What is psoriasis and how to treat it

31 October 2023

Psoriasis that affects the skin, treatment for which includes the use of ointments

Psoriasis is a skin disease in which red patches with silvery scales appear on the skin.Depending on the type, psoriasis can affect the knees, elbows, trunk, nails, face, or scalp.

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, accumulate and form inflamed, red patches. Symptoms of psoriasis can vary depending on the type, stage and cause. General symptoms of psoriasis:

Inflamed areas of skin;
patches of white silvery scales or red spots;
skin soreness and burning sensation;
Dry, cracked skin (which may itch and bleed);
Stiffness and swelling of joints;
Nails become thickened and ribbed.

Psoriasis in children usually affects the scalp and nails first, then spreads to the elbows, knees, and trunk. With nail psoriasis in children, depending on the type of psoriasis, thick nails without pits or small ridges may be observed, as well as yellowing of the nails or separation from the nail bed.If you notice the first signs of psoriasis, you should consult your doctor. Dermatologists are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis in adults. If your child develops red spots or silvery scales on their skin, they should consult their pediatrician.

How does psoriasis start?

Psoriasis begins with the formation of small red bumps that rise a few millimeters above the skin (similar in appearance to a regular rash). As they increase in size, white or silvery scales may appear. The top scales may fall off. The remaining scales stick together and become painful and itchy. When the resulting rash is scratched, the scales may fall off the skin, causing bleeding.

What does psoriasis look like?

With psoriasis, red spots appear on light skin and brown or purple spots appear on dark skin. In the initial stages of scalp psoriasis, the spots resemble dandruff (due to white scales). Forms of psoriasis:

Mild psoriasis (less than three percent of the body is affected, and the rash is limited to the scalp or extremities);
Moderate psoriasis (rash covering three to 10 percent of the body, affecting the scalp, arms, legs, and trunk);
Severe psoriasis (more than ten percent of the body is affected, with rashes on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and face).

Dermatologists choose psoriasis treatments based on the form and type of psoriasis, symptoms, and location of the rash. If treatment is not done correctly or promptly, large lesions may appear on the skin.

Where can psoriasis occur?

The location of psoriasis spots depends on their type. Types of psoriasis:

Plaque (common) psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis causes dry, raised skin that is covered in silvery scales. Psoriasis tends to occur on the elbows, knees, waist and scalp;
Erythrodermic psoriasis. Skin looks burning, chills occur, and body temperature rises;
guttate psoriasis. Small, scaly, flesh-colored spots that resemble water droplets form on the arms, legs, and trunk;
Pustular psoriasis. With pustular psoriasis, white blisters filled with pus and large areas of inflamed skin appear on the skin. Confined to a small area of skin, affecting the legs or arms;
exudative psoriasis. The appearance of spots on the skin covered with yellow scabs;
anti psoriasis. Smooth red spots appear on the skin. The rash occurs in skin folds (armpits, buttocks, genitals).

In nail psoriasis, skin accumulates under the nails, causing them to lift up and form indentations ("nail pits"). The skin under the nail plate turns white, yellow, or brown. Nails become rough, crumbled and break quickly.Dermatologists can also differentiate between palmoplantar psoriasis. The skin of psoriasis on the palms and feet is dry and prone to cracks.Eyelid psoriasis causes redness, flaking, and crusting around the eyelids. Other symptoms of eyelid psoriasis:

Formation of scales that fall off and stick to eyelashes;
pain when moving your eyes;
Irritation of the skin of the eyelids, accompanied by pain and itching.

Depending on the location of the spot, the edge of the eyelid may turn upward or downward, which can cause friction between the eyelashes and the eyeball. Possible consequences of eyelid psoriasis include uveitis (eye inflammation) and vision loss.Psoriasis may appear on the eyebrows, behind and around the ears, and in the ear canal. Sometimes psoriasis affects the mouth, causing redness and burning of the lips, gums, tongue, and cheeks. Oral psoriasis may cause difficulty chewing and swallowing food.How psoriasis looks depends on its type, symptoms and stage. Psoriasis is visible in the photo. psoriasis plaques on elbows

Causes of psoriasis

Psoriasis is caused by an immune system malfunction in which white blood cells mistakenly start attacking skin cells. Thanks to the action of white blood cells, the process of producing new skin cells is shortened from a month to a few days. The cells that form in advance are pushed by the body to the surface of the skin, where they accumulate and turn into spots or plaques.A genetic predisposition (family history of psoriasis) or triggers (environmental factors that increase the risk of psoriasis) may lead to immune system dysfunction. Factors that trigger the development of psoriasis:

Infections (tonsillitis, herpes, lichen);
Skin trauma (sunburn, insect bites, scratches, cuts);
Smoking or drinking alcohol;
uncontrolled drug use;
Being constantly under stress (leading to the development of stress psoriasis);
weather (dry and cold conditions);
Abruptly discontinue systemic or oral corticosteroids.

