Stages of psoriasis

Psoriasis is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbations. Inflammation of the skin occurs in several stages: initial, progressive, stationary, regressive. This separation helps in diagnosis and proper therapy.

Interesting to know

Psoriasis is a genetic disease. About 10% of the population have distinctive DNA disorders, and only 2% of them show signs of skin dysfunction.

The following factors cause pathology to occur:

  • severe emotional stress;
  • injuries;
  • alcohol abuse, smoking;
  • unbalanced diet;
  • Infectious and other diseases;
  • certain drugs;
  • endocrine diseases;
  • predisposition to allergies;

Due to the wrong reaction of the immune system, which reacts as foreign elements to the epidermal tissue, the first signs of the disease appear. Consider the stages of psoriasis, their symptoms, and treatment regimens.

The initial stage of psoriasis

The initial stage of psoriasis

The first character isthe appearance of a pimple(papules). Rounded shape, reddish or pink in color. There may be manifestations of a bluish tinge on the lower limbs due to the slow flow of blood. Papular formations are small and the size of the head of a pin.

The early stage is characterized bymany papulesthat have precisely defined boundaries. Whitish scales also appear. They can be easily separated from the surface when touched. Papules can fuse into one and form larger elements.

During early remission, the lesions turn pale. The affected skin areas are partially discolored. In children, this stage of psoriasis is often confused with manifestations of allergies or diathesis. The rash may be very itchy. Signs that can be used to diagnose psoriasis:

  • when scraping off the surface of the plaque becomes whitish, resembles a rubbed drop of stearin, the scales peel off;
  • If you keep scraping the stain and removing the scales, a bright red surface will appear.
  • Small drops of blood appear when you scrape.

Progressive stage of psoriasis

The following symptoms occur during the progressive stage of psoriasis:

  • Papules turn red and continue to be covered with white scales. They peel off easily, under them you can see a smooth layer of reddened skin. If damaged, blood appears.
  • With the exacerbation, papular elements grow and merge. They differ significantly from healthy skin areas.
  • Itching worse. However, when the process changes, it changes to the stationary phase. Painful and obsessive itching that interferes with sleep and daily activities. Just scratching the cover will result in injuries and new plaques. The appearance of new plaques at the injury site is Koebner syndrome. The number of manifestations of itching gradually increases, covering the body, limbs and head.
  • There are no scales on the edges of the plaques, they are hyperemic, which indicates the continuation of the inflammatory process.

Consequences

Psoriasis can have a negative effect on the joints (psoriatic arthritis). Then there is severe pain in the joints, the deformation of which, if the process goes without treatment.

Stationary stage of psoriasis

The main characteristic of the stationary stage of psoriasis is that no new elements appear. Positive changes come with the right treatment.

Stationary stage of psoriasis

Clinical manifestations:

  • Itching disappears;
  • there are no injuries (the Koebner symptom disappears);
  • Flaking can increase.

All spots no longer develop. If during the progressive stage the plaques had a margin without scales, then during the stationary stage the entire inflamed surface of the integument peels off and acquires a characteristic psoriatic appearance.

scales are characteristic of the last stage of inflammation. At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the scales do not keep pace with the progressive growth of plaques and cannot completely cover them. Apseudoatrophic crownappears in half of the cases.

Pseudo-atrophic crown

Looks like a slight border around the element, the structure of which is reminiscent of rough tissue paper, which consists of a stratum corneum and is no wider than two millimeters.

Regressive stage of psoriasis

In the regressive stage of psoriasis, the psoriasis cycle ends. Main features:

  • the exacerbation process stops, the inflammation disappears;
  • plaques gradually dissolve;
  • peeling stops, the elements of the rash are flattened;
  • the rash turns pale pink, gradually changing color;
  • papules can still remain on the arms and elbows.

No scars or atrophy of the affected area remain. Temporary hyperpigmentation or areas without pigment may appear at the site of the rash.

