Psoriasis has been known to mankind for a long time. It was first mentioned in the Bible, but until now there is not a full understanding of the cause of these skin rashes. Scientists are trying to connect the disease with complex disorders of the immune and endocrine systems, and treat it as a genetic disease. But absolute success is achieved only in one thing: having a firm belief that the disease is not a manifestation of an infection of the body. That is, psoriasis is not contagious.
What is psoriasis?
Another name for this disease is scaly lichen. It mainly affects the scalp, the outer surfaces of the elbows and knees, on which a dark pink scaly rash appears. Of these, early psoriatic plaques are formed. They have a pronounced white growth, consisting of dense scabs, causing cracking of the affected areas, accompanied by itching and the formation of exudative lesions. Despite the fact that the cause of the rashes is not clear, the mechanism of their appearance is well understood. At the onset of psoriasis, the life cycle of epidermal cells in these and surrounding areas is sharply reduced to only 4-5 days, in contrast to the normal 28-30 days.
Psoriasis Is it dangerous?
As its etiology is unclear, but there is convincing evidence that the disease is systemic in nature, affecting not only the skin but also the internal organs, leading to the following disorders: in the body:
- the appearance of psoriasis-like changes on the mucous membranes of the urethra and bladder
- provokes subacute conjunctivitis, vitreous sclerosis and other diseases of the eyes and eyelids
- with exacerbation of the disease, an increase in the liver is observed with hepatocellular failure and splenomegaly.
- enlarged lymph nodes
- have muscle weakness, muscle atrophy with a tendency to gradually lose weight
It is possible to list the complications that psoriasis causes for a long time, but from this brief list it is clear that this disease is very serious and dangerous. The situation is aggravated by the fact that currently, the treatment drugs only work to control and slow down the progression of the disease, not cure it. Psoriasis is permanent, but can be accompanied by long periods of remission.
What can trigger an exacerbation or trigger a relapse?
Despite the fact that the manifestations of psoriasis are non-systemic, there are factors that can cause the appearance of a rash in different areas of the skin. Therefore, patients should be aware of this and, if possible, should be on the lookout for their effects. The following factors aggravate the course of the disease:
- Overweight. It has been found that among people with psoriasis, the majority are those with varying degrees of obesity.
- Stress. Many patients find that their psychological reactions to traumatic situations and situations exacerbate their symptoms.
- Certain medications that patients take for various reasons can cause relapses.
- Hypothermia.
- Lesions and abrasions of psoriatic plaques. It has been noted that in the majority of cases mechanical irritation of the scaly lichen causes it to develop and appear new rashes in adjacent areas.
- return procedures. In some people, after bathing or swimming in a pond, exacerbations of the disease are observed.
- Sunlight. Moderate sunlight exposure in psoriasis is considered beneficial by doctors. But there are some patients who claim that such bathing causes an aggravation of their disease. Furthermore, no matter how long they were in the sun. Therefore, the question of whether psoriasis can be sunbathed remains unanswered. To decide for yourself how helpful or harmful the sun's rays are in this case, you need to take into account several factors at once: an individual's tolerance to the sun, skin color andskin type, stage of the disease and its appearance.
Ultraviolet light for psoriasis: good or bad?
- Light therapy is one of the treatments for psoriasis:
- PUVA therapy is photochemotherapy, its mechanism of action is quite confusing. Commonly used in the treatment of exudative and vulvar psoriasis. Very effective for rashes on the scalp, palms and feet. 3-4 UV sessions are prescribed weekly, until the psoriatic plaques disappear completely. On average, 15-25 procedures are required, including local contact sessions.
- SFT therapy is selective phototherapy. Up to 5 procedures per week are prescribed for exudative and gross psoriasis. The radiation dose in the absence of erythema is increased each time. The entire course of treatment - 20-30 sessions. It has a pronounced therapeutic effect in 85-90% of cases.
- UVB therapy is phototherapy, its effectiveness comparable to PUVA therapy. The course of treatment is 20-30 courses.
Psoriasis and the solarium: good or bad?
The key difference between tanning in a tanning room and in the sun is that under artificial conditions the production of melanin occurs without exposure to dangerous ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-C, harmful to the skin when exposed to the sun. Solariums do not use this type of radiation. However, in the initial stages of the disease, artificial tanning will help prevent the development of a rash. Therefore, doctors do not recommend the treatment of psoriasis with solarium, but they do not find contraindications to its use as a therapeutic agent.
Effects of radiation in the tanning room on the skin
- UV-A rays have beneficial effects on patients with psoriasis, seborrhea, acne, neurodermatitis.
- UV-B rays initiate the active production of vitamin D3, which reduces the effects of stress on the body, and they cause psoriatic rashes.
So visiting the solarium is unlikely to have a negative effect on the course of the disease, and to some extent, could stifle it. But why are there people who have artificial tanning that only brings harm? The answer is that the combination and wattage of the lamps in the solarium are different. When choosing a salon, you should ask about their spectral composition, one of the most important characteristics. Lamps are designed with different combinations of UV-A and UV-B radiation. For example, those with UV-B 1% or less are classic, and those with UV-B above 1% are professional.
It is also important to have a reflex. If it is not present, the radiation reaching the skin is weakened, and if it is present, it is concentrated. The reflector can be located both within the lamp itself and outside of it. Whether the light has a reflective layer or not, you can understand it just by looking at the light through the light. If so, its radiation efficiency is 10% higher than that of ordinary radiation.
Therefore, in order for the treatment of psoriasis with a solarium to be beneficial and not harmful, it is necessary to choose the right solarium with the right combination of UV irradiation. Too much of it is always bad for the skin, and leads to the formation of tumors and other troubles with it. The ratio between UV-A and UV-B rays is important for patients with psoriasis. The best choice here would be the following combination: UV-B waves with a length of 311 nm. and UV-A wave 300-400 nm. This percentage of ultraviolet radiation has a Daavlin image chamber, which gives light with a narrow spectrum of nbUVB 311 nm. Those who visit it note a significant improvement in their condition. Treatment ranges from 20-30 sessions.
Therefore, the question: does sunbathing help with psoriasis can be answered with confidence - yes. But it is important not to think twice about choosing a studio near where you live, but to pay attention to the spectral characteristics of the lights emitted in it. It is important to know that vertical tanning is preferable to horizontal tanning. The time in the cabin should not exceed 5-6 minutes and the lessons should be rotated every other day. UV rays in moderate doses help strengthen the immune system. It is extremely necessary for a patient with psoriasis.