Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.Such a section will help in diagnosis and proper treatment.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population has characteristic DNA abnormalities, and only 2% of them have symptoms of skin disorders.
The appearance of pathology is caused by the following factors:
- severe emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain medications;
- endocrine diseases;
- tendency to allergies;
The first signs of the disease appear due to the improper reaction of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissue as foreign elements.Let's review the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
The initial stage of psoriasis
It is the first signthe appearance of a pimple(papules).The shape is round, the color is red or pink.In the lower extremities, manifestations of a blue color may occur due to slow blood flow.Papular formations are small, the size of a pinhead.
The early stage is characterizedmultiple papuleswith clearly defined boundaries.Whitish scales are also visible.They are easily separated from the surface when touched.Papules can merge to form larger elements.
In the early phase, the rash fades during remission.The affected areas of the skin become partially discolored.This stage of psoriasis in children is often confused with the manifestations of allergies or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plate turns white, the stearin looks like a crushed drop, the scales peel off;
- if you continue to rub the stain and remove the scales, a bright red surface will appear;
- Small drops of blood appear when itching.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
In the advanced stage of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules turn red and continue to be covered with white scales.They peel off easily, revealing a smooth layer of reddened skin underneath.Blood appears when damaged.
- During exacerbation, the papular elements grow and merge.They clearly differ from healthy areas of the skin.
- Itching intensifies.But when the process enters the stationary phase, it goes away.Painful and obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the coating, damage and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of injury is Koebner's syndrome.The number of itching manifestations is increasing and covers the torso, limbs and head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the boards;they are hyperemic, which indicates that the inflammatory process is ongoing.
Results
Psoriasis can adversely affect the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Then, if the process is not treated, severe joint pain and deformity occur.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main feature of the stationary stage of psoriasis is the cessation of the appearance of new elements.Positive changes occur with proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- itching disappears;
- there are no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- crusting may increase.
All spots stop developing.If in the advanced stage the plaques had a border without scales, in the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the skin will peel off and take on a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not keep up with the progressive growth of plaques and cannot completely cover them.It appears in half of the casespseudoatrophic crown.
Pseudoatrophic corolla
It looks like a light ring around an element with a structure reminiscent of rough tissue paper, consisting of a stratum corneum and no more than two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
The psoriatic period ends with the regressive stage of psoriasis.Characteristic features:
- the exacerbation process stops, the inflammation goes away;
- plaques are gradually dissolved;
- the peeling stops, the rash elements are flattened;
- rashes are pale pink and gradually discolor;
- papules may still remain on the arms and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy in the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas without pigment may occur at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The relief period varies from person to person..The disease can last for several months or even years in a latent form.Exacerbations occur more often in winter, with the exception of several forms of psoriasis.
Psoriasis treatment at different stages
Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods and adjustment of diet.In the early stages of therapy, you need:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments with vitamin A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic and sedative drugs;
- undergoing ultraviolet therapy.
If the plaques are located on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.
All products should be used as prescribed by a doctor.Long-term use of drugs (especially with tar) can cause skin irritation.Products should be changed every 7 days.
Early stage psoriasis treatment
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures in the early stage depends on the time when the patient comes to the doctor and starts treatment.
Early therapy prevents the chronicity of the disease in most cases.
Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment.It is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on the affected skin areas.Using the keratolytic effect, the ointment will clean the plaque of keratinized parts.Mothball ointment will help relieve itching.
The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- based on tar;
- based on solid oil;
- oil based.
Some time ago, drops and ointments for psoriasis appeared.The product soothes the skin, moisturizes it, prevents the skin from drying out and relieves swelling.The drug contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver oil, propolis, pumpkin oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, their number is smaller and the skin is better moisturized.It is recommended to use together with other drugs and after consulting a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in the advanced stage
Therapy should be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite severe;treatment should be entrusted only to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular injection of special drugs.Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are eliminated with salicylic acid ointment and emollient emulsions.They moisturize and relieve inflammation.During an exacerbation, you should not use drugs with tar or other irritating components.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet radiation, paraffin baths) are best performed during the period of reduction of inflammation.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complicated.
Prescribe antihistamines (reduce the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatory, keratolytics (softening), diuretics (eliminate swelling, remove toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary phase
The patient needs some adjustment of the therapy.Salt shampoos, oily emulsions and calcipotriol are usually prescribed.When the disease affects large areas of the skin, systemic therapy is used.Ultraviolet radiation and PUVA methods are widely used.
If there is no effect, some cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, cytotastic.
Treatment of psoriasis in the regressive stage
In the final stage of psoriasis, therapy should be comprehensive and regulated by a specialist.Therapy is gradually canceled and replaced by preventive measures.Treatment at all stages is carried out carefully;under no circumstances should the rash be damaged.
Of particular importance is to follow a strict diet and lifestyle correction.Stress can be a strong inciting factor that significantly aggravates the condition at the onset of the disease.
In addition to drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated by bathing with sea salt or mixing baby cream with string powder and applying this mixture to the plaques.
Additional treatments
A patient with psoriasis has a vitamin deficiency that affects the regulation of metabolic processes and has a blood-cleansing, calming and restorative effect.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly, and also in drops.
The division of pathology into different stages is a conventional measure that helps specialists to correctly identify one or another stage and facilitates diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and does not prevent a person from leading a full life.