Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious dermatosis that primarily affects the skin.It is currently assumed that this disease is an autoimmune disease.Typically, psoriasis manifests itself as the formation of red, excessively dry, raised patches over the surface of the skin - called papules - which fuse together to form plaques.These papules are inherently sites of chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of lymphocytes, macrophages and keratinocytes of the skin, as well as excessive angiogenesis (formation of new small capillaries).
It occurs equally frequently in men and women and lasts years with alternating periods of relapses and remissions.This is one of the most common, difficult to treat and often serious dermatoses.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease characterized by a monomorphic rash of flat papules that tend to merge into large plaques that quickly become covered with loose silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis is characterized by periods of deterioration (relapses) and temporary well-being, during which the manifestations of the disease are less severe.This disease is not contagious and the patient does not pose a danger to others. Because the appearance of psoriasis is not associated with microorganisms.
The main element of psoriasis is a single pink or red papule covered with a large number of loose silvery-white scales.
As a rule, psoriasis does not disrupt the sufferer's usual rhythm of life.The only inconveniences are peeling and inflammatory processes on the skin.Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure this disease, but it is quite possible to stop its development or prevent relapses.To do this, it is enough to follow all doctor's prescriptions and undergo systematic treatment in a hospital.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is absolutely not contagious.Not a single case of human-to-human transmission of the disease has been recorded.The causative agents of the disease are not infections and microbes that are potentially dangerous to others, but leukocytes produced by the patient's body.
It is impossible for a healthy person to become infected from a patient with psoriasis.Psoriasis is not transmitted:
- In case of skin contact by using the same household items as the patient (bed linen, towels, dishes).
- Through saliva, sweat.
- Sexually.
- When caring for the sick.
- Through blood.
Classification
Experts differentiate between two forms:
Non-pustular form of psoriasis
What is that?This form of the disease differs from others in its stable course.The non-pustular form of psoriasis is characterized by damage to almost the entire body surface.This type includes:
- Psoriasis erythrodermic
- vulgar, common or tabula.
Common psoriasis is quite common;Up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with the vulgar form of this disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to the death of the patient.The disease leads to a violation of the thermoregulation function and the barrier function of the skin is reduced.
Pustular
- pustular background Zumbusch or generalized pustule
- palmoplantaris (pustular psoriasis of the extremities, chronic persistent palmoplantaris pustulosis)
- Ring-shaped pustular
- palmoplantar
- Herpetiformis Psoriasis Impetigo
| stage of psoriasis | Damage percentage |
| Light | less than 3% of the skin is affected |
| Average | 3-10% of the skin is covered with psoriatic plaques |
| Difficult | There are joint lesions or more than 10% of the skin is affected. |
How psoriasis begins: first signs
In most cases, identifying psoriasis is quite easy because the disease is not similar to other skin diseases.Allergic rashes have a smaller severity compared to psoriasis spots, and medical history shows that patients practically do not suffer from skin swelling like allergies
The first symptoms and signs of psoriasis differ in the main features that the doctor will rely on when making the diagnosis:
- the appearance of a limited pink spot of varying intensity;
- Itching of the skin in the area of psoriatic lesions;
- Peeling large amounts of epidermis of different sizes;
- characteristic whitish shell color;
- the appearance of grouped cream or gray crusts that do not extend beyond the boundaries of the psoriatic spot;
- dry skin.
Psoriasis is characterized by three characteristic features:
- “Stearic acid stain effect.”When the plaque is scraped off, small and transparent scales easily come off.
- “Terminal film effect”.When you remove the scales, the skin in that area becomes thin, shiny, and red.
- “The Bloody Dew Effect.”After scraping, tiny drops of blood form on the skin.
Causes
Experts cannot identify the exact and sole culprit of the disease, but repeated studies show that the disease is autoimmune, meaning that it depends on the function of the immune system.
For unknown reasons, immune cells that are supposed to protect the body from malignant changes and bacterial and viral damage penetrate the upper layers of the skin and produce substances that trigger the inflammatory process.The result of this activity is proliferation - an accelerated division of skin cells.
