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How psoriasis begins: symptoms, photos, treatment

Psoriasis is one of the most common skin pathologies.It can occur in patients of any age.The etiology of the disease has not yet been fully established, so it is impossible to completely cure psoriasis.That is why it is so important to recognize it at the initial stage of development.In this article we will see what psoriasis is, how it occurs and how to treat it.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a polyetiological skin disease manifested by a monomorphic rash. The pathology is chronic.Psoriasis occurs in waves, with periods of possible relapses and remissions.

A relapse can be caused by lack of adequate treatment, alcohol abuse, stress, etc.The rash in both adults and children spreads gradually, involving more and more areas of the skin.Psoriasis is characterized by the formation of raised, reddish, dry patches with a scaly, silver-white surface.This rash is called "psoriatic plaques".

Most often, psoriasis is observed in the area of the elbows and knees, in the buttocks, that is, in places with greater pressure and friction.In some cases, the rash appears on the scalp, palms, soles and external genitalia.Psoriatic plaques on the face are very rare.

Causes

Many people wonder if psoriasis is contagious to others or not.The pathology is not contagious, that is, it is not transmitted to others.Among the causes of psoriasis are:

  1. Hereditary predisposition.
  2. Endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland dysfunction).
  3. Stress, neuropsychic overstrain.
  4. Parasitic infections (giardiasis, ascariasis, swine or bovine tapeworm infection).
  5. Metabolic pathologies (lack of silicon is especially dangerous).
  6. Predisposition to allergies.
  7. Infectious diseases of viral nature.
  8. Weak immune system.
  9. Long-term use of medications.

In most cases, psoriasis is felt between the ages of 15 and 30 for one or more reasons. According to medical statistics, more than 60% of patients with psoriasis have relatives suffering from this disease.

Symptoms of psoriasis in the initial stage

To know how psoriasis starts, you need to know the main signs of the disease.You should be careful:

  • the formation of bright colored skin rashes with clearly visible edges (most often they appear at the site of injury - burns, cuts, frostbite);
  • the appearance of skin in the central part of the plaque;
  • itching of psoriatic formations (appears only in half of the cases due to weakened immunity);
  • swelling and inflammation in the area where the rash appears.

At first the rashes are very small, the size of a pinhead.They have a hemispherical shape and a smooth, shiny surface.After a few days, the rashes increase in size and are covered with light scales that are easily separated.When the plaque is scratched, drops of blood appear on its surface, which indicate severe hemorrhages.

Sometimes psoriasis can be complicated by exudative phenomena (serous fluid).The scales absorb this exudate and turn into a rough crust.If you remove it, the wet areas remain underneath.Such phenomena are dangerous due to the addition of a secondary bacterial infection.

As a rule, psoriasis in an early stage lasts 2-3 weeks. If left untreated, the plaques grow up to 5-7 cm, merge and form entire conglomerates, covering large areas of the skin.

What does psoriasis look like in the initial stage?

Now let's see how psoriasis looks at the beginning of its development in different places.For ease of perception, we present the relevant photos.

  1. pins.The disease begins with small single rashes, localized mainly on the knees and feet, but can also be observed on any surface of the feet.
    2. The initial stage of psoriasis on the surface of the feet
  2. Elbows.In most cases, a type of plaque psoriasis appears in this place, which is characterized by small rashes with very heavy skin.The skin on the elbows becomes rough.
    3. Psoriatic plaques of the initial stage of the disease on the elbows
  3. HANDS.In this area, psoriasis appears suddenly in the form of a small rash, which many people confuse with an allergy.Only after dry scales appear, people consult a doctor.Often rashes are located between the fingers on the palm.
    4. Rash of the initial stage of psoriasis on the arm
  4. HEAD.Psoriasis often affects the scalp, ear area and back of the head.The rash in this area is characterized by moist scales and is almost always itchy.
    5. Psoriasis in the early stage on the scalp
  5. The face.The rash affects the nasolabial folds, eyelids, eyebrows and eyes.This form of psoriasis is considered atypical.
    6. Redness on the eyelid in the early stages of psoriasis
  6. Nails.Psoriasis on the nails is more like a fungal disease.First, longitudinal lines or spots appear on the edges of the nails, and then they spread to the roots.At the same time, the nail plate itself becomes dull and thick.
    7. Longitudinal lines on the nails - manifestations of the initial stage of psoriasis

Treatment of psoriasis

Therapy should begin with a visit to a dermatologist. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate.Treatment of psoriasis in the initial stage should be comprehensive.Nowadays, new treatment methods have been developed that help to completely remove scaly rashes, although they do not completely cure the disease itself.During therapy, it is necessary to exclude all factors that provoke an aggravation of the pathology, change the diet and adhere to a special diet.

