Psoriasis is an unpleasant disease that can significantly impair the patient's quality of life. With exacerbation, it is required to observe a number of rules and undergo a number of appropriate procedures. This minimizes discomfort. What to do with an exacerbation of psoriasis, which treatment methods are most effective, will be discussed further.
Pathology Description
People who are faced with the presented pathology for the first time are interested in the causes of psoriasis and the treatment of this disease. It is studied by many prominent scientists of the world. But at the same time, the mechanisms of development of this pathology have not yet been established accurately.
It is known that this is an infectious disease. This is an autoimmune disease. The cause of its appearance is a malfunction in the body. Because of this, the cell cycle goes wrong. Pathology affects exclusively epithelial tissue. Skin cells begin to divide rapidly. Their life cycle for this reason is reduced to 3-5 days. For comparison, in a healthy person, this figure is about 30 days.
Such a process leads to the appearance of peeling on the skin first. Affected areas turn red, inflamed. As a result, a rash, abscesses and abscesses may appear. Considering the causes of psoriasis and the treatment of this pathology, it is worth noting that its development proceeds in waves. For a while, the disease recedes. At this time, a person feels good. Rashes can disappear completely.
But over time, a period of exacerbation begins. Peeling appears, which are most often located on the external bends of the legs and arms, as well as in places where the clothes are adjacent to the body. Inflammation may occur along the hairline or elsewhere.
How does the pathology develop?
What to do with exacerbation of psoriasis? It is not recommended to self-medicate. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment depending on the severity of the pathology and other characteristics of the patient's body. During the period of exacerbation, psoriatic plaques appear on the body, which are inflammations of a chronic type. In such places, a large number of lymphocytes accumulate. Because of this, additional capillaries develop in the inner layers of the epithelium.
Activation of the immune processes in the affected areas leads to thickening of the skin. She rises, becoming convex. The formation has a silver or gray color. Plaques resemble wax, which simply froze on the surface of the skin.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can worsen or improve spontaneously. It is sometimes simply impossible to establish the cause of the drastic changes. How long an exacerbation of psoriasis lasts is also difficult to say.
Modern medicine knows for certain that the condition of a patient may worsen due to alcohol consumption, smoking, infections and stress. Also, some drugs cause exacerbation.
It is worth considering that it is impossible to completely recover from psoriasis. But to improve overall well-being, to achieve sustainable improvement is quite possible. Without proper timely therapy, the patient's condition will gradually worsen. Remission may not occur because of this at all. Inflamed areas will grow, spreading throughout the body. They can even be on the scalp, nails, palms, etc. Psoriasis without proper treatment is often complicated by the development of arthritis.
Reasons for the development of pathology
How to relieve exacerbation of psoriasis? This question is faced by people in whom the presented pathology has appeared recently. You need to know why such a deviation occurs. Most often, psoriasis is first diagnosed at the age of 15 to 20 years. In children, the appearance of this disease at a very early age is possible due to an unfavorable hereditary factor.
If one of the parents is diagnosed with psoriasis, the probability of developing a pathology in the child is 25% (even if there are no rashes on the skin of the father or mother at all). In the presence of a disease in both parents, this indicator increases sharply to 60%.
A prerequisite for the development of the disease in adulthood is severe stress, strong emotions. This happens due to the release of large amounts of adrenaline and cortisol into the blood. Sometimes even just a small cut can cause the development of pathology.
More often psoriasis affects people with dry and fairly thin skin. In women, the presented pathology is diagnosed more often. Detergents, household chemicals, various aggressive substances that come in contact with the skin can trigger the development of psoriasis. Emotional stresses, excessive physical activity are also related to provoking factors by modern medicine. In some patients, psoriasis is a consequence of streptococcal infection.
Periods of exacerbation often coincide with climate change, getting into adverse environmental conditions. Exacerbation of psoriasis in winter is also not uncommon.
Taking certain medications can lead to pathology. The main varieties of such substances are:
- beta blockers;
- paroxetine;
- lithium carbonate;
- antidepressants;
- other things.
In the presence of psoriasis, drugs based on the listed active ingredients worsen the patient's well-being, provoking an exacerbation.
Against the background of smoking and drinking, the disease can also intensify. Overweight, unbalanced nutrition, and an unhealthy lifestyle negatively affect the disease. It is not recommended to use perfumes, hair spray, chemical detergents, etc.
Pathology treatment
There are a number of recommendations on what to do with an exacerbation of psoriasis. Since pathology is not completely treated, the goal of therapy is to minimize negative manifestations. In childhood, getting rid of unpleasant symptoms is much easier. With the right choice of treatment methods, pathology can pass almost without a trace. If you avoid provoking factors, in adulthood the disease will manifest itself with minimal rashes. They will appear extremely rarely.
If the disease appeared in adulthood, it is almost impossible to get rid of it. This is a chronic pathology that is difficult to treat. But without proper therapy, the patient will become worse over time. Treatment can reduce negative manifestations, prolong periods of remission and reduce the duration of exacerbations.
There are many options for treating psoriasis on the body. For this, tablets, injections, ointments are used. The choice depends on the characteristics of the disease. Treatment should be comprehensive. Be sure to adjust the patient’s diet, paying attention to sports, good rest. Without this, even the most effective medicine cannot be effective.
It is necessary to refuse the use of alcohol, smoking. It is not recommended to eat chocolate and some other products. The diet should be rich, balanced.
