Much of the world's population suffers from psoriasis. All age groups are ill with this disease because once the disease can never be cured.
In this article we will take a closer look at the causes and symptoms of psoriasis in adults, as well as discuss methods of treatment using folk and medication, learn what experts in the field of psychosomatics have to say about it.
causes
Most often, according to statistics, when a person has a predisposition to psoriasis, the first symptoms of psoriasis can appear around the age of fifteen to twenty-five. Psoriasis is chronic. This means that no matter what stage the patient is at, what drugs are used for therapy for how long, it will not be possible to get rid of the disease completely and forever.
The main cause of psoriasis is still unknown. Scientists believe that if psoriasis appeared before the age of twelve, the hereditary factor plays the main role in this case. When an elderly person develops psoriasis, psoriasis is associated with the work of the immune system and the negative effects of bacteria and viruses. The main causes of psoriasis in adults are as follows:
- Inheritance. According to the studies, most people with psoriasis have patients with the same condition in their families or with other chronic dermatoses.
- Genetic disorders that occur when special viruses and bacteria enter, can lead to a change in the structure of the chromosomes. The risk for this process increases with injuries to the immune system.
- Secondary infection of the skin, purulent inflammation increase the risk of the onset of the disease.
- Violation of the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If, according to the biochemical blood test, the indicators deviate from the norm, then the risk of developing the disease increases. There are also changes in the functioning of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
- Chronic inflammatory process in a patient, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media. Patients with psoriasis have high levels of lymphocytes and leukocytes in their blood.
- If the climatic conditions are unsuitable for the patient's skin, i. e. if the air is dry or too humid, damage to the skin cell division is observed.
- Stress, depression, anxiety can lead to the development of psoriasis.
- Taking antibiotics and immunomodulators leads to the appearance of symptoms of psoriasis.
- Alcohol and tobacco abuse increase the risk.
- Other disorders of skin cell division.
- Insufficient amount of supplied vitamins and minerals in the body.
- Improper diet, eating foods high in allergens.
- Obesity.
These factors provoke the appearance of psoriasis. Diseases of the internal organs also contribute to this.
In the event that the patient notices the appearance of rashes, dryness, roughness, it is worth visiting a doctor for a diagnosis, since the external symptoms of most skin diseases at the beginning of their development are similar.
In order to assume what disease the patient will develop before diagnosis, you should look at photos of symptoms of psoriasis in adults on the forums or in a special section on the site, after which you should definitely consult a doctor, because self-diagnosis can turn out to beprove wrong, and improper drug self-selection can worsen health.
If a person has psoriasis, he is prescribed drugs to maintain the state of remission, recommendations are made so that relapse does not occur.
But even in this case there will still be a relapse within a few years and various factors such as stress, anxiety, diseases of the endocrine system, contact with chemicals, use of antibiotics, hormones and immunomodulators, bad habits, dysfunction of the immune system can accelerate itand other reasons.
The disease is seasonal and can recur at certain times of the year each year. Usually, psoriasis returns in patients during the winter season when the skin does not have enough sunlight and symptoms go away when warmed. A change in climatic conditions can contribute to a relapse.
According to psychosomatics, psoriasis in adults is linked to their position in life. The more positive a person is about everything, the easier his psoriasis is.
Symptoms
The symptoms of many patients vary in their activity, but the general characteristics of the disease remain.
The main symptom of psoriasis is initially a red rash, a photo of which can be seen in the section. At the very beginning of the disease, pink or red papules appear on the skin that may peel off.
If the patient does not take appropriate measures at this point, the affected area may increase in size, causing the skin to become red, swollen, unbearable itching may appear, causing the patient to scratch the affected areas. Infection can enter the scratches and cause secondary infection.
After that, wounds will form in the combed areas, which may begin to bleed if you continue to comb. The skin hardens and dries out, and white or gray plaques form on the skin. Often times, psoriasis develops not only on the skin, but even on the nails.
Then the rashes become redder, the affected areas become more noticeable, the plaques become larger. The boundary between healthy and diseased skin can be felt. Sick areas can be slightly increased compared to healthy ones.
Patients experience itching, pain, and irritation of the skin. In the event that the patient neglected the doctor's recommendations and did not start the prescribed treatment, the symptoms not only will not go away, but will also worsen.
If the patient follows all the advice of a dermatologist, the symptoms will go away, itching and irritation will go away, the redness will gradually subside. The skin becomes hydrated and soft. Here the disease goes into remission.
However, after that there may be a relapse of psoriasis, which is characterized by the appearance of new areas of damage. Plaques reappear, a thermal film may appear under the plaques, which tears and bleeds when scratched. Here, too, a secondary infection can get into the wounds. Cracks appear on dry skin.
The disease is localized in different parts of the body, but usually psoriasis occurs in the scalp, elbows and knees, feet and palms.
A pregnant woman can also get psoriasis. She should be twice as careful with her health because a disease without proper treatment can cause a miscarriage.
Psoriasis treatment
Treatment for psoriasis begins with the attending physician first diagnosing the disease. Since many skin diseases have similar symptoms, especially at the beginning of the development of the disease, special examinations are required for diagnosis.
