Psoriasis

Is psoriasis contagious or not?

When answering the question of whether psoriasis is contagious or not, it should be understood that the disease is not transmitted either sexually, or by airborne droplets, or by contact, or in any other way. It is impossible to get infected with it.

Due to disruption of the exfoliation process of keratinized skin scales, dry patches appear on the body. You cannot die from them, but patients experience serious psychological discomfort due to their appearance.

Causes of psoriasis

It is not yet known exactly what causes psoriasis. There are different theories about the development of the disease. Experts tend to believe that skin and nail damage can be caused by:

• stress, negative emotional experiences;
• endocrine pathologies;
• hereditary predisposition;
• malfunction of the immune system, due to which the processes of growth and division of epithelial cells are disturbed.

The autoimmune cause of psoriasis is that T-helper immune cells and T-killer cells, normally responsible for protecting the body from tumor cells, pathogenic viruses and bacteria, begin to infiltrate the upper layers of the skin. Here they produce substances that activate the inflammatory process. As a result, skin cells begin to rapidly divide and multiply. Proliferation is observed.

The development of psoriasis is also possible with the combined action of several factors from the list below:

• Very thin and poorly hydrated skin (little sebum is produced).
• Frequent contact with irritating compounds - low-quality cosmetics, alcohol solutions, household chemicals.
• Washing your body and hands too often (especially if you use a hard cloth and antibacterial soap/shower gel).
• Alcohol abuse.
• The development of infectious diseases caused by staphylococci, streptococci, fungi.
• Taking antidepressants, lithium carbonate, beta-blockers, antimalarial and anticonvulsant drugs.
• Change of climate zone.
• Mechanical injury to the skin.
• Tendency to allergic reactions.
• HIV infection.

Classification of the disease

If you study different photos of psoriasis in the initial stage, you will notice differences - there are several varieties of this dermatological pathology. Depending on the location of the lesion occurs:

• Scalp psoriasis (appears with itchy, cracked and bleeding skin).
• Psoriasis of the nails (the nail plate gradually separates from the bed and becomes painful, red spots form on it).
• Palmoplantar psoriasis (the disease is common only on the soles of the feet and/or palms).
• Psoriasis of the skin (dry patches appear on different parts of the body).
• Arthropathic psoriasis (joints are affected).
• Genital psoriasis (disease affecting the skin of the genitals).

Clinical forms of psoriasis:

• Plain or vulgar. It looks like small, flat, pinkish-red papules that are slightly raised above healthy skin. The upper part of the papules is covered with light scales, which begin to fall off even with a light touch. If the treatment of psoriasis is not started in time, small lesions merge into large ones.
• Exudative. It is more common in people with obesity, hypothyroidism and diabetics. The symptoms of psoriasis of this form are as follows: the papules are bright red in color, yellow-gray scales are visible on them. Plaques affect skin folds - armpits, the area under the mammary glands in women. Patients complain of itching and burning.
• Seborrhoeic. Psoriasis is observed on the head, behind the ear, nasolabial and nasolabial folds, between the shoulder blades and chest. The borders of the spots are not clearly defined. Peeling is silver-yellow. If you look at a photo of psoriasis on the head, associations will arise with such a common fungal disease as dandruff.
• Palmoplantar. The disease occurs in people aged 30 to 50 years, whose work involves heavy physical labor. With this form, rashes can also appear on the body.
• Pustulous. Pustular elements form on the body. In medicine, an additional type of pustular form is identified - psoriasis Tsumbusch. It can be idiopathic (primary) - blisters appear on the skin, which transform into pustules. The pustules open and dry up. Later, scaly rashes characteristic of the disease appear on them. And also secondary with a benign course. In this case, pustules appear on the surface of typical psoriatic plaques due to the irritating effect of the drugs.
  Another type of pustular form is Barber's psoriasis. Affects only the feet and palms. Purulent pustules are visualized on the skin. They do not open and over time turn into dark dry crusts. Barber's psoriasis is characterized by the symmetry of the lesion.
• Arthropathic (joint). Heavy form. It occurs in patients who have skin rashes. It usually occurs five to six years after the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, if the treatment of psoriasis was inadequate. Pathologies of the joint system can be different, ranging from mild arthralgia that does not lead to changes in the joint apparatus, ending with deforming ankylosis (the joint becomes completely immobile).
• Psoriatic erythroderma. It is a consequence of vulgar or exudative psoriasis. Almost all skin is affected. It becomes red, dotted with a large number of dry scales. The body temperature rises, an increase in lymph nodes (especially femoral and inguinal) is observed. If the patient does not learn how to treat psoriasis, hair loss and brittle nails are possible.

According to the criteria for seasonal attacks, psoriasis is divided into:

• summer;
• winter (most often);
• insecure.

Symptoms of psoriasis

The treatment depends on the dominant symptoms of psoriasis, so at the first appointment the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the patient and carefully examines the localization of the psoriatic lesions.

