Psoriasis

Is psoriasis contagious?

When answering the question of whether psoriasis is contagious or not, it is necessary to understand that this disease is not transmitted sexually, through airborne droplets, through contact or by any other means. It is impossible to get infected with it.

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

Causes of psoriasis

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

• stress, negative emotional experiences;
• endocrine diseases;
• genetic predisposition;
• breakdown of the immune system, as a result of which the growth and division of epithelial cells is disrupted.

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

The development of psoriasis can also occur with a combination of several factors from the list below:

• The skin is very thin and poorly hydrated (produces little sebum).
• Frequent contact with irritating compounds - poor quality cosmetics, alcohol solutions, household chemicals.
• Washing your body and hands too often (especially if you use a hard washcloth and antibacterial soap/body wash).
• Alcohol abuse.
• The development of infectious diseases caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus, and fungi.
• Take antidepressants, lithium carbonate, beta blockers, antimalarials, and anticonvulsants.
• Climate zone change.
• Mechanical trauma to the skin.
• Tendency to allergic reactions.
• HIV infection.

Disease classification

If you study different photos of psoriasis in the early stages, you will notice the difference - there are several types of this dermatological pathology. Depending on the location of the lesion, it occurs:

• Scalp psoriasis (manifested by itchy, cracked and bleeding skin).
• Nail psoriasis (nails gradually separate from the bed and become painful, red spots form on them).
• Palmoplantar psoriasis (common only on the soles of the feet and/or palms of the hands).
• Skin psoriasis (dry patches appearing on different parts of the body).
• Psoriasis of the joints (affected joints).
• Genital psoriasis (disease affecting the skin of the genitals).

Clinical forms of psoriasis:

• Normal or vulgar. It appears as small, flat, slightly raised pink-red papules on healthy skin. The upper part of the papules is covered with light scales, which begin to peel off even with the slightest touch. If psoriasis treatment is not started promptly, small lesions will merge into large lesions.
• Secretion. It is more common in obese people, hypothyroidism, and diabetics. Symptoms of psoriasis in this form are as follows: papules are bright red, with gray-yellow scales on top. Plaque affects the skin folds - armpits, and the area under the mammary glands in women. Patients complain of itching and burning.
• Sebum. Psoriasis is observed on the head, behind the ears, nasolabial folds, between the shoulder blades and on the chest. The boundaries of the points are not clearly defined. The shell is silver-gold in color. If you look at a photo of psoriasis on the head, you will think of such a common fungal disease as dandruff.
• Palmoplantar. The disease occurs in people between 30 and 50 years old, whose jobs require heavy manual labor. With this form, a rash may also appear on the body.
• pustules. Purulent elements form on the body. In medicine, an additional type of pustules is identified - Tsumbusch psoriasis. It can be idiopathic (primary) - blisters appear on the skin, turning into pustules. The pustules open and dry. Then, scaly rashes characteristic of the disease appear on them. And also secondary with a benign course. In this case, pustules appear on the surface of typical psoriasis plaques due to the stimulating effect of the drug.
  Another type of pustules is Barber psoriasis. It only affects the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Pustules containing pus appear on the skin. They do not open and over time turn into a dry, dark crust. Barber's psoriasis is distinguished by the symmetry of the lesions.
• Arthritis (joints). Severe form. Occurs in patients with skin rash. It usually occurs 5 to 6 years after the first symptoms of the disease appear if psoriasis treatment is not effective. Pathologies of the joint system can be different, from mild joint pain that does not lead to changes in the joint apparatus, ending with ankle deformity (the joint becomes completely immobile).
• Erythrodermic psoriasis. It is a consequence of vulgar or exudative psoriasis. Almost all skin is affected. It turned red, covered with many dry scales. Body temperature increases, there is enlargement of lymph nodes (especially femoral and inguinal). If patients do not learn how to treat psoriasis, hair loss and brittle nails can occur.

According to the criteria of seasonal recurrence, psoriasis is divided into:

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

Symptoms of psoriasis

Treatment depends on the prominent symptoms of psoriasis, so at the first appointment, the doctor will conduct a thorough examination of the patient and thoroughly examine the location of psoriasis lesions.

