Scaly lichen is a very common skin disease and is most often discovered by dermatologists. Not only does the disease look unsightly (irregularly shaped red scabs on the skin that frighten many others) but it also causes mental, physical and psychological discomfort, which can later be life-threatening. serious complications.
Thus, knowing about the insidiousness of this disease and the pitfalls of its chronic course (frequent recurrences) in a family that already has a patient with scaly lichen, members of the diseaseespecially afraid of getting sick and wary of any changes in the skin.
How to recognize the first signs of psoriasis (another name for scaly lichen)? How did the disease start? At what age does the disease usually manifest? What do you need to know in order not to miss the first symptoms of psoriasis and start treatment in time? Is the first manifestation of the disease in men and women different? We will try to answer these and many more questions in this article.
What causes the first signs of psoriasis?
Despite the fact that psoriasis is not inherited (this has been proven by the latest research), there are many factors that can cause the clinical manifestation of psoriasis.
- Often, the onset of psoriasis is heralded by some kind of nervous breakdown or trauma. This factor often provokes the development of psoriasis.
- Hormonal imbalances can lead to diseases, so women during pregnancy, lactation and during menopause need to be especially careful with themselves - adhere to a healthy lifestyle, avoid coldsnegative exposure, do not expose to the sun for a long time, out in the sunmore often.
- Psoriasis triggers can be a change in the surrounding climate (moving to another place, resting in a hot country in January). Therefore, it is better to refrain from drastic changes in latitude, and even from winter to summer (moving in climates with large temperature differences), if there is a family history ofscaly lichen. In the event that you must move, it is very important to be especially careful with your body during this period.
- Chronic foci of infection can also lead to the appearance of psoriatic plaques. Chronic diseases must always be treated, but in a family that already has psoriasis, concentrated streptococcus in the body is especially dangerous. However, tooth decay, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, gingivitis - all these sluggish diseases are a threat to any organism.
At what age do the first signs of psoriasis usually appear?
The first signs of psoriasis can appear at any age. Lichen does not scale even the elderly or children. There are cases of early onset of the disease and the appearance of psoriasis plaques after 80. But usually the first signs of psoriasis appear between the ages of 14 and 30. As a rule, diseasesSuch patients, even at a young age, already have comorbidities, eg obesity, allergies, diabetes, neurasthenia, thyroid disease.
The first signs of psoriasis in humans
Symptoms of psoriasis depend on the type of disease. However, in all cases, the first symptom of skin psoriasis is the appearance of a rash. Genital warts are round epidermal papules, what is the development mechanism of psoriatic papules?
Stimulating factors trigger the inflammatory process, which is based on hyperkeratosis (pathological cell proliferation). As a result, the epidermis thickens, begins to protrude above the healthy skin, forming nodules. This is the main element of scaly lichen - psoriatic papules.
The papules are bright pink, different in color. Initially, the papule is dark pink (later turns deep red), then fades and scabs. The dead scales of the epithelium are silver-gray, they are easily separated by scraping. In the lower layer of the dermis, new blood vessels appear, providing nutrients to the emerging cells of the epidermis. Therefore, during remission, even without plaque, the skin will be slightly red. As the process worsens, the particles increase and occupy an ever larger area. The skin in these places is dry, cracked, and bleeding, which means that psoriasis is evident.
Preferred primary sites of psoriasis are the scalp, face (in adolescents), natural skin folds (in children), joints (elbows, knees), feet, and soles. foot. Psoriasis plaques, unlike eczema, are usually located on the extended outer surface of the joint.
They talk about the initial stage of psoriasis if no more than 10% of the skin surface is affected. An experienced dermatologist will immediately recognize the symptoms of psoriasis, but sometimes atopic dermatitis or rheumatoid arthritis (with psoriatic joint damage) is confused with psoriasis.
The first sign of plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is a rough skin psoriasis, so its first signs are easiest to spot. Psoriasis begins with the appearance of several small rashes, often localized to the joints. They resemble a small abscess filled with bright pigment. The main factors of psoriasis do not bother the patient and go almost unnoticed. They may go away on their own, but after a while they reappear in greater numbers and become more noticeable. If you scrape the papule, it will immediately be covered with silvery scales. In the summer, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the rash may disappear. With the progression of the disease, its number increases, it covers wider areas, and the individual elements merge into wide arrays.
