One of the most mysterious autoimmune diseases is psoriasis. The disease cannot be completely cured, affects patients of various ages and manifests itself as raised pink-red spots. If you have the necessary information, you can recognize the first signs of psoriasis yourself, but to accurately diagnose the pathology and prescribe treatment, you should contact a specialist. Timely detection of the disease helps quickly relieve symptoms and gives a higher chance of long-term relief.
The presented material contains information about the first manifestations of psoriasis in women and men. In addition, the article also gives detailed answers to the question of how to recognize psoriasis in the early stages and what to do to avoid progression of the disease.
Cause of the disease
Before turning to the signs of the disease, it is necessary to become more familiar with the causes of its appearance.
More information!The exact cause of this disease is still unknown to science. There are several scientific theories that explain the manifestations of the disease.
The most reasonable of them are:
- immunity;
- genetic.
Since psoriasis belongs to the category of autoimmune diseases, and dysfunction of the immune system can actually stimulate the development of the disease, which has been proven many times, the immune theory is the most plausible.
However, the importance of the genetic theory should not be underestimated, since according to statistical studies, the probability of a patient having parents with psoriasis being affected is 70%.
Factors contributing to the appearance of signs of psoriasis:
- abuse of fatty foods, foods containing a lot of emulsifiers, leavening agents, dyes and other food additives;
- drinking too much alcohol;
- smoking, drug use;
- exposure to stress, frequent emotional outbursts, increased anxiety;
- Regular use of drugs with chemically strong effects;
- using too much of certain medications;
- mechanical damage to the skin.
Psoriasis onset, general signs of the disease
There are several forms of psoriasis, each with specific signs and symptoms. However, some manifestations of the disease, the appearance of which indicates the development of the disease, are inherent in all forms of pathology.
Onset of psoriasis, signs (common in all forms of the disease):
- the appearance of pimples (papules) on the skin;
- increases the area of the affected area, the rash spreads;
- nail plate rolling;
- skin peeling;
- the appearance of blisters on the palms and feet;
- the appearance of burning and itching.
More information!The first signs of psoriasis in women are the same as those that appear in men and children. The nature of the rash that occurs in the initial stages of development of the pathology is confused with allergies, but the nature as well as the cause of this damage are somewhat different.
The first symptoms of psoriasis in different forms of the disease
Typically, patients are exposed to the following forms of psoriasis:
- Psoriasis ordinary or simple;
- sebum secretion;
- Psoriasis on the soles of the feet and palms;
- nail psoriasis;
- inverse or folding psoriasis;
- Teardrop-shaped.
Let's learn more about the signs and symptoms of these diseases.
Signs of psoriasis vulgar
Psoriasis vulgaris can be diagnosed in the early stages. The first signs of this form of the disease are manifested by the appearance of round pink-red patches covered with silver scales, which after a certain time begin to peel off and itch.
In some cases, the appearance of plaques may precede the formation of papules on the scalp and joints (elbows, ankles and knees).
Note!In the early stages of the disease, papules formed on the epidermis may not bother the patient for quite a long time. They are painless, barely noticeable and do not itch, so some patients confuse them with allergies.
How to distinguish a psoriatic rash from manifestations of an allergic reaction:
- Psoriatic papules peel easily;
- When scraping the papule, a terminal membrane will appear;
- Further scraping of the papule will lead to the appearance of small drops of blood.
A feature of the psoriatic rash that distinguishes it from signs of other diseases is that in summer the affected area decreases or even disappears completely, and in winter the affected area increases. go up.
Seborrheic psoriasis
The first signs of seborrheic psoriasis appear on the scalp, then the disease spreads to the shoulders and face. The danger of this form lies in its secretive nature, since unlike simple psoriasis vulgaris, seborrheic psoriasis is not characterized by the formation of papules; Sometimes it may just manifest itself as flaking of the scalp. To get rid of peeling, many patients use special anti-dandruff shampoos, mistaking psoriasis for ordinary seborrhea.
Important!After detecting the first signs of the disease, you should see a dermatologist, an experienced specialist will diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment. It is advisable to fight this disease at the initial stages of development, which significantly increases the chances of reducing the symptoms of the disease and achieving long-term remission.
If treatment for seborrheic psoriasis is not prescribed promptly, the disease will gradually affect the skin on the shoulders, ears, forehead and face. Subsequent stages of pathological development are characterized by the appearance of plaques, increased burning sensation and itching. Eliminating these symptoms is much more difficult than eliminating the peeling feature at the initial stages of the disease, but with the help of modern methods it is still possible to achieve the desired result.
Inverse psoriasis (fold psoriasis)
Characteristics of inverse psoriasis:
- The disease location is the folds under the armpit, on the genitals, in the groin, and under the mammary glands;
- psoriatic nodules are shiny, smooth, and bright red;
- Plaques that look like ordinary spots actually do not come off, so the manifestations of the disease are often confused with irritation caused by increased sweating;
- signs of psoriasis in men - rash on the inner surface of the foreskin, the tip of the penis is also often affected;
- For women, a rash in the labia minora area is typical.
Psoriasis on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
The location of this form of pathology is the palms of the hands and feet. The plaques have a scar tissue-like appearance with a dense surface, then psoriasis phenomena such as terminal membranes and blood mist appear. Cracks sometimes form on the affected surface, causing discomfort when walking.
Symptoms of the disease can be alleviated using special ointments and medications.
Nail psoriasis
The first signs of nail psoriasis include:
- nail plate separation;
- brittleness of nails, their thickness;
- change the color of the nail plate;
- the appearance of white horizontal stripes, dots and spots on the nails;
- formation of hemorrhage under the nail plate.
Patients who have relatives with psoriasis and any form of the disease are more susceptible to psoriatic nail dystrophy, so these people should pay more attention to their health, especially the condition of their nails. Surname.
Guttate psoriasis
The pathology appears mainly on the thighs, the papules have a teardrop shape, in fact, this explains the etymology of the name of this disease. Over time, rashes form on other areas of the skin, which indicates progression of the disease.
In conclusion, we can highlight the basic rules that must be followed in case of psoriasis:
- The appearance of autoimmune pathology indicates the presence of disorders in the functioning of systems in the body, especially the immune system;
- If the disease is detected in the early stages, you should immediately contact a dermatologist and not self-medicate, which can lead to the development of the disease and deterioration of health.