One of the most mysterious autoimmune diseases is psoriasis. The disease cannot be completely cured, affects patients of different age categories and manifests itself in the form of prominent red-pink spots. If you have the necessary information, you can recognize the first signs of psoriasis yourself, but in order to accurately diagnose the pathology and prescribe a course of treatment, you need to contact a specialist. Timely detection of the pathology helps to quickly reduce symptoms and gives a greater chance of achieving long-term remission.
The presented material contains information about the first manifestations of psoriasis in women and men. In addition, the article gives a detailed answer to the question of how to recognize psoriasis in the initial stage and what to do to avoid the progression of the disease.
Causes of the disease
Before moving on to the signs of the disease, it is necessary to get better acquainted with the causes of its occurrence.
More 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.
The most justified among them are:
- immune;
- genetic.
Since psoriasis belongs to the category of autoimmune diseases and the dysfunction of the immune system can actually provoke the development of the disease, which has been repeatedly proven, the immune theory is the most justified.
However, the importance of the genetic theory should not be underestimated, because according to statistical studies, the probability of a patient whose parents have psoriasis to be affected is 70%.
Factors contributing to the manifestation of signs of psoriasis:
- abuse of fatty foods, foods with a high content of emulsifiers, swelling agents, dyes and other food additives;
- excessive consumption of alcohol;
- 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.
Beginning of psoriasis, general signs of the disease
There are several forms of psoriasis, each with specific signs and symptoms. However, some manifestations of the disease, the appearance of which indicates the development of the disease, are inherent in all forms of pathology.
Beginning of psoriasis, signs (common to all forms of the disease):
- the appearance of pimples (papules) on the skin;
- increase in the affected area, spread of the rash;
- lamination of the nail plate;
- peeling of the skin;
- the appearance of blisters on the palms and feet;
- the appearance of burning and itching.
More information!The first signs of psoriasis in women are identical to those that appear in men and children. The nature of the rash, which appears in the initial stages of the development of the pathology, is mistaken for an allergic one, but the nature and causes of this lesion are somewhat different.
The first symptoms of psoriasis in different forms of the disease
Most often, patients are exposed to the following forms of psoriasis:
- Vulgar or simple psoriasis;
- seborrhoeic;
- Psoriasis of the soles and palms;
- Nail psoriasis;
- Inverse or fold psoriasis;
- Teardrop shaped.
Let's dwell in more detail on the signs and symptoms of these forms of pathology.
Signs of psoriasis vulgaris
Psoriasis vulgaris can be diagnosed in the early stages. The first signs of this form of the disease are expressed in the appearance of rounded pink-red plaques covered with silver scales, which after some time begin to peel off and itch.
In some cases, the appearance of plaques may be preceded by the formation of papules on the scalp and joints (elbows, ankles and knees).
Note!In the initial stage of the disease, the papules formed on the epidermis may not 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 a psoriatic rash from manifestations of an allergic reaction:
- psoriatic papules peel off easily;
- when a papular rash is scraped, extreme film phenomena appear;
- Further scraping of the papule leads to the appearance of small droplets of blood.
A peculiarity of the psoriatic rash, which distinguishes it from the signs of other diseases, is the fact that in the summer the affected area decreases or even disappears completely, and in the winter it increases.
Seborrheic psoriasis
The first signs of seborrheic psoriasis appear on the scalp, later the pathology spreads to the shoulders and the skin of the face. The danger of this form lies in its secretive nature, since, unlike ordinary 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 flaking, many patients use special anti-dandruff shampoos, confusing psoriasis with ordinary seborrhea.
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 initial 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 of the shoulders, ears, forehead and face. The next stages of development of the 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 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 (fold psoriasis)
Characteristics of inverse psoriasis:
- the location of the disease is the folds under the armpits, on the genitals, in the groin, under the mammary glands;
- psoriatic patches are shiny, 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 as a result of increased sweating;
- signs of psoriasis in men - rashes on the inner surface of the foreskin, usually the head of the penis is also affected;
- For women, a rash in the area of the labia minora is typical.
Psoriasis of the palms and soles
The places for localization of this form of pathology are the palms and feet. Plaques have a callus-like shape with a dense surface, subsequently such phenomena of psoriasis as a terminal film and bloody dew appear. Sometimes cracks form on the affected surface, which causes physical discomfort when walking.
The symptoms of the disease can be alleviated by the use of special ointments and medicines.
Nail psoriasis
The first 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;
- formation of hemorrhages 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 attentive to their health, especially to the condition of the nails.
Guttate psoriasis
The pathology appears mainly on the thighs, the papules are teardrop-shaped, which actually explains the etymology of the name of this type of disease. Over time, rashes form in other areas of the skin, which indicates the progression of the disease.
Summarizing, we can highlight the main rules that must be followed in psoriasis:
- the appearance of autoimmune pathology indicates the presence of disorders in the functioning of the systems of the whole body, in particular the immune system;
- If the disease is detected in the early stages, you should immediately contact a dermatologist and not self-medicate, which can lead to the development of the disease and deterioration of health.