Symptoms and first signs of psoriasis

The characteristic species-specific signs of psoriasis play a decisive role in diagnosis and treatment.

According to statistics, the most common chronic skin disease is psoriasis. It is a complex and multifaceted disease with multiple etiologies. A large number of different types of psoriasis have been found to have their own characteristic symptoms for a variety of reasons. Symptoms are needed to differentiate between types due to ambiguous skin reactions to medications and other methods of exposure.Until recently, the disease was considered not dangerous to health and life until fatal cases occurred due to misidentification of the cause, type and treatment. Additionally, a person may be affected by multiple conditions at the same time, and their symptoms must be considered when prescribing treatment.The disease affects people regardless of gender and age. The first symptoms of psoriasis may appear in babies and adults without any apparent cause. Depending on the type, not only the time of onset is different, but the progression of the disease is also different; it can be rapid or slow, with symptoms gradually getting worse.Prompt attention to the first signs and symptoms of psoriasis is key to effective treatment and will help:

• Do not allow the disease to spread to a large area of skin;
• Quickly eliminate the external symptoms of the disease and prevent damage to internal organs;
• Take timely measures to prevent recurrence and extend the calm period of the disease.

The terms "symptoms" and "signs", although similar in meaning, have significant differences. Symptoms are a person's subjective feelings that can be confirmed or refuted by examining data.Physical signs are objective examination and examination data used by doctors to make a diagnosis.
For example, pain is purely a symptom, whereas a rash is a sign.

This is important to remember because it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis based on sensory symptoms alone, and only an expert can determine the signs, specific type and form of psoriasis.

general sign

Whether the disease appears suddenly and begins to progress rapidly, or the initial manifestations are gradual, clinicians agree that papules - small, dark pink, scaly nodules that are dense to the touch and protrude above the surface - begin to form on various areas of the skin.The first thing patients may notice is that the rash forms in those areas that are more susceptible to friction than other areas, and where the skin is driest, which are:

• On the hands, palms, or elbow areas;
• below the knee;
• in the inguinal fold;
• On both sides of lower back;
• on the tibia;
• On the scalp beneath the hair.

The location of the lesions directly depends on the form of the disease. While psoriasis vulgaris most often appears on the elbows, teardrop type begins to spread from the waist, chest and areas of skin below the shoulder blades.
The first rash on the skin is usually barely noticeable, does not form in clusters, and does not cause any discomfort. But if at this stage a specialist is not consulted and the onset of the disease is ignored, the nails on the hands and feet will gradually begin to be damaged, and then the disease will spread to the mucous membranes and then to the joints.The onset of the first symptoms of psoriasis may vary by gender or age. In babies, psoriatic rash most often begins in the inguinal folds and resembles the symptoms of heat rash. In adults, the onset is of two types:

1. A round rash of varying sizes, dark pink or red in color, with many white scales visible. Gradually, although each patient has their own way, the rash area gradually thickens and becomes significantly higher than the surface of the skin. The rash forms psoriatic plaques that resemble drippings from a paraffin candle.
2. Small, dense papules form in clusters on the elbows, palms, and sometimes along the knees and ankles. These signs are so insignificant that people simply do not notice them and confuse them with ordinary stimuli. It's important to listen to yourself to see if you're experiencing the characteristic symptoms of psoriasis, such as itching and pain to touch. If you miss the first symptoms of psoriasis, individual pimples can quickly turn into plaques that can be difficult to remove.

You can distinguish psoriasis from other skin diseases by a series of characteristic symptoms, which are:

1. "Stearic acid dyeing effect". The small transparent scales peel off easily when the surface of the plaque is scratched.
2. "Terminal Film Effect". If the exfoliated scales are removed, they are replaced by a thin, shiny surface of skin that is brightly colored.
3. "blood effect". At the scraped site, tiny droplets of blood will appear within a short period of time.

