Psoriasis on the legs is a skin disorder in which itchy papules, spots, or pustules appear on certain parts of the limbs. Over time, they grow and merge into plaques. This disease is incurable and chronic. A well-designed complex therapy helps to quickly relieve the symptoms of psoriasis on the legs. Therefore, wishing to achieve a stable remission (to clear the skin completely or partially from the elements of the rash), one should not prescribe treatment for oneself.
Causes of pathology
Scientists have not yet figured out why psoriasis appears on the feet and other parts of the body. Many researchers associate psoriatic skin rash with a genetic malfunction in the cells of the epidermis and the subsequent excessive activity of the immune system. This pathological condition occurs as follows:
- As a result of dysfunction of the skin, keratinocytes (make up 90% of the cells of the epidermis) do not have time to mature, but at the same time they multiply rapidly, which leads to a change in the structure of individual areas of the skin.
- In response to such a failure, the body's immunity sends T-lymphocytes (killer cells) and macrophages (eater cells) to destroy immature and pathologically altered keratinocytes.
- As a result of the accumulation of a large number of immune cells and keratinocytes in the upper layers of the epidermis, the skin grows and begins to peel off. No medications help to completely normalize the functions of skin renewal.
The progression of psoriasis on the legs is facilitated by a bacterial infection that can penetrate the skin through small scratches, as well as a disturbed hormonal background, contact allergic dermatitis and a number of other external factors.
What does psoriasis look like on the legs, depending on the type of disease
Psoriatic lesions on the feet and knees of the legs may look different from person to person. This factor is explained by the cyclical course of the disease. In addition, one or several forms of psoriasis may develop on the skin of the legs, including palmar-plantar, common (vulgar), teardrop-shaped, punctate, as well as nail and articular psoriasis.
Psoriasis of the legs and feet
Elements of psoriatic rashes can be localized on different parts of the skin of the legs:
- on the knees;
- on the shins;
- on the heels;
- in the thighs.
Psoriasis on the lower leg, foot, knee joint and the inner side of the thigh begins with the appearance of single red papules and severe itching (typical for the point and vulgar form of the disease) or with small spots of pink and purple color (with teardrop-shaped psoriasis).
In the first case, the elements of the rash protrude slightly above the surface of the skin, differ in density and have an apex with a silvery scale, which flakes off when scraped with a fingernail. Over time, the papules increase, and those that are close to each other merge into a single plaque. As a result, they completely cover the skin of the knees or cover solid areas of skin from the knees to the feet. Peeling appears on the surface of the plaques.
At the initial stage, teardrop-shaped elements of psoriatic rash affect the entire skin of the legs with the same type of small rash. Then, as a result of the progression of the disease, single spots merge into groups and cover large areas of skin on the legs. Such psoriatic lesions rarely occur on the heels.
Palmar-plantar psoriasis often develops on the sole of the foot. Elements of the rash form on the inflamed skin of the feet in the form of small spots and pustules with clear boundaries and yellow sterile contents. If the pustules on the legs open, then the liquid from them flows out, dries up and forms a yellowish crust, the ulcers under it also dry up.
Pustules that do not burst become covered with dry scales. Gradually, they increase and combine into groups, the scaly layer begins to tighten the skin strongly, which causes discomfort when walking. The skin around the plaques becomes thick and dry, cracking. Through such cracks, an infection usually penetrates into the deep layers of the dermis, after which weeping and decay of the skin begins.
Psoriatic arthritis
In most cases, plaque psoriasis of the legs provokes psoriatic damage to the joints. This arthritis is divided into 5 types:
- Symmetrical - simultaneous inflammation of the paired joints of the knees, hip, ankles or feet.
- Asymmetric - pathological changes simultaneously affect large and small joints, for example, the joints of one knee and the joints of the toes.
- Inflammation of the distal joints - small joints on the toes closer to the nails swell.
- Spondylosis - Arthritis affects the lumbosacral spine, resulting in pain in the hips and lower extremities.
- Deforming arthritis is a rare inflammatory pathology in which the small joints of the fingers are completely destroyed.
The skin over the swollen joints swells, turns purple-blue, and becomes hot.
Damage to the nail plates
Psoriatic nail damage occurs against the background of:
- psoriatic arthritis in 80-90% of cases;
- vulgar or pustular psoriasis in 50-60% of cases.
