What is psoriasis in the ears? This isolated form of the disease is quite rare, but is still diagnosed in some patients. Psoriasis usually affects several parts of the body at once. Ears, therefore, are only one of the foci of the disease.
About the disease
Psoriasis in the ears is inherently a seborrheic form of dermatitis. Standardly, it first affects the scalp. Then it spreads to the auricles, nape, forehead. In some cases, it may occur on the nasolabial folds, chest or back.
Psoriasis is a chronic disease, the development of which is characterized by a violation of the division of cells of tissues of the skin. This is reflected in the formations of rashes that bring the patient both physical and moral, aesthetic discomfort. However, at the present stage of development, medicine allows for a long time to extend the stage of remission of this disease. This means that for a long time to leave the patient's skin healthy, free from rashes.
This also applies to psoriasis in the ears. Consider the causes of this disease, the characteristic symptoms, directions of diagnosis, therapy, prevention, possible consequences.
Causes
Even modern doctors cannot answer the question of why psoriasis develops in the ears. It has been established, however, that genetic predisposition plays a large role here. Equally important is the effect of external factors. The basis of pathogenesis (that is, the development of the disease) here is too accelerated cell division of the epidermis.
Psoriasis in the ears is a rather multifactorial disease. We list its main known causes:
- Frequent, systematic injury to the skin.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Past chronic infectious diseases.
- Frequent stressful situations.
- A sharp change in climatic conditions.
- Long-term and large-scale drug therapy.
- Alcoholism.
Features of the form of the disease
How to identify psoriasis in the auricles? As well as other forms of this disease - the symptoms will be similar. The difficulty is that this type of psoriasis is often confused with seborrheic eczema. But there is still a difference.
As for psoriasis in the ears, it affects both one and both hearing organs. Basically, patients note an additional extensive disease of the scalp, near both the ears and in the folds of the auricles. Sometimes rashes are recorded in the auditory canal. Psoriasis can affect the following:
- Earlobe.
- The outer edges of the auricles.
- Whiskey.
- Hair growth lines.
Since pathology is accompanied by accelerated division of affected cells, rashes from the area of the ears go to more extensive areas of the skin on the head. Starting on the earlobes, the face and neck are further affected.
Common symptoms
Can there be psoriasis in the ears? Yes, this is one of the common locations that is affected by this disease. Psoriasis can be recognized by the following characteristic symptoms:
- Rashes are represented by dry plaques, covered with silver scales of the skin. The phenomenon is also called the "stearin stain." This plaque is like a speck of stearin or wax.
- Where skin flakes exfoliate, the skin turns red. A similar effect is called a “terminal film”.
- If you accidentally touch, scratch such a stain, then this also damages the terminal film. Small droplets of blood appear on its surface, somewhat reminiscent of dewdrops.
Behind the ears, psoriasis manifests itself in the form of eczema. These are the so-called papules with reddish infiltrative elements. On the skin, you can also see the layering of festering crusts. In their place, wet cracks appear over time.
Specific symptoms
How to identify psoriasis inside the ear? Focus on the general and specific symptoms of this disease. At an early stage of skin lesion, patients note the following:
- Irritation of the skin.
- Itching
- Pain in both the superficial and deep layers of the skin.
At the stage of exacerbation of psoriasis, the following may additionally occur:
- Discomfort in the affected areas of the skin, which can turn into severe pain.
- Swelling.
- Redness of the affected skin areas.
When an infection gets on psoriasis affected areas of the skin, this is manifested in the following:
- The location becomes warm, hot to the touch.
- Suppuration appears.
- Both the auricle and the adjacent areas swell.
- There is a sensation as if swelling of the ear, pulsation in it.
Stages of the disease
Only a doctor can prescribe psoriasis tablets. When prescribing drugs, he primarily focuses on the stage of development of the disease in the patient:
- Early It is characterized by the appearance of primary elements - pinkish papules in white scales, nodular rashes. Usually they appear not on the ear, but on the scalp. At this stage, an urgent appeal to the doctor is required! In the early period, a prolonged exacerbation of the disease can be avoided. There are no intense manifestations - only an infection, prolonged mental stress can lead to them. In this case, the rashes acquire a bright red color, begin to itch strongly, spread over all the skin of the head, passing to the neck, chest and further through the body.
- Progressive. Sometimes this stage is combined with the previous one. The skin begins to become covered with a layer of plaques with silver scales, the spots increase, merge with each other. The disease spreads to the area behind the ears, the auricles themselves, the lobes and even the ear canal. If the patient combs, injures these rashes, this leads to the appearance of new spots. Sometimes weeping plaques appear in which the infection can easily get.
- Stationary. At this stage of the development of the disease, it seems that psoriasis seems to have receded. Plaques cease to form, the patient does not complain of itching. The formations begin to peel off.
- Regressive. Inflammation of the skin weakens, the clinical picture is becoming more blurry. The spots on the ears disappear, resolve, the rashes become discolored, the skin ceases to peel off.
