Psoriasis - what is it? This is a skin disease - inflammation that appears on the skin in the form of clear areas of a pinkish color with peeling. Although the disease is common, the causes of its occurrence are still not known. There is an assumption that the disease has a genetic nature.
Psoriasis - what is it
The occurrence of psoriasis is noted by the following symptoms: dense pink tubercles with peeling appear on the skin. The skin in this place can be tight and itchy.
Psoriasis - what is it? In fact, this is a long-term chronic inflammation of the skin. The skin of people consists of a surface layer called the epidermis, a layer of the dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis, in turn, also consists of several layers. The upper - horny - consists of horny scales, which are constantly exfoliated, and in their place stand cells from other layers located deeper. So the skin of a person is updated. Psoriasis - what is it? This is inflammation of the upper layer of the epidermis. For some reason, in patients diagnosed with psoriasis, cells of the lower layers of the epidermis begin to actively divide, which provokes active rejection of the upper layers of the epidermis, which is externally visible in the form of peeling.
Who is sick more often
As mentioned above, psoriasis is inherited (today this is the only assumption). However, factors that provoke its development can be distinguished. More often psoriasis occurs in people aged 16-22 years and 57-60 years. As a rule, a person affected by a disease often suffers from infectious diseases, experiences constant stresses, possibly skin injuries, sunburns, drinks alcohol, certain types of drugs, and has HIV.
Is the disease contagious?
Thanks to years of research, it has been reliably established that psoriasis is not contagious. If the disease annoys several family members at once, this is explained by the transmission of the disease by inheritance.
Stages of psoriasis
In the first stage, the disease most often affects the elbows, knees or scalp. If the disease develops further, then the lesion sites become more extensive.
- First, clearly defined papules appear on the skin, pinkish elevations. The skin on their surface is peeling. If you scrape the papule, the scales will fall off, there will be a pale film, which with further scraping is covered with droplets of blood. Papules can merge with each other, forming large, irregularly shaped areas. Young papules appear in places of scratches or abrasions.
- A person feels a strong tightness in the affected areas and itching.
- The disease lasts for years, replaced by periods of "sleep" and exacerbation. In winter, exacerbation most often occurs. However, stress, a virus, and what was written above can provoke an exacerbation. At this time, young papules are born, which then turn pale, become flat and do not peel. Remission, exacerbation - these stages of the disease are constantly alternating.
Treatment
Often, treatment of psoriasis is only the transition of the disease from the active stage to the stage of remission, which is also considered a good result. The treatment is always complex, including not only medications, but also diet and rest at sea.
External remedies against the disease: salicylic ointment, preparations Akriderm SK, Diprosalik, naphthalene ointment, sulfur-tar ointment.
Tablets and injections: Isotretinoin, Acitretin, Cyclosporin, Methotrexate, Psorilom, Psoriaten.
Photochemotherapy is effectively used - the effect of ultraviolet radiation. The procedure is carried out thanks to special installations that irradiate only the affected areas.
There is no cure for psoriasis. Each patient is a separate case, with a separate medical history and an individual method of treatment.