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 raised red-pink spots. If you have the necessary information, you can recognize the first signs of psoriasis yourself, but to accurately diagnose the pathology and prescribe a course of treatment, you need to contact a specialist. Timely detection of 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 become more familiar with the causes of its occurrence.
Additional information!The exact cause of the disease is currently unknown to science. There are a number of scientific theories that explain the occurrence of the disease.
The most justified of 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 theory of immunity is more justified.
However, the importance of the genetic theory should not be underestimated, since according to statistical studies, the probability that a patient whose parents have psoriasis is affected is 70%.
Factors that contribute to the appearance of psoriasis symptoms:
- misuse of fatty foods, foods with a high emulsifying content, drying agents, colors 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.
The onset of psoriasis, the 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.
The onset of psoriasis, signs (common to all forms of the disease):
- the appearance of pimples (papules) on the skin;
- growth in the affected area, spreading of the rash;
- lamination of the nail plate;
- skin peeling;
- the appearance of blisters on the palms and feet;
- the appearance of burning and itching.
Additional information!The first signs of psoriasis in women are identical to those that appear in men and children. The nature of the rash that appears in the initial stages of the development of the pathology is mistakenly confused with an allergic one, but the nature, as well as the 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;
- Seborrheic;
- Psoriasis of the soles and palms;
- Psoriasis of the nails;
- Inverse or folding psoriasis;
- Tear 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 by the appearance of rounded pink-red plaques covered with silver scales, which after a certain time begin to peel and itch.
In some cases, the appearance of plaques can be preceded by the formation of papules on the scalp and joints (elbows, ankles and knees).
Note!In the initial stage of the disease, papules formed on the epidermis may not bother the patient for a long time. They do not cause pain, are barely noticeable and do not itch, so some patients mistakenly confuse them with allergies.
How to distinguish a psoriatic rash from the manifestations of an allergic reaction:
- psoriatic papules are easy to peel;
- when a papular rash is itched, terminal film phenomena appear;
- Further scratching of the papule leads to the appearance of small drops of blood.
A feature of psoriatic rash that distinguishes it from the signs of other diseases is the fact that in summer the affected area decreases or disappears completely and in winter it increases.
Seborrheic psoriasis
The first signs of seborrheic psoriasis appear on the scalp, later the pathology spreads to the shoulders and facial skin. The danger of this form lies in its secret nature, since, unlike simple vulgar psoriasis, seborrheic psoriasis is not characterized by the formation of papules; sometimes it can appear only in the form of the scalp. To get rid of the skin, many patients use special anti-dandruff shampoos, confusing psoriasis with ordinary seborrhea.
Important!After discovering 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, this significantly increases the chances of reducing the symptoms of the disease and achieving long-term remission.
If treatment for seborrheic psoriasis is not prescribed in time, the disease gradually affects the skin of the shoulders, ears, forehead and face. The later stages of the development of the pathology are characterized by the appearance of plaques, increased burning and itching. Removing these symptoms is much more difficult than removing the skin 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 armpit, in the genitals, in the groin, under the mammary glands;
- psoriatic spots 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 that comes from increased sweating;
- signs of psoriasis in men - redness 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 localization sites for this form of pathology are the palms and feet. The plaques have a callus-like shape with a dense surface; then such psoriasis phenomena as terminal film and bloody dew appear. Cracks sometimes form on the affected surface, which causes physical discomfort while walking.
Symptoms of the disease can be alleviated with the use of ointments and special medications.
Psoriasis of the nails
Early signs of nail psoriasis include:
- separation of the nail plate;
- fragility of nails, their thickness;
- change in the color of the nail plate;
- the appearance of white transverse lines, dots and spots on the nail;
- the formation of hemorrhages under the nail plate.
Patients whose relatives suffer from psoriasis, and from any of its forms, are more susceptible to psoriatic onychodystrophy, so these individuals should be more attentive to their health, especially to the condition of the nails.
Pharyngeal psoriasis
The pathology appears mainly on the thigh, 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.
To summarize, we can single out the basic rules that must be followed in the case of psoriasis:
- the appearance of an autoimmune pathology indicates the presence of disturbances in the functioning of the whole body's systems, 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.