Psoriasis - what is it? This is a skin disease - inflammation that appears on the skin in the form of clear areas of a pinkish color with peeling. Although the disease is common, the causes of its occurrence are still not known. There is an assumption that the disease has a genetic nature.
Psoriasis - what is it
The occurrence of psoriasis is marked by the following symptoms: dense pink bumps with peeling appear on the skin. The skin in this area may be tight and itchy.
Psoriasis - what is it? In fact, it is a long-term chronic inflammation of the skin. Human skin consists of a superficial layer called the epidermis, a layer of dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis, in turn, also consists of several layers. The upper one - horny - consists of horny scales, which are constantly exfoliated, and cells from other layers located deeper take their place. This is how the human skin is renewed. Psoriasis - what is it? This is an inflammation of the upper layer of the epidermis. For some reason, in patients diagnosed with psoriasis, the cells of the lower layers of the epidermis begin to actively divide, which provokesactive rejection of the upper layers of the epidermis, which is externally visible in the form of peeling.
Who gets sick more often
As mentioned above, psoriasis is inherited (today this is the only assumption). However, it is possible to identify factors that provoke its development. Most often, psoriasis occurs in people aged 16-22 years and 57-60 years. As a rule, an affected person often suffers from infectious diseases, experiences constant stress, possibly skin injuries, sunburn, consumes alcohol, some types of drugs, and is sick with HIV.
Is the disease contagious?
Thanks to many years of research, it has been reliably established that psoriasis is not contagious. If the disease affects several family members at once, this is due to the transmission of the disease by inheritance.
Stages of psoriasis
In the first stage, the disease most often affects the elbows, knees or scalp. If the disease develops further, then the affected areas become more extensive.
- First, clearly defined papules appear on the skin, elevations of a pinkish hue. The skin on their surface is flaky. If you scrape the papule, the scales fall off, a pale film remains, which, with further scraping, becomes covered with droplets of blood. Papules may merge with each other, forming large, irregularly shaped areas. Young papules appear in places of scratches or abrasions.
- A person feels strong tightness in the affected areas and itching.
- The disease lasts for years, changingperiods of "sleep" and exacerbation. In winter, the most common exacerbation. However, stress, a virus, and what was written above can provoke an exacerbation. At this time, young papules are born, which then turn pale, become flat and do not peel off. Remission, exacerbation - these stages of the disease constantly alternate.
Treatment
Often, the treatment of psoriasis is only the transition of the disease from the active stage to the remission stage, which is also considered a good result. Treatment is always complex, including not only medications, but also diet and seaside vacations.
External remedies against the disease: salicylic ointment, preparations Akriderm SK, Diprosalik, naphthalene ointment, sulfur-tar ointment.
Pills and injections: Isotretinoin, Acitretin, Cyclosporine, Methotrexate, Psorilom, Psoriaten.
Effectively used photochemotherapy - exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The procedure is carried out thanks to special installations that irradiate only the affected areas.
There is no panacea for psoriasis. Each patient is a separate case, with a separate medical history and an individual method of treatment.
