Psoriasis of the legs is a skin condition in which itchy papules, spots or pustules appear on certain parts of the limbs. They grow over time and melt into plaques. This disease is incurable and chronic. A well-designed complex therapy will help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis on the legs quickly. Therefore, if you want to achieve a stable remission (to completely or partially cleanse the skin of the elements of the rash), do not prescribe treatment yourself.
Causes of pathology
Scientists have not yet figured out why psoriasis appears on the legs and other parts of the body. Many researchers attribute rashes associated with psoriasis to genetic damage to epidermal cells and subsequent overactivity of the immune system. This condition develops as follows:
- Due to dysfunction of the skin, keratinocytes (which make up 90% of the cells in the epidermis) do not have time to mature, but at the same time they multiply rapidly, leading to changes in the structure of each area. the wine.
- In response to such a failure, the body’s immunity sends T lymphocytes (killer cells) and macrophages (eating cells) to kill immature and pathologically altered keratinocytes.
- Due to the accumulation of a large number of immune cells and keratinocytes in the upper layers of the epidermis, the skin grows and begins to peel off. No medication can help fully normalize skin rejuvenating functions.
The progression of psoriasis on the legs is aided by a bacterial infection that can penetrate the skin through tiny scratches, as well as a disturbed hormonal background, contact allergic dermatitis, and many other external factors.
How does psoriasis look on the legs, depending on the type of disease
Psoriatic lesions of the legs and knees can vary from person to person. This factor is explained by the cyclical course of the disease. In addition, one or more forms of psoriasis may develop on the skin of the feet, including palmar, common (vulgar), teardrop-shaped, punctate, and nail and joint psoriasis.
Legs and feet with psoriasis
Elements of psoriatic rash can be localized on different parts of the skin of the legs:
- on the knees;
- on the leg;
- on the corner;
- in the thighs.
Psoriasis on the lower leg, foot, knee joint, and inside of the thigh begins with the appearance of single red papules and severe itching (characteristic of the pointed and vulgar form of the disease) or tiny pink and purple spots (teardrop-shaped psoriasis).
In the first case, the elements of the rash extend slightly above the surface of the skin, differ in density, and have a silvery-scale tip that falls off when scraped off with your fingernail. Over time, the papules grow and those that are close together merge into a single plaque. As a result, the skin of the knee, or solid areas of skin from the knee to the foot, is completely covered. Peeling appears on the surface of the plaques.
In the initial stage, the teardrop-shaped elements of the psoriasis rash affect the entire skin of the legs, with small rashes of the same type. Then, as the disease progresses, each patch melts into groups and covers large areas of skin in the legs. Such psoriasis lesions are rare around the corner.
Palmar-psoriasis often develops on the soles of the feet. The elements of the rash develop on the inflamed skin of the legs in the form of tiny spots and pustules with clear borders and yellow sterile contents. If the pustules on the legs open, the fluid from them flows out, dries out and forms a yellowish crust, and the ulcers underneath also dry out.
Non-explosive pustules are covered with dry scales. Gradually growing and forming into groups, the scaly layer strongly tightens the skin, causing discomfort while walking. The skin around the plaques will be thick and dry, cracking. Through such cracks, the infection usually penetrates the deep layers of the dermis and then begins to cry and decompose the skin.
Psoriasis arthritis
In most cases, plaque psoriasis of the legs causes psoriatic damage to the joints. This arthritis is divided into 5 types:
- Symmetrical - simultaneous inflammation of the joint joints of the knee, hip, ankle or leg.
- Asymmetric - abnormal lesions affect both large and small joints at the same time, such as the joints of one knee and the joints of the toes.
- Inflammation of the distal joints - the small joints of the toes closer to the nails swell.
- Spondylosis - Arthritis affects the lumbosacral spine, causing pain in the hips and lower extremities.
- Deforming arthritis is a rare inflammatory pathology in which the small joints of the fingers are completely destroyed.
The skin above the swollen joints will swell, become purple-blue, and become hot.
Damage to the nail plates
Psoriatic nail damage occurs in the background of:
- psoriatic arthritis in 80-90% of cases;
- vulgar or pustular psoriasis in 50-60% of cases.
