Scaly lichen is a very common skin disease and dermatologists are most often found in it. This disease not only looks aesthetically pleasing (irregularly shaped red flaky spots on the skin deter many), but also brings mental discomfort, physical and psychological problems, and serious complications in the future.
Therefore, knowing the insidiousness of the disease and the pitfalls of its chronic course (frequent relapses) in a family where there are already patients with scaly lichens, its members are particularly afraid of the disease and wary of any changes in the skin.
How to recognize the first signs of psoriasis (another name for scaly lichen)? How does the disease start? At what age does the disease most often occur? What do you need to know to not miss the first symptoms of psoriasis and start treatment on time? Is there a difference in the first manifestations of the disease in men and women? We will try to answer these and many other questions in this article.
What triggers the first signs of psoriasis?
Although psoriasis is not inherited (as recent research has shown), there are a number of factors that can trigger psoriasis to cause clinical manifestations.
- Usually, the appearance of psoriasis is preceded by some kind of nervous breakdown or mental trauma. This factor most often provokes the development of psoriasis.
- Hormonal imbalances can trigger the disease, so women need to be especially careful about themselves during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause - follow a healthy lifestyle, avoid negative emotions, stay out of the sun for a long time, and be outdoors more often.
- Psoriasis can be triggered by changes in the surrounding climate (moving to another place to live, relax in a hot country in January). Therefore, it is better to refrain from sudden changes in latitude, and even from winter to summer (in an area with a large temperature difference climate), if there is a scaly lichen in the family history. In the case of a forced movement during such a period, it is very important to take special care of your body.
- Chronic foci of infection can also lead to the appearance of psoriasis plaques. Chronic diseases should always be treated, but in a family where there are already cases of psoriasis, the focus on streptococcus in the body is particularly dangerous. However, tooth decay, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, gingivitis - these slow diseases pose a threat to any organism.
At what age do the first signs of psoriasis appear?
The first signs of psoriasis can occur at any age. The scaly lichen spares neither the elderly nor children. There are cases where the disease started in infancy and the psoriatic plaques appeared after 80 years. But more often, the first signs of psoriasis appear at a young age between the ages of 14 and 30. at a young age he already has comorbidities such as obesity, allergies, diabetes mellitus, neurasthenia, thyroid pathology.
The first signs of psoriasis in humans
The manifestation of psoriasis depends on the type of disease. But in any case, the first symptoms in psoriasis skin forms are the appearance of a rash. The rash is a rounded epidermal papule. What is the mechanism of formation of psoriatic papules?
Provocative factors trigger the inflammatory process based on hyperkeratosis (abnormal cell proliferation). As a result, the epidermis thickens, starting to protrude above healthy skin, forming a lump. This is the primary component of the scaly lichen - a psoriatic papule.
The papula has a bright pink color and varies in intensity. Initially, the papula will be dark pink (up to a deep red color) and then will be paler and fluffier. The dead scales of the epithelium are grayish-silvery in color and can be very easily separated by scraping. In the underlying layer of the dermis, new blood vessels appear that supply nutrients to the emerging cells of the epidermis. Because of this, during remission, even in the absence of plaque, the skin will become reddish in color. As the process worsens, the elements grow and take up more and more space. The skin in these places is dry, there is an obvious clinic of cracking, bleeding, i. e. psoriasis.
Favorite sites for the first rashes of psoriasis are the scalp, face (adolescents), natural skin folds (children), joints (elbows, knees), feet, and soles. Psoriasis plaques, unlike eczema, are usually located on the outer stretching surfaces of the joint.
They talk about the initial stage of psoriasis when it affects no more than 10% of the skin surface. An experienced dermatologist will immediately recognize the symptoms of psoriasis, but sometimes allergic dermatitis or rheumatoid arthritis (with psoriatic joint damage) is confused with psoriasis.
The first signs of plaque psoriasis
The plaque series is vulgar skin psoriasis, so its first signs are the easiest to notice. Psoriasis begins with the appearance of a small number of small lumps that are usually localized in the area of the joints. They resemble a small abscess with light-colored content. The primary elements of psoriasis do not bother the patient and are barely noticeable. They can pass on by themselves, but after a while they appear in greater numbers and become more noticeable. When you scrape the papula together, it is immediately covered with silvery scales. In summer, the rash may disappear due to ultraviolet radiation. As the disease progresses, its amount increases, covering larger areas, and the individual elements merge into extensive plaques.
