Psoriasis is a disease in which the skin appear red, flaky and scaly lesions covered with silvery-white scales.
Usually these rashes appear on the elbows, knees, skin, scalp and lower back but can occur in all other places. Most people have rashes small. In some cases, they may itch or hurt.
In Russia psoriasis is sick about 1% of the population, often psoriasis is common among native people in the North. Men and women suffer equally often. First symptoms of psoriasis often occur before age 30 years, but later the emergence of psoriasis is not uncommon. The severity of psoriasis each person is very different. Someone psoriasis is just a little annoying, while other people psoriasis prevent to live a normal life.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that usually has periods of remission without symptoms or with mild 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. Skin cells are normally made and replaced every 3-4 months, but in psoriasis, this process is shortened to 3-7 days. The result is a buildup of skin cells that leads to characteristic changes in the body.
Causes of psoriasis are not fully understood, it is believed that the increased reproduction of skin cells, which is associated with impaired immune system. The immune system is the natural defense of the body against infections and diseases, but in people with psoriasis is mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells.
Psoriasis can be inherited and it is believed that this disease is genetic factor. However, it is not yet clear what role genetics plays in causing psoriasis.
For many people the symptoms of psoriasis, occurs or gets worse after a certain event, which is called the shutter button. Possible triggers of psoriasis include skin injuries, infectious diseases of the throat and intake of certain medications. This disease is not contagious and is not transmitted from one person to another.
If you suspect psoriasis, you should consult with your doctor. Often, the doctor can make a diagnosis based on the appearance of your skin. Usually for the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis a patient's guide to a dermatologist — specialist in skin diseases.
Although psoriasis treatment is not possible, there are several treatment methods that can alleviate the symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin. In most cases will be primarily assigned to the local treatment, for example, vitamin D analogues or corticosteroids local action. In the worst cases, when not helping the other treatment methods, can be used systemic treatment. Systemic treatment is the ingestion or injection of drugs which have a therapeutic effect on the whole body.
For some people, psoriasis is just a small problem, but sometimes it can be a strong influence on your life. For example, some people with psoriasis have low self-esteem because of how the disease affects their appearance. Often when psoriasis occurs the irritability, pain and swelling of the joints and connective tissue. This is called psoriatic arthritis.
The symptoms of psoriasis
In most cases, psoriasis runs in cycles: every few weeks or months disease exacerbated, and then the symptoms become less noticeable or disappear, and there comes a remission.
There are several different types of psoriasis. Many people suffer only one form of psoriasis, although it is possible the disease of two different types at the same time. One type may be converted into another type or escalate. If you suspect psoriasis, you should consult with your doctor.
Common types of psoriasis
Regular psoriasis. This is the most common form of psoriasis, which accounts for about 90% of all cases. Symptoms of dry red skin lesions, called plaques covered with silvery-white scales. These usually appear on the elbows, knees, skin, scalp and lower back but can appear in all other places. Panels may itch and (or) hurt. In severe cases, the skin at the joints may crack and bleed.
Psoriasis of the scalp (seborrheic psoriasis) can occur on the scalp or on the adjacent skin, as well as on the back and chest. Causing a reddish rash, covered with thick silvery-white scales. Some people have this type of psoriasis causes severe itching, while others do not cause inconvenience. In the worst cases can result in hair loss, often temporary.
On nail psoriasis. About half of patients with psoriasis the disease affects the nails. Psoriasis in your nails may develop small holes or bumps, they may lose color and shape. Often, the nails may eventually become loose and move away from the nail bed, which contains. In severe cases, the nail can crumble.
Psoriasis in the form of drops, which appear small (less than 1 cm) panels in the form of drops on the chest, hands, feet and under the hair. High likelihood that the guttate psoriasis completely go away after a few weeks, but in some people it turns into a regular psoriasis. This type of psoriasis sometimes occurs after a streptococcal infection of the throat, and are more common in children and adolescents.
Wrinkles psoriasis - affects the skin folds, e.g. under the armpits, in the groin, between the buttocks or under the Breasts. You can appear larger smooth rash in some or all of these areas. Symptoms are aggravated by friction and sweating, so that you can deliver special inconveniences in hot weather.
Pustular psoriasis
A rare type of psoriasis in which the skin appear blisters (vesicles with purulent content). Different types of pustular psoriasis are striking different parts of the body.
