Psoriasis is a genetic disease that has no cure, but is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation. The pathology often leads to severe itching, pain, and excessive peeling of the skin, which is why it is so important to know how to relieve an exacerbation of psoriasis and alleviate your condition.
Signs of exacerbation of psoriasis
Relapse of psoriasis begins quickly and acutely. New rashes form on the body after a long period of remission. Particularly affected are those areas of the body where the skin is the driest: the sacral area, feet, palms, scalp. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply, and the following signs appear:
- Formation of a terminal film at the site of removed scales, especially with guttate psoriasis;
- Severe, sometimes unbearable itching;
- Peeling and redness of the skin at the affected sites;
- Feeling of tight skin.
Papules that appear after remission with a red or pale pink tint have clear, rough borders. Gradually, the rash develops into plaques, which can reach more than 10 cm in diameter. The scales that cover the affected areas of the skin peel off well, and blood may appear underneath them.
Best time to relapse
The best time for exacerbation of psoriasis is the cold season (winter, autumn), when many viruses and bacteria circulate in the air. There are several reasons for this:
- During the sunny season, the rays have a beneficial effect on the skin and the human body as a whole. Lack of vitamin D3 often leads to relapse.
- In winter, there is a decrease in immunity, and this is a trigger for exacerbation of psoriasis.
At the same time, there is a possibility of exacerbation of psoriasis in the summer. The reason is that excessive amounts of ultraviolet radiation also have a negative effect on the skin, causing it to become inflamed and new plaques to appear.
What causes an aggravation
To this day, the reliable causes of exacerbation of psoriasis are unknown. What may lead to relapse of pathology in some patients is absolutely safe for others. Let's name just a number of factors that most often lead to psoriasis returning:
- Stress, chronic fatigue, constant emotional stress;
- Any damage to the skin, both mechanical and chemical;
- Failure to follow the recommended diet. Relapse is possible if the body lacks the necessary minerals and vitamins;
- Deterioration of human immunity due to exposure to various factors;
- Abrupt climate change;
- Excessive drinking of alcohol and even smoking;
- Hormonal imbalance caused by taking hormonal medications or malfunctioning of the thyroid gland;
- Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause are conditions in which hormonal levels also change in the body;
- The use of new cosmetics that can be directly applied to areas of the skin affected by psoriasis and aggravate the course of the disease.
All of the above are only the most obvious and common causes of exacerbation of psoriasis. In this case, a relapse can occur even after taking various, the most simple and harmless, medications. In view of this, doctors recommend taking only those medications that are necessary for health reasons.
How to quickly relieve an aggravation
Since the symptoms begin to increase quickly and sometimes become unbearable, the question of how to quickly relieve an exacerbation of psoriasis is the most pressing issue. The reason is that the disease has severe and painful symptoms; the patient suffers not only from the appearance of spots, but also from severe itching. All this worsens the quality of life.
People suffering from psoriasis note that the most effective means that can make life easier during this period are:
- Sequential baths for significant lesions or lotions for small, small spots. Such solutions relieve itching, but strongly tighten the skin. Accordingly, it is better to take them in combination with Vaseline or baby cream.
- Sodium salt and thiosulfuric acid in ampoules. The pharmaceutical preparation can be replaced with natural remedies such as prunes, senna grass, dried apricots or raisins.
- Baths with pine needles and valerian, which can be taken every 2 days. The proportions are as follows: for one bath a bottle of valerian and 50 ml. pine needle extract.
- Lotions with emollient cream and the addition of a decoction of flaxseeds. The product promotes rapid healing of cracks and is most effective for psoriasis on the palms or soles.
- Rubbing with vinegar (a tablespoon of vinegar per 0. 5 liters of water). Helps quickly relieve itching.
All of the recipes listed will only help relieve acute symptoms, while traditional therapy cannot be considered as a treatment. If the disease recurs, you should contact a dermatologist, who will prescribe treatment depending on the provoking factor.
The best way to relieve severe itching in case of relapse
The most effective way to combat severe itching during psoriasis relapse is with medications. 1-2% ointment with salicylic acid in combination with local glucocorticosteroid drugs has proven itself to be effective. In this case, it is necessary to ensure proper care of the affected skin. The patient should take baths and apply moisturizers to the affected areas.
