Effective treatment of psoriasis: a set of measures

Psoriasis is a very unpleasant skin disease that brings a lot of discomfort to the patient who is unlucky enough to get it.In addition to the fact that the skin looks very unaesthetic, the patient constantly experiences many other unpleasant sensations.Yes, the disease is not fatal, but often the patient has to radically change his habits and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, even today it is simply impossible to completely cure psoriasis.However, there are many techniques and treatments that can help a lot and significantly ease the patient's suffering.

The best effect can be achieved by using complex therapy, in which they try to influence the disease from different angles.To do this, different treatment methods are combined.In today's material, we will consider in more detail how to properly carry out the complex treatment of psoriasis and what can be included in it, as well as what points should be taken into account.

Factors to consider when choosing treatment

First, let us remind you that you should never self-medicate!Even if you are completely confident in your strengths and abilities, it is still better to consult a professional dermatologist.That will be better.

Before prescribing the treatment, the doctor will consider the following factors:

• age and gender of the patient - the older he is, the more difficult the disease can be treated;
• hereditary factors - the risk of getting sick increases when parents or close relatives also suffer from psoriasis;
• the stage of the disease - the later you contact a specialist, the more difficult the treatment will be;
• the severity of the disease - when psoriasis is mild, it is much easier to fight;
• the form of the course and the affected parts of the body - the more severe it is, the more difficult it is to choose an effective treatment;
• possible allergic reactions - in this case, not every drug can be taken;
• place and type of work - some enterprises have very unfavorable working conditions, which has a very negative impact on the general state of health and the development of psoriasis;
• region of residence - if you live in a region with highly polluted air, this negatively affects the perception of various diseases and psoriasis develops more intensively;
• the presence of bad habits - regular smoking and drinking alcohol affect the internal organs, which increases the risk of psoriasis;
• accompanying diseases - if you suffer from certain diseases of internal organs, psoriasis can be a complication.

It is unlikely that you will be able to correctly determine all the factors yourself.If you start self-treatment, it is fraught with serious complications.Therefore, a specialist dermatologist will definitely prescribe the necessary tests to determine all other factors and only after that prescribe the treatment.

Sets of measures for the treatment of psoriasis

In order for the treatment of psoriasis at home to be as effective as possible, different groups of measures are often used.In their framework, different medications that affect different body systems are used simultaneously.So, the treatment regimen may include:

• external treatment— different creams, ointments that affect the skin and eliminate the external signs of the disease;
• systemic drugs- tablets, mixtures that affect the internal organs and fight the disease from the inside;
• physiotherapeutic procedures- to reduce inflammatory processes - laser and cryotherapy, acupressure, ultraviolet radiation;

• spa treatment- therapeutic procedures, for example, leeches, mud baths, as well as fresh air, since resorts are usually located in an ecologically clean area;
• special diet- exclude foods that can damage the gastrointestinal tract, for example, fried, spicy, salty and pickled foods.

In fact, there are many methods of therapy.Let's consider in more detail each method of a series of therapeutic measures.

External treatment

Basically, how does psoriasis start to develop?First, the function of the epidermis - the stratum corneum of the skin - breaks down.Because of this, the skin no longer receives the necessary amount of moisture and becomes very dry.Gradually, drying and peeling intensify and due to the fact that dead skin particles do not have time to be removed, the so-called psoriatic plaques appear.All this is accompanied by itching and inflammation.During periods of irritation, they do not sit either day or night.

To eliminate all these symptoms, medications are prescribed for the external treatment of psoriasis.They are also described strictly individually.For what purpose are external preparations used?

1. Eliminate pain, relieve swelling, reduce skin and also improve appearance by reducing rashes and reducing the number of psoriatic plaques.
2. Minimize the impact of various external factors.
3. Affect the foci of the disease as soon as possible and bring quick relief.

Topical preparations for psoriasis include ointments, creams, lotions, gels, and other preparations.All of them are divided into two main groups: hormonal and non-hormonal.Let's look at each group separately.

1. Non-hormonal medications.The name speaks for itself - the drugs do not contain hormonal components.They act on the epidermis and quickly remove dead skin layers, disinfect damaged areas, have an antiviral and antimicrobial effect, as well as qualitatively hydrate the skin and increase its elasticity.Such preparations contain beeswax, natural oils and other natural ingredients, as well as salicylic acid, dithranol, sulfur, urea and other substances.They have a number of excellent properties and act on skin areas affected by psoriasis very quickly and effectively.
2. Hormonal drugs.They contain a certain amount of synthetic hormone of the corticosteroid group.Many experts prefer them, because due to the presence of the hormone in the composition, they act almost immediately, literally in a few minutes, providing the desired effect.But, unlike non-hormonal drugs, such drugs should be used with caution.First, if you delay the therapy a little, it can lead to hormonal imbalance and, as a result, to serious complications.Secondly, if you suddenly stop taking the drug, a so-called "withdrawal effect" can occur, in which the symptoms not only return, but also intensify.

