Psoriasis is a chronic dermatological skin disease. Psoriasis is expressed in the form of papules (swollen spots) with a red color. In recent years, the disease has become increasingly common in people between the ages of 20 and 30. Unfortunately, the current level of medicine cannot prevent the spread of the disease. Why does psoriasis occur, what should be the effective treatment? Let's find out in more detail.
Causes of the disease
There are many different types of assumptions in the world about what causes psoriasis. However, this issue has not been fully studied in medicine. There are various theories, but where psoriasis comes from is still unclear.
There are two main types of psoriasis: due to a hereditary factor (there is a change in the immune system) and the so-called. "Late onset type" - after 40 years (affected areas - nails and joints).
Why does psoriasis occur?
At the modern level of medicine, psoriasis is seen as a failure of the body's integral system, not as a separate disease. In addition to the typical skin rashes, patients suffer from dysfunction of the endocrine system, nervous and immune.
There is no single answer to the question of what causes psoriasis. There are several typical theories about psoriasis. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Immune theory
The immune theory is recognized by many doctors around the world. According to this theory, psoriasis occurs due to dysfunction of the body's immune system. What causes psoriasis on the body? Typical papules (bright red spots) appear as a result of autoimmune aggression. The immune system perceives skin cells as foreign, so it gradually rejects them. In their place appear characteristic papules.
Doctors have long found that psoriasis can develop against the background of ongoing infectious diseases: sinusitis, tonsillitis. This theory has a right to exist, because the dysfunction of the immune system and provokes psoriasis. When examining papule scales, the researchers found that they contained antigenic complexes that were not characteristic of healthy cells. There are antibodies to these complexes in the blood, so rejection occurs - papules form.
Low immunity is a fertile ground for the development of psoriasis.
At the genetic level
Unfortunately, psoriasis can be inherited. However, it should be borne in mind that it is not the disease that is transmitted at the genetic level, but the predisposition to it. This fact is confirmed by direct statistics: 60% of patients with psoriasis have blood relatives who have the same diagnosis.
If one of the parents has this disease, then the probability of psoriasis in a child is 25%. If both parents suffer from psoriasis, the risk increases to 75%.
Scientists have shown that the disease is directly related to the chromosomal region, which determines the level of the inflammatory response in the skin. However, genetic predisposition cannot be considered a major cause of psoriasis.
Some peoples are resistant to psoriasis. Among them are the Indians living in the Andes, the Eskimos. These peoples have genetic characteristics, thanks to which their representatives never get psoriasis.
Endocrine theory
What causes psoriasis in adults? According to endocrine theory, psoriasis may be the result of hormonal dysfunction. This theory was presented by doctors after careful analysis of the course of the disease itself. It is believed that excessive production of skin cells is the result of a violation of the regulatory function of the body. Accordingly, due to dysfunction of the endocrine system.
During hormonal surges in women (ovulation and menstruation) and during pregnancy, psoriasis is activated. So far, however, scientists have not identified a hormone that affects the appearance of psoriasis as such. For this reason, endocrine theory cannot be said to be fundamental.
Neurogenic theory
Neurogenic theory is considered one of the newest. According to her, psoriasis arises "from the nerves", respectively, the psychological factors are to blame. Psoriasis provokes neurosis. As a result of neurosis, the blood vessels are narrowed, the blood supply to the skin is weakened, due to which papules are formed.
It is therefore not for nothing that all the people around, when asked what causes psoriasis, immediately answer that it is from the nerves.
According to a number of studies, it is clear that stress, deep inner experiences, nerve shocks are stimuli for the appearance of skin rashes.
Viral theory
There is also a viral theory. In its framework, doctors claim that psoriasis can occur as a result of infection. In fact, during infectious diseases, papules appear more often and lymph nodes enlarge. However, some doctors attribute such changes to the weakening of the immune system as a whole.
Throughout the history of the disease, no specific pathogen has been identified to provoke the appearance and development of psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a disease that is not transmitted by contact. No cases of infection with this disease have been reported, even after transfusion from an infected person to a patient.
Disorders in metabolic processes
During psoriasis, many patients have a low temperature, high cholesterol levels, impaired metabolism of vitamins, carbohydrates and trace elements. All this shows signs of metabolic disorders in the body.
As a result of repeated studies of patients with psoriasis, doctors have come to the conclusion that one of the causes of the disease lies in the violation of metabolic processes.
