Psoriasis is a disease in which the skin appear red, flaky and injury scales covered with silvery-white scales.
Usually these rashes appear on the elbows, knees, the skin of the scalp and lower back but can occur in any other places. Most people have rashes small. In some cases it can itch or hurt.
In Russia the psoriasis is the patients, about 1% of the population, often psoriasis is common among indigenous inhabitants of the North. Men and women suffer with the same frequency. First symptoms of psoriasis often appear before the age of 30 years, but after the appearance of psoriasis is not uncommon. The severity of psoriasis each person is very different. Someone psoriasis is a bit annoying, while other people psoriasis prevents lead a normal lifestyle.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that usually has periods of remission without symptoms or with light symptoms, after which come the periods of exacerbation, when symptoms become more pronounced.
Psoriasis occurs when the acceleration of the process of reproduction of body cells of the skin. The skin cells are usually and replaced every 3-4 months, but in psoriasis this process is shortened to 3-7 days. The result — there are a accumulation of skin cells that leads to characteristic changes in the body.
Causes of psoriasis are not fully understood, it is believed that the increase of the reproduction of the skin cells associated with impairment of the immune system. The immune system is the natural defense of the body against infections and diseases, but in people with psoriasis that is mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells.
Psoriasis can be hereditary, and therefore it is considered that this disease is the genetic factor. However, it is still unclear what is the role of genetics plays in the cause of psoriasis.
For many people the symptoms of psoriasis appear or worsen after a certain event, called a trigger. Possible triggers of psoriasis include skin lesions, infectious diseases of the throat and the intake of certain medications. This disease is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another.
If you suspect that psoriasis you should consult a doctor. Often the doctor may make a diagnosis according to the appearance of your skin. Normally, for the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis a patient's guide to a dermatologist — a specialist in diseases of the skin.
Even though the healing of the psoriasis is not possible, there are several treatment methods that can alleviate the symptoms and improve the skin's appearance. In the majority of cases, will be primarily assigned to local treatment, for example, the vitamin D analogs or corticosteroids local action. In the most severe cases, when not helping to other treatment methods, can be used treatment systemic. Systemic treatment is the ingestion or injection of drugs, which have a therapeutic effect on the entire body.
For some people psoriasis is just a small problem, but sometimes it can affect your life. For example, some people with psoriasis have low self-esteem because of how the disease affects their appearance. Often when psoriasis appears, the pain, the pain and inflammation of the joints and the connective tissues. This is called psoriatic arthritis.
The symptoms of psoriasis
In the majority of cases, psoriasis runs in cycles: every few weeks or months of the disease aggravated, and then the symptoms become less visible or disappear, and there comes remission.
There are several types of psoriasis. Many people suffer only one form of psoriasis, although it is possible that the disease two different types at the same time. One type can transform into another type or scale. If you suspect that psoriasis you should consult a doctor.
Common types of psoriasis
Ordinary of psoriasis. This is the most common form of psoriasis, which represents approximately 90% of all cases. Symptoms of dry red skin lesions, called plaques covered with silvery-white scales. Usually appear on the elbows, knees, the skin of the scalp and lower back but can appear in any of the other places. The Plaques may itch and (or) hurt. In severe cases, the skin at joints may crack and bleed.
Scalp psoriasis (psoriasis) can occur in the scalp or of the same skin, as well as the back and chest. Causing an eruption of reddish, covered with a thick silvery-white scales. There are people who have this type of psoriasis causes severe itching, while others do not cause discomfort. In the most severe cases can lead to hair loss, often temporary.
The nails of the psoriasis. Approximately half of patients with psoriasis that the disease affects the nails. Psoriasis in the nails may develop small holes or bumps, they may lose color and shape. Often, the nails may become loose and pull away from the nail bed, that contains. In severe cases, the nail can crumble.
Psoriasis in the form of droplets appear small (less than 1 cm) plates in the form of drops on the chest, the hands, the feet and under the hair. High likelihood that the guttate psoriasis completely go away after a couple of weeks, but, in some people it becomes a mainstream psoriasis. This type of psoriasis sometimes occurs after a streptococcal infection of the throat, and they are more frequent in children and adolescents.
Folds of the psoriasis - affects the folds of the skin such as the armpits, groin, between the buttocks or under the Breasts. Can appear more mild rash on some or all of these areas. The symptoms are aggravated by friction and sweating, so that it can provide special problems with regard to hot weather.
Pustular psoriasis
Rarer type of psoriasis in which the skin appear blisters (vesicles with purulent content). Different types of psoriasis pustular are striking different parts of the body.
Pulstole generalized psoriasis (psoriasis background Tsumbush). Pustules occur on the large surface of the skin and develop very quickly. The pus consists of white blood cells and its appearance is not always directly associated with the infection. Pustules can be cyclically re-appear every few days or weeks. At the beginning of these cycles psoriasis background Tsumbush can cause fever, chills, weight loss and chronic fatigue.
