Psoriasis is a non-infectious chronic skin disease that manifests itself in the form of peeling and skin rashes. It is characterized by a wavy course, with stages of remission (improvement) and stages of exacerbations. The disease can develop at any age, but most often, scaly lichen affects young people. There are many ways to treat psoriasis on the legs and arms.
Causes
To date, in medicine there is no unequivocal position regarding the etiology of the occurrence of psoriasis. The main generally accepted reasons for the development of this pathology are considered, firstly, the growth of skin cells due to violations in their development and, secondly, changes in the functioning of the human immune system, which affect the regeneration of the skin.
The following causes and factors can provoke the manifestation of psoriasis:
- Heredity. If the parents had a history of skin diseases, then the person may be genetically predisposed to the manifestation of similar problems, including psoriasis.
- Stressful situations and neuropsychiatric overload. As a rule, nervous excitement and emotional upheaval have a negative effect on the process of skin regeneration, and are accompanied by itching in an hour.
- Malfunctions in the hormonal system and diseases associated with metabolic disorders.
- The negative effects of skin care products, leading to excessive dryness of the skin.
- Post-traumatic lesions of the skin of the legs.
Stages
The disease gradually develops, increasing in size and increasing the intensity of the affected skin of the feet. So, the signs of psoriasis of the feet differ depending on its shape. How to treat psoriasis on the legs also depends on the stage of the disease.
initial stage
On the skin of the feet pimples spill with redness and clearly defined contours. On top they are covered with scales, itching appears. Single red spots may form, which after a while can peel off and dry out.
The initial stage of this disease, dermatologists are divided into 2 groups:
- Type 1 affects people because of their genetic predisposition - in about 60% of cases, patients have relatives (up to 4 generations) suffering from this disease. The treatment of hereditary psoriasis is quite lengthy, and requires the use of drugs to prevent the spread of plaques from the feet to other parts of the body.
- Type 2 is an acquired form of psoriasis that develops due to an abnormal lifestyle. People over 40 years old who are malnourished, drink alcohol, work in harmful enterprises, or have experienced severe stress are affected. In this case, the initial stage is quite acute. After about a month, the hip joints and knees begin to be affected.
Progressive stage
At this stage, new, rather abundant in size rashes appear, which are located around the rash that arose earlier. Often they merge into groups.
Peeling appears mainly in the center of the rash. It is characterized by itching and a possible increase in body temperature. In most cases, this stage lasts 16-30 days. Nails can darken and fade, become ribbed and porous. Touching the affected areas of the skin causes pain.
Acute stage
At this stage of the disease, rashes appear when the skin of the feet is damaged - scratches, scratching, burns, injections and cuts. Old formations peel off, joints and hips swell.
Stationary stage
The affected skin is exfoliated, peeling and itching are reduced, new inflammations do not appear, the inflammatory process subsides. Less pronounced pigmentation is noted. The edges of the papule have keratinization, which reaches about 5 mm in diameter.
Regression stage
For the disease at this stage, the disappearance of inflammatory foci is characteristic. Plaques are compared with the skin of the feet, they are reduced in size, and can even completely disappear, the edges of psoriatic plaques have a white border. Usually, the patient's condition improves, because in the afternoon the sun's rays fall on the skin.
In addition to external changes, with psoriasis of the feet, a person experiences uncomfortable sensations - dryness, irritation, itching and swelling of the skin of the feet. The disease is characterized by the appearance of more dense plaques in texture, which leads to the appearance of painful cracks.
After some time, when the remission phase passes, the patient may again have symptoms of the disease. Psoriasis of the legs is fraught with exacerbations, in which the disease requires a long and rather complicated treatment.
Treatment
An experienced specialist should choose a method of treating psoriasis on the legs, taking into account the patient’s condition, stage of the disease and individual characteristics of the patient. So how to treat psoriasis on the soles of the feet? Ointments in this case are an indispensable substance.
