Psoriasis causes severe inconvenience both psychologically and physically. The disease is accompanied by a characteristic rash, which is covered with plaques consisting of keratinized epidermal cells. Treatment of itching in psoriasis should be carried out using special means of systemic and external action. Only such an integrated approach will help reduce rashes and alleviate the discomfort that most patients feel.
Causes
This unpleasant sensation is considered a neuroreflex process; disruption of the cerebral cortex, as well as neurophysiological factors, play a special role in its manifestation. Itching with psoriasis may appear due to an allergic reaction. So, after exposure to a food allergen, the disease worsens and the itching intensifies. Other common causes of unpleasant symptoms lie in gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, poor liver function, and nervous system disorders.
The appearance of itching is also influenced by stressful situations and depression, which negatively affects the body, weakening it. Doctors say that this list also includes an excess of chemicals and medications. This is explained by the fact that during psoriasis, the patient can harm himself by frequent, uncontrolled use of creams in the treatment of the inflammatory process.
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This type of therapy is prescribed to all patients without exception, since, by approaching the affected areas as much as possible, medicinal substances have a positive effect on plaques and help eliminate them.
Products based on hormones or salicylic acid can be used. These are creams, ointments and lotions.
The presence of pronounced inflammatory processes is a contraindication to the use of such groups of drugs. Typically, many drugs are available in several variations.
For example, the same product may be offered in the form of shampoo, cream and ointment.
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Symptoms
Does psoriasis itchy? Based on medical statistics, 4% of the population is diagnosed with the disease, and 80% of these people experience itching. This symptom is classic in the disease, despite the fact that it may be absent in the patient. The patient’s plaques begin to itch during the acute stage. During this period, convex red elements form on the skin. Typically, such inflammation is observed on the knees, elbows, and fingers. In addition, there are additional symptoms:
- cracks, bleeding on the affected skin;
- nails are affected, pits and colored spots appear on them, they begin to peel off;
- skin folds itch.
It often happens that burning and itching appear much earlier than the rash. Thus, the body warns of the onset of the inflammatory process.
How is psoriasis diagnosed in children?
Typically, the disease develops in children if one of the parents has it. In children, all forms of the disease occur, except for the teardrop form. Diagnosis does not require special laboratory tests. It is carried out using an external examination of the rash; in extreme cases, scraping for a biopsy is possible.
In children under 2 years of age, the disease begins to progress in the folds of the skin due to diapers.
After 2 years, plaques are mainly localized on the extremities. By the age of 10, damage to the scalp may occur. The appearance of rashes and the manifestation of psoriasis is multifaceted and may differ from the main manifestations in adults.
Stages and forms
The disease has three stages:
- progressive – small papules appear, accompanied by itching;
- stationary – the intensity of itching decreases, a burning sensation appears;
- regression - all symptoms of the disease weaken.
Itching in psoriasis spreads throughout the body, in which case in medicine it is usually called widespread, or present only in certain areas of the body - limited.
General characteristic signs of the disease
The onset of psoriasis is characterized by symptoms common to all forms of this pathology. This is due to the clinical manifestation and common stages of disease development. Judging by the photo, the symptoms of the disease appear in a certain sequence.
- Papules. Papules form on the skin, regardless of location. These are single small pimples.
- Spreading. Gradually, the rash spreads, occupying new areas. Papules increase in size and may merge with each other.
- Nail splitting. When nails are damaged, the nail plate peels off or splits.
- Itching and burning. These symptoms accompany the disease at all stages. In the initial stages, the itching is slight. As psoriasis progresses, symptoms increase. The itching becomes unbearable.
- Peeling. The formations are peeling off. They form silver, yellow or white scales. The scales may peel off from the surface of the papules.
- When inflamed areas are injured, cracks and weeping wounds form.
The first signs of psoriasis can easily be confused with an allergic reaction. They are identical for both adults and small children. In infancy, psoriasis occurs in milder forms and does not have pronounced symptoms.