Sometimes the first signs appear intensely and abundantly immediately. In response to the irritant, the skin becomes covered with bright red, scaly patches that cause intense itching. But such an onset is uncommon for psoriasis.
The first sign of nail psoriasis
The first changes to the nails can be different and resemble a fungal infection. Appears peeling, brittleness, thickening of the nail, the appearance of depressions or grooves all over the nail. Moreover, pathological signs first appear at the edge of the nail, then they move to the root of the tooth. One of the early symptoms of nail psoriasis is discolored nails. Nail patches may turn yellow, gray, or white. Bleeding may appear under the nail. All of these marks can be on all of the nails or only on one.
The first signs of psoriasis on the soles of the feet and palms
In some patients, the only clinical sign of psoriasis is a soleus or palmar lesion in the form of a dense scaly psoriatic lesion. When scraping, a shiny surface will appear, which, with more severe wounds, begins to bleed (the "blood mist" syndrome).
First signs of scalp psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis resembles seborrhea due to excessive scaling. It can be done individually without affecting other skin areas for a long time. Patients are treated for dandruff by purchasing special shampoos, not even realizing they have psoriasis on their heads. After a while, the lesions affect behind the ears and neck and go down below. And only in this case, the patient starts sounding the alarm and goes to the doctor.
The first signs of psoriatic arthritis
With psoriatic arthritis, a rash may not appear. The first signs of psoriasis will be complaints of deformity of the joints, increasing in size and becoming painful. Fingers and toes swell and resemble sausages. As the disease progresses, gait changes. It can be difficult to diagnose psoriasis in this form, and many patients are treated for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, the presence of psoriasis in relatives and careful differential diagnosis with diseases affecting the joints help to make an accurate diagnosis.
The first signs of psoriasis in women
Psoriasis is the same in both men and women. However, unlike men, whose first symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between the ages of 25 and 30, the first signs of psoriasis in women appear earlier. The triggering mechanism for the development of the disease is usually hormonal changes during puberty. In general, the development of psoriasis in women is related to frequent changes in hormone levels throughout their lives. As for the onset of psoriasis, the most important and dangerous periods in women are:
- menstrual cycle (especially its appearance);
- pregnancy;
- give birth to children;
- lactation period;
- menopause period.
If psoriasis is already present at the time of conception, pregnancy can have a beneficial effect on skin manifestations and a period of remission will begin. But after childbirth, perhaps an aggravation of all processes. Usually, according to statistics, the first signs of psoriasis in women occur during childbirth and during menopause. For other sites, the symptoms and signs of psoriasis in women and men were not different. But childhood psoriasis has its own characteristics.
What to do when detecting the first signs of psoriasis?
In any case, if you notice the first signs and symptoms of psoriasis, you need to urgently see a dermatologist to start treating the disease promptly. The doctor will prescribe the treatment of psoriasis, taking into account the severity of the process and the specifics of the manifestations of the disease. It has been proven that if less than 5% of the skin is affected by psoriasis, all symptoms can be eliminated. But the method of treatment must be selected by a qualified specialist.
Besides:
- if you find the first signs of psoriasis in yourself or your family, try to recall what may have caused the disease and avoid these factors in the future;
- stay outdoors more often and do not forget to sunbathe;
- temperament - contrast baths, do not forget to take medication;
- try to go to the sea and swim more;
- take good care of your skin, protect your skin from damage, use a moisturizer;
- for psoriasis of the head, choose shampoos without active ingredients; do not dye hair;
- review your diet;
- avoid conflict and stressful situations; learning to control your emotions (but not suppress them), the ability to stay calm during life's dramatic moments will help maintain remission in the long run;
- you can take valerian, motherwort (ask your doctor) if your emotions are not stable;
- cotton clothing, with special emphasis on underwear, should only be made of natural fabrics, not synthetic;
- treat chronic infections in a timely manner;
- Go to bed earlier, arrange yourself a reasonable rest time.
If possible, when the first signs of psoriasis or any suspicious symptoms appear, consult a dermatologist in Germany:
- You will be convinced of the reliability (or error) of the diagnosis:
- Thanks to experienced therapists, you will be able to get rid of the symptoms of psoriasis quickly (especially if these are the first signs of the disease);
- You will receive expert advice with detailed recommendations and instructions;
- You will buy quality medicines prescribed by your doctor to reduce possible exacerbations;
- In the future, if needed, you can stay in touch with your caregiver by Skype, phone, or e-mail.