Psoriasis, the initial stage of which can occur under certain combinations of factors, manifests itself as red patches with clear boundaries.Then they are covered with silvery white scales, blending together.Most often, plaques are found on the head, knees and elbows.
Psoriasis can affect patients of all ages and genders.The cause of the disease is still not fully understood, which does not allow to completely cure psoriasis, however, it is possible to significantly reduce the symptoms of the disease and achieve long-term remission if you start treatment at the early stages of psoriasis, fully assessing the initial signs of psoriasis.
Symptoms of the early stages of the disease
To recognize the early stages of the disease, it is important to know what the main symptoms look like.
Initially, single papules appear, which can range from a few millimeters to 2-5 cm in length and appear as patches covered with white scales.When they are scraped off, a characteristic symptom of the psoriasis triad appears:
- “stearic stain” (slight flaking when scraped);
- “terminal membrane” (revealing shiny, thin, moist skin after scab removal);
- “blood mist” (when the last layer of film is removed, small mist-like drops of blood will appear on the surface of the skin).
The initial stage of the disease is characterized by the appearance of psoriatic lesions in places that are frequently subjected to trauma of any kind.As a rule, it is the elbow, knee area in places where there are scratches or abrasions.These manifestations are called "Koebner signs".
Initially, the rash spreads in a straight line, directly at the site of irritation, and can persist for a long time without movement.These rashes are called "sentinel" rashes.The rash is very itchy and itchy.
The first stage lasts for several weeks.These papules then enlarge and fuse to form psoriatic plaques, which can cover large areas of the body.
Psoriasis can appear anywhere.The most dangerous rash is on the face, but this form of rash in the early stages very rarely develops.
Characteristic locations of disease localization in the early stages
The most common rashes observed are:
Foot. The early stages of foot psoriasis develop from small single rashes, located mainly on the feet and knees, but can appear on any surface of the legs.
Elbow. This type of plaque most commonly occurs on the elbow, symptoms are characterized by small red spots and severe peeling.In this case, the skin on the elbow appears rough (photo).Additionally, the rash on the elbow may be symmetrical.
Head. Symptoms often affect the scalp, as well as the back of the head and ears (pictured).Papular rash on the head accompanied by itching.Quite often, psoriasis on the scalp is characterized by moist scales.
Nail. On the hands and nails, psoriasis symptoms resemble fungal infections.First of all, vertical stripes (dots) appear at the edge of the nail (in the photo), then they gradually spread towards the base of the nail.At the same time, the nail plate begins to thicken and fade.As the symptoms of the disease progress, the nail area may completely peel off.
Face. Psoriasis very rarely occurs on the face, as this form of psoriasis is considered atypical.Hyperemic papules appear in the eyelids, nasolabial folds, near the eyes and eyebrows (photo).In rare cases, a rash on the face appears near the red edges of the lips and mucous membranes (cheeks and tongue).
Characteristics of rashes on the face are associated with delicate, sensitive skin and a lot of nerve endings.First, papules (small, slightly raised bumps on the skin) appear, accompanied by intense itching.Then, epithelium and plaque appear in the upper part of the nodule.
Hand. Symptoms of hand psoriasis appear suddenly, in the form of a small rash (photo), which many patients mistake for an allergy.And only when dry, gray scales appear on the arms, palms, and elbows do patients seek help from a dermatologist.The characteristic is that if there is a psoriatic rash on the palms of the hands, there will be similar symptoms on the legs.Symptoms of psoriasis on the palms are often localized between the fingers, which is explained by the most favorable environment in this place.The back of the hand is affected less often.When psoriasis spots appear on the fingertips, they may lose sensitivity.
The development of early stages of psoriasis in childhood
Psoriasis can affect not only adults but also young children, including infants.The initial stages of psoriasis in children, unlike in adults, are mild and develop quite slowly.
The first signs of psoriasis often appear in children under 2 years old, related to improper care and feeding, which can cause skin irritation.The first rashes often appear on the arms, elbows, in the folds of the skin (pictured) on the legs and buttocks, and are caused by contact irritation (diapers, diapers, etc.).
The initial symptoms of psoriasis need to be differentiated from diaper dermatitis in infants.The surface of the head is affected by psoriasis in children over 10 years old, because from this age the clinical symptoms of the disease in children are completely the same as in adults.Often, psoriasis in children is triggered by a previous staphylococcal infection.
Important!A child can develop any form of psoriasis, except guttate psoriasis, which only affects adult patients.
Treatment of early stages of psoriasis
To get rid of negative manifestations, you can use both traditional medicine and home therapy.Treatment of the early stages of the disease gives good results, helping you quickly get rid of the symptoms of visual pathology.
Therapeutic treatment in the early stages of the disease involves the use mainly of external agents, as well as ultraviolet light therapy and the use of systemic drugs that actively suppress the inflammatory process.
In the early stages, the disease can be treated with ointments containing salicylic acid and naphthalan oil.In addition, sedatives and antihistamines are prescribed.These products reduce tissue swelling and neutralize itching.
It is important to remember that not all external products can be used on the face, so it is necessary to consult a doctor first.In addition, psoriasis cannot be treated without proper nutrition and giving up bad habits.
Treatment at home
There are many ways to get rid of psoriasis in the early stages at home. This treatment is primarily aimed at strengthening the immune system and reducing the inflammatory process.
- Honey and products containing it, oak bark, pine needles, chamomile, etc.is actively used in treatment.With the participation of these drugs, compresses are performed to relieve psoriasis symptoms;
- Folk methods involve cleansing the body by drinking decoctions of lemon, rose hips, etc.Additionally, using a bath supplemented with sea salt will be effective;
- At home, it is recommended to moisturize the skin with natural oils (sea buckthorn, peach, olive).However, it should be noted that traditional treatments are used as a complement to traditional medicine.
To prevent the development of the disease, certain preventive measures should be followed to minimize the symptoms of psoriasis:
- Skin damage such as scratches on limbs, insect bites, burns, etc. should be avoided.
- It is necessary to regularly moisturize the skin with cream and avoid infectious diseases.
- You should give up alcohol and smoking and only take medications prescribed by your doctor.
The effectiveness of treatment in the early stages of the disease depends on when professional help is sought.Early treatment offers a high possibility of preventing the conversion of an acute process to a chronic form.