Pink lichen, Zhiber's lichen or pitiriasis is not such a rare skin disease that affects a person with a weakened immune system after suffering viral ailments. According to statistics, female people suffer from pink deprivation more often than men. The disease affects adults up to 40 years old and children after ten years of age. Many medical reference books indicate that the disease goes away without treatment after two months, and relapses do not appear.
However, severe pathologies with a large lesion area and a long course are found, requiring medical treatment. The symptoms and treatment of pink lichen in humans (see photo of manifestations below) will be discussed in this article.
Causes of the disease
Why there is pink lichen and who is the causative agent of the disease, not identified. Some presumably believe that this is a viral disease of a herpetic nature, others - that it is an infectious-allergic reaction, and still others say that this is just an organism reflex to hypothermia. Is pink lichen infectious and how is the disease transmitted? There is no exact answer to this question. It is known that the patient retains lifelong immunity. The main factors contributing to the development of the disease:
- colds and infectious diseases;
- weakened immunity;
- severe stressful situations;
- metabolic disorders;
- vaccinations;
- damage to the skin.
Lichen gibber most often occurs against a background of weakened immunity in spring and autumn, when there is a sharp change in temperature, colds, SARS, and flu appear.
The clinical picture of pink lichen
The disease begins with the appearance of a small single red-pink spot, which is called the mother. The dermis on it is dry with small transparent scales. Pitiriasis affects the chest, back, neck, and hands, face and feet remain clean. Gradually, the formation increases, reaching a diameter of 3-5 cm. The central part of the spot is painted in a pale pink color, slightly sagging and peeling. The edges rise slightly above the level of healthy skin and have a bright reddish-pink tone. The patient is sometimes worried about itching, which most often occurs in emotional people or who have allergic reactions. After exfoliating scales, a brown spot with a narrow outline remains in the center. About a week after the formation of maternal plaque, a large number of small spots of round and oval shape appear. Their size reaches no more than one and a half centimeters in diameter. They have a flaky surface, distinct borders and clearly stand out on the surface of a healthy dermis, grouping in the form of spruce branches. The duration of the disease is up to five weeks. After this, the rashes fade and slowly disappear without treatment for pink lichen. After them, the skin remains clean without blemishes. Recovery occurs in about a month. There are more complex cases when the disease can last much longer.
Symptoms of pink lichen
They depend on the stage of the disease.
First one:
- malaise and general weakness;
- headache and joint pain;
- violations of the digestive tract;
- rarely - elevated body temperature;
- the appearance of a red-pink flaky maternal spot of round shape in diameter up to 5 cm on the body, elbow bends;
- retraction of the center of the rash;
- the appearance of a brown tint on the spot.
Second:
- the appearance of secondary spots up to 1.5 cm in diameter a week after the first rash;
- the rash is rounded with a scaly pink surface protruding above the surface of the skin;
- rashes occupy large areas.
Third:
- symptoms of the disease are similar to plaque psoriasis;
- the spots are characterized by a clear edging;
- there comes a gradual blanching of the rashes and a complete disappearance without consequences.
Treatment of signs of pink lichen in a person (the photo above shows how the manifestations of the disease look) is carried out on an outpatient basis and takes about a month under favorable circumstances. The patient receives a stable immunity.
Diagnosis of pink lichen
For diagnosis:
- a conversation with the patient, during which complaints, rashes, possible causes of the disease and sensations are clarified;
- visual inspection of the uterine spot;
- analysis of the Wasserman reaction to exclude a number of diseases with similar symptoms - seborrheic eczema, dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, syphilitic roseola, psoriasis, Lyme disease;
- studies using Wood's fluorescent lamp.
As a result of the diagnosis, taking into account the complaints and signs of lichen in humans, the treatment is carried out by a doctor according to the established method.
Atypical forms of pink lichen
The primary maternal spot in some cases may be absent, then the following atypical forms of pitiriasis are formed:
- follicular;
- papular
- miliary;
- urtikarnaya;
- vesicular.
These are rare types of disease. With improper treatment of pink lichen or under the influence of water procedures, ultraviolet rays, rubbing with coarse underwear, rashes merge and large areas of the dermis are formed. In this case, the disease becomes severe.
Vidal Ringed Ringworm
This giant lichen is one of the atypical forms of the disease. It is manifested by the formation of yellow-pink rounded shapes of large size up to 8 cm in diameter. The exact cause of this disease is missing. Some believe that the source is a fungus located on the skin of a person, while others tend to be of bacterial origin. The disease appears spontaneously after severe nervous stress, a sharp change in climatic conditions or in case of malfunctions in the immune system. The disease has three stages of the course:
- Primary itching. It appears evening and night on an apparently perfectly healthy dermis.
- Nesting lichenification. At the site of combs appear seals having a shiny surface and papules. A pattern is clearly drawn on the skin, its surface becomes dry, rough and rough.
- Diffuse lichenification. At this time, rounded coffee-pink spots develop on thickened skin, towering above healthy areas. They are deep grooves. The formations are covered with scales, abrasions and crusts.
Lichen Vidal is a chronic disease that lasts for years with remissions and seasonal exacerbations. After an arbitrary disappearance, age spots remain. The main locations of the rashes are the back surface of the neck, large joints of the joints, genitals, and perineum. One person can have no more than three large disks. The lichens of Vidal and Giber can pass simultaneously.
Treatment for pink lichen at home
Despite the fact that pink lichen can be independently cured in a maximum of 12 weeks, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician. To prevent complications:
- wear loose cotton clothing so as not to rub damaged parts of the body;
- Do not use cosmetics that irritate the skin;
- exclude water procedures (baths, showers) and ultraviolet rays;
- follow a diet - exclude all foods that cause an allergic reaction.