In 5-10% of clinical cases, toenail psoriasis is primary, that is, it appears on its own, it is not preceded by psoriatic lesions of the joints or skin of the legs.
Initially, common psoriasis on the soles of the feet or psoriatic inflammation of the distal joints of the fingers cause pathological changes in the skin of the periungual region. Then the pathology spreads to the nail bed or affects the nail plate lying on it. There is a deformation of the nail - the formation of dents, transverse lines - and a discoloration of the plate.
Similar signs of psoriasis in women are rarely observed in youth, most often the disease occurs in young men. In old age, psoriatic nail damage affects both women and men equally.
Progression stages
Psoriasis on the lower extremities, if untreated, goes through 3 stages of development:
- initial;
- progressive;
- stationary.
After that, the pathological changes are suspended, the stage of remission begins. Without preventive treatment, the disease resumes over time.
The manifestation of the initial stage of the disease on the legs is characterized by the formation of a small single rash, in the form of spots, papules or pustules. At first, it can occur on the bends of both knees of the legs at once. The elements of the rash are red or pink, then their tops are covered with white scales. The initial stage of psoriasis lasts about 3 weeks. During this time, papules or pustules increase in size and combine into groups.
The initial stage of psoriasis can be stopped if you promptly seek help from a specialist. But more often than not, people ignore the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease, which is why psoriasis continues to develop. At a progressive stage, the number of psoriatic plaques on the skin of the legs increases, those that are close to each other merge into "paraffin lakes" of various shapes and sizes. Psoriasis on the toes leads to inflammation and desquamation of the periungual tissue and damage to the nails.
For the progressive period, the Kebner phenomenon is characteristic, when a psoriatic rash forms on the healed skin, for example, after a cut or scratch.
At the stationary stage, psoriasis of the feet and other areas of the skin of the legs still manifests itself as severe itching and flaking. However, new elements of the rash no longer appear, and the plaques stop growing in size. There is no inflammatory rim around them; dry scales appear in its place. If the treatment is stopped at this stage, the exacerbation of the disease will begin again. Otherwise, psoriatic plaques stop peeling off, some of them disappear completely, some just brighten - the stage of remission begins.
How to treat psoriasis on the legs
The treatment regimen for psoriasis on the legs is compiled for each patient separately, taking into account the location of the rash, the form of the disease, the stage of progression and a number of other factors. It is dangerous to independently invent a treatment for this disease because complications may arise in the form of extensive skin lesions, inflammation of the joints, up to their destruction and the addition of a bacterial (staphylococcal, streptococcal) infection.
Medication
First, the foci of psoriasis are affected by non-hormonal ointments:
- tar, naphthalan - ointments relieve inflammation, are antiseptics, but they should be used only according to the doctor's indications, as they have serious contraindications.
- sulfur-salicylic ointment, salicylic acid - refer to keratolytic agents (destroying the stratum corneum). They have an exfoliating effect and help the plaques to dissolve.
- ointments that contain solidol, soften the skin of the legs, have a regenerating effect.
- ointments that contain the active form of vitamin D3 slow down the process of cell division, thereby reducing inflammation and peeling of the skin on the legs.
If non-hormonal drugs do not help stop psoriasis of the legs, then corticosteroid ointments are prescribed, which are divided into:
- Weakly active - the funds act on the surface of the skin, suitable for the initial stage of psoriasis. Some ointments from this group are approved for use by children, pregnant and lactating women.
- Moderately active - prescribed for the treatment of psoriasis on rough areas of the skin of the legs, in particular, on the knees and soles.
- Strongly active - prescribed if moderate grade ointments cannot stop the increase in psoriatic plaques on the skin of the legs.
If no ointment for psoriasis helps, then at the stage of progression of the disease, pills are prescribed simultaneously with external drugs for:
- suppression of the activity of immune cells;
- preventing the proliferation of epidermal cells;
- they also take retinoids - derivatives of vitamin A, needed to restore epidermal cells.
How to get rid of psoriasis on the feet with home methods
Folk remedies for psoriasis are medicines for external and internal use, but in the treatment they should be used as carefully as medications.
