Effective treatment of psoriasis: a set of steps

Psoriasis is a very unpleasant skin disease that brings a lot of trouble to patients who are unlucky enough to get it.In addition to the fact that the skin looks very unaesthetic, the patient constantly experiences many other unpleasant sensations.Yes, this disease is not fatal, but patients often have to radically change their habits and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, even today it is impossible to cure psoriasis completely.However, there are many techniques and treatments that can help and significantly reduce the patient's suffering.

The best effect can be achieved by using complex therapy, where they try to influence the disease from different angles.To do this, different treatment methods are combined.In today's material, we will consider in more detail how to properly carry out the complex treatment of psoriasis and what may be included in it, as well as what to take into account.

Factors to consider when choosing treatment

First, let us remind you that you cannot self-medicate!Even if you are completely confident in your strength and abilities, it is better to consult a professional dermatologist.It will be better this way.

Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will consider the following factors:

• age and gender of the patient - the older he is, the more difficult the disease can be treated;
• hereditary factors - the risk of getting the disease increases when parents or close relatives also suffer from psoriasis;
• disease phase - the longer you contact a specialist, the more difficult the treatment;
• disease severity - when psoriasis is mild, it is easier to fight;
• the form of the course and the affected part of the body - the worse it is, the more difficult it is to choose an effective treatment;
• possible allergic reactions - in this case, not every drug can be taken;
• place and type of work - some enterprises have very unfavorable working conditions, which have a very negative effect on the general state of health and the development of psoriasis;
• residential area - if you live in an area with highly polluted air, this has a negative effect on the perception of various diseases, and psoriasis develops more intensively;
• the presence of bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol on a regular basis affect the internal organs, which increases the risk of psoriasis;
• concomitant diseases - if you suffer from certain diseases of the internal organs, psoriasis may become a complication.

You are unlikely to be able to correctly determine all the factors on your own.If you start self-treatment, this is fraught with serious complications.Therefore, the dermatologist will definitely prescribe the necessary tests for you to determine all other factors, and only after that will prescribe treatment.

A set of measures for the treatment of psoriasis

In order for the treatment of psoriasis at home to be as effective as possible, various sets of measures are often used.In their framework, different drugs are used simultaneously that affect different body systems.So, a treatment regimen may include:

• external treatment— various creams, ointments to affect the skin and eliminate external signs of the disease;
• systemic drugs- tablets, a mixture that affects internal organs and fights diseases from the inside;
• physiotherapeutic procedures- to reduce the inflammatory process - laser and cryotherapy, acupressure, ultraviolet irradiation;

• spa treatment- therapeutic procedures, for example, leeches, mud baths, as well as clean air, because resorts are usually located in ecologically clean areas;
• special diet- exclude foods that can harm the gastrointestinal tract, for example, fried, spicy, salty and pickled foods.

There are actually many methods of therapy.Let's consider each method of a set of therapeutic measures in more detail.

External treatment

Basically, how does psoriasis start to develop?First, the function of the epidermis—the stratum corneum of the skin—is disrupted.Because of this, the skin no longer receives the required amount of moisture and becomes too dry.Gradually, dryness and peeling become stronger, and due to the fact that dead skin particles do not have time to be removed, the so-called psoriatic plaques appear.All this is accompanied by itching and inflammation.During the period of exacerbation, they do not subside either day or night.

To eliminate all these symptoms, drugs are prescribed for the external treatment of psoriasis.They are also set strictly individually.For what purpose are external preparations used?

1. Relieves pain, relieves swelling, reduces peeling, and also improves appearance by reducing rashes and reducing the number of psoriatic plaques.
2. Reduce the influence of various external factors.
3. Affects the focus of the disease as soon as possible and brings quick relief.

External preparations for psoriasis include ointments, creams, lotions, gels and other preparations.All of them are divided into two main groups: hormonal and non-hormonal.Let's look at each group separately.

1. Non-hormonal drugs.The name speaks for itself - the drug does not contain hormonal components.They act on the epidermis and quickly remove the dead skin layer, disinfect damaged areas, have antiviral and antimicrobial effects, and also moisturize the skin qualitatively and increase its elasticity.Such preparations contain beeswax, natural oils and other natural substances, as well as salicylic acid, dithranol, sulfur, urea and other substances.They have some excellent properties and act on skin areas affected by psoriasis quickly and effectively.
2. Hormonal drugs.They contain a number of synthetic hormones of the corticosteroid group.Many experts prefer them, because due to the presence of hormones in the composition, they act almost immediately, literally in a few minutes they give the desired effect.But, unlike non-hormonal drugs, the drug must be used with caution.First, if you delay the therapy a little, this can cause hormonal imbalance and, as a result, serious complications.Secondly, if you suddenly stop taking the drug, the so-called "withdrawal effect" may occur, where the symptoms not only return, but also intensify.

