Psoriasisis a chronic inflammatory skin disease. This is a genetic disease that manifests itself in the form of characteristic formations on the patient's body: visible to the eye papules or plaques of pink-red color, the surface of which is scaly and covered with scales. The disease, as a rule, is accompanied by severe itching and pain, causing suffering to patients, both physically and morally. Psoriatic rashes can occur on any part of the body, but are most common on the patient's scalp, elbows and arms. Chronic psoriasis on the head especially often causes moral discomfort to patients, as it can not be hidden under clothing.
What is the origin of the name of the disease "psoriasis"?
The name of the disease "psoriasis" comes from the Greek word - Psora - itching. In fact, itching on rough, flaky, silvery-white skin, difficult to treat, is a typical picture of the manifestation of this disease.
Who is affected by this disease?
A disease such as skin psoriasis affects approximately 3-5% of the population in different countries. Men and women alike. Psoriasis can develop at any age, but usually first appears around the age of 20, often earlier in women than in men. However, Medical On Group has compiled impressive statistics on the treatment of children and the elderly suffering from this disease.
In addition to heredity, psoriasis has the following causes:
- excessive division of skin cells;
- stress;
- reduced immunity after illness.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Is psoriasis contagious?
Ordinary psoriasis vulgaris is a hereditary, genetic disease accompanied by metabolic disorders, endocrine glands, lesions of the immune system. Psoriasis is not contagious! This is not an external infection and you do not need to be afraid or avoid people suffering from this disease.
Is it possible that children of parents with psoriasis also have this disease?
Since we are talking about a hereditary, genetic disease, there is such a probability and it is quite high: if both parents suffer from psoriasis, then the children will be sick with this disease with a probability of approximately 33, 3%.
Is it good for patients to spend as much time in the sun as possible?
It is generally accepted that a certain amount of sunlight contributes to the treatment of psoriasis, but in some cases sun exposure, on the contrary, can exacerbate the process. However, before any medical procedure and if any changes in the condition of the skin are detected, it is recommended to consult a professional dermatologist.
What causes recurrent outbreaks and weakening of the disease?
Experience has shown that mental stress, stress and neurosis, unhealthy lifestyle and diet cause exacerbations of psoriasis. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for the disease to worsen, more precisely as a response to irrationally formulated treatment.
Do smoking and drinking affect the course of the disease?
Yes, that's right. Smoking and drinking alcohol adversely affect the development of the disease, can contribute to exacerbation of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis. Is it possible to?
Hereditary psoriasis of the legs, arms or head is one of the most common but difficult to treat skin conditions. Psoriasis is characterized by scaly redness on the skin, the appearance of which is not caused by infection but by increased cell division. In a healthy person, the complete renewal of skin cells occurs in almost a month, and in a patient - seven times faster.
Exacerbations of psoriasis can be caused by stress and physical strain, wounds and cuts on the skin, streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract and drug reactions. Unfortunately, it is impossible to protect ourselves from all this, which means that medicine is still not able to prevent an attack of the disease or cure it completely. But modern dermatologists are quite capable of controlling the course of psoriasis by choosing effective methods of treating the symptoms.
Can psoriasis be cured forever?
Since we are talking about a hereditary, genetic disease, the treatment of psoriasis offered by modern medicine comes down to eliminating the external manifestations of the disease, cleansing the patient's skin from rashes for a long time.