Psoriasis is a chronic ailment that many people have. Plaque foci can be located on different parts of the body, including the hands. The disease can cause impaired joint mobility. The causes of psoriasis on the fingers and treatment are described in the article.
Why does the disease appear?
The reason why psoriasis occurs on the fingers has not been exactly identified. But a greater risk of the pathology in question appears when:
- hereditary predisposition;
- stress;
- dry skin type;
- taking certain drugs - anticonvulsants, sedatives, antidepressants;
- thyroid diseases;
- mechanical skin injuries - cuts, scratches.
High risk of psoriasis on the fingers appears in smokers, drinkers. The disease often occurs with excess weight, malnutrition. Whatever the cause of the disease, timely and effective treatment is necessary.
Symptoms
As you can see from the photo, psoriasis on the fingers looks unpleasant. Symptomsdiseases appear suddenly. What does psoriasis look like on the fingers? First there are small rashes, which then become large spots. The symptoms of the disease include the presence of:
- outlined papules of round pink color;
- dry reddish spots - psoriatic plaques;
- peeling, itching at the site of plaques that have appeared;
- bleeding of the skin in the areas of localization of papules, plaques;
- small dots on the plate, peeling off.
According to the photo, psoriasis on the fingers is immediately noticeable. The rash appears on the back of the hand, on the fingers and between them. The danger of the disease is based on the fact that it can turn into a complex form - psoriatic arthritis. With this disease, the joints are damaged, which causes swelling of the hands, their deformation, impaired function of extension - flexion.
With psoriasis, cell division is disrupted, which do this 5-10 times faster compared to he althy ones. With this disease, skin cells multiply intensively, immune cells and blood vessels are connected to the process.
Psoriatic plaques appear on the area of smooth skin. The spot rises above the skin, there is an increase in blood vessels. Psoriasis on the fingers does not occur by gender or race. Most often, the disease manifests itself at the age of 15-35 or after 60.
What is psoriasis confused with?
Pathology occurs with symptoms that are similar to other dermatological diseases. Diagnostic methods allow you to make an accurate diagnosis:
- Microbial infections. This disease developsafter the entry of pathogenic microbes through wounds or microcracks. Pathology has symptoms of inflammation. Fingers often get wet. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a blood test and conducts a skin scraping study.
- Eczema of hands. This disease develops suddenly. With eczema, spots, itching, pain appear on the skin. The late stage is characterized by the appearance of cracks with serous contents. Eczema is symmetrical and affects 2 hands at once. The disease appears from chemical, mechanical irritants. Diagnosis is by biopsy.
- Fungal lesions. With mycoses of the hands, severe itching, swelling and hyperemia of the skin appear. There is practically no pain. Sometimes there is an unpleasant smell of the skin. The diagnosis is made by histological examination.
Stages
There are the following stages of psoriasis on the fingers:
- Exacerbation is a stage of progression. At this time, the number and size of spots increases, itching and flaking increase.
- Stationary stage. On it, the disease fades, the color of the plaques changes, the spots decrease.
- Remission stage. During this period, the symptoms of the disease disappear completely.
As you can see from the photo, the initial psoriasis on the fingers already has unpleasant symptoms. But timely detection and treatment will allow you to get rid of it without negative consequences.
Shapes
Cure psoriasis between the fingers is much easier with minor symptoms. If you start the state, then you may need tointensive therapy. In this case, the forms of the disease are of several types:
- Pustular. The disease usually manifests itself on the palms, forearms. With this form, red spots with pus appear. They merge, creating festering lakes. Pustular psoriasis of the palms is considered the most dangerous form, as the case is complicated by large swelling of the hands, the appearance of nephropathy and dystrophic phenomena.
- Teardrop. It usually appears on the upper arms, near the shoulders. The shape of plaques is similar to drops.
- Plaque. In this case, the plaques merge into groups, covered with white crusts.
- Psoriasis of the nails. Longitudinal or transverse gray or white lines appear. The skin around the nail becomes thickened. The plate loosens and collapses.
Psoriasis on the fingers, cracks cause a lot of discomfort. With this ailment, competent treatment is required, which will improve the condition.
Why is self-medication dangerous?
Self-treatment of psoriasis on the fingers can lead to negative consequences. While many over-the-counter medications are available for treatment, a person needs to know that treatment can be done with a doctor's approval. Otherwise, the consequences are irreversible:
- Hypercalcemia - appears with the use of ointments, topical creams. This condition can disrupt the heart rhythm and cause muscle cramps.
- Skin burn - occurs when using local remedies, as well as after phototherapy.
- Addiction syndrome, withdrawal.
- Inflammation.
- Disturbances in the endocrine, cardiovascular system after the use of hormonal drugs.
- Pigmentation of he althy skin - it turns brown.
- Skin atrophy.
- Frequent relapses of the disease, aggravation of the course of the disease.
It is not safe to use any methods, medicines without the doctor's advice on the frequency, duration of treatment. If you do not know about the methods of therapy, then you can harm other organs and systems. In addition, this can aggravate the course of the disease. And in the absence of treatment, the pathology may worsen up to the deformity of the fingers.
With psoriasis, you need to visit a dermatologist. This specialist of a narrow profile is able to make the correct diagnosis after examination, palpation, and then prescribe the drug. If there is no dermatologist in the clinic, you should find a general practitioner, a family doctor. These specialists are able to make a preliminary diagnosis. If necessary, give a referral to a consultation with a dermatologist. If you have psoriasis on your joints, you will also need to consult a rheumatologist.
