Psoriasis

Is psoriasis transmitted or not?

When answering the question whether psoriasis is contagious or not, it should be understood that the disease is not transmitted either sexually, or by airborne droplets, or by contact, or by any other means. It is impossible to get infected with it.

Due to disruption of the process of exfoliation of keratinized skin scales, dry patches appear on the body. You cannot die from them, but patients experience serious psychological discomfort due to their appearance.

Causes of psoriasis

It has not yet been established exactly what causes psoriasis. There are different theories about the development of the disease. Experts are inclined to believe that damage to the skin and nails can be caused by:

• stress, negative emotional experiences;
• endocrine pathologies;
• hereditary predisposition;
• a malfunction of the immune system, due to which the processes of growth and division of epithelial cells are disrupted.

The autoimmune cause of psoriasis is that the immune cells T-helper and T-killer cells, normally responsible for protecting the body from tumor cells, pathogenic viruses and bacteria, begin to penetrate the upper layers of the skin. Here they produce substances that activate the inflammatory process. As a result, skin cells begin to rapidly divide and multiply. Proliferation is observed.

The development of psoriasis is also possible with the combined action of several factors from the list below:

• Very thin and poorly hydrated skin (little sebum is produced).
• Frequent contact with irritating compounds - low-quality cosmetics, alcohol solutions, household chemicals.
• Washing your body and hands too often (especially if you use a hard washcloth and antibacterial soap/shower gel).
• Alcohol abuse.
• The development of infectious diseases caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus, fungi.
• Taking antidepressants, lithium carbonate, beta blockers, antimalarial and anticonvulsant medications.
• Change of climate zone.
• Mechanical injury to the skin.
• Tendency to allergic reactions.
• HIV infection.

Classification of the disease

If you study various photos of psoriasis at the initial stage, you will notice differences - there are several varieties of this dermatological pathology. Depending on the location of the lesion, it happens:

• Psoriasis of the scalp (manifested by itching, cracked and bleeding skin).
• Nail psoriasis (the nail plate gradually separates from the bed and becomes painful, red spots form on it).
• Palmoplantar psoriasis (the disease is common only on the soles of the feet and/or palms).
• Skin psoriasis (dry plaques appear on different parts of the body).
• Arthropathic psoriasis (joints are affected).
• Genital psoriasis (disease affecting the skin of the genital organs).

Clinical forms of psoriasis:

• Ordinary or vulgar. It appears as small flat pink-red papules that slightly rise above healthy skin. The top of the papules are covered with light scales, which begin to fall off even with a light touch. If treatment for psoriasis is not started in a timely manner, small lesions merge into large ones.
• Exudative. It is more common in people with obesity, hypothyroidism, and diabetics. The symptoms of psoriasis of this form are as follows: the papules are bright red in color, with yellow-gray scales visible on top of them. Plaques affect skin folds - the armpits, the area under the mammary glands in women. Patients complain of itching and burning.
• Seborrheic. Psoriasis is observed on the head, behind the ear, nasolabial and nasolabial folds, between the shoulder blades, and on the chest. The boundaries of the spots are not clearly defined. Peeling is silvery-yellow. If you look at a photo of psoriasis on the head, associations will arise with such a common fungal disease as dandruff.
• Palmoplantar. The disease occurs in people aged 30 to 50 years, whose work involves heavy physical labor. With this form, rashes may also appear on the body.
• Pustular. Pustular elements form on the body. In medicine, an additional type of pustular form is identified - Tsumbusch psoriasis. It can be idiopathic (primary) - blisters appear on the skin, which transform into pustules. The pustules open and dry out. Later, scaly rashes typical of the disease appear on them. And also secondary with a benign course. In this case, pustules appear on the surface of typical psoriatic plaques due to the irritating effect of medications.
  Another type of pustular form is Barber psoriasis. It affects only the soles and palms. Purulent pustules are visualized on the skin. They do not open, and over time they turn into dark, dry crusts. Barber's psoriasis is distinguished by the symmetry of the lesion.
• Arthropathic (articular). Severe form. Occurs in patients who have skin rashes. It usually occurs five to six years after the first symptoms of the disease appear, if the treatment of psoriasis was inadequate. Pathologies of the articular system can be different, ranging from mild arthralgia that does not lead to changes in the articular apparatus, ending with deforming ankylosis (the joint becomes completely immobile).
• Psoriatic erythroderma. It is a consequence of vulgar or exudative psoriasis. Almost all skin is affected. It becomes red, strewn with a large number of dry scales. Body temperature rises, enlargement of lymph nodes (especially femoral and inguinal) is observed. If the patient does not learn how to treat psoriasis, hair loss and brittle nails are possible.

According to the criterion of seasonal relapses, psoriasis is divided into:

• summer;
• winter (most common);
• uncertain.

Symptoms of psoriasis

Treatment depends on the dominant symptoms of psoriasis, so at the first appointment the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the patient and thoroughly examines the localization of psoriatic lesions.