Sometimes the first signs appear immediately violently and abundantly. In response to the provocative factor, the skin is covered with bright pink-red psoriasis plaque that causes severe itching. But such a beginning is rare in psoriasis.
The first signs of psoriasis of the nail
The first changes in the nails can be varied and resemble a fungal infection. Layering, brittleness, thickening of the nail plate appears, with dots or grooves printed all over the nail. Moreover, the first pathological signs appear at the edge of the nail and then move to the root. One of the initial symptoms of nail psoriasis is nail discoloration. The nail plate may turn yellow, gray or white. Bleeding may occur under the nail. All of these marks can be on all nails or just one.
The first signs of psoriasis of the sole and palm
In some patients, the only clinical sign of psoriasis is a change in the sole or palm in the form of dense, scaly psoriatic lesions. When scraping, a shiny glossy surface appears that begins to bleed with further injury ("bloody dew" syndrome).
First signs of psoriasis of the scalp
Scalp psoriasis resembles seborrhea due to abundant exfoliation. It can separate for a long time without touching other areas of the skin. Patients are treated for dandruff by buying special shampoos without even realizing they have psoriasis on their heads. After a while, the lesion acts behind the ear, around the neck, and goes down. And only then will patients start to be alerted and see a doctor.
The first signs of psoriasis arthritis
In psoriatic arthritis, there may be no rash. The first signs of psoriasis will be complaints of deformity of the joints, which will grow and become painful. The fingers and toes are swollen and resemble sausage. As the disease progresses, gait changes. Diagnosing psoriasis in this form can be problematic, and many patients are treated for arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, the presence of psoriasis of relatives and careful differential diagnosis with diseases affecting the joints will help to establish the correct diagnosis.
The first signs of psoriasis in women
The psorysmr is the same for both nk and nk. But, unlike men, whose first symptoms of psoriasis usually appear around the age of 25-30, women show the first signs of psoriasis earlier. The triggering mechanism for the development of the disease is often hormonal changes during puberty. In general, the development of psoriasis in women is accompanied by frequent changes in hormonal levels throughout their lives. The most significant and dangerous periods for women to develop psoriasis are:
- the menstrual cycle (especially its appearance);
- pregnancy;
- child-birth;
- lactation period;
- age of change.
If psoriasis occurs as early as conception, pregnancy can have a beneficial effect on skin manifestations and a period of remission begins. But after childbirth, perhaps, every process gets worse. According to statistics, the first signs of psoriasis in women occur most often during childbirth and menopause. In other positions, the symptoms and signs of psoriasis do not differ between women and men. But children’s psoriasis has its own characteristics.
What to do if the first signs of psoriasis are found?
In any case, if the first signs and symptoms of psoriasis are found, a dermatologist should be consulted urgently so that they can start treating the disease in time. Your doctor will prescribe treatment for psoriasis, taking into account the severity of the course 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 treatment should be chosen by a competent professional.
Outside:
- if you find the first signs of psoriasis in yourself or in your family, try to remember what may have provoked the disease and avoid these factors in the future;
- be outdoors more often and don’t forget to sunbathe;
- temper - take a contrast shower, do not forget about watering;
- try going to the sea and swimming more;
- take care of your skin, protect it from injury, use moisturizers;
- choose a shampoo for psoriasis of the head without aggressive ingredients; do not dye your hair;
- review your diet;
- avoid conflicts and stressful situations; learns to control his emotions (but don’t suppress them), the ability to stay calm in dramatic moments in life helps maintain release for a long time;
- you can take valerian, motherwort (consult your doctor) if you are emotionally unstable;
- clothes made of cotton, especially underwear, which must be made only of natural fabrics, do not wear synthetic material;
- treat chronic infections in a timely manner;
- go to bed sooner, organize yourself a good rest.
If possible, when the first signs or suspicious symptoms of psoriasis appear, consult a dermatologist in Germany:
- You will be convinced of the reliability (or error) of the diagnosis:
- Thanks to experienced professionals, you can quickly eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis (especially if these are the first signs of the disease);
- You will receive expert advice with recommendations and detailed instructions;
- You buy quality medicines that your doctor prescribes to alleviate any aggravation;
- In the future, if necessary, you can contact your doctor via Skype, phone or email.