Lichen is a whole group of skin polyetiological diseases that are characterized by the appearance of itchy, rash elements. There are several varieties. All of them differ in infectivity, localization, type of rashes and type of pathogen.
What does lichen look like? What ways can they get infected? What symptoms indicate its appearance in humans? What does the initial stage of lichen look like? And how can you get rid of it? This is an important topic, and now it is worth considering it in detail.
Pink lichen
This is an acute dermatosis, which has a peculiar course and is characterized by a rash of a specific nature. Also, it is often cured spontaneously, which is another of its features. Relapse does not happen - after a person has undergone pink lichen, he remains stable immunity to this disease.
It occurs, as a rule, due to a weakened organism. And most often in the fall or spring, in people aged 20 to 40 years.
Other causes of pink lichen include infection with a viral or bacterial infection and respiratory diseases. First, parasitic agents manifest themselves, and then an allergy joins. It is she who for the most part determines the skin manifestations of this pathology.
The provoking factors that cause flaky roseola include:
- Constant stress.
- Hypothermia.
- Impaired metabolism.
- Vaccination.
- Bites of insects (bugs, fleas, lice).
- Violation of the digestive tract.
What does lichen look like and what are its symptoms? First of all, a person feels malaise and weakness. Sometimes the lymph nodes increase and the body temperature rises.
A few days after the onset of the first symptoms, symmetrical pink spots appear on the skin, sometimes with a yellow tint. They protrude slightly above the surface of the epidermis. As a rule, they are located on the hips, shoulders, sides of the body, chest and back. At first, these are small spots, but then they increase to 1-2 cm in diameter. Peeling often appears on the sides, and around it there is a bright-pink halo.
By the way, usually before the appearance of rashes on the skin, the so-called maternal plaque appears. This is a bright red large spot with scales, reaching a diameter of 4 cm. It passes through 7-10 days.
Treatment for pink lichen
If a person has noticed signs of this disease, he needs to urgently go to a dermatologist. It is not enough to know what lichen looks like - a rash may be a manifestation of another ailment. Having started to voluntarily take certain drugs, one can not only help but harm oneself.
But if a person has really pink lichen, then they can be assigned one of the following:
- Sulfur-tar ointment. Relieves inflammation, dries the skin, has a bactericidal effect. It is better to apply it in the evening, and in the morning you can lubricate the affected areas with iodine. Starting to use the drug at the first sign of depriving a person, it will be possible to get rid of the disease in 10-14 days.
- Sulfur salicylic ointment. A more effective analogue of the previous tool. It helps to get rid of the manifestations of the disease in 7-10 days.
- Oletetrin. Antibacterial bacteriostatic ointment. It has a wide range of effects. It facilitates the course of the disease and promotes a speedy recovery.
Before using any ointment for depriving children or adults, the skin must be treated with Tsindol. This is a suspension that has a disinfecting, drying, astringent and adsorbing effect.
Shingles
This dangerous disease can be recognized by unilateral herpetiform rashes. What are the ways of infection depriving this species? Its causative agent is the chickenpox virus. They can be infected by airborne droplets, contact and even transplacental route.
But for the infection to activate, there must be certain conditions. The provoking factors in this case are as follows:
- Taking medications that lower immunity.
- Exhausting work and chronic stress.
- Malignant tumors, lymphogranulomatosis.
- Local hypothermia.
- Radiation therapy.
- HIV infection turning into AIDS.
- A bone marrow and organ transplant.
What does shingles look like? These are red rashes, similar to allergic ones, which appear, as a rule, on the body. A specific feature is the one-sidedness of the lesion. It is accompanied by a tingling sensation and a slight itch.
At the places of future rashes, neuralgic pains appear, then - swollen pink spots. After a few days, erythematous papules appear on their background, which quickly turn into small blisters with transparent contents. After about a week they dry up - from this begins recovery. But you need to know that after passing the rash there remains pain that is poorly treatable (postherpetic neuralgia).
Shingles Treatment
Since this disease is caused by a herpetic virus, treatment will be based on the use of antiviral and antiherpetic drugs.
In this species, lichen symptoms are specific. If the doctor confirms the diagnosis, then you will have to start using ointments with acyclovir - a well-known antiviral agent. Among them are Vivorax, Atzigerpin, Zovirax and Herperax.
Whatever remedy is prescribed to a person, it will need to be used often - 5-6 times a day. The active substance, penetrating the cells, destroys the herpes virus and prevents the formation of new ones. It is recommended that you continue to use the ointment, even if the condition improves.
Continuing to talk about how lichen looks in a person, it should be noted that often a disease of this form goes into a more severe stage. And then you have to use corticosteroid ointments. The most effective are Flucinar, Sinalar and Sinaflan. These are hormonal drugs, because the course of their use is short-lived. Overuse of these ointments can lead to atrophy of the skin.
Also, since the disease of the herpes zoster is often accompanied by severe pain, a person may be prescribed the use of ointments that have an analgesic effect. For example, Ketoprofen or Ibuprofen.
Pityriasis versicolor
This is a recurrent superficial disease of fungal origin. It affects only the stratum corneum of the epidermis.
The causative agent is a conditionally pathogenic yeast-like fungus. It is present in the organisms of 9 people out of 10. But under the influence of certain conditions, which are discussed below, its active development and reproduction begins.
What does pityripe versicolor look like? It is a rash of various shades of a non-inflammatory nature. Visually, these are just spots on the skin (white, brown), which practically do not rise above its surface. Only when scraping can you notice a slight peeling.
Most often, this pathology occurs in women and young people. The disease is seasonal, outbreaks of infection, as well as relapses, are recorded in the hot season - a hot climate and high humidity contribute to its development.
