Psoriasis is a severe pathology, despite the fact that it is not life-threatening. Psoriasis is called the chronic disease that affects the skin and nails. It causes redness, itching and the appearance of scaly plates, which is evident in all age groups and is difficult to treat. Why appear psoriasis is, what complications it threatened, and, most importantly, how to treat it?
What do we know about psoriasis and its treatment
Psoriasis is also one of the most researched and one of the most mysterious diseases. Experts have several decades of trying to figure out its causes, but so far science has no clear answer to the question of why people suffer with psoriasis.
Psoriasis is not a contagious disease, as the cause is not fungus or bacteria, and the reaction of your immune system. In psoriasis the skin cells begin to share with a lot of speed, — if the normal life cycle of cells take about 30 days psoriasis is only 3-5.
The main symptoms of psoriasis: redness, flaking, the appearance of inflamed areas, so-called plaques that itch. In some cases, the abscesses or a small rash. Sometimes psoriasis is almost never shows itself, and sometimes escalates almost without apparent reason. Most often, psoriasis appears in the bends of the hands and feet, along the hairline, and where clothing fits too tightly or rubbing; although inflammation can also occur in other places.
Statistics
Psoriasis is a fairly common disease affects approximately 3% of the total population of the world.
There are several types of psoriasis. The most common is vulgaris, or plaque, is diagnosed in 80% of patients with psoriasis. Tears (small rash), pustular (pustules), Palmar-plantar and exudative (oozing rash) are much less common.
The majority of patients detected the first signs of psoriasis at age 15-25 years. Often give a boost to your appearance (and consequent deterioration) have an emotional crisis. Scientists have this phenomenon associated with the release of the stress hormones — adrenaline and cortisol.
Psoriasis is considered a chronic disease that cannot be cured. However, modern medicine knows how to keep his term at a minimum and to reduce the frequency of relapses.
Please note
Unfortunately, psoriasis can be inherited. In families where one parent suffers from psoriasis, the probability of having a child with the same disease is 25%. If both parents know this disease first hand, the risk for the occurrence of psoriasis in children increased up to 60%.
How to treat psoriasis: current approaches to therapy
Treatment of psoriasis depends on the severity of the disease. In mild cases (if the affected less than 3% of the surface area of the body) to prescribe the medicinal product for external use — ointments and creams. I also recommend that you change the way of life and especially in the diet. In more complex cases, prescribed physical therapy. Medicinal products for oral use, including those which have a certain toxicity, and hormone treatment is the last resort, used only if other methods of treatment of psoriasis is that does not help.
Effective methods and techniques for conservative treatment of psoriasis
There are several ways to fight against psoriasis, and, in order to treat successfully, it is better to take a holistic approach.
Treatment with medications
To fight against psoriasis "inside" is often prescribe a derivative of vitamin A (retinoids), as well as medications that reduce the activity of the immune system. For the topical treatment of psoriasis application of medical ointments and creams that relieve inflammation and itching, promotes the exfoliation of dead skin cells and protects the damaged skin from fungi and bacteria. This is important because of the disease, psoriasis is often complicated by the accession of secondary infection, which reduces the effectiveness of the entire therapy and slows down the process of skin regeneration.
In the worst cases, often recurrent course of psoriasis, prescribed local hormone treatment (ointments and creams), the so-called TGKS (topical corticosteroids). They should be careful — TGKS are many side effects and contraindications. If you are using them on their own initiative, and not according to the strict scheme and the advice of a doctor can worsen the disease. TGKS generally not recommended for use longer than 5 days, and is used on large areas of skin and on sensitive areas (face, neck, skin folds), as these funds can have a systemic effect on the body, it can cause withdrawal symptoms and lead to thinning skin and loss of its protective properties, and therefore the risk of recurrent relapses.
Doctors often complain that the disease can be managed faster and easier, if patients do not self-treat with such a powerful drug, since the drug for psoriasis after the uncontrolled use of hormonal methods is much more difficult.
Science has long made a big step forward in the search for effective but safe remedies for the treatment of the skin, psoriasis and other diseases. These include, for example, include drugs on the basis of these active substances as active zinc (zinc pyrithione). Zinc is a organic and natural cure for the skin, because of its concentration in healthy human skin is approximately 20% of the total content in the body, and deficiency of this precious metal accompanied by different lesions on the skin and impaired wound healing.
Drugs with active zinc, unlike funds from zinc oxide, have a whole set of special properties (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal), to help relieve itching, promote the development of ceramides (lipids), which leads to the restoration of its barrier function. Unlike ointments, zinc oxide, cream with zinc pyrithione does not dry the skin. In addition, to activate the so-called apoptosis (natural, programmed death) pathologically changed skin cells and cells of inflammation, which prevents the excessive proliferation of epithelium, reducing inflammation and the formation of psoriatic plates.