First symptoms
To treat the disease at this stage, ointments with anti-inflammatory and keratolytic effects are used, which renew the skin and contribute to its regeneration.
The average severity of this disease is expressed by severe peeling and the appearance of plaques. Treatment is carried out with the means containing glucocorticoids contained in it. The use of emollient ointments, which reduce the process of inflammation and swelling of the tissues of the legs, is also shown.
In severe forms of the disease, complex treatment with the following drugs is necessary:
- immunostimulants;
- hormonal ointments;
- physiotherapy;
- antibacterial and antifungal agents.
If the patient has severe psoriasis, there is a risk of re-infection on the skin, so doctors recommend the use of antimycotic ointments to prevent the development of the fungus.
Moderate symptoms
How to treat psoriasis on the feet? If the symptoms are moderate, the use of such ointments is indicated:
- salicylic;
- with the addition of solidol;
- tarry;
- zinc.
These drugs have a fairly powerful pronounced keratolytic effect, contributing to accelerated skin renewal.
Zinc and salicylic ointments are powerful antiseptics that significantly reduce the inflammatory process. An ointment with birch tar is also effective, which does not allow the fungus to develop further, while reducing peeling and softening the upper layer of the skin. Ointments with the addition of solidol help reduce swelling and itching, effectively softening and moisturizing the skin, quickly restoring the epidermis of the skin of the legs.
Intense severity
How to treat psoriasis on the soles of the feet? If the symptoms of psoriasis are more pronounced, and large plaques form on the feet, the use of hormonal glucocorticoid ointments is indicated.
They relieve inflammation, reduce the swelling of the epidermis and eliminate itching, preventing damage to the nails and joints. It is very important that the choice of hormonal ointments is carried out exclusively by the doctor, since many of them have some unpleasant side effects and contraindications.
This type of drug is used to treat acute forms of psoriasis, and not for long. Then apply emollients and exfoliators. Preparations with the addition of coal tar prevent the growth of psoriatic plaques, while stopping the process of keratinization of the skin and reducing the number of papules.
To exfoliate existing flakes, you can use salicylic acid, which not only cleanses the skin of the feet, but also makes it healthier.
Prophylactic drugs
Often people are interested in how to treat psoriasis on the legs for preventive purposes.
To do this, prescribe antimycotics (Lamisil, Clotrimazole) and Levomekol to prevent the appearance of a bacterial lesion.
The choice of medication should be done by the doctor, after assessing the risk of epidermal infection.
Also, patients can be prescribed retinoids in the form of tablets, which reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent the progression of this disease. The use of sedatives (preferably herbal) preparations, vitamin complexes and immunostimulants is also shown.
Physiotherapeutic methods that accelerate the regeneration of the skin of the feet and reduce symptoms are no less effective. With psoriasis, laser therapy, light therapy, cryotherapy and ultraviolet irradiation are used.
The treatment of psoriasis is preferably performed comprehensively, following some simple rules. In particular, you need to monitor the hygiene of the legs, do not dry the skin, using special moisturizing therapeutic soaps and gels to wash them.
Excessive sweating of the legs increases the risk of reinfection of the skin of the legs, for which additional drugs that reduce sweating should be used. But it is worth considering that such funds can somewhat dry the skin, so you need to be careful with them.
Folk preparations
Talking about how to treat psoriasis on the legs, one can not help but mention folk remedies.
A variety of components are used. Each person can choose the most optimal remedy for his case. The ointment with the addition of a series of herbs and sea buckthorn oil is very effective.
It is equally important in the treatment of psoriasis of the feet to adhere to a diet. It is known that the use of strong alcohol and smoking can provoke a relapse and a significant deterioration in the patient's condition.
Timely and proper treatment, compliance with basic and simple rules of hygiene of the skin of the legs will help to avoid the progression of psoriasis and the appearance of other, no less unpleasant symptoms and complications.