Remission occurs after complex therapy. The relief phase is individual. The latent disease can last for several months or even years. Exacerbations are more common in winter, with the exception of a few forms of psoriasis.

Treatment of psoriasis in different stages

Therapy for any form of psoriasis consists of general and local treatment, physiotherapy and a change in diet. At an early stage of therapy, the following is required:

  • giving up bad habits;
  • strictly follow a therapeutic diet;
  • Use ointments that contain vitamins A, D3 and hormones.
  • use systemic and sedative drugs;
  • is ​​subjected to UV therapy.

If the plaques are on the head, the doctor will prescribe shampoos based on tar, zinc and selenium sulfide.

All funds must be used as directed by a doctor. Long-term use of medication (especially those containing tar) can irritate the skin. The credit should be changed every 7 days.

Early psoriasis treatment

The effectiveness of early treatment interventions depends on when the patient goes to the doctor and starts treatment.

Early therapy helps in most cases to prevent the disease from transitioning into a chronic form.

Experts recommend using salicylic acid ointment. It is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug that has a beneficial effect on the affected areas of the skin. With the help of a keratolytic action, the ointment cleanses the plaque from the keratinized parts of the integument. Naphthalene ointment relieves itching.

Medicines are usually prescribed:

  • based on tar;
  • based on solid oil;
  • based on oil.

Not so long ago there were drops and oils for psoriasis. The tool can soothe, moisturize, prevent the skin from drying out, and relieve puffiness. The preparation contains ubiquinone, beta-carotene, beaver fat, propolis, pumpkin seed oil and other ingredients, with the help of which the number of plaques decreases, they become less, the skin is better hydrated. It is recommended to use in combination with other drugs and after consulting a specialist.

Treatment of psoriasis in a progressive stage

Therapy should be comprehensive and careful. The clinical picture is quite difficult, treatment should be carried out only by specialists. Intravenous and intramuscular administration of special drugs helps patients. Sorbents help remove toxins from the body.

Manifestations remove salicylic acid ointment, emollient emulsions. They provide moisture and reduce inflammation. During an exacerbation, drugs with tar in the composition or other irritating ingredients should not be used.

Physiotherapy procedures (PUVA therapy, UV radiation, paraffin applications) are best carried out during the period of inflammation reduction. Corticosteroids and cytostatics are prescribed only if the processes are particularly complex.

Prescribe antihistamines (reduce the development of an allergic reaction), sedatives (soothing), anti-inflammatory, keratolytic (emollient), diuretics (relieve swelling, remove toxins).

Treatment of inpatient psoriasis

The patient needs a slight correction of the therapy. Shampoos with tar, emulsions with oil, calcipotriol are usually prescribed. Systemic therapy is used when the disease affects large areas of the integument. Ultraviolet radiation and PUVA technology are widely used.

If there is no effect, some cytostatics are prescribed. In severe cases, the patient is prescribed a cytotastic immunosuppressant.

Treatment of psoriasis in the regressive stage

Therapy in the last stage of psoriasis should be comprehensive and adjusted by a specialist. Therapy is gradually discontinued and replaced by preventive measures. Treatment at all stages is carried out carefully, in no case should the rash be damaged.

Compliance with the strictest diet and lifestyle corrections is of particular importance. Stress can be a powerful provoking factor that significantly aggravates the condition at the onset of the disease.

In combination with drug therapy, skin rashes on the hands can be treated with baths with sea salt or mixed baby cream with the powder of the series. Smear plaques with this mixture.

Additional therapies

A patient with psoriasis has a deficiency in vitamins, which influence the regulation of metabolic processes and have a blood-purifying, calming and restorative effect.

The vitamin complex should contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A, folic acid and others. They are prescribed internally, intramuscularly, and also in droppers.

The division of pathology into different stages is a conditional measure that will help professionals correctly identify one stage or another, and facilitate diagnosis and treatment. It is impossible to get rid of psoriasis completely, but if all the rules of complex treatment with systematic preventive measures are observed, the disease can be latent for a long time and not fully affect a person's life.