Palmar-plantar psoriasis. Pustules appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The pustules gradually become rounded brown patches with scales, which are then separated from the skin. Blisters can appear again each few days or weeks.
Pustular acrodermatitis (acrobustulosis). Pustules appear on the fingers of the hands and feet. Then, the pustules burst, leaving behind red areas that may bleed or be covered with scales. Can lead to painful deformities of the nails.
Erythrodermic psoriasis (psoriatic erythroderma)
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis that affects almost the entirety of the surface of the skin. This causes severe itching or burning sensation. Because erythrodermic psoriasis your body to lose proteins and fluid. This can lead to other complications, such as infection, dehydration, heart failure, hypothermia and exhaustion.
Causes of psoriasis
Psoriasis occurs when skin cells divide and are updated faster than usual. Causes of psoriasis are not fully understood. The body produces new cells in the deepest layer of the skin. These cells gradually move. Close to the surface, they die. This normal process occurs gradually and imperceptibly. The skin cells are updated every 3-4 weeks.
In people with psoriasis this process only lasts about 3-7 days. The result is not yet fully formed cells rapidly accumulate on the surface of the skin, causing the appearance of red, flaky and injury scales covered with silvery-white scales. It is believed that the patients with psoriasis the cells of the skin to change the fastest because of the danger the immune system.
The immune system is to protect the body, which helps him to fight against the infection. One of the main types of cells, which uses the immune system, called T-lymphocytes.
T-cells normally travel around the body, find the infection and fight with them. In people with psoriasis, they mistakenly attack healthy skin cells. This makes the immune system to produce more T-cells and the diffusion of new skin cells faster than normal.
It is not clear what exactly is it that causes the disorder of the immune system, although it may be that a certain role certain genes and environmental factors.
Psoriasis is inherited. One of three patients with psoriasis has a close relative with the disease. However, it is still unclear what is the role of genetics plays in the cause of psoriasis. The results of the study indicate that, for the development of psoriasis may respond to numerous genes. Likely to make a person more susceptible to this disease, they can different combination. However, inherited not psoriasis, but only a predisposition, that is to say, the presence of these genes does not mean they necessarily develop the disease.
Triggers of psoriasis
For many people the symptoms of psoriasis appear or worsen after a certain event, called a trigger. If you know your triggers, you can help to avoid the worsening of the symptoms. Examples of common triggers:
- damage to the skin, for example, cut, scratch, insect bite or sunburn (the so-called phenomenon Kebner);
- the abuse of alcohol;
- Not;
- stress;
- hormonal changes, especially in women (for example, during puberty and menopause);
- some drugs such as lithium, some medications antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors (for treatment ) and beta blockers (for the treatment of congestive heart failure);
- throat infection in some people, especially in children and young adults after a streptococcal throat infection is the development of a form of psoriasis called guttate psoriasis although in the majority of cases after a streptococcal throat infection psoriasis arises;
- other disorders of the immune system, such as HIV, causing the appearance or exacerbation of psoriasis.
Psoriasis is not contagious and, therefore, cannot be spread from person to person.
Diagnosis of psoriasis
As a general rule, for the diagnosis of psoriasis sufficient external inspection of the skin.
In more rare cases requires a biopsy (small sample of skin), which is sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. This allows you to determine the specific type of psoriasis and to rule out other skin diseases like dermatitis, lichen planus, simple chronic zoster and pityriasis rosea.
Usually diagnosis and psoriasis treatment is carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist — a specialist in diseases of the skin. If your doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which sometimes occurs as a complication of psoriasis, which can be referred to a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializiruetsya in the arthritis.
You can take blood tests to rule out other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and took x-rays of the joints affected by the disease.
The treatment of psoriasis
Completely cure of psoriasis is not possible, however, with treatment, could reduce the severity and frequency of exacerbations. In general the treatment of psoriasis under the supervision of a dermatologist, in the case of the participation in the process of the joints is assigned to consult a rheumatologist. If the symptoms of psoriasis is very steep and poorly respond to treatment, your doctor may refer you for admission to the hospital, in the Department of dermatology.
A particular method of treatment is applied depending on the type and severity of psoriasis and the areas of the skin affected. If the symptoms of psoriasis are mild and not growing, the doctor may be limited for the appointment of external means, for example, in the form of a cream. In the acute phase is usually to assign a more severe treatment with drugs inside.
There is a wide range of products for the treatment of psoriasis, but it can be difficult to determine what is the most effective means. Talk with your doctor if you feel that the treatment is not helping or you have side effects that cause discomfort.
Treatment methods are divided into 3 categories:
- local treatment of the skin, apply creams and ointments;
- phototherapy — your skin is radiated with a specific type of ultraviolet rays;
- system — the ingestion or injection of drugs, which have a therapeutic effect on the entire body.
Often different treatment methods are combined. Patients with psoriasis requires long-term treatment, it makes sense to have a written plan medicinal manipulations that must be done every day. The doctor regularly to monitor their state of conservation and, if necessary, to adjust the treatment plan.