Diagnostics
When this symptom of the disease appears, the patient, due to confusion, does not know what to do. Before getting rid of itching due to psoriasis, the patient should visit a dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis. Usually the disease is not difficult to recognize, as it has a characteristic clinical picture. But sometimes doctors still resort to clarifying the diagnosis with additional studies. For this, the patient is referred for the following tests:
- a general blood test and biochemistry show changes in the body, but only in an advanced stage;
- A general urine test is done to determine possible changes in water-salt balance;
- Stool analysis is an important procedure that shows the presence of helminthiasis, which can cause itchy skin.
In addition, instrumental diagnostics are used: biopsy, radiography of joints, skin scraping with microflora culture.
Clinical picture
Psoriasis usually appears as one pink plaque. As the disease progresses, the rashes spread, and the affected areas gradually merge, creating large papular lesions. Psoriasis is determined by several signs:
- Stearic stain (when the plaque is scraped off, scales are separated from the surface of the skin, which resemble shavings of the material of the same name);
- Terminal film (the film over the affected area that appears after the scabs are scraped off);
- Bleeding with point manifestation.
When the stearin stain is scraped off, the surface of the skin takes on a reddish or pink tint. A film immediately becomes visible, which, when damaged, begins to bleed in pinpoint spots.
Symptoms may vary depending on the form, type, complexity and extent of the disease. Also, the clinical picture of psoriasis is influenced by other data, for example, age, gender, climate and lifestyle.
Another sign of psoriasis is the location of the rash. The disease usually symmetrically affects the folds in the extensions - in the area of the joints of the knees and elbows. Not less often, psoriasis affects the scalp, sacrum and back. But even with all these typical manifestations, psoriasis can develop anywhere.
Treatment
After diagnosis, the patient can begin to treat the confirmed disease. To date, scientists have not yet created medications that will help get rid of the disease forever. According to experts, it is still unknown for what reasons its development occurs, which complicates the fight against it. Also, traditional medicine can only eliminate the symptoms of the disease.
Itching in psoriasis is eliminated with the help of medications, which is considered the most effective way. When drawing up the necessary treatment regimen, as well as selecting specific medications, the attending physician takes into account the patient’s age, the characteristics of the course of the disease, the presence of other diseases, and contraindications. These products include various ointments, creams, tablets, etc.:
- Cream based on capsaicin. This substance can be found in cayenne pepper; it helps relieve pain by affecting the nervous system, as well as preventing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. At high concentrations, the patient may experience a burning sensation, but after a couple of days, long-awaited relief occurs. The medicine must contain a substance content of no more than 0.075%.
- Intramuscular solutions are used.
A 1 mg injection helps relieve itching. 0.5% "Aminazin" every day in the evening, as well as 20 mg. "Prednisone." - Antihistamine drugs are Tavegil, Zirtek, Suprastin. Tablets are used for itching, as they relieve the manifestation of this symptom. It is important to note that some of these drugs cause drowsiness and dizziness.
- Moisturizing and baby creams. The product softens the skin, saturating it with beneficial substances. The drug is used after each water procedure.
- Syntomycin ointment, characterized by its disinfecting properties, is also useful. It is usually used if plaques are scratched and this area of skin should be protected. Zinc ointment is also used; it is characterized by absorbent properties. It must be applied up to three times a day.
- 10% validol is also used as an ointment; it is applied to the skin in a diluted form.
ethnoscience
Therapy is not limited to medications; the patient can turn to traditional medicine at home. Even doctors recommend using folk recipes. The most common remedies that relieve itching:
- Baking soda will help get rid of the unpleasant symptom. It also has a cleansing effect on the skin. You need to mix 1.5 cups of soda with 3 liters. water, and then massage the skin with the resulting product using a washcloth.
- Apple cider vinegar contains an acid that maintains an optimal pH balance and relieves itching.
