One of the most mysterious autoimmune diseases is psoriasis. The disease cannot be completely cured, it affects patients of different age categories and manifests itself in the form of red-pink spots. If you have the necessary information, you can recognize the first signs of psoriasis yourself, but you should contact a specialist to accurately diagnose the pathology and determine the course of treatment. Timely detection of pathology helps to quickly reduce symptoms and gives more chances to achieve long-term remission.
The presented material contains information about the first manifestations of psoriasis in women and men. In addition, the article provides a detailed answer to the question of how to recognize psoriasis at the initial stage and what to do to prevent the disease from developing.
Causes of the disease
Before moving on to the symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to become more familiar with the causes of its occurrence.
Additional information!The exact cause of the disease is currently unknown to science. There are a number of scientific theories that explain the manifestation of the disease.
Among them, the most justified are:
- immune;
- genetic.
Since psoriasis belongs to the category of autoimmune diseases, and the dysfunction of the immune system can actually lead to the development of the disease, which has been proven many times, the immune theory is the most justified.
However, the importance of the genetic theory should not be underestimated, because according to statistical studies, a patient whose parents have psoriasis has a 70% chance of being affected.
Factors contributing to the manifestation of psoriasis symptoms:
- abuse of fatty foods, foods high in emulsifiers, leavening agents, dyes and other food additives;
- excessive alcohol consumption;
- smoking, drug use;
- exposure to stress, frequent emotional outbursts, increased anxiety;
- frequent use of chemically aggressive drugs;
- excessive use of certain drugs;
- mechanical damage to the skin.
The onset of psoriasis, common symptoms of the disease
There are several forms of psoriasis, each with unique signs and symptoms. However, some manifestations of the disease, the occurrence of which indicates the development of the disease, are characteristic of all forms of pathology.
The onset of psoriasis, symptoms (common to all forms of the disease):
- the appearance of pimples (papules) on the skin;
- growth in the affected area, the spread of the rash;
- lamination of the nail plate;
- peeling of the skin;
- the appearance of blisters on the palms and feet;
- appearance of burning and itching.
Additional information!The first symptoms of psoriasis in women are the same as those seen in men and children. The nature of the rash that occurs in the initial stages of the development of pathology is mistakenly confused with allergic, but the nature of this lesion, as well as its causes, are somewhat different.
The first signs of psoriasis in different forms of the disease
Often, patients are exposed to the following forms of psoriasis:
- Vulgar or simple psoriasis;
- seborrheic;
- Psoriasis of the soles and palms;
- nail psoriasis;
- Inverse or folding psoriasis;
- In the form of a tear.
Let's dwell in more detail on the signs and symptoms of these forms of pathology.
Signs of vulgar psoriasis
Psoriasis vulgaris can be diagnosed at an early stage. The first signs of this form of the disease are expressed by the appearance of rounded pink-red plates covered with silvery scales, which begin to peel and itch after a certain period of time.
In some cases, the appearance of plaques can occur with the formation of papules on the scalp and joints (elbows, ankles and knees).
Note!At the initial stage of the disease, the papules formed on the epidermis cannot bother the patient for a long time. They do not cause pain, are hardly noticeable and do not itch, so some patients mistakenly confuse them with allergies.
How to distinguish psoriatic rashes from manifestations of an allergic reaction:
- psoriatic papules peel off easily;
- when the papular rash is scraped, terminal film phenomena appear;
- Further breaking of the papule leads to the appearance of small drops of blood.
A feature that distinguishes psoriatic rashes from the symptoms of other diseases is that the affected area decreases or even completely disappears in the summer, and increases in the winter.
Seborrheic psoriasis
The first signs of seborrheic psoriasis appear on the scalp, then the pathology spreads to the shoulders and face. The danger of this form lies in its hidden nature, because unlike simple vulgar psoriasis, seborrheic psoriasis is not characterized by the formation of papules, sometimes it can manifest itself only in the form of peeling of the scalp. To get rid of the crust, many patients mistake psoriasis for ordinary seborrhea and use special anti-dandruff shampoos.
It is important!After detecting the first signs of the disease, you should consult a dermatologist, an experienced specialist will be able to diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. It is recommended to fight the disease in the early stages of its development, which significantly increases the chances of reducing the symptoms of the disease and achieving long-term remission.
If the treatment of seborrheic psoriasis is not prescribed in time, the disease gradually affects the skin on the shoulders, ears, forehead and face. The later stages of the development of pathology are characterized by the appearance of plaques, increased burning and itching. Getting rid of these symptoms is much more difficult than getting rid of the peeling characteristic of the first stage of the disease, but with the help of modern methods, it is still possible to achieve the desired result.
Inverse psoriasis (psoriasis of the folds)
Characteristics of inverse psoriasis:
- the location of the disease is the folds under the armpits, genitals, groin, and under the mammary glands;
- psoriatic spots are bright, smooth, bright red;
- plaques that look like ordinary spots practically do not peel off, so the manifestations of the disease are often confused with irritation caused by increased sweating;
- signs of psoriasis in men - rashes on the inner surface of the foreskin, the head of the penis is also usually affected;
- For women, a rash in the area of the labia minora is typical.
Psoriasis of palms and feet
The localization sites for this form of pathology are palms and feet. Plaques have a callus-like shape with a dense surface, later psoriasis phenomena such as terminal film and bloody dew appear. Cracks sometimes form on the affected surface, which causes physical discomfort while walking.
The symptoms of the disease can be alleviated with the use of special ointments and medicines.
Nail psoriasis
Early signs of nail psoriasis include:
- separation of the nail plate;
- fragility of nails, their thickening;
- change in the color of the nail plate;
- the appearance of white transverse stripes, dots and spots on the nail;
- bleeding under the nail plate.
Patients whose relatives suffer from psoriasis and any of its forms are more susceptible to psoriatic onychodystrophy, so these people should be more careful about their health, especially the condition of their nails.
Guttate psoriasis
The pathology appears mainly on the thighs, the papules are teardrops, which actually explains the etymology of the name of this type of disease. Over time, rashes appear on other areas of the skin, which indicates the progress of the disease.
To summarize, we can mention the main rules that should be followed during psoriasis:
- the occurrence of autoimmune pathology indicates that there are disorders in the work of all body systems, especially the immune system;
- If the disease is detected in the early stages, you should immediately contact a dermatologist and do not self-medicate, which can lead to the development of the disease and deterioration of health.