When and how to choose the right group of drugs?Which medications are best to use?

1. In the progressive phase, ointments containing salicylic acid are most often used, as well as hormonal anti-inflammatory ointments.Of course, first attempts will be made to achieve the desired effect with drugs with a weaker concentration of the active substance.If there is no effect, then stronger ones are used.These drugs contain a higher dose of fluoride.For the most part, patients experience positive dynamics within two weeks after starting regular use.
2. For the treatment of the elderly and children, medications that do not contain chlorine and fluorine are used, which significantly reduces the number of possible allergic reactions.These drugs are relatively new, they appeared on the pharmaceutical market only a few years ago, but they are gradually becoming more and more popular.
3. Dethranol-based ointments and creams have a quick and long-lasting effect when used.The start of treatment includes the prescription of minimum doses with a gradual increase.Medicines are mainly aimed at reducing inflammation.However, other unwanted reactions can occur, such as swelling, itching and redness, which, against the background of similar symptoms of psoriasis, somewhat limits the scope of use of drugs in this group.
4. One of the new drugs is a drug that directly affects the causes of psoriasis.Its main active ingredient is calcipotriol, which inhibits the development of pathogenic processes.After only two months, the general condition of the skin improves significantly, the number of inflamed and damaged areas, as well as peeling, decreases.It is worth noting that in most cases there are no side effects characteristic of other drugs for psoriasis.There are cases when one course of treatment was enough for remission lasting up to a year.The strongest effect is achieved when the treatment is carried out using an integrated approach, and the effect occurs in conjunction with other means, most often physiotherapeutic procedures.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that long-term use of the drug is not recommended, as addiction may develop.As a result, the effectiveness of the treatment is significantly reduced.

Systemic drugs

As already mentioned, one of the possible causes of psoriasis is diseases of the internal organs.Therefore, to get rid of psoriasis, you need to take medications that can help in the treatment regimen for diseases of internal organs.These can be tablets, injections, IV and other medications, which must be selected individually.What therapy can be prescribed for psoriasis?

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs will relieve inflammation and reduce the impact of various viruses and microbes.A comprehensive treatment regimen is often used for psoriasis.
2. Antiallergic drugs.Since allergies often make psoriasis symptoms worse, these medications can help significantly.
3. Antipsoriatic drugs.They act in the process of skin restoration, normalize the life cycle of its cells and also eliminate the side effects of the disease.
4. Antifungal drugs.Since the fungal infection significantly complicates the course of psoriasis, it is very important to fight it effectively.
5. Drugs to combat the pathological formation of new cells that do not have a specific purpose.Over time, in the absence of a treatment regimen, such cells can accumulate in the body in large numbers.

Depending on the complexity of the condition and the degree of damage to other organs, other more powerful drugs may be used.However, despite the good effect, you should not abuse them, as the side effects can be very serious.

Physiotherapy procedures

Although it is impossible to cure psoriasis only with physiotherapeutic procedures, with proper selection they can increase the effect of medicines and accelerate the recovery process in the final phase of complex treatment.What procedures are prescribed for the complex treatment of psoriasis?

1. Ultraviolet radiation, or phototherapy.A special agent has been prescribed that increases the body's perception of ultraviolet radiation, after which the surface of the skin affected by psoriasis is irradiated with ultraviolet waves of a certain length.
2. Laser therapy.It is worth noting that the laser waves act only on the diseased skin, without affecting healthy tissue.
3. Cryotherapy.Liquid air, nitrogen or helium, having a temperature of up to -296 degrees, is briefly applied to the damaged areas of the body surface.
4. Ichthyotherapy.Affected areas are treated with a special type of fish.
5. Hirudotherapy is treatment using leeches.

6. Therapeutic baths using soothing and anti-inflammatory herbs such as chamomile or celandine, as well as starch and flax seeds.
7. Acupuncture.True, you should be careful when choosing a specialist, since a procedure performed incorrectly can have unpredictable consequences that can take a long time to treat.

Spa treatment

A visit to a sanatorium or resort can significantly improve the patient's well-being.True, they are sent there only in the final, regressive stage of the disease, as a final means of complex therapy.In addition to the fact that in such an institution various procedures are prescribed to the patient, the opportunity to rest from everyday worries and a more favorable environmental environment further contribute to recovery.

In addition to prescribing conventional medicines, the sanatorium or resort will necessarily offer dietary food, physical therapy, as well as baths and medicinal procedures.Depending on the location, the sanatorium may offer hydrogen sulfide, silicon, radon, iodine-bromine and other baths.A good sanatorium will fill you with energy for many months.

CONCLUSION

Complex therapy is most often used to treat psoriasis.Only an integrated approach can achieve good results, as any type of individual treatment will be ineffective, especially at a later stage of treatment.