Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation.Skin inflammation occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive.Such division will help in correct diagnosis and therapy.
Interesting to know
Psoriasis is a genetic disease.About 10% of the population has a characteristic DNA abnormality, and only 2% of them show signs of disturbances in skin function.
The appearance of pathology is provoked by the following factors:
- severe emotional stress;
- injury;
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- unbalanced diet;
- infectious diseases and others;
- certain drugs;
- endocrine diseases;
- tendency to allergies;
Due to the wrong reaction of the immune system, which reacts to the epidermal tissue as if it were a foreign element, the first signs of the disease appear.Let's take a look at the stages of psoriasis, its symptoms and treatment regimen.
Early stages of psoriasis
The first sign isthe appearance of acne(papules).The shape is round, the color is red or pink.On the lower part of the legs, due to slow blood flow, the manifestation of a bluish color may occur.Papular formations are small, the size of a needle head.
The initial stage is characterizedmany papules, which has clear boundaries.Whitish scales are also visible.They are easily separated from the surface when touched.Papules can merge into one, forming a larger element.
During remission in the early stages, the rash becomes pale.The affected skin area becomes partially discolored.In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with allergic manifestations or diathesis.The rash may be accompanied by severe itching.Signs that can help diagnose psoriasis:
- when scraped, the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembling drops of crushed stearin, the scales peel off;
- if you continue to scrape the stain and remove the scales, a shiny red surface will appear;
- When scraped, small drops of blood appear.
Progressive stage of psoriasis
During the progressive stage of psoriasis, the following symptoms appear:
- The papules become red and continue to be covered with white scales.It peels off easily, revealing a smooth layer of reddish skin underneath.When damaged, blood appears.
- During exacerbation, papular elements grow and merge.They are clearly different from healthy skin areas.
- The itching is increasing.But it disappears when the process enters the stationary phase.Painful and obsessive itching interferes with sleep and daily activities.If you just scratch the cover, new injuries and plaques will appear.The appearance of a new plaque at the site of injury is Koebner's syndrome.The number of itching manifestations increases gradually and covers the body, limbs, and head.
- There are no scales on the edge of the plaque;they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.
Consequences
Psoriasis can have a negative effect on the joints (psoriatic arthritis).Then severe joint pain and deformity occur if the process is not treated.
Stationary stage of psoriasis
The main feature of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that new elements stop appearing.Positive changes come through proper treatment.
Clinical manifestations:
- itching disappears;
- no injuries (Koebner's symptoms disappear);
- flaking may increase.
All spots stop growing.If during the progressive stage the plaque has a border without scales, then during the stationary stage the entire surface of the inflamed skin will peel and take on a characteristic psoriatic appearance.
Scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation.At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scale does not keep pace with the progressive growth of the plaque and cannot completely cover it.In half of the cases it appearspseudoatrophic corolla.
Corolla pseudoatrophic
It looks like a light rim around the element, which has a structure reminiscent of rough tissue paper, consists of the stratum corneum and does not exceed two millimeters in width.
Regressive stage of psoriasis
With the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriatic cycle ends.Characteristic features:
- the worsening process stops, the inflammation disappears;
- plaque gradually recovers;
- peeling stops, the elements of the rash become flat;
- the rash becomes pale pink and gradually changes color;
- papules may still remain on the arms and elbows.
There is no scarring or atrophy in the affected area.Transient hyperpigmentation or areas of pigment deficiency may occur at the site of the rash.
Remission occurs after complex therapy.The release period varies from person to person..The disease can persist for several months or even years in a latent form.Exacerbations occur more often in winter, with the only exception being some forms of psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis at different stages
Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapeutic methods, and dietary adjustments.At the initial stage of therapy it is necessary:
- abandon bad habits;
- strictly following a therapeutic diet;
- use ointments containing vitamin A, D3, hormones;
- use systemic drugs and sedatives;
- undergoing ultraviolet therapy.
If the plaque is located on the head, the doctor prescribes a shampoo based on tar, zinc, and selenium sulfide.
All products must be used as prescribed by a doctor.Long-term use of the drug (especially with tar) can cause skin irritation.Products need to be changed every 7 days.
Treatment of psoriasis in the early stages
The effectiveness of therapeutic measures in the early stages depends on when the patient comes to the doctor and begins treatment.
Early therapy in most cases helps prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment.This is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a good effect on the affected skin area.Using a keratolytic effect, the ointment will clean the plaque of the keratin part of the integument.Moth ointment will help relieve itching.
The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- based on tar;
- based on solid oil;
- petroleum based.
Not so long ago, drops and oils for psoriasis appeared.This product can soothe the skin, moisturize it, prevent the skin from drying out, and relieve swelling.This medicine contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin oil and other components, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, there are fewer of them, and the skin is more moist.It is recommended to use it in combination with other drugs and after consulting a specialist.
Treatment of psoriasis in the progressive stage
Therapy must be comprehensive and careful.The clinical picture is quite severe;treatment should be trusted only to specialists.Patients are helped by intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs.Sorbent helps remove toxins from the body.
Manifestations are relieved with ointments with salicylic acid and emollient emulsions.They moisturize and remove inflammation.During an exacerbation, you should not use drugs containing tar or other irritating components.
Physiotherapeutic procedures (PUVA therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, paraffin baths) are best carried out during the period of reducing inflammation.Corticosteroids and cytostatics are only prescribed when the process is very complex.
Prescribe antihistamines (reduces the development of allergic reactions), sedatives (calming), anti-inflammatory, keratolytics (softens), diuretics (relieves swelling, removes toxins).
Treatment of psoriasis in the stationary stage
Patients need little therapy adjustment.Shampoo with tar, emulsion with oil, and calcipotriol are usually prescribed.Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects a large area of the skin.Ultraviolet irradiation and PUVA techniques are widely used.
If there is no effect, some cytostatic agents are prescribed.In severe cases, patients are prescribed immunosuppressants, cytotastics.
Treatment of psoriasis in the regressive stage
Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis must be comprehensive and coordinated by a specialist.Therapy is gradually canceled and replaced by preventive measures.Treatment at all levels is carried out with caution;under no circumstances should the rash be damaged.
Especially important is adherence to a strict diet and lifestyle correction.Stress can be a strong provoking factor, significantly worsening the situation at the onset of the disease.
In combination with drug therapy, rashes on the hands can be treated by bathing with sea salt or by mixing baby cream with string powder and lubricating the plaque with this mixture.
Additional therapy
A patient with psoriasis has a vitamin deficiency, which affects the regulation of metabolic processes and has a cleansing, sedative, and blood-restoring effect.
The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others.They are prescribed orally, intramuscularly, and also in droppers.
Dividing pathology into various stages is a conditional step that helps specialists correctly identify one or another stage, facilitating diagnosis and treatment.It is impossible to get rid of psoriasis completely, but if all the rules of complex treatment are followed, with systematic preventive measures, the disease can remain hidden for a long time and does not prevent a person from living a full life.