Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations. Inflammation of the skin occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, immobile, regressive. This separation will help in diagnosis and proper therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease. About 10% of the population has characteristic DNA disorders and only 2% of them show signs of skin dysfunction.
The following factors provoke the appearance of pathology:
- strong 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 foreign elements, the first signs of the disease appear. Think about the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimens.
The initial stage of psoriasis
The first sign isthe appearance of a pimple(papules). Rounded shape, reddish or pink. On the lower extremities, due to the slow flow of blood, manifestations of a bluish tinge may appear. The papular formations are small, the size of a pinhead.
The early stage is characterized bymany papulesthat have well-defined borders. Whitish scales also appear. Easily detached from the surface by touch. Papules can merge into one, forming larger elements.
During early remission, the lesions turn pale. The affected skin areas are partially discolored. In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with allergies or diathesis. The rash may be accompanied by severe itching. Signs that can be used to diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraping the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembles a rubbed drop of stearin, the scales flake off;
- if you continue to scrape the stain and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- Small blood droplets appear when scraping.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
During the progressive stage of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules turn red, continuing to be covered with white scales. They peel off easily, under them you can see a smooth layer of reddened skin. In case of damage, blood appears.
- When exacerbated, the papular elements grow, merging. They are clearly different from healthy skin areas.
- Worse itching. But it passes during the transition of the process to a stationary phase. Painful and obsessive itching that interferes with sleep and daily activities. If you just scratch the lid, injuries and new plaques will appear. The appearance of new plaques at the site of injury is Koebner's syndrome. The number of itchy manifestations increases gradually, covering the body, limbs, head.
- There are no scales on the edges of the plaques, they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have a negative effect on the joints (psoriatic arthritis). Then there is severe pain in the joints, their deformation, if the process remains untreated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main feature of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing. Positive changes come with the right treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- the itching disappears;
- no injuries (Koebner's symptom disappears);
- scaling may increase.
All spots stop growing. If during the progressive stage the plaques had a border without scales, then during the stationary stage the whole inflamed surface of the shell will peel off, it will acquire a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Rocks are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation. At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not withstand the progressive growth of plaques and cannot completely cover them. In half of the cases it appearspseudoatrophic crown.
Pseudoatrophic King
Looks like a light edge around the element, which has a structure resembling coarse tissue paper, consisting of a stratum corneum and no larger than two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
In the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriatic cycle ends. Key features:
- the process of exacerbation stops, the inflammation passes;
- the plaques gradually dissolve;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash are flattened;
- rash becomes pale pink, gradually discolored;
- papules can still remain on the hands and elbows.
No scars or atrophy of the affected area. Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas devoid of pigmentation may occur at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The relief period is individual. The latent disease can last for months or even years. Exacerbations occur more frequently in winter, with the exception of only a few forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis at different stages
The therapy of any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapy methods and dietary correction. At an early stage of therapy it is necessary:
- give up bad habits;
- strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments that contain vitamins A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic and sedative drugs;
- undergo ultraviolet therapy.
If the plaques are located on the head, the doctor prescribes shampoos based on tar, zinc, selenium sulfide.
All agents should be used as directed by a physician. Prolonged use of medications (especially tar) can irritate the skin. The funds must be changed every 7 days.
Early treatment of psoriasis
The effectiveness of early therapeutic interventions depends on when the patient goes to the doctor and starts treatment.
Early therapy in most cases helps prevent the transition of the disease to a chronic form.
Experts recommend the use of salicylic acid ointment. It is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on the affected areas of the skin. With the help of keratolytic effect, the ointment will clean the plaque from the keratinized parts of the skin. Naphthalene ointment will help relieve itching.
Medications are usually prescribed:
tar-based- ;
- based on solid oil;
- oil-based.
Not so long ago there were drops and oil for psoriasis. The tool is able to soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent the skin from drying out and relieve puffiness. The preparation contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin seed oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, they become less, the skin is more hydrated. It is recommended to be used in combination with other drugs and after consultation with a specialist.
Treatment of progressive psoriasis
Therapy should be comprehensive and careful. The clinical picture is quite difficult, the treatment should be trusted only by specialists. Intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs helps patients. Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.
The manifestations remove salicylic acid ointment, emollient emulsions. They moisturize and reduce inflammation. Tar drugs or other irritants should not be used during exacerbations.
Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet radiation, paraffin applications) are best performed during the period of inflammation reduction. Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only when the processes are particularly complex.
Prescribe antihistamines (reducing the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (sedatives), anti-inflammatory, keratolytics (emollients), diuretics (relieve swelling, remove toxins).
Treatment of inpatient psoriasis
The patient needs a slight adjustment of therapy. Shampoos with tar, emulsions with oil, calcipotriol are usually prescribed. Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the skin. Ultraviolet radiation and the PUVA technique are widely used.
If there is no effect, some cytotoxic drugs are prescribed. In severe cases, the patient is prescribed an immunosuppressant, a cytostatic.
Treatment of regressive psoriasis
Treatment in the last stage of psoriasis should be comprehensive, adjusted by a specialist. Therapy is gradually canceled, replaced by preventive measures. The treatment at all stages is carried out carefully, in any case the rash should not be damaged.
Adherence to the strictest diet and lifestyle adjustments is especially important. Stress can be a powerful provoking factor, significantly worsening the condition at the beginning of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated with baths with sea salt or mixed baby cream powder from the series, lubricate plaques with this mixture.
Additional therapies
A patient with psoriasis has a lack of vitamins that affect the regulation of metabolic processes, have a purifying, sedative, restorative effect.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others. They are prescribed internally, intramuscularly, and also in droppers.
Dividing the pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that helps specialists to correctly identify one or another stage, facilitates diagnosis and treatment. It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but if you follow all the rules of complex treatment, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can be latent for a long time and not interfere with human life to the fullest.