These factors can cause psoriasis to develop in people who are susceptible to it, or make the condition worse. You can prevent psoriasis from getting worse by identifying and eliminating the factors that make it worse.

worsening of psoriasis

Psoriasis on the face, extremities, and head is characterized by an exacerbation phase (when symptoms appear more intense) and a remission phase (when the rash shrinks and the pain disappears). The remission period lasts from one month to one year. Stages of psoriasis:

progress stage(The beginning of psoriasis). A rash of small nodules appears on the skin, accompanied by itching. Increased areas of redness and formation of plaques;
fixed stage. No new nodules (papules) appear, and the inflammation subsides after scales or scabs form on the plaques;
regression stage. Plaques are reduced and itching and flaking disappear.

A dermatologist will help relieve psoriasis exacerbations, identify triggers and prescribe treatment. Following your doctor's advice will help reduce periods of exacerbations and extend periods of remission.

How to treat psoriasis?

Before starting treatment for psoriasis, a dermatologist will take a medical history (asking about symptoms, when they occurred, and whether there is a family history of psoriasis) and perform a visual inspection of the rash. After a diagnosis is made, your doctor will choose a comprehensive treatment for psoriasis. Treatment for psoriasis includes:

Ointments, shampoos, creams and gels based on algae and Dead Sea mineral extracts;
Phototherapy (reducing the growth of skin cells by exposing the affected skin to ultraviolet light, thus normalizing the condition).

For psoriasis, dermatologists recommend taking vitamins. To produce healthy skin cells and reduce inflammation and symptoms, doctors prescribe vitamins A, D, E, K, B, and C.

psoriasis diet

For psoriasis, dermatologists recommend dietary changes. Foods to Reduce Inflammation:

Fatty fish (tuna, salmon);
flax seeds and pumpkin seeds;
Nuts (walnuts, almonds);
Cabbage, spinach.

Following a psoriasis diet can help reduce symptoms and prevent the development of complications (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease). If you have psoriasis on your legs, arms, or face, you should limit the amount of alcohol you drink.Your diet should also include the consumption of foods containing fatty acids (sardines, salmon, shrimp, flax seeds). It is recommended to minimize the intake of foods containing saturated fats (fat meats, sweets) and simple carbohydrates (dairy products, grapes, baked goods).

Prevent psoriasis

Preventative measures will help prevent the onset and progression of psoriasis on the arms, legs, and head. Psoriasis prevention includes:

Dietary changes (abstinence from alcohol, simple carbohydrates and saturated fats, consumption of foods containing fatty acids);
Protect your head and body from the sun (use sunscreen and a hat);
quit smoking;
Reduce the risk of skin injury (use repellent spray, gloves, long sleeves);
Moisturizes skin (dry skin is easily damaged).

To reduce the likelihood of psoriasis flare-ups, extreme temperatures should be avoided. Exposure to temperatures that are too cold or too hot can cause dry or damaged skin. Minimizing stressful situations will help prevent the development of psoriasis due to stress.

How to differentiate between psoriasis and dermatitis?

Scalp psoriasis (seborrheic psoriasis) is similar to seborrheic dermatitis. With the help of a dermatologist, it is possible to differentiate between dermatitis and scalp psoriasis. Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis:

redness of the skin, the formation of greasy white or yellow scales on it (sebum - sebum - can be released when pressed);
Dandruff (skin debris) that accumulates near the hair shaft.

You can tell the difference between psoriasis and dermatitis by the location of the rash. Unlike seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis does not only form on the head, but can also spread beyond the hairline and appear on other parts of the body (limbs, waist, nails). With psoriasis, the area of skin affected by the rash will be painful and itchy, while with dermatitis, you may experience a slight itchiness on your scalp.