An intractable skin disease that does not threaten life, but significantly worsens its quality due to the fact that the appearance of a person is quite noticeably spoiled, is psoriasis. The main symptom that distinguishes this pathology is the appearance on the body of a specific rash, “plaque”.
Such spots appear due to the fact that due to the mainly genetic predisposition, skin cells begin to divide intensely in some areas. This leads to the fact that in these places special chemicals are produced that exacerbate inflammation. The focus because of this begins to secrete another component that attracts lymphocytes there. And on their own, these cells further enhance the division of skin cells.
How psoriasis begins: symptoms
Most often, the disease appears after stress, hypothermia, infectious disease, the introduction of a certain drug in a person who has a violation in the structure of the gene responsible for the division of skin cells. Pathology can develop at any time, but more often it occurs at a young age. Men and women get sick equally often, in women the disease begins to develop earlier.
Psoriasis has a very characteristic symptom that indicates it: it is a plaque. It looks like a pinkish or red spot raised above the skin level. It can itch, but does not hurt, covered with silver-whitish scales, prone to fusion with other elements. It can be in the form of a drop, a coin, less often it looks like a wart or a yellowish seborrheic crust.
Such plaques appear at first usually on the elbows and knees, maybe in those places where the skin was injured. Less commonly, a characteristic rash appears in the axillary fossa, femoral folds and anogenital region. There are also specific forms of the disease, when the elements, already little resembling the plaque described above, are located on the soles and palms. These are the initial symptoms of psoriasis.
The defeat can affect other areas: the scalp, nails.
How do you know if this is psoriasis?
The symptom is checked by a dermatologist. For this, a clean glass slide is used. They need to scrape the plaque lightly.
- At first, it becomes like a stain that would form if stearin were dripped onto the skin from a candle.
- If you scrape it a little more, the “stearin” will be erased, the plaque will become reddish and shiny.
- If you rub a little more, you will see red bloody dots - the phenomenon of the "bloody spot".
Sometimes a person does not realize that he has psoriasis: his main symptom - a plaque - is not visible or does not suggest the thought of this disease, itching is not particularly felt. At the same time, he may feel pain and discomfort in the area of various joints, especially small ones located between the phalanges of the fingers on the feet and hands. They swell, movements in them become painful. It can be a form of psoriasis such as arthropathy or psoriatic arthritis.
There is also such a complicated form of the disease as psoriatic erythroderma, which occurs when abruptly discontinuing the hormonal drugs used to treat psoriasis, or the irrational use of antipsoriatic drugs. In this case, the plaques merge into large foci, tend to spread to a large area. The skin on the affected area turns red, swells, becomes tense and painful. The general condition is violated, the body temperature rises. A doctor examining such a patient, after a short period of time, does not see the elements characteristic of psoriasis. Therefore, it is very difficult for him to determine the diagnosis.
Thus, to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, you need to consult a dermatologist. Do not risk your health when choosing a therapy yourself, on the advice of friends and colleagues. Psoriasis, if untreated or if it is incorrect, can be complicated by erythroderma, and also not go into remission for a long time, which is very important for a person suffering from it.