More often the disease manifests itself in winter. In the summer, under the influence of solar radiation, the signs of psoriasis can completely disappear. However, with the "summer" form of the pathology, exposure to the sun, on the contrary, should be avoided. During an exacerbation, the patient complains of very strong itching. Damage to the nail plates is observed in only 25% of patients.

When there is a disease of the scalp, the hair is not involved in the pathological process. First, the skin begins to peel off. Over time, areas of rashes can "spread" to the neck area, behind the ears. The inflammatory process is caused by the very rapid division of keratinocytes.

In psoriasis of the hands and feet, the stratum corneum thickens and is covered with deep cracks. A photo of psoriasis in the initial stage shows pustules with transparent contents. Later they turn white and turn into dark marks.
As for the nail plates, the most common types of damage are:

• The nail is covered with indentations that look like pricks ("thimble-type").
• The nail changes color and begins to peel, which resembles a fungal disease. A psoriatic papule surrounded by a red rim can be seen through the nail plate.

Stages of psoriasis

Despite the fact that there is still debate about what psoriasis is and what exactly can cause it to appear, the stages of the disease are now well studied. There are three of them:

• Progressive (initial). Neoplasms appear on the surface of the skin in the form of a rash, which tend to grow on the periphery. They spread over healthy skin and form oval or round plaques. The spots are pink or red. There is still no flaky bark on them - just whitish scales. The edges of the lesions are slightly thickened. As a result of scratching, new rashes appear.
• Stationary. It appears one to four weeks after the first symptoms of psoriasis. Plaques become lighter. New rashes do not appear, old ones slowly dissolve. The papules harden in the direction from the center to the edges, due to which their shape becomes ring-shaped. The entire surface of the healing lesions is covered with scaly white scales.
• Regressive (fading). The color of psoriatic plaques becomes almost indistinguishable from healthy skin. Itching is minimized. A "Voronov's collar" is formed around the lesions, which is a ring of dense keratinized skin layers. If the patient uses a high-quality ointment for psoriasis, the regression stage lasts about a month. Otherwise, the "fading" process can take up to six months.

The task of a patient who is diagnosed with psoriasis is to keep the disease in remission at all times.

If you notice such symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

A dermatologist diagnosed psoriasis. The procedure is based on an external examination, evaluation of the condition of the skin and nails, and a study of the localization of the lesions. No additional tests are prescribed for obvious symptoms. If there are difficulties with making the diagnosis, a skin sample is taken from the inflamed area (biopsy), which is examined in the laboratory.

In case of complaints of joint pain, an X-ray is taken. A blood test is also ordered to make sure there are no other types of arthritis. To rule out a fungal infection, a potassium hydroxide test is done.

How to treat psoriasis

The treatment of psoriasis is complex. Includes:

• general therapy;
• local therapy;
• physiotherapy.

Before determining how to treat psoriasis, the dermatologist determines the stage of the disease, its clinical form and the degree of the process. When prescribing drugs, the age of the patient and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. Usually, the safest drugs for health, characterized by a minimum number of side effects, are chosen first. If they do not ensure the transition of psoriasis to the stage of regression, the treatment is adjusted.

Systemic drugs for psoriasis

Medicines taken by mouth help with moderate to severe stages of psoriasis. They include:

• Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids). Reduce the rate of keratinocyte maturation. Normalization of cell differentiation and maturation.
• Immunosuppressants. They reduce the activity of T-lymphocytes, which provoke increased division of epidermal cells.
• Medicines for the treatment of malignant tumors. Suppresses the reproduction and growth of atypical skin cells.

Physiotherapy for psoriasis

Physiotherapy procedures significantly improve the well-being of patients with psoriasis. In some cases, they allow you to completely stop taking medication. The most frequently used:

• Selective phototherapy. The affected skin is irradiated with UV rays with a wavelength of 280-320 nm. 15 to 35 procedures are prescribed.
• Photochemotherapy (PUVA therapy). The method involves the combined use of a photosensitizer internally and long-wave UV irradiation externally. Ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into the skin, and the photosensitizer blocks the process of DNA synthesis of skin cells and reduces the speed of their division. The duration of the course is from 20 to 30 procedures.
• Laser therapy. Laser radiation with different wavelengths is used. The laser provides accelerated resorption of plaques and eliminates the formation of scars in their place.
• Using monochromatic ultraviolet radiation. Each lesion is sequentially treated with a lamp/laser source of UV radiation. Healthy skin is not affected. The method is optimal if less than 10% of the skin is affected. The duration of treatment is from 15 to 30 sessions.
• Electrosleep. It has a mild effect of electrical impulses on the brain for 20-60 minutes. As a result, the patient calms down, the functioning of the central nervous system normalizes, and the psoriatic plaques begin to separate.
  Ultrasound therapy. It is decongestant, antipruritic and analgesic. Accelerates the resorption of scars. If necessary, it can be combined with phonophoresis. To achieve a therapeutic effect, 7 to 14 sessions are required.
• Magnetic therapy (Betatron device). It has a general healing effect on the body. It relieves inflammation, reduces itching and burning, helps to get rid of joint pain.
• Treatment with bee venom. Using electrophoresis or an ultrasound machine, the bee venom is injected into the body. It is characterized by a resolving and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizes metabolic processes.
• Hyperthermia. Tissues affected by psoriasis are heated with pads containing a thermal mixture to a temperature of 40 degrees. The treatment helps to improve the functioning of the immune system and reduce the negative impact of the disease on the skin.

