the sun.
Unfortunately, no one knows how to cure psoriasis completely, because the body "retains the memory" of the disease in the form of biochemical, immunological and functional changes. The recurrence of psoriasis can occur at any time, so that patients with this diagnosis, it should always be seen by a dermatologist.