Preparations with local action
How to treat psoriasis on the fingers? In the tactics of treating this disease, changes are constantly taking place. Instead of cytostatics, which have side effects, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs, aromatic retinoids are used, the task of which is to exfoliate dead skin cells, eliminate inflammation, and prevent the appearance of plaques. Various creams and ointments with vitamins A and D are used for topical treatment.
Using creams
Judging by the photo, psoriasis on the fingertips has an unpleasant appearance. You can restore the skin with creams, which are divided into:
- Hormonal. With them, the immune response is suppressed and the intensity of metabolic processes in painful skin cells is reduced. If the products also contain vasoconstrictor components, then this works even more effectively, since when the cream is applied to the skin, the concentration of nutrients decreases. The best hormonal drugs include Triderm, Dermovate, Travocort, Elocom.
- Non-hormonal. They have a pronounced moisturizing effect. Unlike hormonal creams, these drugs do not have dangerous side effects, do not disrupt the balance of hormones, and are also considered more affordable. The best are the means - Psoriasis Cream, "Dawn", "Picladol", "Sophora", "Psorilom".
Still effective are standard children's hand creams with chamomile, celandine, calendula. They eliminate inflammation, moisturize and soften. Test on he althy skin before using any topical product.
Ointments
For some patients, the doctor recommends using an ointment, and for others - a cream. What is their difference? This is due to the fact that the ointment is required to soften the skin. The cream is prescribed when you need to eliminate itching, burning, swelling, because it has a faster effect, quickly penetrating the skin.
The best ointments are as follows:
- Naphthalene, ichthyol, "Kartalin" - have an antiseptic,anti-inflammatory action.
- Sulfur-salicylic, drug "Cycloderm" - products quickly eliminate plaques, remove dead skin cells.
- Dyvonex ointment - increases the amount of calcium in painful skin cells, dissolves psoriatic plaques.
- Ointment "Akriderm" - eliminates horny layers, has a powerful antiseptic, keratolytic effect.
Generic drugs
For the treatment of psoriasis, in addition to topical drugs, prescribe drugs intended for oral administration:
- Antihistamines. Eliminate severe itching that worsens at night. These are Fenkarol, Diazolin.
- Monoclonal antibodies. These substances ensure the destruction of the cells that cause psoriasis. This method of treatment is used only in severe forms of the disease. Antibodies are injected intramuscularly.
- Means-cytostatics involved in the pathogenesis of the formation of psoriatic plaques.
- Medications of the cyclosporine group with an immunosuppressive effect.
- Immunomodulators, vitamin preparations.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs - Metoject tablets.
- Homeopathic remedies.
- Sedative drugs.
Psoriasis is a socially unadapted problem. Therefore, doctors emphasize that this is a status of life, and not a disease. The main task of people is the ability to live properly with such a diagnosis. And doctors should tell people that the disease is not contagious.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies have an excellent effect. The best of them are the following:
- You need to treat the skin with a solution of birch tar using a cotton pad. The tool protects against peeling, performs discoloration of plaques. The procedure is performed several times a day.
- Use sea buckthorn or linseed oil for treatment. Products restore the skin, protect it from dryness, infection, provide nutrition with vitamins.
- Aloe has an antiseptic effect. It is necessary to cut the leaf of the plant along the length and attach it to the diseased area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. A bandage is placed on top or a patch is glued. Leave the compress on for 30 minutes.
- Bay leaf has a cleansing effect. In the treatment, a decoction is used. To prepare it, boiled water (a glass) is poured over bay leaf (300 g). The agent is boiled for 10 minutes. After cooling, a cotton pad is moistened in it and compresses are performed. They can be left on all night.
- Clover provides cleansing of the epidermis and prevents inflammation. Dry flowers (2 tablespoons) are poured with boiling water (200 ml) and left for 5 minutes to infuse. Perform lotions for 2 hours to diseased areas.
- With the help of baking soda, softening of the skin, removal of inflammation, elimination of peeling is provided. On the basis of powder and water, a thick mixture is made. A cotton pad, which is moistened in the prepared solution, is applied to diseased areas.
- Baths with sea s alt eliminate inflammation, itching, cleanse the skin of crusts and scales. To prepare a bath, a handful of s alt is dissolved in warm water (2 liters). Hands must be keptsolution 20 minutes.
- Hydrogen peroxide has an antiseptic effect, it cleanses and disinfects the skin. It is advisable to perform applications for 20 minutes.
You need to use folk methods only after consulting a doctor. These remedies allow you to eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of the disease and alleviate the patient's condition.
Physiotherapy
In the treatment of hand psoriasis, the following can be used:
- cryotherapy;
- ichthyotherapy;
- ozone therapy;
- bioresonance therapy;
- phototherapy and PUVA therapy.
The doctor prescribes the method of treatment individually. Psoriasis is an incurable disease. Therapy is required to improve the quality of life and reduce negative manifestations. If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, a long-term remission is provided.
Prevention
Because psoriasis is recognized as an autoimmune disease, it is inherited. It is necessary to exclude other factors that bring a person into a risk group. Prevention is:
- quitting smoking, drinking alcohol;
- living in an ecologically clean area, choosing a place of work without contact with chemicals and other harmful components;
- quality and timely personal hygiene.
Diet is an important part of prevention. You should not eat allergenic foods, fast food, heavily s alted and smoked foods, fast carbohydrates, fatty meat, fried andspicy food. But vegetables, seafood, dairy products, fruits, whole grains, clean water are allowed. Compliance with elementary preventive measures will protect against the appearance of psoriasis.