Usually the disease manifests itself in winter. In summer, under the influence of solar radiation, signs of psoriasis can completely disappear. However, with the "summer" form of the disease, on the contrary, exposure to the sun should be avoided. During exacerbations, patients complain of very intense itching. Damage to the nail plates is observed in only 25% of patients.

When there is a disease of the scalp, the hair does not participate in the pathological process. First, the skin begins to peel. Over time, the rash can "spread" to the neck and behind the ears. The inflammatory process occurs due to the rapid division of keratinocytes.

With psoriasis on the palms and feet, the stratum corneum thickens and becomes covered with deep cracks. Pictures of psoriasis in the early stages show pustules with transparent content. Later they turn white and turn into black scars.
For nail plates, the most common types of damage are:

• The nail is covered with pits that look like punctures ("dyke type").
• Nails change color and begin to peel, similar to fungal disease. A psoriatic papule surrounded by a red border 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 cause its appearance, the stages of the disease have been thoroughly researched. There are three of them:

• Progress (initial). New growth appears on the skin's surface in the form of a rash, which tends to develop along the periphery. They spread to healthy skin and form oval or round patches. The spots are pink or red. There is no peeling crust on them - just white scales. The edges of the lesion are slightly compressed. Due to scratching, new rashes appear.
• Freeze. Occurs one to four weeks after the first symptoms of psoriasis. The patches become lighter. New rashes do not appear, old ones gradually disappear. 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 wound is covered with peeling white scabs.
• Regression (fade). The color of psoriatic plaques is almost indistinguishable from healthy skin. Itching is minimized. Around the lesions, a "Voronov necklace" is formed, which is a ring of dense layers of keratinized skin. If the patient uses high-quality ointments for psoriasis, the regression phase lasts about a month. Otherwise, the "fade" process can take up to six months.

The mission of a patient diagnosed with psoriasis is to keep the disease in remission.

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

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

A dermatologist diagnosed psoriasis. The procedure is based on external examination, assessment of the condition of the skin and nails, as well as studying the location of lesions. No additional tests are prescribed for obvious symptoms. If the diagnosis is difficult, a skin sample will be taken from the inflamed area (biopsy), which will be studied in a laboratory.

If there are complaints of joint pain, get an X-ray. Blood tests are also required to ensure no other types of arthritis are present. To rule out fungal infection, a test using potassium hydroxide is performed.

How to cure psoriasis

Treating psoriasis is complex. It includes:

• general therapy;
• local therapy;
• physical therapy.

Before determining how to treat psoriasis, the dermatologist will determine the stage of the disease, the clinical form and the extent of the process. When prescribing the drug, the patient's age and the presence of comorbidities are taken into account. Usually, the drugs that are safest for health, characterized by the fewest side effects, are chosen first. If they do not ensure progression of psoriasis to the regression stage, treatment will be adjusted.

Systemic medications for psoriasis

Oral medications help treat moderate to severe psoriasis. Including:

• Vitamin A derivative (retinoid). Reduces the maturation rate of keratinocytes. Normalizes cell differentiation and maturation.
• Immunosuppressive drugs. Reduced T lymphocyte activity, causing increased epidermal cell division.
• Drugs to treat malignant tumors. Inhibits the reproduction and growth of atypical skin cells.

Physical therapy for psoriasis

Physical therapy procedures significantly improve the health of psoriasis patients. In some cases, they allow you to stop taking the medication altogether. Most commonly used:

