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 appropriate therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population has characteristic DNA abnormalities and only 2% show signs of disorders in the functioning of the skin.
The appearance of the pathology is caused by the following factors:
- severe emotional stress;
- injuries;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious and other diseases;
- some drugs;
- endocrine diseases;
- predisposition to allergies;
Due to an incorrect response of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissue as if it were a foreign element, the first signs of the disease appear.Let's look at the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
Early 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 extremities, due to slow blood flow, manifestations of a bluish tint may occur.The papular formations are small, about the size of a pinhead.
The initial phase is characterizedmany papules, which have clearly defined boundaries.Whitish scales also appear.They separate easily 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 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, resembles a crushed drop of stearin, the scales come off;
- if you continue to scrape the stain and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- When scraped, small drops of blood appear.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
During the progressive phase of psoriasis the following symptoms appear:
- The papules turn red and continue to be covered in white scales.They peel off easily, revealing a smooth layer of red skin underneath.When damaged, blood appears.
- During exacerbation, papular elements grow and merge.They are clearly different from healthy areas of the skin.
- The itching intensifies.But it disappears when the process enters the stationary phase.Painful, obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you simply scratch the cover, lesions and new plaques will appear.The appearance of new plaques at the site of the lesion is Koebner syndrome.The number of itchy manifestations gradually increases and covers the torso, limbs and head.
- There are no scales at the edges of the plates;they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have negative effects on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Then severe joint pain and deformations occur if the process is not treated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main feature of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing.Positive changes come through proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- the itching disappears;
- there are no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- peeling may increase.
All spots stop developing.If during the progressive phase the plaques had a scaleless edge, during the stationary phase the entire inflamed surface of the skin will peel off and take on a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not keep pace with the progressive growth of the plaques and are unable to cover them completely.In half of the cases it appearspseudoatrophic corolla.
Pseudoatrophic corolla
It appears as a light border around the element, which has a structure reminiscent of rough tissue paper, consisting of a stratum corneum and no more than two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
The psoriatic cycle ends with the regressive stage of psoriasis.Characteristic features:
- the exacerbation process stops, the inflammation disappears;
- plaques gradually resolve;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash flatten;
- the rashes turn pale pink and gradually discolor;
- papules may still remain on the arms and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy of the affected areas.Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas without pigment may occur at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The relief period varies from person to person..The disease can last several months or even years in a latent form.Flare-ups occur more often in winter, with the exception of some forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis in different stages
Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods and dietary adjustments.At an initial stage of therapy it is necessary:
- abandon bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments that contain vitamin A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic and sedative drugs;
- undergo ultraviolet ray 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 doctor.Prolonged use of medications (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 turned to the doctor and started treatment.
Early therapy in most cases helps prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment.This is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on the affected skin areas.Using the keratolytic effect, the ointment will eliminate plaque from the keratinized parts of the integument.Mothball ointment will help relieve itching.
The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- based on tar;
- solid oil based;
- petroleum based.
Not so long ago, drops and oil for psoriasis appeared.The product can soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent dehydration and relieve swelling.The drug contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, there are fewer of them, and the skin is better hydrated.It is recommended to use in combination with other drugs and after consulting a specialist.
Treatment of progressive psoriasis
Therapy must be complete and careful.The clinical picture is quite serious;treatment should be entrusted only to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs.Sanitary pads help remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are alleviated by ointments with salicylic acid and emollient emulsions.They hydrate and eliminate inflammation.During a flare-up, you should not use medications containing tar or other irritating components.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin baths) are best performed during the period of reduction of inflammation.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complex.
Prescribe antihistamines (reduce the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatories, keratolytics (softeners), diuretics (relieve swelling, remove toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary phase
The patient requires a slight adjustment of therapy.Shampoos with tar, emulsions with oil 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.
If there is no effect, some cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, a cytotastic.
Treatment of regressive psoriasis
Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis must be comprehensive and adapted 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 compliance with a strict diet and lifestyle correction.Stress can be a powerful provoking factor, significantly aggravating the condition at the onset of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated with sea salt baths or by mixing baby cream with string powder and lubricating the plaques with this mixture.
Additional therapies
A patient with psoriasis has a deficiency of vitamins, which affect the regulation of metabolic processes and have a purifying, sedative and repairing effect on the blood.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly and also in droppers.
Dividing the pathology into various stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists to correctly identify one or another stage, facilitates diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to completely eliminate psoriasis, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can persist hidden for a long time and not prevent a person from living a full life.