Studies have shown that the active zinc has a comparable TGKS effectiveness and good safety profile, as it is practically not absorbed from the skin, which is not disturbing and harmful effect.
Regardless of the drug, which is or has been assigned to you, remember that, writing a prescription, the doctor always takes into account the relationship between the potential benefit and harm of drug use, based on your age and sexual characteristics, medical history, etc So, do not self-heal: one of the medicine can hurt more. In the case of psoriasis this applies primarily for the use of hormonal methods. The reckless use of ointments and creams with TGKS, can lead to a "vicious circle" — the more you use them, the more will be the deterioration.
Don't risk, the first manifestation of the symptoms of psoriasis is to start treating the safest without hormonal products and consult a doctor. And in chronic and recurrent of course, the use of non-hormonal medicines with healing properties immediately after removal of deterioration (after the use of the TGKS) extend the period of remission and helps the skin to fully recover.
Physical therapy
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment of psoriasis also help to eliminate the symptoms of this disease. As you know, pathology is the fear of the sun, so the psoriasis treatment is often used for phototherapy — ultraviolet radiation. Psoriasis treatment may also include laser therapy, ultrasound, magnetotherapy.
Food
Patients with psoriasis, therefore, it is important to follow a proper diet. Excludes all foods that can cause allergies as well as food, heavy on the stomach and liver. The diet should contain higher doses of vitamins (especially vitamin A) and fiber. Give up alcohol, smoked, meat, animal fats and TRANS fats, eggs, coffee and sparkling water, muffins.
Psychotherapy
As already mentioned, when stress and emotional upheavals, psoriasis can worsen. At the same time for a lot of people, especially for young women, psoriasis itself is a source of worry and low self-esteem. The goal of therapy for psoriasis is to teach people how to manage their emotions and avoid nervous tension. In addition, group therapy can provide the necessary psychological support and self-esteem.
Plasmapheresis
In plasmapheresis the doctor takes the patient part of the blood, separates the plasma from the blood cells and returns them with the help of injections back. Along with the plasma and toxins and autoantibodies.
By the way
Psoriasis is not the reason for low self-esteem. A lot of famous people who spend their whole life struggling with this disease, that does not prevent them to be the idols of millions and a fashion icon. Psoriasis affects models Cara Delevingne and Kim Kardashian, actress Cameron Diaz and singer Britney Spears.
Alternative approaches
There are alternative, folk, and exotic methods of treatment of psoriasis. First, for example, is the use of oil milk thistle to affected areas, decoctions of marshmallow, Valerian, sage and chamomile. Exotic can be attributed to the treatment with tropical species of fish Garra rufa — they're pyrithione skin on psoriatic plaques without damaging healthy skin. This original service is available in Thailand, in recent years this procedure has appeared in some Russian spas.
Folk methods, which is considered to be safe, but not quite as allergic to grass can aggravate the condition of the skin and the printing on the plaque ointments of dubious origin and the implementation of exotic treatments in unsanitary conditions can lead to inflammation and the accession of secondary infection.
How to increase the effectiveness of the therapy
Correctly picked up therapy will have a positive effect. If you want to speed up the process of recovery will allow the consideration of some of the rules:
- Try not to worry. Skin — indicator of the health of your nervous system. Today, there are many ways how to cope with stress without medication: visit the master-classes for drawing, sculpture and decoupage, sports and Spa treatments.
- Time for treatment of infectious diseases, prevention of hypothermia, and generally watch your health — "anchored" in the body of infection, provoking repeated relapses.
- Do not neglect the Spa treatment. Mineral water and mud, many places do not help to improve the condition of psoriasis. Such places around the world a lot of psoriasis treatment you can pass on to the Dead sea in Israel, in Slovenia (Portorož), Italy (Abano Terme), in Bulgaria (Kyustendil).
- Do not use while bathing hard sponges and brushes, as well as solid Soaps you need to use a soft sponge and shower gel with a neutral pH. After bath or shower apply a cream that helps maintain moisture the skin, such as children.
- Not from synthetics and select a comfortable, soft clothing made from natural soft materials such as cotton, silk and other.
It is often said that psoriasis is not a disease, but a result of way of life. The truth is this statement is. If you are diagnosed "psoriasis", will be a serious rethink about their habits and strictly follow the rules. Compliance with the recommendations and the timely initiation of treatment allow to achieve a stable and long-term remission — many people who suffer from psoriasis, it is, in fact, do not suffer, as the disease does not manifest itself. However, psoriasis does not tolerate levity — if not handled or addressed independently, without the cooperation of the physician, the deterioration will soon become almost a monthly basis, and re-nice skin and good health it will be very difficult.