Chronic disease lasts for a long time, sometimes for years - the almost complete disappearance of signs of pathology can be replaced by a relapse period, and then the body is again covered with a rash. These are the characteristic symptoms of skin psoriasis. It is necessary to know everything about the disease, including what is psoriasis like in the initial stages, since the rapid detection and treatment of the disease depends on it.
Causes of the disease
The main factors in the development of the disease are a genetic predisposition, transmitted from parents and close relatives, and a weakened immune system that is unable to perform its functions.
This is a non-infectious skin lesion. So don't be afraid to get infected through close contact with sick people. Another thing is when a disease that causes unpleasant, painful sensations and itching is accompanied by scratches. Through microscopic wounds and damage to the epidermis, any infection quickly gets into the bloodstream and a person becomes infected.
Many causes are known in medicine that can lead to diseases:
- Pathologies of endocrine organs that bring about hormonal changes;
- Regular loads, strong experiences and vibrations lead to the same disorders;
- Improper diet, lack of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins can provoke psoriasis.
- Low immunity, weakened due to bad habits, lack of vitamin D3 and silicon, nerve shocks, frequent colds and hypothermia;
- Unfavorable living conditions and unfavorable climate;
- Violation of metabolic processes, especially in the layers of the skin, due to what exactly hits the disease in the form of an itchy rash.
Taking medication can also lead to abnormalities. If they have a long course and have a powerful effect, the body's immunological response to allergens can be an aggravating factor. And of course, the onset of psoriasis is often associated with previous infections that have not been fully cured or have had serious complications.
The defeat of the disease is local and general in nature, when the human body is a cohesive crust of wounds fused together. In this regard, it is worth considering the stages of psoriasis, as they differ in their course and symptoms.
Types of diseases by the type of course
The disease develops cyclically - this is a gradual change and increase in typical symptoms.
There are three main phases:
- Progressive psoriasisAre two main stages. During the first, a characteristic rash actively develops, causing the patient an uncomfortable burning sensation, pain and severe itching. As a result, normal appetite, sleep is disturbed, at this moment a person is prone to irritability, depression, neuroses. The second stage is remission, restoring the normal appearance and condition of the epidermis. Pigment spots remain instead of psoriatic sores that are slightly darker than normal skin color. The progressive stage is a typical clinical picture of a chronic disease. If there is no treatment, the rehabilitation periods are short and the pathology can be expected to deteriorate again very soon;
- Stationary stage of psoriasis- This is a stable condition for the patient if the symptoms do not go away but no new papules appear either. At the same time, the growth of existing spots, which are actively peeling off, temporarily stops. The patient cherishes the hope that after peeling, the red plaques raised above the skin will heal and go away, but this does not happen - after one stratum corneum appears another and so on to infinity. At least in the stationary stage of psoriasis, the patient does not feel any unbearable itching, which leads to scratches and insomnia.
- The last stage- the time of regression. Over time, there is a gradual decrease in the plaque-like scab, wounds heal, clean areas of the epidermis appear between them, until the rash disappears completely and only residual pigmentation of the painful areas remains.
Psoriasis has a long history. In some patients, complications most often appear in winter and autumn, in others, the sun's rays affect the deterioration of the condition. However, there is a variant of off-season exacerbations, when a relapse can occur at any time of the year. In general, there are several cases of disease progression throughout the year.
To understand how psoriasis begins, the primary symptoms should be considered.
Initial stage: characteristic manifestations
Pathology almost always occurs suddenly for no apparent reason, even though they exist naturally. It can be triggered by a cold, stress at work, mild food poisoning, or an allergic reaction.
Many are interested in how psoriasis is manifested, because at first a person may mistake small reddish nodules that are scattered in different parts of the body for an allergic rash. And if it is a pustular appearance, then small bubbles of pus appear on the epidermis, which can easily be mistaken for urticaria. In addition, in some cases, the initial stage is accompanied by itching. Therefore, the question of whether psoriasis is itchy in the early stages with this type of skin lesion can be answered in the affirmative.
The main element of the rash is a flat, slightly raised knot of pink or red color. This inflammation has a surface layer on which there are small plates with dry horny scales. A detailed examination shows that the stratum corneum is initially in the center of the inflammatory focus and then grows over the entire surface of the plaque.
The location of the rash is different - these are the inner and outer folds of the knee, elbow joints, the entire surface of the lower and upper extremities, hands, palms and soles of the feet, groin, buttocks, back and chest. Elements of the rash usually appear on the auricles and behind them, cover the skin on the head under the hair, appear on all parts of the face and sometimes on the genitals, especially in men.
Elements of the rash that are scattered all over the body will become overgrown with a gray scab in just two or three days. In medicine, this is called the point form of the disease.
New wounds then continue to grow, after which they can bond and fuse into solid areas. A feature of the pathology is that papules can appear on the site of bruises and other injuries as the disease progresses.
If the appearance of the first inflammation is not usually accompanied by itching, then as the course progresses it becomes painful, and the patient must be treated with local hormonal drugs.
Once psoriasis has started, it can put the patient in a severe physical and mental state.
Plaque build-up interferes with walking, sitting, and performing simple human actions. In addition, patients with this disease are prone to severe nervous and mental illness.
Some forms cause the destruction of blood vessels, nerve endings, joints, psoriatic lesions can even destroy bone tissue. Without treatment, a person can become disabled. Therefore, you need to go to the doctor with early manifestations of the disease.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before conducting laboratory and instrumental studies, the doctor is faced with the task of obtaining a full description of the patient's symptoms, studying the causes of the disease and tracking the genetic relationship with the onset of pathology.
To determine the disease, there is a specific functional test. If there are three main elements (psoriasis trio), which are characterized by the presence of a stearin stain, a layer of pink cells, and bleeding due to vascular damage, an accurate diagnosis can already be made.
In the future, procedures such as:
- Biopsy of samples of the affected skin tissue;
- Bacteriological culture to determine the infection in the focus of inflammation;
- Clinical blood test for leukocyte concentration;
- Immunological test for allergic predisposition;
- X-ray, ultrasound, determination of the condition of internal organs, joint cavities, bones;
- Differential diagnosis helps rule out diseases such as syphilis, seborrheic eczema, pink lichen, rheumatism, and other conditions with similar symptoms.
In most cases, it is impossible to get rid of the pathology permanently, but earlier treatment can help reduce the number and quality of relapses to long periods of regression.
Complex treatment offers:
- Conservative therapy with steroid and non-steroid drugs, psychotropic drugs that relieve the patient's depression;
- In addition, funds are prescribed to reduce the allergic reaction of the immune system, which allows you to get rid of edema and itching and reduce the course of the inflammatory process.
- Hormonal drugs are prescribed to suppress inflammation and relieve pain in severe forms.
- The patient must necessarily take vitamin products that strengthen the body's defenses.
- Topically applied ointments and creams for the relief of the patient's well-being based on medicinal herbs and sometimes hormones.
People suffering from chronic skin conditions need to lead a healthy lifestyle, abstain from improper diet, and do water treatments every day to avoid complications of the disease. And of course, for successful rehabilitation, you need to see a doctor as early as possible.