Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious disease, a dermatosis, mainly affecting the skin.The autoimmune nature of this disease is currently assumed.Psoriasis usually manifests itself in the formation of red, excessively dry, raised spots above the surface of the skin - the so-called papules, which merge with each other and form plaques.These papules are by nature sites of chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of skin lymphocytes, macrophages, and keratinocytes, as well as excessive angiogenesis (formation of new small capillaries).
It occurs with equal frequency in men and women and lasts for years with alternating periods of relapses and remissions.It is one of the most common, difficult to treat and often severe dermatoses.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a widespread chronic skin disease characterized by a monomorphic rash of flat papules that tend to coalesce into large plaques that quickly become covered with loose silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis is characterized by periods of worsening (relapses) and temporary well-being, when the manifestations of the disease become milder.This disease is not infectious and the patient is not dangerous to others.Because the occurrence of psoriasis is not related to microorganisms.
The primary element of psoriasis is a single pink or red papule that is covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.
As a rule, psoriasis does not disturb the usual rhythm of life of the sick person.The only inconvenience is peeling and inflammatory processes on the skin.Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure this disease, but it is quite possible to stop its development or prevent relapses.To do this, it is enough to follow all the doctor's prescriptions and undergo systemic treatment in a hospital.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is absolutely not contagious.Not a single case of human-to-human transmission of the disease has been recorded.The causative agents of the disease are not infections and microbes that are potentially dangerous to others, but leukocytes produced by the patient's body.
It is impossible for a healthy person to contract psoriasis from a sick person.Psoriasis is not transmitted:
- In case of skin contact, by using the same household items as the patient (bed linen, towels, dishes).
- Through saliva, sweat.
- Sexually.
- In caring for the sick.
- Through blood.
Classification
Experts distinguish two forms:
Non-pustular form of psoriasis
what is itThis form of the disease differs from others in its stable course.The non-pustular form of psoriasis is characterized by damage to almost the entire surface of the body.This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- vulgar, plain, or tabla.
Simple psoriasis is quite common;up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with a vulgar form of this disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to a fatal outcome - the death of the patient.In the disease, there is a violation of the function of thermoregulation and a decrease in the barrier function of the skin.
Pustulous
- pustular background of Zumbusch or generalized pustule
- palmoplantaris (pustular psoriasis of the extremities, chronic persistent palmoplantaris pustulosis)
- Annular pustular
- palmoplantar
- psoriatic impetigo herpetiformis
| Psoriasis stage | Percentage damage |
| A cure | less than 3% of the skin is affected |
| Average | 3-10% of the skin is covered with psoriatic plaques |
| heavy | has joint lesions or more than 10% of the skin is affected. |
How psoriasis begins: the first signs
In most cases, identifying psoriasis is quite easy, since the disease is not similar to other skin pathologies.Allergic rashes have a smaller gauge than psoriatic spots, and medical history shows that patients practically do not suffer from swelling of the skin, as in allergies
The initial symptoms and signs of psoriasis differ in the main characteristics that the doctor will rely on when making the diagnosis:
- the appearance of a limited pink spot of varying intensity;
- skin itching in the area of psoriatic lesions;
- exfoliation of a large amount of epidermis of various sizes;
- characteristic whitish color of peeling;
- the appearance of grouped almost white or gray crusts that do not go beyond the boundaries of the psoriatic spot;
- dry skin.
Psoriasis is characterized by three distinctive features:
- "Stearin stain effect".When scraping the poster, the small and transparent scales come off easily.
- "Terminal Movie Effect".If you remove the scales, the skin in this area will be thin, shiny and red.
- "The Blood Dew Effect."After scraping, small drops of blood appear on the skin.
reasons
Experts cannot identify the exact and sole culprit of the disease, but repeated studies have shown that the disease is autoimmune, which means that it depends on the functioning of the immune system.
For some unknown reason, immune cells designed to protect the body from malignant changes and bacterial and viral damage penetrate the upper layers of the skin and produce substances that trigger the inflammatory process.The result of this activity is proliferation - accelerated division of skin cells.