The following medications will help eliminate severe itching:
- antiallergic drugs that will help relieve itching when the symptoms of psoriasis become unbearable.
- ointments based on tar, salicylic acid, zinc oxide, a synthetic analogue of vitamin D - ointments that help relieve inflammation, itching, soften the skin and disinfect it. Apply to rashes 2-3 times a day.
Relieving inflammation and redness in psoriasis
In addition to systemic therapy, during exacerbation of psoriasis, medications are also prescribed that help relieve the external manifestations of the disease. Ointments, creams, gels, mash, which include sulfur, tar, solid oil or salicylic acid, help relieve inflammation and redness. The following drugs have proven themselves to be effective:
- ointments created on the basis of naftalan oil;
- zinc oxide ointment;
- ointment based on salicylic acid;
- products containing tar;
- products with solid oil.
Such products have an antibacterial and antiseptic effect. They dry out the skin, speed up the healing process of plaques and stimulate the exfoliation process.
If the relapse of the disease is extremely acute, the doctor may prescribe ointments with hormonal steroids to relieve inflammation. It is strictly forbidden to use such means yourself, as they have many bad consequences.
How to relieve an aggravation on the head
An exacerbation of psoriasis on the scalp entails, perhaps, some of the most unpleasant symptoms. Here you cannot do without complex therapy, which includes:
- Taking medications for various purposes: non-steroidal drugs that relieve inflammation, immune system modulators, sedatives and anti-allergic drugs. It is also recommended to take vitamins B, A, and D as part of vitamin complexes.
- Drugs that have a local effect will help cope with itching and inflammation in the scalp. They have a restorative, antibacterial, exfoliating effect. Ointments are applied to the affected areas of the scalp 2-3 times a day.
- Shampoos for psoriasis.
Before using any of the above remedies, you should consult a specialist. Truly effective therapy can only be prescribed if the factors that provoked the exacerbation are taken into account.
How to relieve exacerbation of psoriasis during pregnancy
Changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy are a trigger for relapse of psoriasis. During an exacerbation, a woman suffers from severe intoxication and allergies. Red plaques form on the body, which itch and hurt. Body temperature rises, appetite disappears.
Exacerbation of psoriasis in pregnant women is a dangerous condition that threatens the health and even the life of the child. Miscarriage, early birth, prematurity - all these are disastrous consequences of such an illness in pregnant women. It is for this reason that at the first symptoms you should immediately go to the hospital and not self-medicate.
Treatment methods for exacerbations of psoriasis
Since most often the factors that provoked an exacerbation of psoriasis remain unknown, complex treatment is indicated. Using only one remedy can alleviate the patient’s condition, but will not relieve him of all the symptoms of relapse. Therefore, comprehensive therapy is used, which is designed to solve several problems:
- Stop the growth of plaques and restore the skin;
- Eliminate provoking factors;
- Eliminate the possibility of the patient being in stressful situations;
- Cleanse the body and improve the functioning of the digestive tract.
The choice of methods and treatment regimen directly depends on the stage and form of the disease, the nature and location of the plaques, and the general condition of the patient.
Medicines for relapse
It is impossible to do without medications in the fight against exacerbation of psoriasis. The treatment regimen is selected individually and depends on many factors. But, as a rule, treatment comes down to taking the following drugs:
- Sedative medications that have a calming effect on the nervous system. The most commonly prescribed tinctures are valerian and motherwort.
- Antihistamines.
- Tablets that improve the functioning of the digestive tract and cleanse the body: activated carbon.
Affected areas of the body are treated with topical medications. These include ointments and creams:
- Zinc and salicylic acid have a beneficial effect on damaged areas; such components should be present in the ointment;
- Solid oil based;
- With tar as the main component;
- Sulfuric ointment.
Since the patient’s immunity is weakened during an exacerbation, the doctor may prescribe lipoic or folic acid, vitamin complexes or fish oil as additional treatment.
