Neurological Medicine and The Headache Care Center

Psoriasis.

Psoriasis - a chronic infectious disease that is most often seen in the form of rashes and skin peeling.

From Psoriasis affects about 4% of the world population. It can develop at any age from birth to old age, but most of all psoriasis "loves" the young. This is evidenced by the fact that 70% of patients ill with psoriasis below the age of 20 years.

Psoriasis Causes

Psoriasis - is an abnormal reaction to external stimuli, whereby in certain areas of the body dies top skin layer is much faster than normal. If the cycle generally division and maturation of the skin cells occurs in 3-4 weeks, then the process in psoriasis occurs in only 4-5 days.

Currently, psoriasis is considered hereditary multifactorial disease: the basis of the disease is not one but a whole range of reasons - immunological changes, metabolic, endocrine and related neurological disorders. At the same time we can say for sure: psoriasis - not infectious, and therefore not a contagious disease.

According to one theory, there are two types of psoriasis:

• Psoriasis type I is caused by inherited immune system breakdowns. This form of psoriasis suffer about 65% of people with the disease develops at a young age from 18 to 25 years.
• Psoriasis type II appears in people over 40 years. With this type of psoriasis is not inherited and is not related to failures in the cells of the immune system. Moreover, unlike type I psoriasis who prefers the skin, psoriasis type II nails and often affects the joints.

According to another theory, the cause of psoriasis is extremely immune disorders caused by various factors, it can be stressful, or infectious disease zithromax, or cold climate, or poor diet. For example, it noted that alcohol can provoke exacerbation of psoriasis - this applies especially to beer, champagne, spirits. Use of products containing vinegar, pepper, chocolate, and worsens the disease and can cause exacerbation of psoriasis. According to this theory, psoriasis is a systemic disease. This means that in case of serious disturbances of the immune system, the process can spread to other organs and tissues such as the joints. As a result, it may develop psoriatic arthritis, which is characterized by the defeat of small joints of the hands and feet.

Psoriasis Symptoms

The symptoms of psoriasis are inflamed, scaly red spots, accompanied by intense itching. Such patches (plaques) usually located on the scalp, knees, elbows, lower back and skin folds in the ground. Approximately a quarter of patients affected nails.

Depending on the season of relapses (exacerbation), three types of psoriasis: winter, summer, uncertain. The most common type of psoriasis winter.

In the period of acute manifestation of psoriasis on the hands, on his knees, on his head, as well as in the lower back and in areas of skin folds appear as reddish plaques. Their sizes range from pinhead to the size of large areas in the palm and more.

Rashes are usually accompanied by peeling and painful itching. In the process of peeling the surface flakes easily exfoliated, are denser, located deep (hence the second name of psoriasis - psoriasis). Sometimes in the affected areas of skin cracks occur and festering.

For progressive psoriasis is characterized by the so-called phenomenon of Koebner: the development of psoriatic plaques in areas of injury or skin scratches.

Approximately a quarter of patients affected nails. At the same point there are deepening and spotting nail plates. In addition, the nails may thicken and crumble.

In the summer, under the influence of sunlight, in patients with winter form of psoriasis symptoms subside, and sometimes even disappear. Patients summer form of psoriasis, on the contrary, it is advisable to avoid exposure to the sun, because it worsens the disease.