In 5-10% of clinical cases, nail psoriasis is primary, i. e. , occurs on its own, not preceded by psoriatic lesions of the skin of the joints or legs.
Initially, frequent psoriasis on the soles of the feet or inflammation of the distal joints of the fingers causes pathological changes in the skin of the periungual region. The pathology then spreads to the nail bed or affects the nail plate lying on it. The nail deforms - dents, transverse lines - and discoloration of the plate.
Similar signs of psoriasis are rarely seen in women at a young age, and the disease is most common in young men. In old age, psoriatic nail damage affects both women and men.
Stages of progression
Psoriasis of the lower extremities, if left untreated, goes through 3 stages of development:
- the initial;
- advanced;
- stationary.
After this, the abnormal changes are suspended, and the remission stage begins. Without preventive treatment, the disease recurs over time.
The onset of the initial stage of the disease is characterized by the formation of a small, individual rash on the legs, in the form of spots, papules or pustules. Initially, it may appear simultaneously on the bends of both knees of the foot. The elements of the rash are red or pink, and then the tops are covered with white scales. The initial stage of psoriasis lasts for about 3 weeks. During this time, the papules or pustules grow in size and merge into groups.
The initial stage of psoriasis can be stopped by seeking immediate help from a professional. But most often, people ignore the symptoms of the disease, so psoriasis continues to develop. In a progressive stage, the number of psoriasis plaques on the skin of the legs increases, which are close together and fuse into "paraffin lakes" of different shapes and sizes. Psoriasis of the toes leads to inflammation and exfoliation of the perungual tissues as well as damage to the nails.
The progressive period is characterized by the Kebner phenomenon, when a psoriasis rash develops on the healed skin, such as after cutting or scratching.
In the standing stage, psoriasis of the legs and other areas of the skin of the legs continues to cause severe itching and peeling. However, new elements of the rash no longer appear and the size of the plaques stops. There is no inflammatory rim around them, dry scales appear in place. If treatment is stopped at this stage, the exacerbation of the disease begins again. Otherwise, the plaques of psoriasis will stop peeling, some will disappear completely, some will just lighten - the stage of remission begins.
How to treat psoriasis on the legs
The treatment regimen for psoriasis of the legs is tailored to each patient, taking into account the location of the rash, the form of the disease, the stage of progression, and a number of other factors. It is dangerous to invent a treatment for this disease on its own, because complications can occur in the form of extensive skin lesions, arthritis, their destruction and the addition of bacterial (staphylococcus, streptococcus) infection.
Medicine
First, the foci of psoriasis are affected by non-hormonal ointments:
- tar, naphthalene ointments relieve inflammation, antiseptics, but they should be used only as directed by a doctor, as they have serious contraindications.
- sulfur — salicylic acid ointment, salicylic acid — refer to keratolytic agents (destroying the stratum corneum). They have an exfoliating effect and help dissolve plaques.
- ointments that contain solidol, soften the skin of the feet, have a regenerating effect.
- Ointments containing the active form of vitamin D3 slow down the process of cell division, thereby reducing inflammation and peeling of the skin on the legs.
If non-hormonal medications do not help stop psoriasis of the legs, corticosteroid ointments are prescribed, which are divided into:
- Weakly active - the foundations act on the surface of the skin, suitable for the initial stage of psoriasis. Ointments from this group are allowed for children, pregnant and lactating women.
- Moderately active - prescribed for the treatment of psoriasis in rough areas of the skin of the legs, especially the knees and soles.
- Highly active - prescribed when moderate quality ointments cannot stop the growth of psoriasis plaques on the skin of the feet.
If no ointment helps with psoriasis, at the stage of the disease's progress, the tablets are prescribed at the same time as external medicines:
- suppression of immune cell activity;
- prevention of epidermal cell proliferation;
- they also take retinoids - derivatives of vitamin A that are needed to restore epidermal cells.
How to get rid of psoriasis on the legs with home methods
Folk remedies for psoriasis are medications for external and internal use, but they should be used with caution during treatment as medications.
