Psoriasis. Causes, symptoms, treatment

Approximately 2% of the population are affected by this chronic inflammatory condition, rising to 11% for the Scandinavian and Caucasian population. It can occur at any age and affects both men and women. It is more common in the third decade of life.

Factors that have been associated with psoriasis include obesity, stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, viral infections, streptococcal tonsillitis, and certain drugs such as beta-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure). In about one third of cases, a genetic factor may lead to an immune problem. Often, in the family of people with psoriasis, there are other members with psoriasis.

There is a wide variety of areas of the body affected by psoriasis, each with slightly different symptoms.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic dermatologic condition caused by abnormal cell multiplication in the skin, which in the more advanced form of the disease leads to the formation of thick plaques covered with whitish scales.

To better understand, the cells in the epidermal layer mature and grow in about 28-30 days. In psoriasis, this growth time can be as much as 2-3 days for specific lesions, as the cell division process can be 15 times faster.

Depending on a multitude of factors and criteria, lesions vary in appearance - depending on the person's sex, age, location of the first attack, etc.

Unfortunately, in about 80% of people suffering from the disease, psoriasis plaques can become irritated and infected.

If left untreated, these lesions take on a scaly, thick skin structure. Over time they may turn silver, white or bright red.

These plaques can develop anywhere on the body, but most common are areas of scalp, knee, elbow and nail psoriasis.

Nail psoriasis affects about 50% of patients who develop psoriasis.If the nails develop cornification, begin to pull away from the nail bed or if they change color to a yellow-orange tinge, it may be a symptom of psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis causes

Genetic progress and technological advances unfortunately do not give us full information about the causes of psoriasis. From genetic factors, lifestyle, diet, nutrition, stress, there are a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can trigger psoriasis. All patients with psoriasis share common features such as immunologic, hormonal and metabolic disorders.

It has, however, been possible to group together the most important psoriasis triggers or early high-risk factors for this skin disease.

• Anxiety, stress can trigger and maintain the disease, but the risk increases with age, with the most prone segment being the 30-45 age group;
• infectious factors: infections in the ENT (sinusitis, tonsillitis, chronic otitis) can create a breeding ground for psoriasis and disrupt the function of the immune system, especially in children, in about 30% of cases
• smoking and alcohol have a negative influence on the course of the disease, with smokers and alcoholics having more severe forms of the disease;
• dry and cold climate (the incidence of psoriasis is higher in Nordic countries)
• small traumas, especially to the periungual area, following aggressive pedicures and manicures, can maintain the disease;

Psoriasis symptoms

• Red, well-demarcated plaques, covered with pearly scales, appearing symmetrically, mainly in certain areas - knees, elbows, scalp, intervesier, sometimes on arms, trunk and legs;
• Dry, itchy, cracked, cracked skin that may bleed;
• Numerous small, red, scaly patches scattered over arms and legs (gutat psoriasis);
• Pustular or pustular areas of skin (pustular psoriasis);
• Smooth areas of inflamed, red, inflamed skin in the folds of the armpits, buttocks, groin, under the breasts and in the genital area (inverted psoriasis);
• Grooved, thickened nails with punctate indentations;

Types of psoriasis

Depending on location and age, we distinguish different clinical forms of the disease. Sometimes the disease can lead to severe joint blockages and cause severe forms. It can even lead to death due to infections and complications arising on the skin surface.

Guttate psoriasis

Most common in the under-30 age group. It is characterized by water droplet-like papules on the arms, trunk, scalp and legs.

Pustular psoriasis

A rare type of psoriasis characterized by the appearance of spots that cover small areas such as the hands, feet, or spread to larger areas of the body.

Reverse psoriasis

The type of psoriasis that predominantly affects the genital area, the skin under the armpits and under the breasts. This type of psoriasis is more common in overweight people and is aggravated by sweating and friction.

Erythrodermic psoriasis

The rarest type of psoriasis. Sunburn is usually the triggering factor.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis causes the nails to become bumpy and discolored, the joints become inflamed and painful. It has a lot in common with arthritis, but also involves unhealthy discoloration and the appearance of formations in certain areas of the body.

Psoriasis in children

Psoriasis can affect children from the newborn period. It can start as early as 3 months of age, with damage to the diaper area, and can spread with erythematous papules. Lesions also occur on the face in children, unlike psoriasis in adults.

Diagnosis

What tests are done for psoriasis?

For the most part, an experienced dermatologist can recognize the typical lesions characteristic of psoriasis without further tests. In severe chronic psoriasis unresponsive to treatment, lesion biopsy may be necessary - to initiate biologic treatment or to exclude other conditions in atypical forms.

Psoriasis treatment

As a chronic, frequently relapsing disease, psoriasis requires long-term treatment.Treatment for psoriasis aims to slow down cell growth, reduce local inflammation and remove plaques already formed.

We distinguish several types of psoriasis treatment:

1. Topical treatment
2. Systemic medication
3. Light therapy
4. Topical treatment

It is represented by psoriasis creams and psoriasis ointments that are applied to the skin. They are used in mild and moderate forms of the disease and can even lead to an apparent cure of psoriasis.

For example Xemose, Psoriane, Keratosane 30.

Soothing concentrated psoriasis cream Xemose PSO, 150 ml, Uriage

2

£21.50

Buy

Gel-cream for hard skin Keratosane 30, 75 ml, Uriage

2

£15

Buy

Ointments with retinoids, corticosteroids, salicylic acid are also used.

Systemic medication

Patients with moderate and severe forms of the disease, who do not respond to topical treatment for psoriasis, will need oral medication. These drugs have adverse effects in the vast majority of cases, so they can only be given on the advice of a doctor. These include: methotrexate, cyclosporine, oral retinoids.

Light therapy

Light therapy uses special UV lamps as well as natural light. Sunlight has the property of inactivating overactive leukocytes that attack healthy skin cells and lead to their chaotic replication.

The disease needs to be kept under control throughout life, some do this using the same treatment, while others have to vary their treatment methods.

Psoriasis natural treatment

Unbalanced diet may not influence the onset of psoriasis, but adopting a healthy diet is quite beneficial. Spicy spices are contraindicated in psoriasis, as they exacerbate the symptoms of the disease and maintain inflammation in the body. Alcohol consumption, smoking, traumatization and obesity should be avoided. It is necessary to reduce levels of anxiety, stress, anger, as psoriasis tends to flare up in mental and physical stress.

Psoriasis is a chronic multifactorial cutaneous pathology with a strong impact on patients' quality of life, which requires a careful approach and a good interaction between the patient and the dermatologist in order to achieve that common goal, the longest possible relapse-free periods.