A large percentage of the world's population suffers from psoriasis. All ages are ill with this disease, because, having appeared once, the disease will never be cured again.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the causes and symptoms of psoriasis in adults, as well as discuss methods of treatment with folk and medication, find out what experts in the field of psychosomatics think about this.
Causes
According to statistics, most often the first symptoms of psoriasis can appear at the age of fifteen to twenty-five years in the event that a person has a predisposition to psoriasis. Psoriasis is chronic. This means that no matter what stage the sick person is, what drugs are used for therapy and for how long, it will not be possible to completely get rid of the disease and forever.
The main cause of psoriasis is still unknown. There is an opinion among scientists that if psoriasis appeared before the age of twelve, then the hereditary factor plays the main role in this case. If an older person falls ill with psoriasis, then psoriasis is associated with the work of the immune system, as well as the negative effects of bacteria and viruses. There are the following main causes of psoriasis in adults:
- Heredity. According to the studies, the majority of people with psoriasis have patients with the same disease in the family, or who have other chronic dermatoses.
- Genetic disorders that appear when special viruses and bacteria enter can lead to a change in the structure of chromosomes. The risk for this process increases with violations of the immune system.
- Secondary infection of the skin, purulent inflammation increase the risk of the onset of the disease.
- Violation of the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If the indicators deviate from the norm according to the biochemical blood test, then the risk of developing the disease increases. There are also changes in the functioning of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
- Chronic inflammatory process in a patient, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media. Patients with psoriasis have a high level of lymphocytes and leukocytes in the blood.
- Under unsuitable climatic conditions for the patient's skin, that is, with dry or too humid air, violations in the division of skin cells are observed.
- Stress, depression, anxiety can lead to the development of psoriasis.
- Taking antibiotics, immunomodulators leads to the appearance of symptoms of psoriasis.
- Alcohol and tobacco abuse increase your risk.
- Other disorders of skin cell division.
- Insufficient amount of incoming vitamins and minerals in the body.
- Improper diet, eating foods with a lot of allergens.
- Overweight.
These factors provoke the appearance of psoriasis. Diseases of internal organs also contribute.
In the event that the patient has noticed the appearance of rashes on the skin, dryness, roughness, then you should consult a doctor for a diagnosis, because the external symptoms of most skin diseases at the beginning of their development are similar.
In order to assume what kind of disease the patient develops before diagnosis, you should look at the photos of psoriasis symptoms in adults on the forums or in a special section on the site, after which you should definitely consult a doctor, because self-diagnosis may turn out to be incorrect, and the wrong self-selection of medicationremedies can worsen health.
If a person suffers from psoriasis, drugs are prescribed to him to maintain the state of remission, recommendations are indicated so that a relapse does not occur.
But even in this case, a relapse still occurs within a couple of years, and various factors such as stress, anxiety, diseases of the endocrine system, contact with chemicals, taking antibiotics, hormonal agents and immunomodulators, bad habits, impaired functioning of the immune system can accelerate itand other reasons.
The disease is seasonal and may recur every year at certain times of the year. Usually, psoriasis in patients returns during the winter season, when the skin does not have enough sunlight, and when warming, the symptoms disappear. A change in climatic conditions can contribute to relapse.
According to psychosomatics, psoriasis in adults is associated with its position in life. The more positive a person is about everything, the easier his psoriasis is.
Symptoms
The symptoms in many patients vary in their activity, but the general features of the disease remain.
First of all, the main symptom of psoriasis is a red rash on the skin, a photo of which can be viewed in the section. At the very beginning of the disease, pink or red papules appear on the skin, which can flake off.
If the patient does not take proper measures at this stage, then the affected area may increase, as a result of which the skin turns red, swells, unbearable itching may appear, due to which the patient scratches the affected areas. An infection can get into the scratches, causing a secondary infection.
After that, wounds form in the combed areas, which can begin to bleed with further combing. The skin hardens, dries up, and white or gray plaques form on the skin. Often, psoriasis develops not only on the skin, but even on the nails.
Then the rashes become more red, the affected areas become more noticeable, the plaques are larger. The border between healthy and diseased skin is noticeable. Sick areas can be slightly raised above healthy ones.
Patients suffer from itching, pain and irritation of the skin. In the event that the patient neglected the doctor's recommendations and did not start the prescribed course of treatment, the symptoms not only will not go away, but will also worsen.
If the patient observes all the advice of a dermatologist, then the symptoms will disappear, itching and irritation will disappear, the redness will gradually subside. The skin will become hydrated and soft. Here the disease goes into remission.
But after that, a relapse of psoriasis may occur, which is characterized by the emergence of new areas of damage. Plaques reappear, a thermal film may appear under the plaques, which tears and bleeds when scratched. Again, a secondary infection can get into the wounds. Cracks appear on dry skin.
The disease is localized in different parts of the body, but usually psoriasis appears in the scalp, on the elbows and knees, feet, palms.
A pregnant woman can also get psoriasis. She should be twice as careful about her health, because an illness without proper treatment can provoke a miscarriage.
Psoriasis treatment
Treatment of psoriasis begins with the fact that the attending physician first diagnoses the disease. Since many skin diseases are similar in symptoms, especially at the very beginning of the development of the disease, special studies will be required for diagnosis.