When and how to choose the right drug group?What is the best drug to use?

1. In the progressive stage, ointments containing salicylic acid, as well as anti-inflammatory hormone ointments, are most often used.Naturally, at first, attempts will be made to achieve the desired effect with drugs with a weaker concentration of active ingredients.If there is no effect, then a stronger one is used.These drugs contain higher doses of fluoride.For the most part, patients experience positive dynamics within two weeks of starting regular use.
2. For the treatment of the elderly and children, drugs that do not contain chlorine and fluorine are used, which significantly reduces the number of possible allergic reactions.These drugs are relatively new, they appeared on the pharmaceutical market only a few years ago, but gradually become more and more popular.
3. Ointments and creams based on dethranol have a quick and long-lasting effect when used.Starting treatment involves setting a minimum dose with a gradual increase.These medications are primarily intended to reduce inflammation.However, other adverse reactions may occur, such as swelling, itching and redness, which, against the background of similar psoriasis symptoms, somewhat limits the scope of drug use in this group.
4. One of the new drugs is a drug that directly affects the cause of psoriasis.Its main active ingredient is calcipotriol, which inhibits the development of pathogenic processes.After only two months, the overall condition of the skin improved significantly, the number of inflamed and damaged areas, as well as peeling, decreased.It should be noted that in most cases there are no side effects characteristic of other drugs for psoriasis.There are cases where one course of treatment is enough for remission that lasts up to a year.The strongest effect is achieved when the treatment is carried out using an integrated approach, and the effect occurs in conjunction with other means, most often physiotherapeutic procedures.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that long-term drug use is not recommended, as addiction may develop.As a result, the effectiveness of the treatment is significantly reduced.

Systemic drugs

As already mentioned, one of the possible causes of psoriasis is internal organ disease.Accordingly, to get rid of psoriasis, you need to take medicines that can help in the treatment regimen for diseases of internal organs.These can be tablets, injections, IV and other drugs, which must be selected individually.What therapy can be prescribed for psoriasis?

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs will relieve inflammation and reduce the influence of various viruses and microbes.A comprehensive treatment regimen for psoriasis is often used.
2. Antiallergic medicine.Since allergies often worsen psoriasis symptoms, these medications can help significantly.
3. Antipsoriatic drugs.They act on the skin's recovery process, normalize the life cycle of its cells, and also eliminate the side effects of the disease.
4. Antifungal medication.Since fungal infections significantly complicate the course of psoriasis, it is very important to combat them effectively.
5. Medicines to combat the pathological formation of new cells that do not have a specific purpose.Over time, if there is no treatment regimen, these cells can accumulate in the body in large numbers.

Depending on the complexity of the condition and the extent of damage to other organs, other, more powerful drugs may be used.However, despite the good effect, you should not abuse it, because the side effects can be very serious.

Physiotherapy procedures

Although it is impossible to cure psoriasis with physiotherapeutic procedures alone, with the right selection they can improve the effect of drugs and speed up the recovery process in the final stages of complex treatment.What is the prescribed procedure for the complex treatment of psoriasis?

1. Ultraviolet radiation, or phototherapy.A special agent is prescribed that increases the body's perception of ultraviolet radiation, after which the surface of the skin affected by psoriasis is irradiated with ultraviolet waves of a certain length.
2. Laser therapy.It should be noted that laser waves only act on diseased skin, without affecting healthy tissue.
3. Cryotherapy.Liquid air, nitrogen or helium, has a temperature of up to -296 degrees, is applied briefly to the damaged surface area of the body.
4. Ichthyotherapy.The affected area is treated with a special type of fish.
5. Hirudotherapy is a treatment using leeches.

6. Therapeutic baths use soothing and anti-inflammatory herbs such as chamomile or celandine, as well as starch and flaxseed.
7. Acupuncture.True, you should be careful when choosing a specialist, because a procedure that is not done correctly can cause unpredictable consequences that may take a long time to treat.

Spa treatment

A visit to a sanatorium or resort can significantly improve the patient's well-being.True, they are sent there only in the final, regressive stages of the disease, as a last resort of complex therapy.In addition to the fact that in such institutions patients are prescribed various procedures, the opportunity to rest from everyday worries and a better environmental environment contributes to recovery.

In addition to the prescription of conventional medicines, the sanatorium or resort will necessarily provide nutritional nutrition, physical therapy, as well as baths and medical procedures.Depending on the location, the sanatorium may offer hydrogen sulfide, silicon, radon, iodine-bromine and other baths.A good sanatorium will fill you with energy for months.

Conclusion

Complex therapy is most often used to treat psoriasis.Only an integrated approach can achieve good results, because any type of individual treatment will be ineffective, especially at the next stage of treatment.