Classification of specific forms of psoriasis is important in determining the disease. A clear system has not yet been developed; experts distinguish between major groups based on characteristic symptoms and signs.

Classification

Depending on the nature of the rash, the disease is divided into two main categories:

1. non-pustular form, characterized by distribution across the entire skin surface, including the following types:
   • Simple (vulgar) or ordinary psoriasis, characterized by a stable chronic course with the development of plaques. The vulgar type is the most common, accounting for 85% of cases.
   • Psoriasis erythroderma. A dangerous type, which always occurs in severe form, affects the skin's thermoregulatory and barrier abilities. Often, erythrodermic psoriasis leads to pyoderma or sepsis.
2. pustular formIt is characterized not by the formation of papules, but by the formation of pustules - inflamed skin blisters filled with serum fluid. In their course, these forms of the disease can be systemic (distributed over the entire skin surface) or localized, occurring mainly in the areas of the palms and soles of the feet.
   • Systemic psoriasis Tsumbusha type;
   • Type of annular erythema;
   • Barber's palmoplantar type (chronic pustulosis of the extremities);
   • annular pustular psoriasis;
   • Persistent acrodermatitis (psoriasis of the soles and palms of the feet);
   • Psoriasis impetigo herpetiformis.

This classification system does not yet include the following types of diseases:

• seborrheic;
• exudative;
• forms of drug dependence;
• Inverse psoriasis on the surface of skin folds and folds.

Characteristic symptoms of different types of psoriasis

The general symptoms of psoriasis fully characterize the common form of the disease, which is the most common of all known forms of the disease. A typical feature of plaque psoriasis is the area where the rash first appears. These areas are:

• flexion of arms and legs;
• the border between the forehead and scalp;
• Back of hand.

Teardrop type

A distinctive feature of this disease is the formation of individual papules, shaped like water droplets. The first signs of punctate psoriasis appear on the thighs and then spread throughout the skin's surface. In the vast majority of cases, guttate psoriasis occurs in the context of an infectious disease caused by streptococci.

Atypical appearance

This form is characterized by the formation of initial manifestations at atypical sites of psoriasis, these are:

• skin folds,
• side of body
• armpit.

Pustular (oozing) appearance

The disease is characterized by the appearance of small blisters (papules) filled with noninfectious serous fluid on the palms of the hands, feet, or legs. The skin around the papules is always inflamed, and the blisters themselves are very unstable and prone to infection.In most cases, exudative psoriasis occurs in patients with endocrine diseases, metabolic disorders, and obesity.

wrinkled surface psoriasis

The distinctive feature of this form is its appearance on the skin. The rash takes the form of large red spots that are not covered in scales and do not protrude above the surface. This species covers areas with dense sweat glands such as:

• Bend your arms and joints below your knees;
• axillary and inguinal folds;
• external genitalia;
• The area of skin beneath a woman's breasts.

Often, this form becomes complicated by an increase in fungal or streptococcal infections.

psoriatic arthritis

One of the most insidious forms of the disease, it is characterized by a long incubation period. Patients notice the first symptoms of psoriasis when the joints are completely damaged. Symptoms of this type of psoriasis include joint pain and swelling with subsequent deformity.

seborrheic appearance

The localization of this type of rash is initially concentrated on the face, with the first signs appearing in the nasolabial triangle, behind the ears, along the edges of hair growth. Distribute further along the back, shoulder blades and chest. The rash is covered with yellowish scales, blurring the line with healthy skin.

Onychodystrophy, nail psoriasis

This type is nearly impossible to treat. This pathology affects only the nail plate, changing its color to a dark yellow or gray. The nail structure becomes thinner and the cuticle area becomes inflamed for no apparent reason.

in conclusion

It is important to always remember that psoriasis is not only a skin disease but a very serious disease of the internal system of the body. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or seek help from a therapist. An effective treatment option can only be chosen after careful examination by an experienced specialist.