An important role in the control of symptoms of the psoriasis to play a well-chosen external therapy and timely treatment. A key principle in the choice of patterns of treatment, especially in the early stages of psoriasis development, is the principle of "do no harm" treatment should not strike at the health of the skin, provoking the emergence of unintended consequences in the form of skin atrophy or syndrome. After all, the main goal of therapy is to lengthen rest periods and to the health of the skin without a sudden and painful relapses and exacerbations.
How long have people know about psoriasis?
With psoriasis known to humanity for many centuries. The traces of psoriatic skin lesions archaeologists have found the family bodies of ancient people existing. The description is very similar to psoriasis a skin rash can be found in the writings of Herodotus and Plato.
The first description of the clinical manifestations of psoriasis, which belongs to the old scientist Cornelia. The term psoriasis is psoriasis comes from the Greek "psora" (itch, crust). This name is found in the writings of Hippocrates.
However, the scientific study of psoriasis as an independent disease began only in the early nineteenth century, with a description of their clinical symptoms English doctor Robert. In 1798 he took on him the leprosy, fungal infections, eczema, and then, in his book "diseases of the Skin", in the year 1808, identified typical and atypical psoriasis, and also noted the role of genetic factors in the development of the dermatosis.
So what is known now about the genetic basis of the disease? What is the impact of external factors: stress, environment, bad habits, the food?
The relationship between psoriasis and the nervous system is very complex, more like a vicious circle, and it is in the nature of a model bipolar. On the one hand, stress and prolonged emotional distress lead to the exacerbation of the process, and on the other hand, the same condition of skin (presence of psoriatic lesions), leading to patient anxiety leads to the development of chronic stress, which in turn worsens the disease, and this closes the vicious circle.
Some medications used in the treatment of other diseases, in some cases, may worsen the symptoms of psoriasis. These include antibiotics (tetracycline, penicillin, bitsillin, chloramphenicol, etc.), drugs lithium, vitamin C and vitamins of the B group, beta-blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, estrogenic compounds (birth control drugs), anticonvulsants, immunomodulators. Can cause the aggravation of the process and the vaccines and serums.
The ecology, diet, bad habits – all this has a negative impact on the course of psoriasis and the treatment.
What is the prevalence of psoriasis in those countries?
The prevalence of psoriasis in the world is estimated about 1-3% of the population. According to the international organization, in 2010, the planet was 125 million patients with psoriasis. In Europe, that affects more than 5 million people, which is comparable to the frequency of coronary heart disease and diabetes.
The highest rates in the Northern countries of europe (4%), the lowest in African and Latin american countries, in Japan (less 0.5%).
As they are now are diagnosed with psoriasis? What diseases can be confused?
Psoriasis of the soft leather is quite typical rash and diagnosed clinically exposed. There are diagnostic tests: psoriatic triad – increased peeling when poskablivanii, the appearance of spots of blood after removal of the scales.
As psoriasis treatment early, and how to treat it now? Began treatment more perfect and effective?
Until the middle of last century, the main methods include the use of medications with salicylic acid and Helio-, thalassotherapy. Then there were topical steroids (later the analogues of vitamin D3) and systemic immunosuppressive drugs. But a breakthrough in the treatment of psoriasis can be considered the emergence in the early 21st century biological products. And, of course, the Arsenal of topical and systemic medications, phototherapy techniques now make it possible to select effective therapy for each patient.
What approaches are used to treat children and some adults?
First of all, the psoriasis should be divided into limited and common (severe and medium-severe). The treatment should be assigned, given the data.
The difference in approaches for the treatment of adults and children is due only to the age restrictions for the use of the drugs (for example, calcipotriol is appointed with 6 years of age) or methods of phototherapy (for example, the therapy PUVA must be 18 years of age).
What are the most common myths about the disease?
- Psoriasis contagious. No, psoriasis is a chronic non-contagious skin disease that is not transmitted from person to person and do not migrate from one part of the body to another. A patient suffering from psoriasis can freely use the public space – baths, saunas, swimming pools, using common objects in everyday life, to undergo treatment for the diseases in the General hospitals.
- The climate affects the incidence of and if to move to a climate more warm psoriasis not. No, the climate on the prevalence of psoriasis is not affected. At the same time is one of the methods of treatment is a special treatment – the treatment of sun and salt water, but who live in regions with a warm Maritime climate does not protect the patients from relapse. A simple example is Israel: there is the success of treatment of psoriasis at the Dead sea, but the incidence among the population is not lower than that in the world.
- Psoriasis can be prevented. The factors that cause discomfort, either by themselves or in various combinations are not the cause of the disease. Today, nobody knows what is the original impetus for the development of psoriasis, and, therefore, take preventive measures impossible. There are No recipes, what to do and what not to do, not get sick with psoriasis, no. To increase the period of remission, when the skin eruptions are absent, avoiding provoking or worsening of psoriasis factors, having the proper style of life and use of support therapy.
- Psoriasis can be treated by methods of the so-called folk medicine. The attitude of these methods, patients should be extremely careful. On the one hand, we know that there is no of psoriasis remedies that can be cured, however, the desire at any price to get rid of the disease and pushes patients in different actions questionable (call to healers, witch doctors), and it is wasted money spent. On the other hand, these "healers" offer to patients, such as, for example, external means "proprietary", in which, as a general rule, there are hormones, but in this case, and even more so their dosage cannot be controlled.
What is important to know the patient with psoriasis and what you need to know?
The main can be considered a principle: "learn to live with psoriasis". Current therapies allow not only to achieve the remission (cleansing), but up to a certain point of control of the psoriasis (duration of remission).
Must follow the doctor's recommendations and have patience, because everything takes time, including the fact that the drug worked. Finished the course, the use of several methods simultaneously (in particular, from the series "recommended") leads to the fact that the patient, not seeing the good result, is disappointed and believes that these methods do not help him.