Physiotherapy
After the acute symptoms of the disease are relieved, the patient is prescribed physical therapy. The following methods of influencing the body have proven to be the most effective:
- UF rays- promote rapid healing of damaged skin.
- Hydrotherapy.Baths with real salts from the Dead Sea help to cleanse the skin well.
- Cryotherapy- a method, the essence of which is the effect of low temperatures on the affected areas. In addition, it stimulates the immune system well.
- Selective phototherapy.During the procedure, the foci of inflammation are impulsively affected.
- Shock wave therapypromotes rapid healing of the skin.
- Climatotherapy.Patients are often recommended to undergo a full course of treatment at seaside resorts.
How to relieve an exacerbation at home
You can relieve the most painful manifestations of psoriasis at home. The most commonly used recipes are those that have been tested by time and hundreds of patients:
- Butter and propolisin a ratio of 500 g to 50 g. All ingredients are placed in a saucepan and cooked over low heat, after the mixture has cooled, add 2 tablespoons of sea buckthorn oil. This ointment is applied to the skin 5-6 times a day. After just 6 sessions, people suffering from psoriasis note the fact that the manifestations of the disease practically disappear.
- Onion compresses.To prepare, the onion is crushed to a pulp, which is placed in gauze and applied to the affected areas. This method helps relieve inflammation and soften the skin.
Traditional methods
It often happens that you urgently need to stop an attack, but you don’t have the necessary medications at hand. In these cases, lotions will help a lot. To prepare you need:
- Mix calamus, string, licorice, burdock and nettle leaves in equal quantities.
- A large spoonful of this mixture is poured into a glass of water.
- The infusion is heated over low heat for five minutes, after which it infuses for another hour.
The following remedies have proven themselves well in the fight against exacerbation of psoriasis:
- Ointment made from birch tar.To prepare, you need to mix alcohol, natural sea buckthorn oil and birch tar in equal quantities. The product is applied to the affected areas, covered with polyethylene and left for 1-1. 5 hours.
- Celandine oil.5 tablespoons of chopped herbs should be poured with a glass of vegetable oil (unrefined) and kept on low heat for 5-10 minutes. The finished liquid is infused for 5 days and only then used to treat psoriasis.
Diet for relapse
Compliance with nutritional rules is an important and integral point in the treatment of psoriasis relapses. It is also important to consume enough vitamins. In order to prevent the appearance of new plaques and get rid of unpleasant symptoms, the following are strictly prohibited:
- High-carbohydrate foods (fat milk and other dairy products, fatty meats and fish).
- Spicy, smoked, sour and salty foods.
- Marinades and pickles.
- Semi-finished products.
Dishes must be prepared by baking, stewing, boiling. It is better to eat vegetables and fruits, various cereals and vegetable broths and soups.
Nutritionists and dermatologists advise that when the first symptoms of exacerbation of psoriasis appear, limit yourself in diet. For the first three to five days, you can drink sweetened tea or pure water in any quantity, and also eat black bread (a little).
How to prevent exacerbation, preventive measures
If you follow fairly simple rules of prevention, you can significantly extend the duration of remission and prevent exacerbation. They all boil down to:
- Skin care and hygiene rules.A patient suffering from psoriasis should regularly carry out water treatments to avoid drying out the skin. Cosmetics and hygiene products can only be used that have already been tested and have not caused reactions.
- Diet and proper nutrition.Not only harmful foods should be excluded from the diet, but also bad habits such as alcohol and smoking. Experienced specialists will help you create the right menu.
- Moderate training.Fitness or swimming not only has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, but also helps strengthen the immune system.
- Maintaining a sleep schedule.Sleep should be at least 8 hours, and it is recommended to avoid excessive stress at work.
- Taking lecithin in granules.This drug improves skin condition and normalizes liver function. Doctors also recommend a drug based on birch mushroom extract and cobalt chloride, which improves immunity, restores hematopoiesis and improves the functioning of the digestive system.
Compliance with preventive measures makes it possible to forget about exacerbations of psoriasis for a long time. In addition, doctors advise avoiding stressful situations and supporting your body in the fight against psoriasis with vitamin complexes.