But with the disappearance of symptoms, the disease does not leave the patient. Only the period of remission comes. But the disease can come back at any moment. Without the lack of proper treatment for psoriasis behind the ears, he makes himself felt the very next month. Therefore, a visit to a medical facility cannot be ignored.
Diagnostics
It is not worth it to prescribe yourself pills for psoriasis in any case! The treatment regimen is compiled only by a specialist on the basis of a number of diagnostic measures. They begin with a visual examination by the doctor of the patient’s scalp. Seborrheic psoriasis develops precisely from this zone, after which it is already transferred to the auricles.
To confirm this diagnosis, take a scraping from a plaque. This sample is sent for histological examination. If the pathology is confirmed, it already makes sense to talk about the treatment of psoriasis.
Directions of therapy
How to treat psoriasis in the ears? Therapy here is the same as with other forms of this disease. Stand out with the main methods:
- Local treatment. The main way. Various creams, ointments, lotions, emulsions and more are used.
- Systemic treatment. It is prescribed when the symptoms in a particular patient are very pronounced. Or if the previous method of therapy is ineffective. Here we are talking about the appointment of sedatives, anti-inflammatory, hormonal drugs, drugs that inhibit the division of skin cells.
- Physiotherapy. This treatment is addressed when an exacerbation of psoriasis has passed. As for the particular form of the disease affecting the ears, UV radiation is used here.
The main means of therapy
If you read the instructions for the use of ointment "Hydrocortisone" for the skin, then among the indications for use you will find psoriasis. Is it effective in localizing the disease specifically on the ears? In this case, doctors usually prescribe the following drugs to patients:
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Among them can be distinguished "Belosalik", "Diplosalik", "Elokom S". They take these drugs in combination with salicylic acid - for better penetration into the skin.
- Skin restoration. In order to restore healthy skin to damaged skin, preparations are prescribed with calcipotriol (Daivobet and some of its analogues).
- Keratolics. These drugs contribute to the exfoliation of plaques, their mitigation. In general, moisturize the skin, help it recover. The main component here is salicylic acid.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. Naphthalene, zinc, sulfur-tar, ichthyol ointment, as well as such products as Akrustal, Colloidin, Hydrocortisone ointment for the skin. Instructions for use with these drugs also contain such an indication as psoriasis. They not only normalize blood supply in damaged areas, stabilize metabolic processes, but also have an antipruritic, antifungal effect.
- Antibiotics. These funds are prescribed if all of the above drugs are powerless. In particular, cephalosporins, penicillins, macrolides are prescribed.
- Antihistamines They are prescribed when the patient complains of severe edema, intolerable itching in the ears. Effective "Erius", "Suprastin", "Zirtek".
- Shampoos If psoriasis, in addition to the ears, has also damaged the scalp, then therapeutic shampoos containing tar, zinc and other useful substances can be prescribed. The most famous here: Skin-Cap, Nizoral, Bioderma.
"Grandma's" ways
A considerable number of patients are interested in how to treat psoriasis with folk remedies. However, this disease is serious enough to carry out such risky experiments with its therapy. The only thing is that you can use alternative medicines as an additional, auxiliary treatment. Of course, with the approval of your doctor.
The following will help you deal with itching and inflammation:
- Ointment from tar of birch, honey and egg yolk.
- Propolis ointment and butter.
- Applying lotions with sea salt.
- Ingestion of tincture of valerian, which relieves irritation, irritability.
Ear care
Since this form of the disease damages the auricles, ear canals, they need special care during treatment:
- Always gently scrub and dry your ears.
- Try not to injure damaged skin.
- Refuse from usual shampoos - use only medical, prescribed by the doctor.
- Do not stick the wand far into the ear canal if it is already damaged by psoriasis.
- Open exposed areas as much as possible to fresh air, direct sunlight. For example, pull long hair into a pigtail or tail.
- Avoid hair dyeing, perm and using a hairdryer. If you still need the latter, try not to direct air jets to the damaged ear.
- Avoid rooms with air conditioning.
Complications
If the patient for a long time ignores the need for therapy, begins to self-medicate, psoriasis on the ears will inevitably give complications. These are the consequences:
- Severe inflammation, penetration of the infection deep into the ear canal.
- Deep trauma to the ears, discoloration of the skin, scars.
- Hearing impairment (due to edema of the auditory canal).
- Generalization of the process - a rash can cover all the skin of the body.
- The formation of the so-called keratonic hair cylinders. They are freely removed from the head when combing or accidentally grazing.
Prevention of the disease is quite simple: you need to go to the healthy lifestyle, build the right diet, avoid nervous overload and stress, treat chronic diseases and infections on time, say goodbye to alcohol and smoking. It is also necessary to carefully select cosmetic products, take the vitamin complexes prescribed by the doctor. Try not to injure your auricles, refuse to use an air conditioner and hair dryer.