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Psoriasis

that looks like psoriasis on the body

Psoriasis is a common, non-communicable skin disease with inflammatory lesions. It is chronic - the acute period is followed by relief or disappearance of symptoms - and is caused by a combination of different factors.

The disease is widespread and is slightly more common in women than men. It does not completely heal, but it is possible to relieve symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Psoriasis can lead to arthritis, arthritis.

Russian synonyms

Scaly lichen.

English synonyms

Psoriasis.

Symptoms

The symptoms and signs of psoriasis depend on the type of psoriasis.

  • Plaque psoriasis. It is accompanied by specific inflammatory skin formations - prominent, oval, sharply outlined reddish lesions, flaky and silvery scales. The most common formations appear on the outer surface of the elbow, knee, scalp, and torso. The elements of a rash can be painful and itchy. In severe cases, the skin near the joints in the affected areas will crack and bleed.
  • Guttate psoriasis. This type is associated with the appearance of a number of orange-pink papules (lumps) 1-10 mm in size on the body. The rash usually appears on the torso, shoulders and thighs, but is found all over the body. It usually affects people under the age of 30, as well as 2-3 weeks after suffering from upper respiratory tract infections, bacterial infections of the anus.
  • Psoriasis on the nails. It is characterized by compaction, peeling, discoloration of the nail plates, discoloration, yellowing of the nails, the presence of spots on them, the formation of pits, cracks and injuries on the nails. The nail plates are destroyed, the growth of the nails causes confusion, they can be separated from the nail bed. It occurs in 30-50% of patients with psoriasis.
  • Psoriasis with large folds. In this case, the skin lesions appear in the form of red inflammatory patches in the area of the armpit folds, under the mammary glands, in the neck folds, in the genital area, in the foreskin. Cracks may appear at the edges and center of the lesions. Highly prone psoriasis is most common in overweight and obese people. Sweating and friction aggravate the disease.
  • Psoriasis of the head. It is accompanied by redness, itching, peeling of the scalp, with the appearance of white scales on the hair and shoulders - particles of dead skin.
  • Psoriasis arthritis. Skin lesions are accompanied by joint pain, swelling, curvature, and joint deformities. The joints of the fingers, wrists, legs, knee joints may be affected.
  • Pustular psoriasis. This type is characterized by reddening of the skin and the formation of a large number of pustules - small blisters filled with pus. Formations can appear on the palms and feet, or throughout the body. When more pustules appear on the body, fever and weakness join.
  • Psoriasis erythroderma. Skin areas may turn red and plaques may appear. The lesions are usually accompanied by severe itching. Most often, psoriatic erythroderma is associated with sunburn or drug abuse.

Usually, with different types of psoriasis, the disease progresses gradually, skin lesions spread, and can be observed for several weeks. Then the symptoms disappear. After exposure (or spontaneously) to the factor that contributes to the development of psoriasis, symptoms reappear after a while.

General information about the disease

Psoriasis is a common, non-communicable skin disease with inflammatory lesions.

It is chronic and often recurrent - the acute period is followed by a worsening or disappearance of symptoms, after which the symptoms reappear after a while.

Psoriasis is widespread, especially among people aged 16-22, 57-60. Women are more prone to it than men. People with fair skin have a higher risk of developing the disease.

Although psoriasis is synonymous with scaly lichen, it is not contagious to others at all.

The causes of psoriasis are not yet fully understood. Its appearance is associated with genetic predisposition, immune system failure, and environmental factors affecting the body.

The development of psoriasis is associated with one type of cell (T lymphocytes) in the immune system, while hyperactivity of T cells is observed. They usually travel with blood throughout the body and detect foreign agents - viruses and bacteria. In psoriasis, T cells begin to accumulate in the skin for unknown reasons. Their hyperactivity causes the blood vessels to dilate in the affected area, disrupting the cycle of new skin cells forming - they form much faster than usual. Dead epithelial cells, meanwhile, have no time to exfoliate and accumulate on the surface of the skin, forming plaques.

Psoriasis can be caused by one of the following factors:

  • infections (tonsillitis, thrush, HIV);
  • skin damage - cutting, scratching, biting or burning;
  • hypothermia;
  • sunburn;
  • emotional stress;
  • smoking, alcohol consumption;
  • use of medications (antimalarial, etc. ).

However, some patients with psoriasis develop rashes without obvious effects from environmental factors.

There are the following main types of psoriasis.

