Skin diseases are accompanied by the appearance of unpleasant symptoms and psychological discomfort. One of the common diseases that require immediate skin treatment is psoriasis on the elbows, and the choice of remedies is not limited to the use of local preparations. If you do not do therapy on time, then a small inflammation will soon develop from a cosmetic problem into a medical one.
What is psoriasis on the elbows
The disease, which is characterized by the appearance of several spots at the bend of the limbs, is characterized by unpredictability and cyclicity. Psoriasis of the elbows is a chronic skin disease that begins with the appearance of papules and grows to plaques (large diffuse lesions) with scales of white, silvery, reddish hues. Slightly raised damaged areas are formed due to the accumulation of dry dead cells. If the inflammation is not treated, the disease will progress with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission.
Symptoms
When crusts form on the elbows, you can immediately notice the damaged areas of the skin. Signs of the disease are clearly visible immediately, and it is rarely possible to completely cure psoriasis in the area of \u200b\u200bflexion of the arms. The chances of a successful recovery are those patients who consulted a doctor in a timely manner. A cause for concern should be violations of the skin condition on the elbows, which are similar to the following symptoms of psoriasis:
- Red plaques or scaly spots that at first look like papules with a white film, and as the disease worsens and develops, they grow, connect to each other, and become covered with white scales.
- Skin itching, which provokes even more damage to the skin. Like other mechanical damage to the skin, such as scratches, cuts, such inflammation on the elbows is combed, injures the skin, and this leads to the appearance of new spots.
- Severe redness, inflamed areas of the skin begin to bleed.
Plaques on the elbows
Psoriasis can occur in the groin area, on the trunk, limbs or head, but wherever the disease is localized, its sure sign is plaques. Sores on the elbows in the form of red spots with white scales occur more often due to the openness of this area of \u200b\u200bthe skin, because it is easy to damage. The altered area of the epidermis becomes inflamed, red scaly spots gradually increase and can cover the entire elbow. With a neglected form, plaques can bleed, and when scraping is attempted, the "stearin spot" phenomenon appears, as after a drop of hardened wax.
Causes
Scientific studies that continue to be conducted have not yet been able to determine with full certainty the source of the onset of the disease, and among the medical versions of the causes of psoriasis in the elbow area, there are the following:
- Genetic predisposition is an important statistical factor. If one of the parents has chronic inflammation of the skin, then there is a high probability that the child will also get psoriasis.
- The ingress of specific substances penetrating through the injured areas of the skin. The affected areas of the epidermis begin to thicken, the body begins to fight against abnormal symptoms and rejects cells, which outwardly manifests itself as a fungus on the elbows.
- Violation of the work of T-lymphocytes, which are faced with the task of creating a barrier in front of pathogens.
- Silicon deficiency in the body.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Serious limb injuries.
- Severe mechanical damage, non-healing wounds.
- Emotional, mental stress.
- Long-term medication.
- Weak immunity.
stages
A chronic inflammatory process on the elbows, which, under the influence of a number of reasons, either intensifies or decreases, and progresses without proper treatment. The course of therapy should be prescribed by a dermatologist, but to determine the effectiveness of the method, the choice of drugs, procedures, the doctor needs to assess the course of the disease. Further tactics will depend on the clinical picture, while it is customary to distinguish the following stages of skin lesions on the elbows with psoriasis:
- Initial. The surface of the skin on the outside of the elbows is covered with a rash. Reddish spots of a rounded shape with a white film grow, become covered with scales, and after 2-3 weeks plaques form. With timely treatment, the signs of psoriasis may disappear for a while, and then reappear, or the lesion may occur in another part of the body.
- Progressive. This stage of the disease can be characterized by the presence of psoriatic elements with many scales. The appearance of such signs indicates the beginning of an exacerbation of psoriasis, and it is easy to notice this by the presence of a hyperemic rim (redness) along the edge of the scaly plaque.
- Stationary. It is characterized by a decrease in the inflammatory process, which indicates the effectiveness of the treatment used. The appearance of new plaques on the elbows stops, there is no red rim around the psoriatic elements, their diameter decreases, while the scale completely covers the inflamed area.
- Regressive. It indicates a partial recovery, while the peeling is almost imperceptible or disappears, pigmented areas of the skin appear in place of the plaques. A further set of measures will be aimed at preventing exacerbations of psoriasis.
Forms
The undulating course of the disease, when a spontaneous period alternates with improvement, is not the only component of the insidiousness of psoriasis. The severity of the course of the inflammatory process depends on the nature of the rash, another important factor is the shape. With the localization of rashes on the elbows, a simple (vulgar) type of ailment is often found, which is characterized by redness, peeling, itching. The neglected form of the disease threatens with complications and the appearance of pustular, erythrodermic, seborrheic type of psoriasis - with them the area of the lesion will expand.
How to treat psoriasis on the elbows
There are effective methods of therapy, but it will not work to completely cleanse the skin on the elbows, because psoriasis belongs to the group of incurable diseases. The entire system of complex treatment will be aimed at the maximum elimination of external signs. The duration of remission depends on many factors, and in order to eliminate the manifestation of psoriasis, it is recommended to build a treatment regimen using such basic methods as:
- local therapy (ointment, cream, lotion);
- physiotherapy procedures;
- phototherapy;
- special diet;
- taking vitamin and mineral complexes.
The cure for psoriasis on the elbows
Medicines are actively used in the treatment of a multifactorial disease, but their effectiveness is noticeable only in combination with other means. For the treatment of psoriasis, it is customary to use external medications, and if they are ineffective, then the following medications can be prescribed:
- cytostatics;
- antihistamines;
- enterosorbents.
Ointment
A quick way to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of psoriasis is a topical treatment. Ointments with vitamin D, zinc, tar are called upon to help remove dead cells, moisturize the skin on the elbows, and hormonal agents help to cope with more severe forms of the disease. Corticosteroids are relatively safe if used as directed by a doctor who has examined psoriatic plaques on the elbows, assessed the condition of the upper layers, and the extent of the lesion. Only a dermatologist can introduce hormonal ointments into the treatment regimen, self-medication is strictly prohibited!
Alternative treatment
Compresses, lotions, decoctions, baths can rightfully be considered no less useful methods of treating psoriasis. If the plaques on the elbows are covered with a white film, then at home itching, redness can be conveniently removed by immersing the affected areas for 7-10 minutes in a cool herbal solution. The composition should be selected individually, brewed with boiling water, but hot baths should be avoided. Among the herbs useful for the treatment of psoriasis are:
- celandine;
- chicory root;
- valerian root.
Prevention
There is no reason to assume that psoriasis will go away on its own, but self-medication is also not worth it, because there is a risk of aggravating the course of a chronic illness. Removing the inflammatory process is the first step towards recovery, since for a long-term remission, you will have to follow some recommendations from doctors. To avoid exacerbation of psoriasis, it is necessary to adhere to such preventive measures:
- follow the right diet;
- exclude the use of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, sweets, spicy foods;
- get enough sleep, while the period of sleep duration should be at least 8 hours a day;
- avoid mechanical damage to the skin, injuries;
- monitor the internal state of the body;
- develop skills to cope with stress;
- support the functioning of the immune system, avoiding infectious diseases;
- minimize contact with household chemicals.
Photo of psoriasis on the elbow
