Psoriasis has long been known to mankind. It is first mentioned in the Bible, but so far there is no complete understanding of the causes of these skin rashes. Scientists are trying to link the disease to complex disorders of the immune and endocrine systems, and consider it hereditary. However, absolute success was achieved only in one thing: there was a firm belief that this disease was not a manifestation of infection in the body. That is, psoriasis is not contagious.
What is psoriasis?
Another name for this disease is paid lichen. It mainly affects the scalp, the outside of the elbows and knees, where dark pink scaly rashes appear. From these psoriatic plaques soon form. There is a clear white growth consisting of dense scales, which causes cracking of the affected areas, itching and the formation of leaking wounds. Although the causes of spills are not clear, the mechanism of their appearance is well understood. With the onset of psoriatic scales, the lifespan of epidermal cells in this and adjacent areas decreases sharply to 4-5 days, as opposed to the normal 28-30 days.
Is Psoriasis Dangerous?
Because the etiology is not clear, but there is convincing evidence that the disease is systemic, affecting not only the skin but also the internal organs, it causes the following disorders in the body:
- appearance of changes similar to psoriatic changes in the mucous membrane of the urethra and bladder
- provokes subacute conjunctivitis, lens sclerosis and other diseases of the eyes and eyelids
- With exacerbation of the disease, an increase in hepatocellular insufficiency and splenomegaly is observed in the liver.
- enlarged lymph nodes
- They have muscle weakness, progressive atrophy, prone to weight loss
The long-term complications of psoriasis can be listed, but this short list shows that the disease is serious and dangerous. To make matters worse, therapeutic agents currently only have the ability to control and suppress the course of the disease, but do not cure it. Psoriasis is persistent, but may be accompanied by long-term remission.
What can cause an exacerbation or recurrence of the disease?
Although the manifestations of psoriasis are unsystematic, there are factors that can provoke the appearance of rashes in different areas of the skin. Therefore, patients should be aware of this and, if possible, be wary of their effects. The following reasons aggravate the course of the disease:
- Overweight. It is noted that the majority of people suffering from psoriasis suffer from various degrees of obesity.
- Stress. Many patients report that their psychological response to traumatic events and situations exacerbates the manifestations of the disease.
- Some medications taken by the patient for various reasons can cause relapse.
- Hypothermia.
- Damage and scratching of psoriatic plaques. It was noted that in most cases, mechanical irritation of the paid lichen causes its growth and the formation of new rashes in nearby areas.
- water procedures. Some people experience an exacerbation of the disease after taking a bath or swimming in a pond.
- Sunshine. In psoriasis, moderate exposure to sunlight is considered beneficial by doctors. However, there are a number of patients who claim that such baths cause them to exacerbate the disease. Moreover, no matter how much they are under the sun. Therefore, there is still no definite answer to the question of whether it is possible to sunbathe with psoriasis. In this situation, you need to consider several factors at once to decide for yourself how useful or harmful the sun's rays are: individual tolerance to the sun, skin color and type, stage and form of the disease.
Ultraviolet for psoriasis: benefit or harm
- Light therapy as one of the treatments for psoriasis:
- PUVA therapy is photochemotherapy, the mechanism of action of which is very difficult to understand. It is often used in the treatment of exudative and vulgar psoriasis. It is very effective against rashes on the scalp, palms and feet. 3-4 ultraviolet radiation sessions per week are prescribed until the psoriatic plaques are completely gone. An average of 15-25 procedures are required, including local exposure sessions.
- SFT therapy is selective phototherapy. Up to 5 procedures per week are prescribed for exudative and vulgar psoriasis. In the absence of erythema, the radiation dose is increased each time. Full course of treatment - 20 - 30 sessions. Has a clear therapeutic effect in 85-90% of cases.
- UVB therapy is a phototherapy that is comparable in effectiveness to PUVA therapy. The course of treatment is 20-30 procedures.
Psoriasis and solarium: benefit or harm?
The main difference between tanning in the solarium and in the sun is that the production of melanin under artificial conditions occurs without exposure to dangerous ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-C rays, which are harmful to the skin during tanning. Solariums do not use this type of radiation. However, in the early stages of the disease, artificial grafting helps prevent the development of rashes. Therefore, doctors do not recommend treating psoriasis with solarium, but do not find contraindications to its use as a therapeutic agent.
The effect of radiation on the skin in the solarium
- UV-A rays have a beneficial effect on patients with psoriasis, seborrhea, acne, neurodermatitis.
- UV-B rays begin the process of active production of vitamin D3, which reduces the effects of stress on the body, and they are known to provoke psoriatic rashes.
Thus, a visit to the solarium can not adversely affect the course of the disease and to some extent silence it. So why are there people who are only harmed by artificial grafting sessions? The answer is that the combination and power of lamps in solariums are different. When choosing a salon, you should ask about their spectral composition, one of the most important features. The lamps are made of various combinations of UV-A and UV-B radiation. For example, those with UV-B 1% or less are classic, and those with UV-B more than 1% are professional.
It is also important to have a reflector. If not, then the radiation is concentrated on the weakened skin, if any. The reflector can be placed both inside and outside the lamp. Whether or not there is a reflective layer on the lighting fixture, you can tell by looking at the light from the lamp. If so, its radiation efficiency is 10% higher than the usual one.
Therefore, in order to ensure that the treatment of psoriasis with solarium is not useful and harmful, it is necessary to choose the right vaccination studio with the right combination of ultraviolet radiation. Excess is always harmful to the skin and can lead to tumors and other problems. The ratio of UV-A and UV-B rays is very important for patients with psoriasis. The best choice here would be the following combination: UV-B waves at a length of 311 nm. and UV-A waves at 300-400 nm. This ratio of ultraviolet radiation has a Daavlin photo booth that emits narrow-spectrum nbUVB 311nm light. Visitors say their condition has improved dramatically. The course of therapy is 20-30 sessions.
Therefore, the question: does the solarium help with psoriasis, you can answer with confidence - yes. However, it is important not to choose a studio close to the place of residence without thinking, but to be interested in the spectral characteristics of the emission lamps inside. It is important to know that the vertical grafting method prefers the horizontal grafting method. The time spent in the cabin should not exceed 5-6 minutes and the sessions should be changed every day. In moderate doses, UV rays help strengthen the immune system. This is extremely important for a patient with psoriasis.