More often the disease manifests itself in winter. In summer, under the influence of solar radiation, the signs of psoriasis may completely disappear. However, with the "summer" form of the pathology, sun exposure, on the contrary, should be avoided. During an exacerbation, the patient complains of very severe itching. Damage to the nail plates is observed in only 25% of patients.

When there is a disease of the scalp, the hair is not involved in the pathological process. First, the skin begins to peel off. Over time, areas of rashes can "spread" to the neck area, behind the ears. The inflammatory process is caused by the very rapid division of keratinocytes.

With psoriasis of the palms and feet, the stratum corneum thickens and becomes covered with deep cracks. A photo of psoriasis at the initial stage shows pustules with transparent contents. Later they turn white and turn into dark scars.
As for the nail plates, the most common types of damage are:

• The nail becomes covered with pits that look like puncture marks ("thimble type").
• The nail changes color and begins to peel off, which resembles a fungal disease. A psoriatic papule surrounded by a red rim can be seen through the nail plate.

Stages of psoriasis

Despite the fact that there is still debate about what psoriasis is and what exactly can trigger its occurrence, the stages of the disease have already been well studied. There are three of them:

• Progressive (initial). New growths appear on the surface of the skin in the form of a rash, which tend to grow along the periphery. They spread to healthy skin and form oval or round plaques. The spots are pink or red. There is no flaky crust on them yet - only whitish scales. The edges of the lesions are slightly compacted. As a result of scratching, new rashes appear.
• Stationary. Occurs one to four weeks after the first symptoms of psoriasis. The plaques become lighter. New rashes do not appear, old ones slowly dissolve. Papules heal in the direction from the center to the edges, which is why their shape becomes ring-shaped. The entire surface of the healing lesions is covered with flaky white scales.
• Regressive (fading). The color of psoriatic plaques becomes almost indistinguishable from healthy skin. Itching is minimized. Around the lesions, a "Voronov collar" is formed, which is a ring of dense keratinized layers of skin. If the patient uses a high-quality ointment for psoriasis, the regression stage lasts about one month. Otherwise, the "fading" process may take up to six months.

The task of a patient who has been diagnosed with psoriasis is to keep the disease in remission all the time.

If you notice similar symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

A dermatologist diagnoses psoriasis. The procedure is based on an external examination, assessment of the condition of the skin and nails, and study of the localization of lesions. No additional tests are prescribed for obvious symptoms. If difficulties arise with making a diagnosis, a skin sample is taken from the inflamed area (biopsy), which is studied in the laboratory.

If there are complaints of joint pain, an x-ray is taken. A blood test is also ordered to make sure there are no other types of arthritis. To rule out a fungal infection, a test using potassium hydroxide is performed.

How to cure psoriasis

Treatment of psoriasis is complex. It includes:

• general therapy;
• local therapy;
• physiotherapy.

Before determining how to treat psoriasis, a dermatologist determines the stage of the disease, its clinical form, and the extent of the process. When prescribing medications, the patient’s age and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. Usually, the safest drugs for health, characterized by the minimum number of side effects, are selected first. If they do not ensure the transition of psoriasis to the regression stage, the treatment is adjusted.

Systemic medications for psoriasis

Medications taken orally help with moderate to severe stages of psoriasis. These include:

• Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids). Reduce the rate of keratinocyte maturation. Normalize cell differentiation and maturation.
• Immunosuppressants. Reduce the activity of T-lymphocytes, which provoke increased division of epidermal cells.
• Drugs for the treatment of malignant tumors. Inhibits the reproduction and growth of atypical skin cells.

Physiotherapy for psoriasis

Physiotherapeutic procedures significantly improve the well-being of patients with psoriasis. In some cases, they allow you to completely stop taking medications. The most commonly used:

• Selective phototherapy. The affected skin is irradiated with UV rays with a wavelength of 280-320 nm. From 15 to 35 procedures are prescribed.
• Photochemotherapy (PUVA therapy). The method involves the combined use of a photosensitizer internally and long-wave UV irradiation externally. Ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into the skin, and the photosensitizer blocks the process of DNA synthesis of skin cells and reduces the rate of their division. The duration of the course is from 20 to 30 procedures.
• Laser therapy. Laser radiation with different wavelengths is used. The laser ensures accelerated resorption of plaques and eliminates the formation of scars in their place.
• Use of monochromatic ultraviolet radiation. Each lesion is treated in turn with a lamp/laser source of UV radiation. Healthy skin is not affected. The method is optimal if less than 10% of the skin is affected. The duration of treatment is from 15 to 30 sessions.
• Electrosleep. There is a mild effect of electrical impulses on the brain for 20-60 minutes. As a result, the patient calms down, the functioning of the central nervous system normalizes, and psoriatic plaques begin to resolve.
  Ultrasound therapy. It is a decongestant, antipruritic and analgesic. Accelerates the resorption of scars. If necessary, it can be combined with phonophoresis. To achieve a therapeutic effect, 7 to 14 sessions are required.
• Magnetic therapy (Betatron device). It has a general healing effect on the body. Relieves inflammation, reduces itching and burning, helps get rid of joint pain.
• Treatment with bee venom. Using an electrophoresis or ultrasound machine, bee venom is injected into the body. It is characterized by a resolving and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizes metabolic processes.
• Hyperthermia. Tissues affected by psoriasis are heated with pads containing a thermal mixture to a temperature of 40 degrees. Treatment helps improve the functioning of the immune system and reduce the negative impact of the disease on the skin.

