Psoriasis

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-infectious inflammatory dermatological disease. Its main signs are the presence of dry plaques on the skin, red or pink spots that rise above the surface of the skin.

Most often, these papules have clear boundaries and are covered with small scaly growths of white, grayish color. The spots are localized on the elbow and knee folds, in the groin, intergluteal fold, and also on the scalp. If untreated, the signs of psoriasis are more aggressive and cover a large area of ​​the skin.

Statistics show that most often the first symptoms of the disease appear at the age of 16-25 or after 55 years, but the occurrence in a different age period is also possible. The percentage of men among patients is higher.

The disease is chronic and does not pose a threat to life, even without treatment it almost never affects the general condition of a person. But the very fact of its presence causes psychological discomfort and affects social life. Therefore, it is important to choose an effective therapy for the treatment of psoriasis and minimize the negative factors in the development of the disease.

What causes psoriasis?

In addition to heredity, psoriasis has the following causes: excessively active division of skin cells; stress; decreased immunity after illness.

What is the danger of psoriasis?

Psoriasis has dangerous consequences for the human body. For example, psoriatic erythroderma, in which almost the entire skin is affected by confluent psoriatic plaques. Then all the functions of the skin are completely disrupted, in connection with which the work of the internal organs – the liver, kidneys, and the cardiovascular system – is disrupted.

What happens if psoriasis is not treated?

The consequences of psoriasis also affect the musculoskeletal system – this disease gives complications that are accompanied by acute and chronic inflammation of the joints. Most often, fingers and toes are affected, psoriatic dactylitis occurs – swelling of the phalanges and swelling of the extremities.

How to distinguish allergies from psoriasis?

Psoriasis is not an allergy. Exacerbation of psoriasis upon contact with any provoking substance is not an allergic reaction. With psoriasis, allergies can develop with skin rashes. At the same time, psoriatic plaques and allergic rashes can be on the body.