Questions like how to cure psoriasis at home for good are still unanswered. Some homemade recipes help to remove the symptoms of the disease for a long time, but not completely get rid of them.
Ointment for exacerbation
Ingredients:
- unrefined sunflower oil - 1 l;
- celandine herb - 50 g;
- elecampane roots - 50 g;
- acetylsalicylic acid - 50 tab.
How to prepare: use a coffee grinder to grind tablets and herbs, pour the resulting powder into vegetable oil, mix thoroughly. Leave for 30 days in a warm dark place to infuse. During this period, the mixture should be heated every 3 days in a steam bath, stirring, but not brought to a boil.
How to use: strain the medicine, mix the resulting liquid with petroleum jelly (3: 1), apply 3 times a day on psoriatic plaques.
Ointment that relieves symptoms in 10 days
Ingredients:
- birch tar - 150 g;
- pharmacy alcohol - 150 mg;
- camphor oil - 75 mg;
- chicken yolk - 3 pcs.
How to cook: beat the yolks in an enamel container, gradually adding camphor, then tar and alcohol. Store the ointment in a dark place.
How to use: Apply with a gauze pad on the inflamed skin of the legs. After three days, you need to wash your feet with warm water with a foam of tar soap, blot the moisture and reapply the ointment for 3 days. If the disease is not started, then the procedure is repeated again, after which the skin is cleansed.
During the period of treatment with homemade ointments, it is very important to maintain the body's immunity. For this purpose, 1 tsp can be taken orally daily. sea buckthorn oil.
Diet
Proper nutrition is one of the conditions for effective treatment of psoriasis not only on the legs, but also on other parts of the body. Medical scientists concluded that the allergic factor contributes to the progression of all forms of psoriasis, so allergenic foods should be excluded from the menu first of all:
- chicken eggs;
- seafood;
- natural honey;
- chocolate, cocoa;
- grape;
- lamb;
- pork;
- chicken's meat;
- alcohol.
During this period, it is very important to give up sweet, spicy, too salty and smoked foods - they slow down the metabolism in the body. The menu should include dairy products, river fish, cereals, baked apples, vegetable oils, green peas, carrots.
Complete starvation for psoriasis, when a person drinks only one water, is contraindicated.
During an exacerbation of psoriasis on the legs, doctors recommend arranging a fasting day once a week, for example, eating only apples, kefir or boiled river fish.
Physiotherapy
The answer to the question of how to treat psoriasis on the leg with physiotherapy is quite extensive. For this purpose, doctors prescribe:
- Ultrasound therapy - ultrasonic waves emanating from the device cause compression and stretching of skin tissues, which is done in order to restore their cells. Thus, it is possible to relieve inflammation, itching and swelling from the skin of the legs.
- Electrosleep - prescribed for psoriasis of the skin of the legs, if a person cannot cope with the stress caused by the pathology.
- Phototherapy - under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the skin's immunity is strengthened, the rate of growth and cell division decreases.
To improve metabolic processes in the skin of the legs with psoriasis, acupressure helps. It is recommended to carry it out only during the period of remission of the disease, otherwise there is a high likelihood of infection in the inflamed skin.
Hygiene rules
In order not to cause the appearance of new psoriatic plaques on the skin of the legs, during the period of remission it is recommended to use only warm water and baby toilet soap with a moisturizing effect for washing the skin. When the disease progresses, feet should be washed with warm water and tar soap, which not only cleanses the skin, but also relieves inflammation from it. After washing, dry your skin and toenails thoroughly with a soft towel.
Additional recommendations
Treatment of psoriasis on the legs will be long-term if a person:
- He is engaged in an active sport - the legs are sweating, there is a great load on the feet. After training, it is very important to wash your feet with lukewarm water, dry them thoroughly, put on clean socks and loose shoes that will allow your skin to breathe.
- Regularly and for a long time tans in the sun - excessive sunbathing causes burns and impairs metabolic processes in the skin. At the stage of progression of psoriasis on the skin of the legs, it is better to refuse abundant sunbathing, and in the period of remission, a sunscreen should be used.
Prevention measures and prognosis
Today psoriatic disease is considered incurable. Therefore, once a sustained reduction in symptoms has been achieved, efforts should be made to maintain this condition in the ways that the doctor recommends. There is no place for self-medication here.