Scaly lichen and psoriasis are different names for one fairly common disease, which is characterized by relapses and a chronic course. It manifests itself in a rash.
It consists of epidermal papules, which are covered with silvery, friable and easily scraping scales. The disease occurs with the same frequency in people of both sexes.
Scaly lichen: causes
Until the end they are not installed until now. It is generally accepted that environmental factors (their coefficient does not exceed 28-36%), but genetic (64-72%) are of greater importance. It is noted that among the next of kin the disease is much more common compared with the general population. Environmental factors that affect the formation of the pathological process are vascular, metabolic and neuro-endocrine disorders, various infections, including viral.
Scaly lichen: symptoms
Multiple small papules are symmetrically located on the surface of the skin. They are covered with silver and whitish scales, which are very easily scraped off. If they are impregnated with blood, they become blackish-red. Papules due to growth along the periphery merge into plaques, which sometimes can occupy quite vast areas of the body. Their outlines are also very diverse: scalloped, ring-shaped, resembling a garland, etc. If psoriatic plaques exist for a long time, they sharply thicken.
In the folds, they are shiny, smooth, sometimes slightly moist. Psoriasis has several varieties, depending on the course and characteristics of the clinical picture. For example, psoriasis is often found in the soles and palms. This is what scaly lichen looks like. The photo allows us to consider that papular elements are isolated, appear in the form of squamous plaques and thickenings. For children's psoriasis, the location of the foci in the folds, the tendency to exudation, are characteristic. One of the most severe varieties of scaly lichen is erythroderma. It can develop as an independent disease or occur in patients who already have simple psoriasis forms.
Scaly lichen : course
This disease is chronic, characterized by frequent relapses. In the winter form, psoriasis worsens in the cold season, in the summer - in the hot season. In some patients, the rash appears only in the area of โโthe joints or on the head, while in others it from the limited areas quickly spreads throughout the body. Remission can last several weeks, and sometimes even years.
In some patients, even
intensive care does not lead to complete healing and characteristic plaques remain in some places, often above the joints.
Scaly lichen : recognition
In most cases, it does not cause difficulties. However, difficulties with diagnosis can occur if the rashes are localized only on the soles and palms. In this case, the disease should be differentiated from microbial eczema. With it, itching is more pronounced, vesicles appear, and the edges of the lesions are not so clear. When localized on the hair, psoriasis should be differentiated from seborrheic eczema, in which the itching is stronger and peeling does not have sharp boundaries.
Scaly lichen: treatment
Treatment should be comprehensive, especially during an exacerbation. The use of topical preparations (for example, creams that are applied exactly to the focus of the disease) is combined with vitamin therapy. Some patients are prescribed ointments containing corticosteroids, that is, hormones. They help to quickly relieve inflammation and eliminate the main symptoms. Ointments are also used, which include tar, salicylic acid or sulfur.