The patient must be assigned to donate blood for tests, and a biopsy of the skin is also performed for a more detailed study of skin cells. Many experienced dermatologists determine the disease only by external signs, but research provides more detailed information about the condition of the patient's skin.
First of all, a patient with psoriasis is prescribed a special diet that excludes any allergens from the diet, helps to stop the production of histamine and, as a result, to relieve the symptoms of skin disease.
It is imperative to give up fast food, because it lacks vitamins and minerals useful for health and immunity, which are required by patients with psoriasis. Patients should give preference to those products in which there is a sufficient amount of vitamins and nutrients.
You can not eat sweet, spicy, fried, smoked, salty and peppercorns, coffee and strong tea, fruits and vegetables with a red pigment.
Adult folk remedies
Traditional methods to this day remain popular among many patients with psoriasis, although doctors do not recommend resorting to them, because the consequences of such therapy are unknown. It is imperative to visit the attending physician throughout the treatment, because tests should be taken to check the effectiveness of the treatment process.
Typically, home medicine methods include the following products to relieve psoriasis symptoms:
- Various medicinal herbs that patients collect and dry both on their own and buy ready-made in a pharmacy, which is more recommended. Herbs are brewed and compresses are made, external treatment of the skin is carried out.
- Homemade ointments are also widely used by patients. Patients choose products such as propolis, solidol, sea buckthorn oil for ointments. After mixing, these components must be applied to the affected areas. The mixture will eliminate inflammation, relieve itching, skin irritation.
- Baths are used everywhere for the treatment of dermatological ailments. They are also prescribed by doctors as part of complex therapy. Such ingredients as sea salt, celandine juice, calamus root and many other medicinal herbs are added to the baths. Typically, the patient is assigned about twenty minutes of the bath. During this time, the substance added to the water will eliminate inflammation, normalize blood circulation, and improve the condition of the dermis. Sea salt is also used in the form of a compress, which can be used when the disease is localized on a small area of the skin.
- Tar ointments are also effective in treating psoriasis symptoms. Variants of ointments include an ointment based on tar, sea buckthorn oil and salicylic alcohol, taken in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas and covered with polyethylene. Then wash off the ointment with water.
Folk remedies are usually used as part of complex therapy to increase the effectiveness of medications. In an independent form, folk recipes rarely help eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis.
Medicines
Researchers from all over the world have developed a single treatment regimen for various dermatological ailments. According to her, therapy should be carried out with the following goals:
- Remove the main symptoms of skin disease. In the case of psoriasis, this is redness and flaking of the skin.
- Inflammation of the skin.
- Unpleasant appearance of the skin, redness, gray plaques often lead to the fact that patients have complexes about their skin. The quality of life in psoriasis patients is usually lower than in healthy people.
Usually, a whole range of various medications is prescribed to eliminate psoriasis. Treatment can take a long time, besides, psoriasis can recur after a while, and then it will need to be treated again. It is recommended to follow preventive measures in order to minimize the risk of relapse.
The complex for the treatment of skin psoriasis in adults includes not only medicines, but also recipes of traditional medicine, which increase the effectiveness of drugs. A special diet for psoriasis patients should also be followed, which excludes allergens from the diet.
It is recommended to attend physical therapy, which also has a preventive effect.
Patients are prescribed drugs of various groups.
Antihistamines block the production of histamine, as a result of which symptoms such as itching, swelling, skin irritation, and redness are eliminated - that is, everything associated with an allergic reaction.
Sedatives can reduce irritation, redness, itching, and other symptoms of psoriasis.
Preparations that eliminate inflammation and relieve pain.
Necessarily the complex of treatment includes preparations in the form of an ointment for psoriasis on the skin in adults. They can be either non-hormonal, that is, they include only natural ingredients that do not bring systemic side effects, or hormonal, containing an active ingredient in the composition, which effectively relieves the symptoms of psoriasis.
Non-hormonal agents include salicylic, tar, ichthyol ointments. There are non-hormonal products in the form of creams, solutions.
It is recommended to take sorbents - activated carbon.
In case of complications, many patients are prescribed immunomodulators, that is, drugs that correct the functioning of the immune system.
It is also recommended to take courses of physiotherapy, for example, ultraviolet radiation, cryotherapy, laser radiation.
Prophylaxis
If a person has been diagnosed with psoriasis, he should immediately begin treatment, observing all the doctor's recommendations. The sooner a person reaches remission, the faster he can return to the previous pace of life.
It is also recommended to engage in supportive care or follow preventive measures that will protect against relapse.
Skin contact with external irritants and aggressive substances should be limited. For example, do not come into contact with chemicals, and if required, use protective equipment.
You should not stay in direct sunlight for a long time, because excess ultraviolet radiation can cause a relapse.
You should also prevent the patient from getting into stressful situations that contribute to relapse. In order not to be stressed, you should drink those herbal preparations that the neurologist prescribes.
Also, you should not allow a strong drop in temperature or humidity. Too dry or humid air provokes aggravation.
You should also take care of the skin, moisturize it using skin care products.
A visit to the sea is recommended, as there is salt water, which has a positive effect on the skin, especially in psoriasis.
It is recommended to follow proper nutrition and consume complexes of vitamins and minerals.