When an elevated temperature occurs, antipyretic drugs are indicated, and antihistamines are used to eliminate itching. To accelerate the treatment of pink lichen in humans (photos of the manifestations of the disease are presented in the review), doctors recommend using salicylic alcohol to treat affected skin areas. Antibacterial therapy is used only when an infection is attached.
Pink lichen in children
This disease in children most often manifests itself after prolonged use of antibiotics, vaccination, acute respiratory viral infections, local irritation of the dermis as a result of a chronic infection. The specific treatment of pink lichen in a child does not require, it is enough to follow the rules of hygiene. At the beginning of the disease, a large pink spot appears with clear boundaries (maternal plaque), peeling in the center. It most often forms on the chest, abdomen, or hips. The child becomes lethargic, complains of headaches. Body temperature, if it rises, is slightly. After a few days, an abundant rash appears on the body with oval contours. The spots have a red-pink hue. They are located on the shoulders, hips, sides of the body, sometimes on the back of the neck and even in the scalp. The skin in damaged areas is very flaky. If hygiene rules are not observed in a child against the background of pink lichen, pyoderma may develop with the appearance of weeping areas. They form in places where the clothes fit tightly to the skin. Without complications, the disease disappears after a month on its own, and lifelong immunity is developed. Doctors do not recommend the use of active treatment for pink lichen in a child. Parents need to cancel water procedures during the period of illness in order to avoid the spread of the disease, and adjust food, excluding products that cause allergic reactions.
Pink lichen in pregnant women
Symptoms of pink lichen (photo below) do not require special treatment. They pass by themselves, eight weeks after the disease, leaving no consequences. The situation is completely different with pregnant women.
After studies of the disease, depriving Giber and the statistics obtained, it was found that:
- out of 38 cases, 5 expectant mothers had a miscarriage;
- of all cases in the first trimester, spontaneous abortion occurred in 62%;
- in babies whose mothers were ill in the second trimester, hypotension and general slow motion were detected;
- 33% of women gave birth to healthy babies, but some started delivering prematurely.
Pregnancy of women who have been diagnosed with a severe form of the disease has ended in spontaneous miscarriage. Extensive skin rashes were accompanied by a lack of appetite, insomnia, and headaches. And with detailed examinations in one patient and her fetus, a type VI herpes virus was detected.
The data obtained indicate that the disease of pitiriasis is dangerous for both the expectant mother and the fetus. The trouble is that while medicine is helpless. Effective methods of treating signs of pink lichen (photo above) were not found in pregnant women. Statistics noted that Zhiber’s disease in women in an interesting position is diagnosed more often than in all other people.
Topical creams and ointments
For the treatment of pink lichen, a dermatologist prescribes all the medicines. An independent choice of funds can lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition and cause skin irritation. Some ointments contain hormones, so their use has side effects. The following drugs are recommended for the treatment of pink lichen at home:
- “Sinalar” - contains glucocorticoids and antibiotics. It fights itching, inflammation and swelling, softens and brightens the skin.
- "Lorinden A" - a steroid ointment, contains salicylic acid. It is used to relieve itching and swelling, eliminates inflammation, reduces peeling.
- "Flucinar" - contains hormones. Used to eliminate scales, removes allergic reactions.
- "Sanguirythrin" - has an antiseptic property.
- “Clotrimazole” - is used to treat pink lichen in a person (photo of the drug is higher), quickly restores the epidermis in injured areas of the skin.
- "Tsindol" - disinfects wounds.
- "Akriderm" - promotes the healing of damaged skin.
- "Acyclovir" - heals the affected areas of the skin.
Successful ointment therapy depends on the degree of skin lesion, general health and age of the patient.
Treatment with folk remedies
Any treatment for signs of pink lichen, including folk remedies, should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, so you should get advice on the use of various plant materials. A few recipes that will help you recover quickly:
- Elder. Pour a tablespoon of dry raw materials with a glass of boiling water, insist for half an hour and take four tablespoons three times a day. Used for viral and bacterial infections.
- Calendula. To prepare the ointment, grind 10 g of dried flowers into powder and mix with 50 g of petroleum jelly. Treat the skin three times a day.
- Sea buckthorn oil. Used to treat pink lichen in a home setting. Apply a bandage moistened with oil to the damaged area and hold for 30 minutes.
- Apple vinegar. Moisten a gauze cloth and apply to damaged skin for 10 minutes. The procedure is repeated four times a day.
Physiotherapeutic treatment
Promotes rapid recovery, stops the development of the disease and reduces skin manifestations. With pink lichen, the following methods are used:
- laser therapy - in the treatment of pink lichen strengthens the immune system, increases the body's resistance, improves metabolism;
- ultraviolet radiation - strengthens the protective functions of the skin and the body as a whole;
- ultrasound therapy - improves microcirculation and regeneration of the dermis;
- laser irradiation of blood - regenerates tissues, stimulates the immune system;
- magnetotherapy - strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation, as a result, treatment of pink lichen (photo of the procedure - above) is more successful.
Preventive actions
Pink lichen does not require serious treatment, it goes away on its own and without serious consequences, but nevertheless it is better to prevent it, especially for pregnant women and children. There is no consensus among scientists about the causes of the disease, so there is no list of preventive measures. You can use the general recommendations:
- Strengthening immunity - constant physical activity, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition, rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Personal hygiene - all family members have their own personal care items.
- Eliminate the factors that provoke the disease - stress, hypothermia, contact with sick people.
Pink lichen disease has a favorable prognosis for recovery. Ill maintains a lifelong immunity. With a weakened body, the disease is more severe and lasts longer, and with healthy treatment, pink lichen is not required.