One of the most mysterious autoimmune diseases is psoriasis. This disease cannot be completely cured, affects patients of different age categories and manifests itself in the form of raised red-pink spots. If you have the necessary information, you can recognize the first signs of psoriasis yourself, but to accurately diagnose the pathology and prescribe a course of treatment, you should contact a specialist. Timely detection of pathology helps to reduce symptoms quickly and gives a greater chance of achieving long-term remission.
The material presented contains information about the first manifestations of psoriasis in women and men. In addition, the article provides a detailed answer to the question of how to recognize psoriasis in the early stages and what to do to prevent the development of the disease.
Cause of disease
Before moving on to the signs of the disease, it is necessary to become more familiar with the causes of its occurrence.
Additional information!The exact cause of the disease is currently unknown to science. There are several scientific theories that explain the manifestation of this disease.
The most permissible among them are:
- immune;
- genetics.
Since psoriasis belongs to the category of autoimmune diseases, and dysfunction of the immune system can actually trigger the development of the disease, which has been repeatedly proven, the immune theory is the most reasonable.
However, the importance of genetic theory should not be underestimated, because according to statistical studies, the probability of patients whose parents have psoriasis is 70%.
Factors that contribute to the manifestation of psoriasis symptoms:
- abuse of fatty foods, foods high in emulsifiers, leavening agents, dyes and other food additives;
- excessive alcohol consumption;
- smoking, drug use;
- exposure to stress, frequent emotional outbursts, increased anxiety;
- frequent use of aggressive chemical drugs;
- excessive use of certain drugs;
- mechanical damage to the skin.
The beginning of psoriasis, the general signs of the disease
There are several forms of psoriasis, each with specific signs and symptoms. However, some manifestations of the disease, events that indicate the development of the disease, are present in all forms of pathology.
The beginning of psoriasis, signs (common to all forms of the disease):
- the appearance of pimples (papules) on the skin;
- increase in the affected area, the spread of the rash;
- nail plate lamination;
- peeling skin;
- the appearance of blisters on the palms and feet;
- burning and itching appearance.
Additional information!The first signs of psoriasis in women are the same as those that appear in men and children. The nature of the rash that occurs in the early stages of the development of the pathology is mistakenly confused with allergies, but the nature, as well as the cause, of these lesions are quite different.
The first symptoms of psoriasis in various forms of the disease
Most often, patients are exposed to the following forms of psoriasis:
- Abusive or simple psoriasis;
- Seborrheic;
- Psoriasis of the soles of the feet and palms;
- nail psoriasis;
- inverse or folding psoriasis;
- Shaped like a teardrop.
Let's talk in more detail about the signs and symptoms of this form of pathology.
Signs of abusive psoriasis
Psoriasis vulgaris can be diagnosed at an early stage. The first signs of this form of the disease are expressed by the appearance of round pink-red plaques covered with silvery scales, which after some time begin to peel and itch.
In some cases, the appearance of plaque may be preceded by the formation of papules on the scalp and joints (elbows, ankles and knees).
Notes!In the early stages of the disease, papules formed on the epidermis may not bother the patient for a long time. They do not cause pain, are almost invisible and do not itch, so some patients mistakenly confuse them with allergies.
How to distinguish a psoriatic rash from the manifestation of an allergic reaction:
- psoriatic papules are easy to peel;
- when the papular rash is scraped off, the terminal film phenomenon appears;
- Further scraping of the papule leads to the appearance of small drops of blood.
A feature of psoriatic rash that distinguishes it from other signs of the disease is the fact that in the summer the affected area decreases or even disappears completely, and in the winter it increases.
Seborrheic psoriasis
The first signs of seborrheic psoriasis appear on the scalp, then the pathology spreads to the shoulders and face. The danger of this form lies in its secret nature, because, unlike simple vulgar psoriasis, seborrheic psoriasis is not characterized by the formation of papules; sometimes it can only manifest itself in the form of peeling of the scalp. To get rid of peeling, many patients use special anti-dandruff shampoos, considering psoriasis as normal seborrhea.
Important!After detecting the early signs of the disease, you should consult a dermatologist, an experienced specialist will be able to diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. It is recommended to fight the disease in the early stages of its development, this significantly increases the chances of reducing the symptoms of the disease and achieving long-term remission.
If treatment for seborrheic psoriasis is not prescribed in time, the disease gradually affects the skin on the shoulders, ears, forehead and face. The next stage of the development of the pathology is characterized by the appearance of plaques, increased burning and itching. Getting rid of this symptom is much more difficult than getting rid of the characteristic peeling of the first stage of the disease, but with the help of modern methods it is still possible to achieve the desired result.
Inverse psoriasis (fold psoriasis)
Characteristics of inverse psoriasis:
- the location of the disease is a fold under the armpit, on the genitals, in the groin, under the mammary gland;
- shiny, smooth, bright red psoriatic spots;
- plaques that look like ordinary spots practically do not peel off, so the manifestation of the disease is often confused with irritation due to increased sweating;
- signs of psoriasis in men - rashes on the inner surface of the foreskin, the head of the penis is also usually affected;
- For women, a rash in the area of the labia minora is typical.
Psoriasis of the palms and soles
The localization site for this form of pathology is the palms and soles. Plaque has a callus-like shape with a dense surface; subsequently, psoriasis phenomena such as terminal film and bloody dew appear. Cracks sometimes form on the affected surface, which causes physical discomfort while walking.
The symptoms of the disease can be reduced through the use of special ointments and medicines.
nail psoriasis
The first signs of nail psoriasis include:
- nail plate separation;
- nail fragility, thickening;
- changes in the color of the nail plate;
- the appearance of white horizontal stripes, dots and spots on the nails;
- formation of bleeding under the nail plate.
Patients whose relatives suffer from psoriasis, and of any form, are more susceptible to psoriatic onychodystrophy, so these individuals should be more attentive to their health, especially to the condition of their nails.
Guttate Psoriasis
Pathology appears mainly on the thighs, teardrop-shaped papules, which, in fact, explains the etymology of the name of this type of disease. Over time, a rash forms on other areas of the skin, which indicates the progression of the disease.
To summarize, we can highlight the basic rules that must be followed in the case of psoriasis:
- the occurrence of autoimmune pathology indicates the presence of disturbances in the functioning of the whole body system, especially the immune system;
- If the disease is detected at an early stage, you should immediately contact a dermatologist and not self-medicate, which can lead to the development of the disease and deterioration of health.