It is used for compresses and lotions. To do this, take warm water and vinegar (9%), using a ratio of 1:3. The compress should be applied to the wounds several times, holding for several minutes each time. The folk remedy is added to the bath. So, 2 glasses of the substance are poured into water, the patient needs to lie in this solution for half an hour. - Sea salt is also considered a home remedy; baths are made from it. Add about two cups of salt to a container of water and enjoy the bath for no more than 20 minutes. To achieve the most effective results, you should resort to this procedure a couple of times a week.
- Oats are considered one of the effective folk remedies. By taking a bath with steamed oats before bed, the patient gets rid of itching and loses the desire to scratch the plaques.
- Aloe vera is used in treatment, which reduces the size of the lesion. The plant also helps relieve irritation. It should be used as an ointment, rubbing the skin three times a day.
Many patients share information on various forums about how to relieve itching. Effective remedies, they claim, are turmeric and fish oil. The spice is usually mixed with water to achieve a thick mass, and then rubbed with this mixture like an ointment. After this, you should wrap the skin with gauze and go to bed, and wash off the product in the morning. As a side effect after the procedure, yellowness may appear on the skin. To treat psoriasis, fish oil is added to food.
Vitamins
Along with medicines and folk recipes, vitamins have a beneficial effect on the patient’s body. Particular attention should be paid to the following vitamins:
- A – restores skin tissue;
- E – regulates metabolism and also participates in the synthesis of cellular DNA;
- D – takes part in the exchange of calcium and phosphorus, restores the epidermis;
- B – is responsible for improving cellular metabolism, stabilizing oxygen metabolism.
Doctors say that comprehensive treatment should also include physiotherapeutic therapy: ultrasound, UV irradiation, cryotherapy, tele-x-ray therapy. These procedures are not at home, they are performed in specialized medical institutions.
Complications and consequences
Doctors use a special scale to determine the degree of itching associated with the disease. Unbearable sensations are scored 10 points. When severe itching occurs, the patient has an uncontrollable desire to scratch the plaques, which is prohibited, as hypertrophy of the nerve endings may develop. Constant scratching leads to even more itching.
Unpleasant sensations make the brain susceptible to external stimuli, as a result of which the patient develops Caeburn syndrome. It manifests itself in the fact that people experience a false appearance of itching in areas of the skin that are not affected by the disease. The patient cannot help but succumb to this feeling, and then new psoriatic plaques form on his skin.
Main characteristics of itching in psoriasis
8% of patients with psoriasis experience itching of varying degrees of intensity. Its severity is determined on a ten-point scale, where 1 point means weak intensity, and 10 points means a condition in which scratching causes bleeding.
Constantly scratching the inflamed areas increases the number of nerve endings. They become sensitive and increase itching.
The presence of free radicals in affected skin is three times greater than in healthy epidermis. At the same time, the swelling of a certain layer of the dermis increases and inflammatory cells come to the surface of the lesion. Lipid metabolism is disrupted and the process of keratinization intensifies.
Causes of scratching:
- Food;
- medications;
- household chemicals;
- environmental conditions.
Prevention
By adhering to preventive measures, the patient will be able to heal wounds and prevent the formation of new ones:
- Good rest and sleep help improve metabolic processes and stabilize hormonal balance.
- Personal hygiene is very important with psoriasis. For this purpose special means are used.
- Linen and clothing should be made from natural fabrics.
- After bath procedures, use a soft towel and apply moisturizer or vegetable oil.
- Prevent stressful situations.
It is very important to recognize the disease at an early stage, which will prevent relapses of itching. If all the recommendations of the attending physician are followed, the patient experiences a long period of remission.
Instrumental studies
A skin biopsy is not always performed; this analysis is performed for atypical symptoms or to differentiate psoriasis and exclude syphilis. In parallel with the biopsy, a histological analysis of the collected material is carried out. The diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of the psoriatic triad.
In the acute stage of the disease, one can observe such a symptom as the Koebner phenomenon, which consists of the appearance of new plaques in places of mechanical irritation of the skin. This phenomenon is often used in the diagnosis of psoriasis.