Drug therapy

Treatment tactics for early-stage psoriasis are gradually changing.If earlier hormonal drugs of general action were prescribed, now local agents are widely used.

The following ointments provide good relief from the manifestations of psoriasis:

  1. Keratolytic and moisturizing.
  2. Vegetables.
  3. Glucocorticoid.
  4. Cytostatic.
  5. Based on solid oil.
  6. Petroleum based.

The doctor can also prescribe sedatives, antihistamines for severe itching, immunomodulators and vitamin-mineral complexes.Treatment should also include physical therapy.The following methods are widely used:

  • paraffin baths;
  • PUVA therapy;
  • UV radiation;
  • sulphide and radon baths.

Electrosleep and laser magnetic therapy have beneficial effects.Cryotherapy (cold treatment) and hirudotherapy (leeches treatment) are gaining popularity.

When treating scalp psoriasis, you should not comb the skin.The head should be washed daily with medicated shampoo with zinc, tar and selenium sulphide.

Treatment at home

Before using any prescription, you should consult your doctor so as not to provoke the development of complications. Treatment with traditional medicine is mainly aimed at strengthening the immune system and easing the inflammatory process.Therefore, it is necessary to drink vitamin teas - decoctions of rose hips, lemon, grape, raspberry, chamomile, etc.It is recommended to add honey to herbal teas.

The most effective home therapy remedies include:

  1. Celandine.It relieves inflammation well and soothes the skin.The plates should be smeared with the juice of this plant every day.
  2. Hydrogen peroxide.To begin, dilute the peroxide with water in a ratio of 1:3 and use the solution to lubricate the psoriatic rash for disinfection.Use before applying ointments or lotions.
  3. Linseed oil.It perfectly relieves inflammation and heals the skin.Apply to the affected area twice a day.
  4. Baking soda.It neutralizes the acidity of the skin, which increases with psoriasis.
  5. Solid oil.It helps very well at the beginning of the disease.You should lubricate the affected areas before going to bed.

Prevention and recommendations

To reduce the risk of psoriasis, prevention is necessary. Follow these instructions:

  • moisturize your skin regularly with creams;
  • avoid skin damage in the form of burns, scratches, bites, etc.;
  • strengthen your immune system, play sports and walk more in the fresh air;
  • give up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
  • Take only those medications prescribed by your doctor.

It is important to note separately about a special diet for psoriasis. It helps to achieve faster remission and reduces the duration of disease relapses.The following table contains a list of permitted, prohibited and restricted products.

products Allowed Limited use Prohibited
Fish and meat lean turkey, chicken, rabbit, river fish lean beef and lamb pork, sea fish
Cereals and flour products Oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, pearl barley, corn, wheat flakes RICE semolina, dough, baking made from wheat flour, bread
Dairy products low-fat cottage cheese, skimmed milk kefir, baked fermented milk, sour cream cheese
Vegetables carrots, broccoli, cucumber, asparagus, lettuce, green beans corn, pumpkin bell pepper, tomato, potato, eggplant
Fruits and berries kiwi, pineapple, mango, grape, nectarine, cherry plums, blueberries, currants, blueberries, avocados strawberry, citrus fruit, red apple
nuts almonds pine nuts everyone else
CONFECTIONERY dried apricots, raisins, dates honey chocolates, sweets and other confectionery products
seasoning fennel, parsley, green onions horseradish, garlic, onion pepper, cloves, nutmeg
The oils sunflower, olive, cotton, corn butter spread, margarine
beverages herbal teas, juices, compotes green tea black tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol

Do not forget about the drinking regime.You should drink 1.5-2 liters of drinking water per day.

Psoriasis is a very unpleasant skin disease that causes a lot of discomfort.It cannot be completely eliminated, but with a competent approach to treatment, stable remission can be achieved.To do this, you should contact a dermatologist.Psoriasis in the initial stage responds well to drug therapy.You should not self-medicate, as this will only worsen the course of the disease.