Questions like curing psoriasis at home, permanently, are still unanswered. Some homemade recipes will help remove the symptoms of the disease for a long time, but not completely get rid of them.
Ointment for aggravation
Ingredients:
- unrefined sunflower oil - 1 liter;
- celandine herb - 50 g;
- elecampane roots - 50 g;
- acetylsalicylic acid - 50 tab.
Preparation: grind the tablets and herbs with a coffee grinder, pour the resulting powder into vegetable oil, mix thoroughly. Leave the infusion in a warm, dark place for 30 days. During this period, the mixture should be heated in a steam bath every 3 days with stirring, but should not be boiled.
Usage: filter the drug, mix the resulting liquid with Vaseline (3: 1) and apply to psoriasis three times a day.
Ointment that relieves symptoms in 10 days
Ingredients:
- birch tar - 150 g;
- pharmacy alcohol - 150 mg;
- camphor oil - 75 mg;
- chicken yolk - 3 pcs.
Method of cooking: beat the yolks in an enamel pot, gradually adding the camphor and then the tar and alcohol. Store the ointment in a dark place.
To use: Apply gauze pad to inflamed skin on feet. After three days, wash your feet with warm water, tar soap, wipe off the moisture, and re-apply the ointment for 3 days. If the disease is not started, the procedure is repeated and then the skin is cleansed.
It is very important to maintain the body's immunity during treatment with homemade ointments. For this purpose, 1 teaspoon per day can be taken orally. sea buckthorn oil.
Diet
Proper nutrition is one of the conditions for effective treatment of psoriasis not only on the legs but also on other parts of the body. Doctors have concluded that the allergic factor contributes to the progression of all forms of psoriasis, so allergenic foods should be excluded from the menu first:
- chicken eggs;
- Seafood;
- natural honey;
- chocolate, cocoa;
- solo;
- Sheep;
- pork;
- chicken meat;
- alcohol.
During this period, it is very important to give up sweet, spicy, too salty and smoked foods - they slow down the body’s metabolism. The menu should include dairy products, river fish, cereals, baked apples, vegetable oils, green peas, carrots.
Complete starvation of psoriasis, when a person drinks only one water, is contraindicated.
When psoriasis gets worse, doctors recommend that you organize a fast day once a week, such as eating only apples, kefir, or cooked river fish.
Physiotherapy
The answer to the question of how to treat psoriasis on the feet with physiotherapy is quite extensive. To this end, doctors prescribe:
- Ultrasound Therapy - Ultrasound waves from the device cause the skin tissues to compress and stretch, which is done to restore the cells. This makes it possible to relieve inflammation, itching and swelling from the skin of the feet.
- Electrosleep - is prescribed for psoriasis of the skin of the legs when a person is unable to cope with the stress caused by the pathology.
- Phototherapy - ultraviolet rays strengthen the skin's immunity, reduce the rate of growth and cell division.
Acupressure helps to improve the metabolic processes in the skin of the feet with psoriasis. It is recommended that you do this only during the period of remission of the disease, otherwise there is a high probability of infection in the inflamed skin.
Hygiene rules
In order not to cause new psoriatic plaques on the skin of the feet, it is recommended to use only warm water and moisturizing baby toilet soap to wash the skin during the remission period. As the disease progresses, the feet should be washed with warm water and tarry soap that not only cleanses the skin but also relieves inflammation. After washing, dry your skin and nails thoroughly with a soft towel.
Additional recommendations
Treatment of leg psoriasis will be long-term if a person:
- He is active in sports - his legs are sweating, there is a heavy load on his legs. After training, it is very important to wash your feet with lukewarm water, dry them thoroughly, put on clean socks and loose shoes that allow the skin to breathe.
- It tans regularly and for a long time in the sun - excessive sun exposure causes burns and impairs the skin's metabolic processes. In the stage of psoriasis progression, it is better to refuse abundant sunbathing on the skin of the feet, and sunscreen should be used during remission.
Preventive measures and prognosis
Today, psoriatic disease is considered incurable. Therefore, if a lasting reduction in symptoms has been achieved, efforts should be made to maintain this condition as recommended by your doctor. There is no place for self-healing here.