  • Plaque psoriasis. This is the most common.
  • Guttate psoriasis. It usually affects people under the age of 30. It occurs 2-3 weeks after transmission of upper respiratory tract infectious diseases and superficial bacterial infections around the anus.
  • Psoriasis on the nails.
  • Psoriasis arthritis. In this type of psoriasis, the skin lesions are accompanied by arthritis - inflammation of the joints.
  • Psoriasis erythroderma. It is most commonly associated with sunburn and drug abuse.
  • Pustular psoriasis. Quite rare, in severe cases, it endangers the patient's life.
  • Psoriasis of the head. In this case, hair loss caused by the disease usually does not occur because the hair roots are located much deeper than the scaly formations.

Classification of psoriasis according to the severity of the course:

  • soft (less than 2% of total skin affected);
  • moderate (skin lesions occupy up to 3-10% of the skin surface);
  • severe psoriasis (more than 10% of the skin is affected).

Depending on the type, location and extent of psoriasis, it can cause complications:

  • thickening of the skin, addition of secondary infection through scratches and scratches that appeared due to psoriasis itching;
  • psychological problems (stress, low self-esteem, depression, social self-isolation);
  • joint damage (deformity with stiffness and reduced joint mobility);
  • there is an increased risk of developing various diseases and conditions: high blood pressure, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, skin cancer.

Psoriasis is usually relatively mild. However, for most patients, social adjustment becomes the main problem, especially in the presence of skin lesions in visible areas of the skin - others are hostile to the type of skin lesions, fear of infection (many do not know that the disease is not contagious).

Who is in danger?

  • People with a hereditary predisposition (more than 40% of patients with psoriasis have a relative with psoriasis).
  • Viral, bacterial, fungal infections (streptococcus, thrush, HIV, etc. ).
  • Emotionally stressful.
  • Obese and overweight people.
  • Smokers.
  • Alcohol consumers.
  • Taking certain medicines (antimalarials, etc. ).
  • Burned down.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of psoriasis is usually based on the typical type of injury, taking into account their location. In severe cases, additional tests may be needed to rule out other skin conditions.

Laboratory research

  • General blood test. Psoriasis is associated with leukocytosis and anemia.
  • Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a protein whose levels in the blood can rise in systemic inflammatory diseases involving joint damage, especially rheumatoid arthritis. The psoriasis test is negative. This allows you to distinguish psoriasis from rheumatoid arthritis, in which RF increases.
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is generally normal, except for pustular psoriasis and erythroderma in psoriasis.
  • Uric acid. In psoriasis, uric acid levels can be elevated (especially in pustular psoriasis), leading to confusion of psoriatic arthritis with gout, in which uric acid concentrations increase significantly.
  • Anti-HIV antibodies (human immunodeficiency virus). The sudden onset of psoriasis may be due to HIV infection.

Other research methods

  • X-ray of the joints. It makes it possible to assess the severity of joint injuries in psoriatic arthritis.
  • Skin biopsy. The examination involves a small sample of the skin for later examination under a microscope. It is performed in severe cases in order to differentiate psoriasis from other skin diseases.

Treatment

Therapy for psoriasis includes topical treatment of skin lesions, medication, phototherapy, prevention of exposure to the factors that cause the appearance of rashes. It depends on the type and severity of psoriasis.

Emollients (creams, Vaseline, paraffin, vegetable oils) can be used to eliminate skin changes. They are most effective when used twice a day after showering. Shampoos containing salicylic acid, anthralin, tar preparations, ointments, solutions, coal tar are also used. These drugs reduce inflammation and slow down the formation of new skin cells.

The use of corticosteroid ointments makes the treatment more effective. Indicated for mild to moderate psoriasis. However, their long-term use is not recommended (possible atrophy of the skin, drug dependence).

Light therapy - exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation - may be beneficial. In this case, burns must be avoided.

Topical treatment of injuries in more severe cases is combined with drugs - retinoids, vitamin D preparations, methotrexate, etc.

Psoriasis can be difficult to treat because the disease is chronic and recurs after the symptoms disappear. The effectiveness of a particular treatment method depends on the susceptibility of the patient.

Daily baths (bath oil, oatmeal or sea salt are recommended; hot water and scrub should be avoided) and hydration after bathing can help soften the skin and reduce the inflammation of psoriasis.

Prevention

  • Avoid hypothermia, sunburn.
  • If possible, avoid emotional stress.
  • Stop smoking and alcohol abuse.
  • Take certain medications (anti-malarial, etc. ) with caution.

Recommended analyzes

  • General blood test
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • Rheumatoid factor
  • Serum uric acid
  • HIV 1, 2 Ag / Ab combination (determination of antibodies to HIV and p24 antigens types 1 and 2)