Psoriasis is a chronic non-infectious disease, a dermatosis, mainly affecting the skin.Currently, the autoimmune nature of the disease is assumed.Usually, psoriasis manifests itself in the formation of red, too dry, raised spots on the surface of the skin - so-called papules, which merge with each other to form plaques.These papules are natural sites of chronic inflammation and excessive proliferation of skin lymphocytes, macrophages and keratinocytes, as well as excessive angiogenesis (formation of new small capillaries).
It occurs with equal frequency in men and women and lasts for years with alternating periods of tremors and remissions.This is one of the most common, difficult to treat and often severe dermatoses.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a widespread chronic skin disease characterized by a monomorphic rash of flat papules that tend to coalesce into large plaques that are quickly covered with loose silvery-white scales.
Psoriasis is characterized by a period of deterioration (relapse) and temporary well-being, when the manifestations of the disease become less severe.The disease is not contagious and the patient is not dangerous to others.Because the appearance of psoriasis is not associated with microorganisms.
The main element of psoriasis is a single pink or red papule, which is covered with a large amount of loose silvery-white scales.
As a rule, psoriasis does not interfere with the normal rhythm of the life of the sick person.The only inconvenience is peeling and the inflammatory process on the skin.Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure this disease, but it is quite possible to stop its progression or prevent recurrence.To do this, it is enough to follow all the doctor's prescriptions and undergo systematic treatment in the hospital.
Is psoriasis contagious?
Psoriasis is completely non-contagious.Not a single case of transmission of the disease from person to person has been recorded.The causative agents of this disease are not infections and microbes, which are potentially dangerous to others, but leukocytes produced by the patient's body.
It is not impossible for a healthy person to contract psoriasis from a patient.Psoriasis is not transmitted:
- In case of contact with the skin, through the use of the same household items as the patient (bed linen, towels, dishes).
- Through saliva, sweat.
- Sexually.
- When caring for sick people.
- Through the blood.
Classification
Experts distinguish two forms:
A silent form of psoriasis
What is that?This form of the disease differs from others in its stable course.The nonpustular form of psoriasis is characterized by damage to almost the entire surface of the body.This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- Vulgar, common, or tabula.
Common psoriasis occurs quite often;Up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with this vulgar form of the disease.
Psoriatic Erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to a fatal outcome - the death of the patient.With this disease, there is a violation of the function of thermoregulation, and the barrier function of the skin is reduced.
Pustular
- background pustular zumbusch or general pustular
- Palmoplantaris (pustular psoriasis of the extremities, chronic persistent Palmoplantaris pustulosis)
- Annularly pustular
- Palmoplantar
- Impetigo psoriatic herpetiformis
| Stages of psoriasis | Damage percentage |
| Lightweight | Less than 3% of the skin is affected |
| Average | 3-10% of the skin is covered with psoriatic plaques |
| Heavy | There are joint lesions or more than 10% of the skin is involved. |
How Psoriasis Starts: The First Signs
In most cases, identifying psoriasis is relatively easy, because this disease is not the same as other skin pathologies.Allergic rashes have a smaller calibration compared to psoriatic spots, and the medical history shows that the patient practically does not experience swelling of the skin, such as allergies
Early symptoms and signs of psoriasis differ in the main characteristics that will depend on the doctor when making a diagnosis:
- the appearance of limited pink spots of varying intensity;
- Itching - itching of the skin in the area of psoriatic lesions;
- exfoliation of a large amount of epidermis of various sizes;
- Features Whitish White Color;
- the appearance of clustered white or gray crusts that do not go beyond the boundaries of the psoriatic spot;
- dry skin.
Psoriasis is characterized by three distinctive features:
- "Effects of Stearic Stains."When scraping plaque, small and transparent scales are easily peeled off.
- "Terminal Movie Effects".If you remove the scale, the skin in this area will be thin, shiny, and red.
- "Blood dew effect."After scraping, small drops of blood appear on the skin.
Cause
Experts cannot identify the exact disease and only this disease, but repeated studies show that the disease is autoimmune, which means that it depends on the function of the immune system.
