According to official data, approximately 3% of people worldwide suffer from psoriasis. But it must be assumed that the actual number of patients with this type of acne is much higher. Basically, the first signs of this disease occur at the age of 10-25 years, although cases of psoriasis diagnosis have been recorded in children and the elderly. It is not yet clear why it develops, but doctors have information about what the early stage of psoriasis looks like. Therefore, with timely referral to specialists, you may be able to stop the progression of the disease in the early stages.
Early stage symptoms
Initially, small round papules begin to appear on the patient's skin, the size of which, as a rule, does not exceed the diameter of the head of a pin. These formations have a smooth, shiny surface and clear outlines, but literally after a few days they begin to peel. The resulting scales are silvery-white and can be easily removed from the wheal surface. Over time, the number and size of the elements of the rash increase and the disease progresses to a progressive stage.
The papules are usually red or pink, although in some situations they turn bluish. This is observed with the formation of the primary elements of a rash on the legs. Depending on the type of disease, the initial stage of psoriasis appears on the elbows (extensor surfaces), knees, body, limbs or scalp.
If you remove all scales from the spine, you will find an absolutely smooth shiny surface under them - the terminal film. But with more scraping, it is quickly damaged and the smallest drops of blood begin to appear.
Thus, psoriasis is characterized by three specific phenomena:
- stearin stain- increased flaking when removing scales;
- psoriatic film- exfoliation of the thinnest layer of the skin;
- blood dew- the appearance of occasional drops of blood after scraping.
But it is much easier to see what the initial stage of psoriasis looks like in a photo.
Despite all the progress of medicine, today no medicine has been developed to completely cure psoriasis. This disease is characterized by a wavy course, so not only those who first encountered a similar disease, but also those who have lived with it for many years go through the initial stage of its development.
I would like to emphasize that there is no cure for psoriasis. With the help of modern medicines, physiotherapy procedures and other methods of therapy, you can "lead" the disease to a state of stable remission and perhaps even forget about it for several years. But that does not mean that, in an unfavorable combination of circumstances, the patient will again not notice the characteristic skin rashes that manifest the initial stage of psoriasis on the hands and other parts of the body.
How do you know if psoriasis is progressing?
The transition from psoriasis to the second stage or progressive stage is evidenced by the growth and fusion of previously isolated papules, as well as by the increase in itching previously absent. In addition, the nature of the peeling also changes. Now it is seen only in the center of the formations, and its edges remain free of scales. This clearly indicates the growth of the elements.
To confirm the transition from psoriasis to the second stage, you can use a kind of test. Its essence consists of minor damage to the skin of the affected area. If after about a week, a psoriatic element with the same shape as the lesion forms in the same location, this clearly indicates the progression of the disease. In the specialized literature, this test is described as a Kebner symptom. In addition, this is observed even with the banal combing of the affected skin.
In some cases, patients have exudative psoriasis. It is characterized by the release of a special fluid. The scales are impregnated with it, so they turn into dense crusts. If one of these scabs is removed or damaged, the secretion area of the skin is exposed.