• Selective phototherapy. The affected skin area is irradiated with UV rays with a wavelength of 280-320nm. From 15 to 35 procedures are prescribed.
• Photochemotherapy (PUVA therapy). The method involves the combined use of an internal photosensitizer and external long-wave ultraviolet irradiation. Ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into the skin and photosensitizers block the DNA synthesis of skin cells and reduce their division rate. The duration of the course is from 20 to 30 procedures.
• Laser therapy. Laser radiation with different wavelengths is used. The laser ensures rapid resorption of plaques and eliminates scar formation in their place.
• Use monochromatic ultraviolet rays. Each lesion is treated in turn with a UV lamp/laser source. Healthy skin is not affected. This method is optimal if less than 10% of the skin is affected. Treatment duration is from 15 to 30 sessions.
• Electric sleep. There is a mild effect of electrical impulses on the brain for 20-60 minutes. Thanks to this, the patient calms down, the activity of the central nervous system normalizes, and psoriatic plaques begin to disappear.
  Ultrasound therapy. It is a decongestant, anti-itch and pain reliever. Accelerates the process of scar reabsorption. If necessary, it can be combined with phonology. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to carry out from 7 to 14 sessions.
• Magnetic therapy (Betatron device). It has a general healing effect on the body. Reduces inflammation, reduces itching and burning, helps get rid of joint pain.
• Treatment with bee venom. Using an electrophoresis machine or an ultrasound machine, bee venom is injected into the body. It is characterized by a resolving and anti-inflammatory effect, normalizes metabolism.
• Increased body temperature. Tissues affected by psoriasis are heated with a pad containing a heat mixture to a temperature of 40 degrees. Treatment helps improve the function of the immune system and reduce the negative effects of the disease on the skin.

Ointment for the treatment of psoriasis

According to reviews, treating psoriasis with ointments can achieve excellent results if the drug is chosen correctly. At the first symptoms, non-hormonal formulations are prescribed:

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

If psoriasis treatment with non-hormonal ointments does not bring the expected effect, hormonal drugs or strong ointments containing the following glucocorticosteroids will be prescribed:

• Hydrocortisone. Eliminates the feeling of tightness and itching. Inhibits the increased activity of white blood cells, preventing their movement into the skin.
• Flumethasone. Helps treat exudative forms of psoriasis. It is characterized by a pronounced anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic effect.
• Triamcinolone acetonide. Has anti-itch 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 using hair dryers, gels and hairspray. It is important that hairpins and combs do not scratch the skin. Otherwise, the epidemic will begin to spread.

Treatment of scalp psoriasis is done using:

• Ultraviolet comb (promotes the formation of skin cells from keratinocytes, thanks to which existing plaques are reabsorbed).
• Photochemotherapy (UVR combined with Beroxan, Puvalen and Psoralen).
• Medicated shampoo (Tana, Nizoral, Friederm tar). It is advisable to buy several different products and replace them. This will avoid addiction.
• Salicylic ointment (apply to sections of hair, cover head with cellophane and leave for two hours).
• Hormone cream (Belosalik, Elokom, Diprosalik). Contains steroid hormones. Easily applied to the scalp and effectively eliminates peeling and itching.
• Kirkazon decoction (normalizes the process of skin cell division, cleanses).

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

Treat psoriasis at home with folk remedies

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

• Herbal tea made from dandelion root, St. John's wort or nettle leaves.
• Therapeutic baths with the addition of decoctions of vine, soap or yarrow.
• Wipe the affected areas with cabbage brine, celandine juice and birch tar.
  Compress based on garlic infusion.

In addition, 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

Products that are allowed to aggravate psoriasis are:

• fruits (apples, apricots, peaches);
• fruit juices;
• vegetables (radish, potatoes, radishes, watermelon, pumpkin);
• green trees;
• berries (all but red);
• lean meat (beef, veal, turkey, rabbit) – up to 200 grams per day;
• any type of nut;
• Lean fish;
• fermented milk products, cheese and cottage cheese;
• whole grain bread;
• sea kale.

People with psoriasis should not eat:

• smoked dishes;
• red fish;
• Animal fats;
• egg;
• pork, duck meat;
• barbecue.

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 of its unsightly appearance. Plaques on the body prevent patients from working in groups or resting. They often lead to limited movement and difficulty performing simple physical tasks. Untimely treatment of psoriasis can lead to damage to visual organs and joints.

Psoriasis cannot be completely cured. This is a chronic dermatological disease that must always be kept in a "sleeping" state.

Risk group

Risk groups include people with:

• chronic skin disease;
• skin wounds;
• disorders of the central nervous system and autonomic system.

Prevent

To prevent disease, doctors recommend:

• moisturizes the skin;
• Avoid staying in cold and dry rooms for long periods of time;
• Do not take beta blockers and lithium (except in severe cases), because they stimulate psoriasis.

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