For unknown reasons, immune cells, which are designed to protect the body from malignant changes and bacterial and viral damage, penetrate the upper dermal layer and produce substances that trigger the inflammatory process.The result of this activity is the proliferation - accelerated division of skin cells.
According to another theory, psoriasis develops due to a disruption in the life cycle of keratinocytes.
Possible causes of psoriasis:
- Ancestry.According to the latest data from scientists, psoriasis is classified as a genotypic dermatosis with a dominant type of transmission.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.When skin psoriasis is suspected, changes in this blood profile often occur, which contribute to the development of cardiovascular pathology, endocrine dysfunction and metabolic syndrome.
- The presence of a chronic infectious focus in the body.When examining psoriatic plaques, streptococcal flora is often detected.The occurrence of genetic abnormalities can be affected by viral and bacterial infections, for example, tonsillitis, influenza.
- Climatic conditions - dry and hot weather can affect the development of psoriasis, increase skin manifestations or, on the contrary, weaken them;
- Anxiety or stress - As mentioned above, stress excitement directly affects psoriatic disease;
- Damage to the skin - wounds facilitate infection, and this leads to intoxication of the body due to the inflammatory process, therefore the appearance of psoriasis can cause minor damage, but provided that there is a concomitant disease;
- Infection - Psoriasis outbreaks can be caused by the presence of pathogenic purulent areas, inflammation, especially for pathology in childhood.
One theory suggests the existence of two variants of the disease:
- Psoriasis Type I.- inherited with the presence of immune factors, more than 60% of all patients under the age of 30 have this form, the prognosis is good, treatment is carried out for life.
- Psoriasis Type II- Occurs more often at the age of 45, not associated with damage to the immune system, which most often affects the nail plate and joints.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Skin psoriasis can develop at any age.But often the first cases of its manifestation occur in young people and adults from 18 to 40 years old.There is no difference with gender.Men and women suffer from this disease with equal frequency.
| Signs of Psoriatic Papules | |
| Form | round |
| edge | clear |
| Color | hot pink or red |
| Color scale | white silver |
The first rash, as a rule, forms at the site of wounds, scratches, inflammations, burns, and in areas of the body that are constantly exposed to friction.They may itch, but this is not the main symptom.
Depending on the characteristics of the rash, the following forms of psoriasis are divided:
- Psoriasis points - the size of the elements is smaller than the head of a pin.
- Teardrop-shaped papules are shaped like tears and reach the size of a lentil grain.
- Coin-shaped plaques grow up to 3-5 mm and have rounded edges.
The shape of the rash is also distinguished when its elements look like rings, arcs and garlands, geographical maps with jagged edges.
The overall clinical picture and symptoms of psoriasis vary depending on the stage of the disease.Dermatologists distinguish 3 stages that develop sequentially:
- Progressive.New skin lesions constantly appear, and there is also a spread of active existing plaques with severe peeling and itching.
- Stationary.The growth of papules on the body stops a little, new formations do not appear, but thickened folds appear on the surface of the skin, near the plaque.
- Regressing.The spread of the disease and increased flaking are not observed.As the symptoms of psoriasis subside, areas of significant pigmentation remain on the body.
Alternation of these stages gives rise to wave properties such as tremors and remissions.One patient may have different degrees of disease in different areas of the skin.
The beginning of psoriasis is expressed in the appearance of papules, which are small, scaly nodules.They have a dark pink color, are firm to the touch, and protrude slightly above the surface of the skin.
The first sign of psoriasis may appear as a rash on the body area that is most likely to be subject to friction, and the skin in this area is dry.This is where:
- palm or elbow;
- below the knee;
- shins;
- lower back side;
- inguinal folds;
- scalp.
The initial stage of psoriasis on the skin is almost invisible and does not cause discomfort to the patient.But it is the early treatment that will help to avoid the severe form of this disease, where fingernails and toenails, mucous surfaces, and then human joints are affected.
According to statistics, psoriatic plaques are most often located:
- on the outer surface of the joint;
- on the back and stomach;
- in front of the thigh and forearm.
This is in contrast to eczema, where the rash affects the inside of the limbs and the folds between the fingers.