Ointments for the treatment of psoriasis

According to reviews, treatment of psoriasis with ointments can achieve excellent results if the drug was selected correctly. At the first symptoms, non-hormonal formulations are prescribed:

• salicylic ointment (makes the skin soft, relieves inflammation, removes dead epidermal cells);
• anthralin (slows down DNA synthesis, reduces the activity of cellular enzymes, slows down the process of cell division);
• sulfur ointment (disinfects, softens, removes white plaque from lesions);
• naphthalan ointment (relieves itching, relieves pain, normalizes immune reactions).

If treatment of psoriasis with non-hormonal ointments does not give the expected effect, hormonal drugs or strong ointments containing the following glucocorticosteroids are prescribed:

• Hydrocortisone. Removes the feeling of tightness and itching. Suppresses the increased activity of leukocytes, prevents their movement into the skin.
• Flumethasone. Helps with the exudative form of psoriasis. It is characterized by pronounced antiallergic, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects.
• Triamcinolone acetonide. Has antipruritic and anti-inflammatory effects. Indicated during periods of exacerbation.

Psoriasis on the scalp occurs in 50% of patients and causes the most severe discomfort. If you are sick, you should avoid hair dryers, gels and hair sprays. It is important that the hairpins and comb do not scratch the skin. Otherwise, the outbreaks will begin to spread.

Treatment of psoriasis of the scalp is carried out using:

• UV comb (promotes the formation of profile skin cells from keratinocytes, due to which existing plaques are reabsorbed).
• Photochemotherapy (UVR combined with Beroxan, Puvalen and Psoralen).
• Medicinal shampoos (Tana, Nizoral, Friederm tar). It is advisable to purchase several different products and alternate them. This will avoid addiction.
• Salicylic ointment (apply to partings, cover head with cellophane and leave for two hours).
• Hormonal lotions (Belosalik, Elokom, Diprosalik). Contains steroid hormones. Easily applied to the scalp and effectively eliminates flaking and itching.
• Kirkazon decoction (normalizes the process of skin cell division, cleanses).

The effect of any scalp treatment is observed after a few weeks, so there is no need to interrupt the treatment course after several sessions.

Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

To cure psoriasis forever at home, if we are talking about a mild form of the disease, folk remedies help:

• Herbal tea made from dandelion roots, St. John's wort or stinging nettle leaves.
• Therapeutic baths with the addition of a decoction of string, soapwort or yarrow.
• Wiping the affected areas with cabbage brine, celandine juice, and birch tar.
  Compresses based on garlic infusion.

Also, according to reviews, treating psoriasis with hydrogen peroxide can achieve good results. It is necessary to lubricate psoriatic plaques twice a day with a cotton swab soaked in a three percent solution. The duration of the course depends on the severity of symptoms and can take up to two months.

Diet for psoriasis

Allowed products for exacerbation of psoriasis are:

• fruits (apples, apricots, peaches);
• fruit juices;
• vegetables (beets, potatoes, radishes, watermelon, pumpkin);
• greenery;
• berries (all except red ones);
• lean meats (beef, veal, turkey, rabbit) – up to 200 grams per day;
• any nuts;
• lean fish;
• fermented milk products, cottage cheese and cheese;
• whole wheat bread;
• sea kale.

People with psoriasis should not eat:

• smoked dishes;
• red fish;
• animal fats;
• eggs;
• pork and duck meat;
• baked goods.

Drinking coffee, carbonated and alcoholic drinks is prohibited. It is advisable to limit your sugar intake. To cleanse the body, it is recommended to carry out fasting days twice a week - vegetable, apple or kefir.

Is psoriasis dangerous?

Psoriasis is a serious but not fatal disease. It reduces the quality of life because it is unsightly in appearance. Plaques on the body prevent patients from working in a team or resting. They often lead to limited movement and difficulty performing simple physical tasks. Untimely treatment of psoriasis can lead to damage to the organs of vision and joints.

It is impossible to cure psoriasis completely. This is a chronic dermatological disease that must always be kept in a "dormant" state.

Risk group

The risk group includes people who have:

• chronic skin diseases;
• skin injuries;
• disorders of the central nervous system and autonomic system.

Prevention

To prevent the disease, doctors recommend:

• moisturize the skin;
• avoid long stays in cold and dry rooms;
• do not take beta blockers and lithium (except in extreme cases), becausethey provoke psoriasis.

This article is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.