Pulstole general psoriasis (psoriasis background Tsumbush). Pustules occur on the large surface of the skin and developed 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 of 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 with scales, which are then excreted from the skin. Blisters can appear again every few days or weeks.
Pustular acrodermatitis (acrobustulosis). Pustules appear on the fingers on the hands and feet. Then the pustules burst, leaving bright red areas that may bleed or be covered with scales. Can cause painful deformities of the nail.
Erythrodermic psoriasis (psoriatic erythroderma)
Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis that affects almost the entire 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 layers of the skin. These cells gradually move up. Come to the surface, they die. This is a normal process occurs gradually and imperceptibly. Skin cells is updated every 3-4 weeks.
In people with psoriasis, this process only takes 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 scaly lesions covered with silvery-white scales. It is estimated that patients with psoriasis, the skin cells to change faster due to the compromised immune system.
The immune system is to protect the body, which helps him to fight infection. One of the main types of cells that uses the body's 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 causes the immune system to produce more T-cells and reproduce new skin cells faster than normal.
It is not clear what exactly causes the disorder of the immune system, although it is possible that a certain role is played by certain genes and environmental factors.
Psoriasis is inherited. One of three patients with psoriasis has a close relative with this disease. However, it is not yet clear what role genetics plays in causing psoriasis. The results of the study show that the development of psoriasis may respond to a number of genes. Likely to make the person more susceptible to this disease, they can different combination. However, it has inherited not psoriasis, but only a propensity, that is the presence of these genes does not mean that you will necessarily develop the disease.
Triggers of psoriasis
For many people the symptoms of psoriasis, occurs or gets worse after a certain event, which is called the shutter button. If you know your triggers, it can help you to avoid a worsening of symptoms. Examples of common triggers:
- damage to the skin, e.g. a cut, scratch, insect bite or sunburn (the so-called phenomenon Kebner);
- the abuse of alcohol;
- Smoking;
- stress;
- hormonal changes, especially in women (e.g., during puberty and menopause);
- some medications, such as lithium, some antimalarial drugs, anti-inflammatory medications, including ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors (for treatment ) and beta blockers (for the treatment of congestive heart failure);
- throat infections — in some people, especially in children and young adults after streptococcal infection of the throat develops a form of psoriasis called guttate psoriasis, although in most cases after streptococcal infection of the throat psoriasis occurs;
- other disorders of the immune system such as HIV, which causes the emergence or aggravation of psoriasis.
Psoriasis is not contagious and therefore does not spread from one person to another.
The diagnosis of psoriasis
As a rule, for the diagnosis of psoriasis sufficient external review of the skin.
In more rare cases it is needed a biopsy (a small sample of the skin), which is then sent to a laboratory for examination under the microscope. It allows you to determine the specific type of psoriasis and rule out other diseases of the skin, such as seborrheic dermatitis, lichen planus, simple chronic zoster and pityriasis rosea.
Usually diagnosis and psoriasis treatment is conducted under the supervision of a dermatologist — specialist in skin diseases. If the doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which sometimes occurs as a complication of psoriasis, you may be referred to a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a physician who specializiruetsya on the arthritis.
You can take blood tests to exclude other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and x-rays of the joints affected by the disease.
Treatment of psoriasis
Completely cure psoriasis is not possible, but with treatment can reduce the severity and frequency of exacerbations. Usually psoriasis treatment is under the supervision of a dermatologist, in case of involvement in the process of the joints is assigned to consult with a rheumatologist. If the symptoms of psoriasis is quite pronounced and poorly respond to treatment, your doctor may refer you for admission to the hospital, in the Department of dermatology.
A special method of treatment, which is applied depending on the type and severity of psoriasis and the areas of skin affected. If the symptoms of psoriasis are mild and not growing, the doctor may be limited to the appointment of the external means, for example, in the form of creams. In the acute stage is usually assigned the more serious treatment with medication inside.
There is a wide range of products for the treatment of psoriasis, but it can be difficult to determine which is the most effective way. Talk to your doctor if you feel that the treatment does not help, or have side effects that cause discomfort.
Treatment methods are divided into 3 categories:
- local treatment of the skin using creams and ointments;
- phototherapy — your skin is treated with a certain type of ultraviolet rays;
- system — the ingestion or injection of medicines that have a therapeutic effect on the whole body.
Often different treatment methods are combined. As patients with psoriasis requires long-term treatment, it makes sense to have a written plan medications manipulations that need to be done every day. The doctor must regularly monitor your condition and, if necessary, adjust the treatment plan.