From psoriasis it affects about 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 evidenced by the fact that 70% of patients develop psoriasis under the age of 20 years.
Symptoms of psoriasis: itching, rash, peeling
Who to see: dermatologist
Tests and examinations: biopsy of the skin
Methods of treatment: cryotherapy, PUVA therapy, plasmapheresis
Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious diseases, which are most often manifested in the form of rashes and peeling of the skin.
From psoriasis it affects about 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 evidenced by the fact that 70% of patients develop psoriasis under the age of 20 years.
If skin rashes that resemble psoriasis should consult a dermatologist. Rashes represent the itchy scaly plates of different sizes. While plaque psoriasis can appear on elbows, knees, scalp or other parts of the body. The doctor can accurate diagnosis and depending on its form, to prescribe the treatment.
Causes of psoriasis
Psoriasis is an abnormal reaction of the body to external stimuli, which are some of the body parts of the top layer of the skin dies a lot faster than normal. If you are a normal cycle of division and maturation of skin cells takes 3-4 weeks, in psoriasis, this process happens in just 4-5 days.
Currently, psoriasis is considered to be hereditary multifactorialnyh diseases: on the basis of the disease is not one but a whole range of reasons – immunologic changes, and metabolic disorders associated with endocrine and neurological disorders. We can say that psoriasis is not contagious, and therefore is not infectious disease.
Causes of psoriasis are still not completely found. On this score there are a variety of theories.
According to one theory, there are two types of psoriasis are:
• Psoriasis type I, which is necessary for the inherited defect of the immune system. This form of psoriasis affects about 65% of the people, and the disease, which is manifested in his youth, from 18 to 25 years.• Psoriasis type II, which occurs in people older than 40 years. With this type of psoriasis is not hereditary and is not associated with defects in cells of the immune system. In addition, in contrast with psoriasis type I prefer skin, psoriasis type II more often affects the nails and joints.
According to the other theory, cause of psoriasis, which are exclusively immunity to interference caused by various factors: it can be stress, or infectious diseases, or cold climate, or poor nutrition. For example, has found that alcohol can cause exacerbation of psoriasis, especially beer, champagne, spirits. 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 the case of serious violations of the immune system, a process may spread to other organs and tissues, e.g., joints. As a result, may develop psoriatricheskii 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, along with severe itching. Such patches (plaques) often found on the skin of the scalp knees and elbow joints in the lower back and in places skin folds . About a quarter of the patients, the effect on the nails.
Depending on the time of year, you need about relapses (worsening of disease) there are three types of psoriasis: winter, summer, uncertain. The most common in the winter type of psoriasis.
In the period of aggravation of symptoms of psoriasis on the hands, knees, head, and also in the lower part of the back and in places skin folds appear in the form of plates reddish color. Their size may vary from pinhead to large areas of the hands, size and more.
Rashes are usually accompanied by flaking and painful itching. In the process of the peeling of superficial scales are more dense, arranged in the depth (and therefore the other name of psoriasis — psoriasis). Sometimes in the affected areas of the skin appear cracked and fertilizers.
For progressive psoriasis is characterized by the so-called phenomenon Kebnera: development boards in areas of damage or scratches on the skin.
About a quarter of the patients, the effect on the nails. This raises the deeper point and the discharge of the nail plate. In addition, the nails can utolzhatsya and crumble.
In the summer months, under the influence of solar light in patients with winter form of psoriasis, the symptoms subside, and sometimes disappear. Patients summer type of psoriasis, on the contrary, it is advisable to avoid sun exposure, as this affects the disease.
The diagnosis of psoriasis
Diagnose psoriasis with a dermatologist. It should be invited, with the emergence of skin lesions similar to psoriasis — plates of different sizes, red, itchy and scaly. To clarify the diagnosis may require skin biopsy.
Treatment of psoriasis
If the doctor detects a psoriasis at the initial stage, it is quite possible you will be assigned predominantly for preventive rather than a curative remedy.
When significant symptoms of the disease, is to use the following methods of treatment of psoriasis:
• cryotherapy is a method of cold exposure;• plasmapheresis - cleaning of blood;
• therapy with UV — a treatment is short-term procedures, like the Solarium. For more effective treatment of psoriasis this method is often combined with administration of specific medications PUVA therapy).
In any case, do not attempt to deal with the psoriasis treatment with ultraviolet radiation without medical advice. In psoriasis, small doses of ultraviolet light are medicines, and up is the opposite, you can podhlestnut the development of the disease. The same applies also for sunbathing.
Unfortunately, no one knows, how to treat psoriasis in full, because the body "retains the memory" of the disease in the form of biochemical, immunological and functional changes. Recurrence of psoriasis can occur at any time, so patients with this diagnosis is always to be treated with a dermatologist.