Infection occurs by contact-domestic way or as a result of contact of a healthy person with a patient. The notorious fungus is lipophilic, and this leads to its reproduction in the mouths of the sebaceous glands. Not surprisingly, outbreaks occur in the summer. In hot conditions, the secret they secrete is diluted, and moisture and heat are ideal conditions for the development of the fungus.
Ringworm
Its other name is trichophytosis. This is a disease of fungal origin, in which the scalp, smooth skin and nails are affected (rarely).
And if what the herpes zoster looks like may not be known to everyone, the manifestations of the pathology of the ringworm type are familiar to everyone. Because this is the same disease that is transmitted from domestic animals infected with a fungus.
After the parasitic organism enters, the mycelium grows, the hair structure is disturbed, because of which they fall out. In their place remain "hemp". Because of this, the hair looks cropped, hence the name.
Even on the affected skin, a slight peeling and a plaque of light color from the spores can be seen. Despite the fact that visually it looks intimidating, there are no discomfort and itching. Ringworm is often asymptomatic, and only by visual inspection it is possible to notice the notorious "hemp".
It should be noted that abscesses often arise. They appear in the area of the mustache and beard and on the scalp. After about a week, the infiltrate either goes away or is complicated by abscesses. It all depends on whether treatment will be started.
Treatment of ringworm and pityriasis
In both cases, the same methods are used. Not surprising, because the cause of each type of disease is a fungal infection.
As a rule, the following drugs for lichen are prescribed:
- "Mycoseptin." An ointment, the basis of which is undecylenic acid and zinc, which contributes to the speedy reduction of skin irritation and the healing of lesions. Also, this tool has an astringent and drying effect.
- "Miconazole." The use of this ointment provokes a mutation of mushrooms, as a result of which they simply die.
- "Terbinafine." Effective against yeast. It has a fungicidal effect. It is enough to use this ointment 1-2 times a day, but before use, the skin must be cleaned and dried.
- "Exoderyl." The basis of this drug is naftifine hydrochloride. Great for application to the scalp. It is absorbed into the skin almost instantly. Itching and inflammation go away quickly. How long does ringworm take? If you use Exoderil, then 10 days.
- "Lamisil." This drug not only has a fungistatic and fungicidal effect - it also prevents the growth of fungi, destroying them. But! For children, ointment from lichen is not suitable.
- "Clotrimazole." A good tool, but produces a cumulative effect, so you need to use it regularly, 3 times a day. The treatment will take 2-3 weeks.
- "Nizoral." A more powerful analogue of the previous drug. With it, you can be cured in 1 week. And apply to the skin only once a day.
Also, at the first signs of depriving a person, you can use the ointment "Yam". This tool is popular in veterinary medicine, but people also use it.
The composition is harmless - petroleum jelly, tar, sulfur, lanolin, turpentine and zinc oxide. Only the smell is sharp. But then this is the most effective ointment in the fight against lichen, which a person became infected by touching a sick animal.
Lichen planus
This is a chronic dermatosis. Which doctor should I go to? Lichen of this species, like any other, is treated by a dermatologist. In this case, the diagnosis will not take much time, since the only symptom of the disease is papules - leafless nodules that rise above the epidermis.
The disease is common. It is impossible to say exactly why it arises. Experts say that this is a multi-cause disease that occurs due to internal and external factors, which leads to impaired immunity.
What does lichen look like in a person of this type? This is a monomorphic rash, which consists of nodules that have either raspberry red or purple. They have an inverted middle, a diameter of about 2-5 mm, and also a waxy gloss. Peeling is rare.
Rashes are multiple, and are located in groups. Often they form lines, rings and even whole garlands on the skin. The rash is very itchy - at times, the itching is so strong that a person has neurotic anxiety.
As a rule, lichen affects the flexion surface of the limbs, inguinal and axillary areas, the inner thigh and the oral cavity.
Treatment of lichen planus
As already mentioned above, a clear idea of the mechanisms and causes of the development of this disease is absent. Therefore, treatment methods are diverse. As a rule, therapy begins with the use of agents that have a calming effect on the central nervous system and eliminate itching. The best drugs in this category are Cetirizine, Clemastine, and Chloropyramine.
Selective phototherapy and the PUVA technique are also effective, the principle of which is to expose the skin to ultraviolet long-wave rays.
Another method involves combining corticosteroid drugs (Betamethasone and Prednisolone) with antimalarial drugs (Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine).
Local therapy in this case is not effective. Only if the hypertrophic form is diagnosed, is it indicated that they are bandaged with steroids, Diprospana injections, and the use of corticosteroids ointments. Also, the doctor may prescribe the destruction of papules by radio waves or a laser.
Homemade ointments
Now you can consider folk remedies for depriving. Many people prefer to use them.
The most effective homemade ointments. Cooking them is quite simple:
- Mix butter with birch tar in equal proportions. Rub the resulting mass overnight into the affected skin, bandage it. Wash off the rest in the morning.
- Mix egg yolks (2 pcs.), Fresh cream (100 g) and pure tar (150 g). Rub the resulting mass twice a day into the affected area.
- Mix the powder from the roots of horse sorrel with fresh oily sour cream (1 tbsp each). Apply ointment in the morning and evening on the affected areas for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
- Knead salt-free yeast dough, put it in a warm place. When it begins to rise, pinch off a piece of it and apply it to damaged skin. Cover with cellophane and bandage. After 2 hours, remove the dough and rinse with warm water.
- Mix vegetable oil (200 g), grated aloe (100 g), laundry soap (50 g), rosin (50 g), beeswax (50 g). Bring the resulting mass to a boil over low heat, then strain. Apply ointment to the affected areas 2-3 times a day.
These folk remedies for lichen are very popular, but before using them, you need to consult your doctor. Drug therapy is effective, and often the use of home treatments is not necessary.