Drugs that can cause exacerbation are prescribed as a last resort. Often, in conjunction with the main therapy, the doctor prescribes traditional medicine, physiotherapy. Often patients require spa treatment, stay in an appropriate climate.
The use of ointments
Often with exacerbation of psoriasis, ointments are one of the main therapeutic methods of exposure. In this case, the patient properly cares for the skin, which reduces the intensity of negative manifestations. For treatment, not only ointments are used in this case, but also creams, lotions and other varieties of formulations.
The active means of ointments can be different. In periods of exacerbation of psoriasis, external preparations based on corticosteroids, vitamin complexes, especially with vitamin D, phytocomponents are effective. Keratolytic and keratoplastic ointments are also used.
The choice of ointment is carried out individually. It is impossible to achieve long-term remission when using universal drugs. The choice of drug is carried out by trial. You need to start with the most gentle methods. If they are ineffective, prescribe more effective ointments. They have side effects. But in some cases you can’t do without them.
Ointments that are highly effective are often made on the basis of solidol, for example, these are such drugs:
- The Magnipsor.
- "Cytopsor."
- Kartalin.
Tar ointments are also effective:
- "Antipsorin."
- "Anthramine ointment."
- "Colloidin."
- "Antrasulfanol ointment."
The category of glucocorticosteroids, which are available in the form of ointments, include Budesonide, Mometasone.
Injections
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe injections for exacerbation of psoriasis. They quickly stop unpleasant symptoms. Injections have a multidirectional effect. They affect the body as follows:
- Immunomodulators restore the defenses of the body as a whole. They stabilize metabolic processes at the cellular level, reducing the body's susceptibility to external adverse manifestations. These are the preparations “Glutoxim” (995 rubles), “Pyrogenal” (650 rubles).
- Immunosuppressants suppress the work of local immunity. This is an effective, but expensive group of drugs. The most popular are Stelara (258 thousand rubles) and Remicade (50.5 thousand rubles).
- Glucocorticosteroids relieve inflammation. They are used for an advanced stage of the disease, if other drugs are ineffective. These are the drugs "Diprospan" (200 rubles), "Flosteron" (1400 rubles).
- Hepatoprotectors stimulate the protective cells of the liver. They are used to increase the body's resistance to adverse external factors, and also reduce the toxic effect of other drugs. This, for example, can be “Heptor” (530 rubles), “Heptal” (1500 rubles).
- Antihistamines relieve discomfort, eliminating unpleasant manifestations. Drugs relieve allergic reactions. For example, it can be Tavegil (400 rubles), Chloropyramine (110 rubles).
Tablets
Drug treatment of psoriasis with exacerbation consists in the treatment of psoriasis in severe stages, the effect on autoimmune processes in the body. There are many drugs that differ in the principle of action.
Often in such cases, the doctor prescribes a “Catheter”. Its main active ingredient reduces the rate of cell division. The drug is indicated for severe stages of the disease, as it has a number of negative effects on the body. It greatly affects the state of liver cells, bone marrow.
One of the most effective means is Diprospan tablets. This is a hormonal drug that consists of two main components. The first substance acts on the pathology slowly, gradually, and the second has a quick, but short-lived effect. The drug is also indicated for the severe stage of treatment of the disease, as it has a large list of side effects.
Reamberin tablets allow to remove toxins from the body that can accumulate in the body. This restores and harmonizes the work of body systems. One of the active substances is succinic acid. It is a powerful antioxidant that has a positive effect on the body. In cells, metabolic processes are enhanced.
Choosing how to treat psoriasis on the body, many doctors prefer drugs that affect T cells. This allows you to control processes at the cellular level. Such drugs include Timodepressin, Alefacepit, Basiliximab, and more.
Homeopathic medicines have proven effective. More often they are prescribed for moderate or mild treatment of the disease.
Physiotherapy
What to do with exacerbation of psoriasis? Physiotherapy is a very effective effect, which is prescribed in combination with other therapeutic methods. Especially effective is the use of ultraviolet radiation. Under its influence, unpleasant symptoms are significantly reduced. But this does not mean that you need to go to a hot resort. The exposure to ultraviolet radiation is normalized, controlled by a doctor.
Laser, ultrasound, and magnetotherapy treatments may also be prescribed. Physiotherapy is necessarily combined with lifestyle correction. Excessive physical activity is reduced, the patient is shown gymnastics, walks in the fresh air, healthy rest. Stress during an exacerbation is unacceptable.
Diet
An important factor in reducing discomfort and manifestations is the diet for exacerbation of psoriasis. Nutrition must be complete. The diet should consist of a balanced amount of fats and carbohydrates. Starvation and strict diets are unacceptable. The use of eggs, citrus fruits, chocolate is excluded. You also need to abandon honey, whole milk, products with red pigment. Such products are consumed in small amounts during remission.
Dramatically limit the consumption of spicy, sour, too fatty and smoked foods. From sweets, spices also need to be abandoned. You can eat boiled, stewed, baked products. Reduce the consumption of strong broths, salt.
Sanatorium treatment
Quickly reduce unpleasant symptoms in psoriasis helps spa treatment. In Russia, there are several centers where such therapy is carried out. One of them is the Matsesta spring in Sochi. Hydrogen sulfide water leads to redness and a slight burning of the skin, which accelerates blood circulation. This has a positive effect on the patient's condition.
Other popular sanatorium treatment centers are Caucasian Mineral Waters, Goryachy Klyuch (Pyatigorsk), Ust-Kachka (Perm Territory).