Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.Such a division will help in diagnosis and proper therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population has characteristic abnormalities in DNA, and only 2% of them show signs of a disorder in the functioning of the skin.
The appearance of pathology is provoked by the following factors:
- strong emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- certain medications;
- endocrine diseases;
- predisposition to allergies;
Due to an incorrect reaction of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissue as foreign elements, the first signs of the disease appear.Let's look at the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
Initial stage of psoriasis
The first sign isthe appearance of a pimple(papules).The shape is round, the color is reddish or pink.On the lower limbs, due to slow blood flow, manifestations of a bluish tint may appear.Papular formations are small, about the size of the head of a pin.
The early stage is characterizedmultiple papules, which have clearly defined boundaries.Whitish scales also appear.They easily separate from the surface when touched.Papules can merge into one, forming larger elements.
During remission at an early stage, the rashes become pale.The affected areas of the skin become partially discolored.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergies or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that can help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, looks like a broken drop of stearin, the scales come off;
- if you continue to scrape the spot and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- When scraped, small drops of blood appear.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
During 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 on damage.
- During an exacerbation, the papular elements grow and merge.They are clearly distinguishable from healthy areas of skin.
- The itching intensifies.But it disappears when the process enters a stationary phase.Painful and intrusive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the lid, injuries and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of injury is Koebner's syndrome.The number of itchy manifestations increases gradually and covers the torso, limbs and head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the plaques;they are hyperemic, indicating a continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have negative effects on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Then severe joint pain and deformity occur if the process is not treated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main characteristic of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing.Positive changes come from proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- itching disappears;
- no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- peeling may increase.
All spots stop developing.If during the progressive stage the plaques had a border without scales, then during the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the skin will peel off and acquire a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Flakes 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 cover them completely.In half of the cases it appearspseudoatrophic corolla.
Pseudoatrophic corolla
It appears as a slight rim around the element, which has a structure reminiscent of rough tissue paper, consisting of a horn layer and not exceeding two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
With the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriatic cycle ends.Features:
- the aggravation process stops, the inflammation disappears;
- plaques gradually dissolve;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash become flattened;
- rashes become pale pink and gradually discolor;
- papules may still remain on the hands and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy of the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas without pigment may appear at the site of the rash.
After complex therapy, remission occurs.The relief period varies from person to person..The disease can last several months or even years in a latent form.Exacerbations occur more often in winter, except for a few forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis at different stages
Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods and diet correction.At an early stage of therapy, it is necessary:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments that contain vitamin A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic and sedative drugs;
- underwent 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 physician.Long-term use of drugs (especially with tar) can cause skin irritation.Products should be changed every 7 days.
Treatment of early-stage psoriasis
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures at an early stage depends on when the patient came to the doctor and started the treatment.
Early therapy in most cases helps to prevent the chronicity of the disease.
Experts recommend using an ointment with salicylic acid.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 clear the plaque from keratinized parts of the skin.Naphthalene ointment will help relieve itching.
The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- tar-based;
- based on solid oil;
- petroleum based.
Recently, psoriasis drops and oil have appeared.The product can soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent the skin from drying out and relieve puffiness.The drug contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, they are smaller and the skin is better moisturized.It is recommended to be used in combination with other drugs and after consultation with a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in a progressive stage
Therapy should be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite severe;treatment should be trusted only to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs.Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are relieved by ointment with salicylic acid and emollient emulsions.They moisturize and remove inflammation.During an exacerbation, you should not use drugs containing tar or other irritating components.
Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin baths) are best carried out in the period of reduction of inflammation.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complicated.
They prescribe antihistamines (reduce the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatory, keratolytics (softening), diuretics (relieve swelling, remove toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary stage
The patient needs a slight adjustment of the therapy.Tar shampoos, oil emulsions, and calcipotriol are usually prescribed.Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the skin.Ultraviolet irradiation and PUVA techniques are widely used.
In the absence of effect, some cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, cytostatic.
Treatment of psoriasis in a regressive stage
Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis should be comprehensive and adjusted 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 the observance of a strict diet and lifestyle correction.Stress can be a powerful provoking factor, significantly worsening the condition at the beginning of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, hand rashes can be treated with sea salt baths or by mixing baby cream with powder and smearing the plaques with this mixture.
Complementary therapies
A patient with psoriasis has a deficiency of vitamins that affect the regulation of metabolic processes and have a blood-purifying, sedative and restorative effect.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid, etc.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly, and also in droppers.
The division of pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists correctly identify one or another stage, facilitates diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if all the rules for complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can last a long time hidden and not prevent a person from living a full life.