What is psoriasis? How does this disease begin? You will find answers to these and other questions in the materials of this article.
Basic information
Before telling you how psoriasis begins, you should tell what this disease is all about.
According to experts, the disease in question has another name, which sounds like "scaly lichen". This is a chronic disease of non-infectious origin, or the so-called dermatosis. As a rule, it affects the skin areas, as well as the scalp.
Causes of the disease
The fact that psoriasis is, how this disease begins, is known to many. But not everyone knows why this pathological condition occurs.
Many modern experts suggest the autoimmune nature of psoriasis. In other words, scaly lichen is an abnormal reaction of the body to the influence of any external stimuli, as a result of which the upper layer of the skin dies on the surface of the patient.
Currently, most doctors tend to believe that psoriasis is a multifactorial disease.
Theories of origin
Why does a disease such as psoriasis arise (how will it begin, we will tell below)? There are several theories about the origin of this disease. The first claims that there are 2 varieties of lichen:
- The first is due to poor functioning of the human immune system. In this case, psoriasis affects the skin, manifests itself at a young age and is inherited.
- The second occurs only after 40 years. In this case, lichen affects the nails and joints. It is not hereditary and is not associated with a malfunction of the human immune defense.
As for another theory, it says that the only factor that contributes to the development of psoriasis is a weakening of immunity due to:
- infectious diseases;
- malnutrition;
- cold climatic conditions;
- alcohol abuse.
In this case, the disease is classified as systemic. It can spread to joints and even internal organs.
Favorable factors
The appearance of the disease in question is favored by the following factors:
- excessive hygiene, which leads to a violation of the natural protection of the skin;
- dry and thin skin ;
- HIV
- constant contact with such irritating reagents as household chemicals, alcohol solutions, cosmetics;
- change of a climatic region;
- alcohol or drug consumption, smoking (contribute to the deterioration of skin nutrition and blood supply);
- stress
- taking certain medications;
- bacterial and fungal infections;
- the use of acidic foods, spicy foods and chocolate;
- injuries
- allergic conditions.
Symptoms of the disease
Now you know what psoriasis is. How does this disease begin? Experts say that scaly lichen is a systemic pathology. In addition to its spread on the skin and nails, it can affect the joints, spinal column, tendons, endocrine, immune and nervous systems. This disease also affects the liver, kidneys and thyroid gland.
How does psoriasis begin (photo depriving is presented in this article)? The first symptoms of this disease are:
- feeling of chronic fatigue;
- general weakness;
- depression or depression.
Such symptoms are common. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to determine from them that a person develops precisely this disease.
Main clinic
How can psoriasis be detected? How does the disease begin in humans? The main clinic of this disease is associated with damage to certain areas of the patient’s skin. The very first manifestation of scaly lichen are psoriatic plaques that cover individual parts of the human body. They are rounded papules of pink or bright red color.
The main feature of such rashes is their symmetrical location on the flexion surfaces of the body, scalp and lower back. Less commonly, papules can be observed on the genital mucosa.
In the early stages of the development of the disease, the size of such plaques can be several millimeters. In the future, their value often reaches 10 or more cm.
Types of rashes
Now you know what the beginning psoriasis looks like. It should be noted that the feature of the resulting rash is the basis for the division of the disease into the following types:
- Teardrop-shaped lichen. Papules with such psoriasis resemble a teardrop, which corresponds to the size of an ordinary lentil grain.
- Point. Flakes with such a disease are smaller than a pin head.
- Coin-shaped. This type of psoriasis is characterized by 5 mm plaques with rounded edges.
It can not be said that sometimes a psoriatic rash is in the form of garlands or rings, arched, as well as in the form of a geographical map with uneven edges.
Rash feature
How does psoriasis begin in the arms? As mentioned above, such a disease can be recognized by the presence of scaly plaques. They are keratinized epidermis and are the upper layer of papules.
According to experts, at the very beginning, the scales form in the center of the plaque, and then gradually spread to its edges. The light and loose appearance of such papules is due to the presence of air in the spaces between dead cells.
Also a clear sign of the onset of psoriasis is the pink ring that forms around the rash. It represents a growth area of the plaque, as well as the spread of inflammation. At the same time, the surrounding skin remains unchanged.
After the psoriatic plaque is removed, patches with a shiny surface of bright red color are formed on the patient's skin. As you know, they are formed by capillaries with thinned walls, which are covered with a thin film on top.
Such vessels are detected due to a violation of the normal structure of the upper layer of the skin, as well as its significant thinning. In turn, a change in the structure of the skin occurs due to the incomplete maturation of keratinocytes, which leads to the impossibility of their natural differentiation.
How does psoriasis begin in children?
Symptoms of scaly lichen in children have some differences. The first signs of this disease in babies are not typical. Initially, a delimited area of redness appears in their skin folds, accompanied by maceration, as well as a gradual discharge of the stratum corneum (starting from the periphery). Sometimes this phenomenon resembles diaper rash, eczematide or candidiasis.
In a young child, psoriatic rashes appear in places uncharacteristic of this disease (for example, on the skin of the face, natural skin folds and mucous membranes of the genital organs).
Very often, a scaly rash in children forms on the head, under the hair. It is a cluster of crusts with moderate infiltration. Also a common area where plaques appear are places exposed to aggressive drugs or constant friction of clothing.
Features of childhood psoriasis
Papules accompanying childhood psoriasis merge into plaques that have irregular shapes. As a rule, their sizes vary from lentil grains to the baby's palm.
With a drop-shaped variety, lichen papular elements are small. They form suddenly, covering the face, body, neck, extensor areas of the legs and arms, as well as the scalp.
It should also be noted that psoriasis in children has a long and persistent course. The only exception is teardrop lichen, which is characterized by a mild course and a long period of remission.
Stages of the disease in children
As in adults, 3 stages are distinguished in the development of childhood illness. Let's consider them in more detail.
At a progressive stage, the child develops small itchy papules that surround the red rims of peripheral growth. In this case, in most children, lymph nodes become denser and enlarge, which sometimes become painful.
Upon transition to the stationary stage, the growth of peripheral rims stops, after which in the center of the plaque there is a flattening of the infiltrate, as well as a reduction in peeling.
As for the regressive stage, it is characterized by the resorption of all elements of the rash. At this stage, a characteristic depigmented rim can be observed around the plaques. Further, the areas of the rash are deprived of pigment or are even more pigmented. In this case, the lymph nodes of the child are reduced in size and become soft.