According to another theory, psoriasis develops due to disruption of the keratinocyte life cycle.
Possible causes of psoriasis:
- Heredity.According to the latest data of scientists, psoriasis is classified as a genotypic dermatosis with a dominant type of transmission.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.When cutaneous psoriasis is suspected, changes in these blood profiles often occur, contributing to the development of cardiovascular pathology, endocrine dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome.
- The presence of a chronic infectious focus in the body.When examining psoriatic plaques, streptococcal flora is often found.The appearance of genetic abnormalities can be influenced by viral and bacterial infections, for example, tonsillitis, influenza.
- Climatic conditions - dry and hot weather can affect the progression of psoriasis, intensify skin manifestations or, on the contrary, weaken them;
- Anxiety or stress - as mentioned above, stress overexertion directly affects the course of psoriatic disease;
- Damage to the skin - wounds facilitate infection and this leads to intoxication of the body due to inflammatory processes, therefore the appearance of psoriasis can cause minor damage, but provided that there are concomitant diseases;
- Infections - outbreaks of psoriasis can be caused by the presence of pathogenic purulent, inflammatory areas, especially for pathologies in childhood.
One theory suggests the existence of two variants of the disease:
- Psoriasis type I– is inherited in the presence of an immune factor, more than 60% of all patients under the age of 30 suffer from this form, the prognosis is good, the treatment is carried out for life.
- Psoriasis type II- occurs more often at the age of over 45, is not related to disorders in the work of the immune system, most often affects the nail plates and joints.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Skin psoriasis can develop at any age.But often the first case of its manifestation occurs in young and elderly people from 18 to 40 years old.There are no gender differences.Men and women suffer from this disease equally often.
| Signs of psoriatic papules | |
| form | round |
| edges | clear |
| Color | hot pink or red |
| Scale color | silvery white |
The first rashes, as a rule, are formed at the site of wounds, scratches, frostbite, burns and on areas of the body that are constantly exposed to friction.They may itch, but this is not the main symptom.
Depending on the characteristics of the rash, the following forms of psoriasis are divided:
- Point psoriasis - the size of the elements is smaller than the head of a pin.
- Teardrop-shaped papules have the shape of a teardrop and reach the size of a lentil grain.
- Coin-shaped - plaques grow to 3-5 mm and have rounded edges.
The forms of the rash are also distinguished when its elements look like rings, rainbows and garlands, geographical maps with jagged edges.
The general clinical picture and symptoms of psoriasis vary significantly depending on the stage of the disease.Dermatologists distinguish 3 stages that develop sequentially:
- Progressive.New skin lesions constantly appear, as well as active proliferation of existing plaques with severe peeling and itching.
- Stationary.The growth of papules on the body stops slightly, new formations do not appear, but thickened folds appear on the surface of the skin, near the plaques.
- Regression.The spread of the disease and the increase in peeling are not observed.When the signs of psoriasis disappear, areas of significant pigmentation remain on the body.
The alternation of these stages leads to the wavelike nature of relapses and remissions.A patient may have different stages of the disease in different areas of the skin.
Initial psoriasis is expressed in the appearance of papules, which are small, scaly nodules.They are dark pink in color, firm to the touch and slightly raised above the surface of the skin.
The first sign of psoriasis can be the appearance of a rash in the areas of the body that are most likely to be subjected to friction, and the skin in these areas is dry.These are the places:
- palms or elbows;
- below the knees;
- shins;
- lateral parts of the lower back;
- inguinal folds;
- scalp.
The initial stage of psoriasis on the skin is barely noticeable and does not cause discomfort to the patient.But early treatment will help to avoid severe forms of this disease, in which fingernails and toenails, mucous membranes, and then human joints are affected.
According to statistics, psoriatic plaques are most often found:
- on the outer surface of the joints;
- on the back and abdomen;
- on the front of the thighs and forearms.
This is different from eczema, where the rash affects the inside of the limbs and the folds between the toes.