According to another theory, psoriasis occurs due to a disruption in the life cycle of keratinocytes.
Possible causes of psoriasis:
- Inheritance.According to the latest data from scientists, psoriasis is classified as a genotypic dermatosis with a dominant transmission type.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.When skin psoriasis is suspected, changes in these blood profiles often occur, contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease, endocrine dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome.
- The presence of a chronic focus of infection in the body.When examining psoriatic plaques, streptococcal flora is often detected.The occurrence of genetic abnormalities can be influenced by viral and bacterial infections, for example tonsillitis, influenza.
- Climatic conditions – dry and hot weather can influence the progression of psoriasis, increasing skin symptoms or, on the contrary, weakening them;
- Anxiety or stress – as mentioned above, overexertion caused by stress directly affects the course of the psoriasis disease;
- Damage to the skin – wounds facilitate infection, leading to poisoning of the body by inflammatory processes.Therefore, the occurrence of psoriasis can cause minor damage, provided, however, that there are comorbidities.
- Infections – Psoriasis outbreaks can be caused by the presence of pathogenic purulent, inflammatory areas, especially in childhood pathologies.
One theory suggests that there are two variants of the disease:
- Psoriasis type I– is inherited in the presence of an immune factor, more than 60% of all patients under 30 years of age suffer from this form, the prognosis is good, treatment is lifelong.
- Psoriasis type II– occurs more frequently from the age of 45, is not associated with immune system disorders, most often affects the nail plates and joints.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Skin psoriasis can occur at any age.However, the first case of its manifestation often occurs in young and adult people aged 18-40.There are no differences by gender.Men and women suffer from this disease equally often.
| Signs of psoriatic papules | |
| Form | around |
| Edge | clear |
| Color | Pink or red |
| Scale color | silver white |
The first rashes usually form on wounds, scratches, frostbite, burns and on areas of the body that are constantly exposed to friction.They may itch, but that is not the main symptom.
Depending on the characteristics of the rash, the following forms of psoriasis are divided:
- Point psoriasis – the size of the elements is smaller than the head of a pin.
- Teardrop-shaped – Papules are tear-shaped and reach the size of a lens grain.
- Coin-shaped – Plaques grow up to 3-5mm in size and have rounded edges.
The shapes of the rash also differ in that its elements look like rings, arches and garlands, geographical maps with jagged edges.
The overall clinical picture and symptoms of psoriasis vary considerably depending on the stage of the disease.Dermatologists distinguish 3 stages that develop one after the other:
- Progressive.New skin lesions constantly appear, and there is also an active spread of existing plaques with severe peeling and itching.
- Stationary.The growth of papules on the body stops slightly, new formations do not appear, but thickened wrinkles appear on the surface of the skin near the plaques.
- Declining.Spread of the disease and increase in peeling are not observed.When the signs of psoriasis subside, areas of significant pigmentation are left on the body.
The alternation of these stages creates the wave-like character of relapses and remissions.A patient may have different stages of disease in different areas of the skin.
The beginning of psoriasis is manifested by the appearance of papules, small, scaly nodules.They are dark pink in color, dense to the touch and protrude slightly above the surface of the skin.
The first sign of psoriasis may be the appearance of a rash on areas of the body most exposed to friction, and the skin in these areas is dry.These are the locations:
- palms or elbows;
- below the knees;
- shins;
- lateral parts of the lower back;
- groin folds;
- scalp.
The initial stage of psoriasis is barely noticeable on the skin and does not cause any discomfort to the patient.However, early treatment helps to avoid severe forms of this disease, which affects the nails of the hands and feet, mucous membranes, and then human joints.
According to statistics, psoriasis plaques are most often located on:
- on the outer surface of the joints;
- on the back and stomach;
- on the front of the thighs and forearms.
This is different from eczema, where the rash affects the inside of the limbs and the folds between the fingers.