Factors that trigger the onset of psoriasis
To understand exactly what causes psoriasis, it is necessary to outline the range of factors that can provoke its appearance. Among the most powerful factors are the following:
- stress, negative emotions, mental trauma, emotional and physical fatigue are fertile ground for the recurrence of psoriasis;
- infectious diseases, vaccination;
- changes in the body at the hormonal level (during puberty, during pregnancy, lactation);
- physical injury: scratch, burn, bite, frostbite;
- taking certain medications: antibiotics, vitamin complexes, immunostimulants;
- with improper nutrition (abundance of sweet, fatty, fried and alcohol in the diet);
- when the climate changes (unfavorable conditions - humid climate, sudden temperature changes);
- in the presence of other dermatological diseases: dermatitis, fungus.
The cause of psoriasis may lie in one of the factors. Therefore, a patient suffering from this disease should minimize the manifestation of the above external factors influencing relapse.
The main symptoms
Psoriasis can occur at any age, including children. In addition, the earlier the disease appears, the more precisely it will eventually progress to an advanced stage.
How psoriasis appears, the photos below demonstrate: the formation of a rash, cracks, papules on the surface of the skin (red spots with white scales).
The first signs of psoriasis are:
- cracks and purulent rashes on the skin;
- the nail plate is exfoliated;
- blisters appear on the palms and soles of the feet;
- the skin is highly exfoliated;
- itching in the area of the papules.
As the disease progresses, the number of papules increases to 10 cm. The skin in the affected areas is sensitive, but the hairline remains.
There are different forms of psoriasis:
- simple - spreads on the skin of the feet (in the unfolding surface of the knees), the papules are covered with white scales;
- seborrheic psoriasis usually occurs in people who additionally suffer from seborrhea; this disease is characterized by the appearance of yellow papules, which stick together with sebum, they do not succumb to the inflammatory process and are localized mainly in the scalp, behind the ears and on the face;
- arthropathic psoriasis - papules appear at the site of joints, feet and hands, due to which the disease interferes with their normal mobility;
- reverse - papules are localized in the natural folds of the body, often this form of the disease is adjacent to problems in the endocrine system of the body;
- tearful psoriasis may appear on the head, from which psoriasis with this form arises - it is not known for sure;
- nail psoriasis - the disease manifests itself exclusively on the nail plates - they thicken and deform, the nails affected by the disease look like a bird's beak;
- psoriatic erythroderma is an extremely severe form of psoriasis, which is characterized by fusion of plaques; if the patient's case is ignored, then the plaques can cover the whole body. As side effects: swelling, scaling, redness, severe itching and extremely bad.
What causes psoriasis of the hands? The reasons are purely individual.
There are various factors and theories that have not been fully proven. However, many doctors agree that the causes of psoriasis may lie in disorders of the immune, nervous and endocrine systems.
Stages of psoriasis
There are three stages of psoriasis:
- Progressive stage - characterized by rashes of bright red color with a possible increase in the amount. If you do not start treatment in time, the disease will progress.
- Stationary stage - new papules do not appear, and those on the skin have stopped growing.
- Regressive stage - the papules noticeably notice, the size decreases and the peeling becomes smaller or stops altogether.
A professional consultation with a dermatologist is required to correctly diagnose and determine the stage of psoriasis. With the help of visual examination, laboratory tests and microscopy, he will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the existing stage.
Psoriasis: what to do?
Psoriasis is a complex disease that takes a long time to treat. Relapses often occur even after prolonged remission of the disease. The main goal of treatment is to eliminate skin rashes. Therefore, it is necessary to prescribe treatment individually, relying on the development of the disease, the accompanying symptoms and relapses.
External and internal remedies are distinguished among the main methods of treatment.
External treatment of psoriasis:
- ointment on a solid, lanolin and fat basis;
- pine tar;
- naphthalene;
- mustard ointment;
- hormonal ointments (usually prescribed by a doctor in the progressive stage of the disease).
Internal means of protection:
- vitamin complex;
- sedatives;
- tranquilizer, neuroleptic;
- hypnotic;
- antidepressant;
- antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- metabolic stimulant;
- immunopharmaceutical agent.
In addition to medical treatment, the patient should eliminate from the diet sweet, fried, spicy, smoked foods. Do not eat ice cream, coffee, soft drinks, mushrooms or pickled foods.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that is not transmitted by contact. The causes and factors for the appearance of psoriasis are striking in their variety, so that almost anyone can be at risk. That is why you need to be careful about your own health and strengthen your immune system. Avoid stressful situations and nervous tension! Think first and imagine how stress can be for you in the future. Be healthy!