The patient must be asked to donate blood for tests, and a skin biopsy will also be done to examine the skin cells more closely. Many skilled dermatologists only determine the disease through external signs, but research provides more detailed information about the condition of the patient's skin.
First of all, a patient with psoriasis is prescribed a special diet that excludes allergens from the diet, stops the production of histamine, thereby relieving the symptoms of a skin disease.
It is imperative to give up fast food because it lacks vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for health and the immune system, and that are needed by patients with psoriasis. Patients should give preference to those products that contain a sufficient amount of vitamins and nutrients.
You can not eat sweet, spicy, fried, smoked, salty and peppercorns, coffee and strong tea, fruits and vegetables with red pigment.
Folk remedies for adults
Traditional methods are still popular with many psoriasis patients to this day, although doctors do not recommend resorting to them as the consequences of such therapy are unknown. A visit to the attending physician is imperative during the entire treatment, as tests should be carried out to check the effectiveness of the treatment process.
Typically, primary care methods include the following products for psoriasis symptom relief:
- Various medicinal herbs that patients collect and dry themselves and also buy ready-made at a pharmacy, which is more recommendable. Herbs are brewed and compresses are made, the skin is treated externally.
- Homemade ointments are also widely used by patients. Patients choose products such as propolis, solidol, sea buckthorn oil for ointments. After mixing, these components must be applied to the affected areas. The mixture eliminates inflammation, relieves itching and skin irritation.
- Baths are used everywhere to treat dermatological complaints. They are also prescribed by doctors as part of complex therapy. Ingredients such as sea salt, celandine juice, calamus root and many other medicinal herbs are added to the baths. Typically, the patient is allocated a bath of about twenty minutes. During this time, the substance added to the water will eliminate inflammation, normalize blood circulation and improve the condition of the dermis. Sea salt is also used in the form of a compress, which can be used when the disease is localized on a small area of the skin.
- Tar ointments are also effective in treating symptoms of psoriasis. Ointment variants include an ointment based on tar, sea buckthorn oil and salicyl alcohol, which are taken in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas and covered with polyethylene. Then wash off the ointment with water.
Folk remedies are usually used as part of complex therapy to increase the effectiveness of drugs. In an independent form, folk recipes rarely help get rid of the symptoms of psoriasis.
Medication
Researchers from around the world have developed a single treatment regimen for various dermatological diseases. According to her, therapy should be carried out with the following goals:
- Remove the main symptoms of the skin disease. In psoriasis, this is redness and flaking of the skin.
- Inflammation of the skin.
- Unpleasant skin, redness, gray plaques often lead to the fact that patients have complexes around their skin. The quality of life in psoriasis patients is usually lower than in healthy people.
A whole range of different drugs are usually prescribed to help get rid of psoriasis. Treatment can take a long time, and psoriasis can return after a while and must then be treated again. It is recommended to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of relapse.
The complex for the treatment of skin psoriasis in adults includes not only drugs, but also traditional medicine recipes that increase the effectiveness of drugs. In addition, a special diet for psoriasis patients should be followed, which excludes allergens from the diet.
It is recommended to attend physical therapy, which also has a preventive effect.
Drugs of various groups are prescribed to patients.
Antihistamines block the production of histamine, which removes symptoms such as itching, swelling, skin irritation, redness - anything associated with an allergic reaction.
Sedatives can reduce irritation, redness, itching, and other symptoms of psoriasis.
Preparations that eliminate inflammation and relieve pain.
The complex of treatment necessarily includes preparations in the form of an ointment for psoriasis on the skin in adults. They can either be non-hormonal, that is, they contain only natural ingredients that do not cause systemic side effects, or hormonal, which have an active ingredient in the composition that is effective in relieving the symptoms of psoriasis.
Non-hormonal agents include salicylic, tar, ichthyol ointments. There are non-hormonal products in the form of creams, solutions.
It is recommended to take sorbents - activated charcoal.
In the event of complications, many patients are prescribed immunomodulators, that is, drugs that correct the functioning of the immune system.
It is also recommended to take physical therapy courses, for example, ultraviolet radiation, cryotherapy, laser radiation.
prophylaxis
If a person is diagnosed with psoriasis, they should start treatment immediately and follow all the recommendations of the doctor. The sooner a person reaches remission, the faster they can return to the previous rhythm of life.
It is also recommended to take supportive measures or take preventive measures that will protect against relapse.
Skin contact with external irritants and aggressive substances should be restricted. For example, do not come into contact with chemicals and use protective equipment if necessary.
You shouldn't be in direct sunlight for too long as excessive ultraviolet radiation can cause relapse.
They should also prevent the patient from getting into stressful situations that contribute to relapse. In order not to get stressed, you should drink the herbal preparations that the neurologist prescribes.
Also, you shouldn't allow a sharp drop in temperature or humidity. Too dry or humid air leads to aggravation.
You should also take care of the skin, moisturize it with skin care products.
A visit to the sea is recommended, as there is salt water, which has a positive effect on the skin, especially with psoriasis.
It is recommended to adhere to proper nutrition and consume vitamin and mineral complexes.