Ointments for the treatment of psoriasis

According to reviews, the treatment of psoriasis with ointments can achieve excellent results if the drug is chosen correctly. At the first symptoms, non-hormonal forms are prescribed:

• salicylic ointment (makes the skin soft, relieves inflammation, removes dead epidermal cells);
• anthralin (slows down DNA synthesis, reduces the activity of cellular enzymes, slows down the process of cell division);
• sulfur ointment (disinfects, softens, removes white plaque from lesions);
• naphthalene ointment (relieves itching, relieves pain, normalizes immune reactions).

If the treatment of psoriasis with non-hormonal ointments does not give the expected effect, hormonal drugs or strong ointments containing the following glucocorticosteroids are prescribed:

• Hydrocortisone. Eliminates the feeling of tension and itching. Suppresses the increased activity of leukocytes, prevents their movement in the skin.
• flumethasone. Helps with exudative form of psoriasis. It is characterized by pronounced anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-itching effects.
• Triamcinolone acetonide. It has an anti-itch and anti-inflammatory effect. Shown during periods of exacerbation.

Scalp psoriasis occurs in 50% of patients and causes the greatest discomfort. If you are sick, you should avoid hair dryers, gels and hairsprays. It is important that the hairpins and comb do not scratch the skin. Otherwise, outbreaks will begin to spread.

Treatment of psoriasis of the scalp is carried out with the help of:

• UV comb (promotes the formation of profiled skin cells from keratinocytes, due to which existing plaques are reabsorbed).
• Photochemotherapy (UVR in combination with Beroxan, Puvalen and Psoralen).
• Medicated shampoos (Tana, Nizoral, Friederm tar). It is recommended to buy several different products and rotate them. This will avoid addiction.
• Salicylic ointment (apply to parts, cover the head with cellophane and leave for two hours).
• Hormonal lotions (Belosalik, Elokom, Diprosalik). Contains steroid hormones. It is easily applied to the scalp and effectively removes flaking and itching.
• Decoction of Kirkazone (normalizes the process of skin cell division, cleans).

The effect of each scalp treatment is observed after several weeks, so it is not necessary to interrupt the course of treatment after several sessions.

Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

To cure psoriasis at home forever, if we are talking about a mild form of the disease, folk remedies help:

• Herbal tea from dandelion roots, St. John's wort or nettle leaves.
• Therapeutic baths with the addition of a decoction of string, soap grass or yarrow.
• Wipe the affected areas with cabbage brine, celandine juice and birch tar.
  Compresses based on garlic infusion.

Also, according to reviews, the treatment of psoriasis with hydrogen peroxide can achieve good results. It is necessary to lubricate psoriatic plaques twice a day with a cotton pad soaked in a three percent solution. The duration of the course depends on the severity of the symptoms and can take up to two months.

Diet for psoriasis

Allowed products for exacerbation of psoriasis are:

• fruits (apples, apricots, peaches);
• fruit juices;
• vegetables (beets, potatoes, radishes, watermelon, pumpkin);
• greenery;
• berries (all but red);
• lean meat (beef, veal, turkey, rabbit) - up to 200 grams per day;
• any nuts;
• lean fish;
• fermented milk products, cottage cheese and cheese;
• whole grain bread;
• sea kale.

People with psoriasis should not eat:

• smoked dishes;
• red fish;
• animal fats;
• eggs;
• pork and duck meat;
• baked goods.

It is forbidden to drink coffee, carbonated and alcoholic beverages. It is recommended that you limit your sugar intake. To cleanse the body, it is recommended to have fasting days twice a week - vegetable, apple or kefir.

Is psoriasis dangerous?

Psoriasis is a serious but not fatal disease. It reduces the quality of life because it looks unaesthetic. Plaques on the body prevent patients from working as a team or resting. They often lead to limited movement and difficulty performing simple physical tasks. Untimely treatment of psoriasis can lead to damage to the organs of vision and joints.

Psoriasis is impossible to cure completely. It is a chronic dermatological disease that must always be kept in a "dormant" state.

Risk group

The risk group includes people who have:

• chronic skin diseases;
• skin injuries;
• disorders of the central nervous system and the autonomic system.

Prevention

To prevent the disease, doctors recommend:

• moisturize the skin;
• avoid long stay in cold and dry rooms;
• do not take beta-blockers and lithium (except in extreme cases), because they provoke psoriasis.

This article is published for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.