Prevention and treatment of psoriasis

symptom

Psoriasis is characterized by prominent skin erythema and is covered with silvery white scales called psoriatic lesions. Plaques can appear in any part of the body. However, it is most common in the scalp, lower back, and elbows, knees, and knuckles. In severe cases, the genital area is also affected. The plaque on the scalp forms large patches of silvery white scales at the hairline, much like severe dandruff. Plaques in wet areas such as the armpits usually have no scales. All types of plaque can cause itchy skin. When the nail is damaged, it will be sunken, worn, thickened or discolored; in more serious cases, the nail will leave the nail bed. Psoriasis generally does not affect overall health. But sometimes, the disease can become very serious, with chills, redness and pain in the skin, cracked skin around the joints, and large scaly skin. This condition is called erythrodermic psoriasis and requires intensive treatment in hospital.

treatment

So far, there is no cure for psoriasis, and current treatment can only temporarily relieve symptoms. It is important to routinely clean the skin around the affected area to prevent infection. Over-the-counter lotions and ointments cleanse the affected skin and relieve itching. These drugs generally contain a small amount of coal tar and other scaly-removing ingredients.

Recently, many drugs have been found to effectively alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. Cortisone and other new steroid drugs (hormonal drugs) are applied directly to the affected skin, which can cause plaque to disappear in 50% of patients. Many doctors recommend covering a plastic film on the outside of the ointment in the treatment area. This is called occlusion therapy. Some drugs slow cell growth during treatment. The most commonly used of these drugs is methotrexate, which can alleviate the symptoms of severe cases. However, the drug may cause serious side effects and must be used under close supervision by a doctor. Other drugs for the treatment of psoriasis include: calcipotriene, tazarotene, cyclosporine and vitamin A derivatives. All of the above drugs should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

There are many ways to care for your skin, reduce dryness and prevent infection. In the next section, we will explore a variety of topical therapies for psoriasis.

The skin around the site of psoriasis must be kept clean to prevent infection. Here are some skin care recommendations to clean the affected area and relieve itching and other symptoms.

Take a bath. Showering, swimming, soaking in the bathtub and applying wet compresses can add moisture to the abnormally dry skin, helping to soften and remove thick psoriasis scales without damaging the skin. Thick scales can block drugs and UV rays, so you should gently remove as much scale as possible. Regular bathing can also relieve itching and redness in the affected area. But be careful to use warm water instead of hot water (hot water will exacerbate itching).

Although soaking can help remove plaque scales, please note that frequent moisturizing and drying will also remove oil from the skin, which is a natural protection against water loss. Therefore, in order to enjoy the benefits of bathing without making the skin too dry, after bathing, rinsing or moisturizing the skin, it should be moisturized immediately (within three minutes) with a thick emollient.

Moisturizing. Dry skin is prone to cracking, bleeding and infection, so skin must be protected from dryness. Moisturizing not only prevents dry skin, but also reduces inflammation and keeps the body flexible (dry plaques make it difficult for some bodies to move), avoiding the increase of psoriasis and diminishing plaque scales. The thickest or most oily moisturizer works best for skin locks. Thicker moisturizers (such as Eucerin, Aquaphor and Neutrogena Deep Moisturizing Formula Hand Cream) are also very effective. But low-cost alternatives (such as cooking oil, lard or petrolatum) also provide the same effective protection.

Use aloe vera. A long time ago, people knew that the gel extracted from aloe vera had an emollient effect and helped to heal tiny wounds and burns on the skin. Research in the 1990s broadened the efficacy of this plant, indicating that the plant also removes psoriasis lesions. If you want to try aloe vera oil, you can buy one, cut the leaves, and apply the exuded gel to the plaque. If the plaque is large, or if you need to carry the ointment with you, you can buy a bottle of pure aloe vera gel at many pharmacies and health food stores.

Try to soak in vinegar. Like aloe vera, apple cider vinegar has a long history of relieving minor burns and other skin inflammations. It is also a disinfectant. According to the Psoriasis Foundation, some patients have succeeded in treating psoriasis with apple cider vinegar. Liquid apple cider vinegar can be used as a good infusion for treating sick fingernails and toenails (just pour some apple cider vinegar in a bowl or cup, then soak the nails for a few minutes), and use a cotton ball to lick some apple cider vinegar and apply There is also a significant effect on the plaque. This method is worth a try.

Humidification. Dry indoor air can dry the skin, which is not a good thing for people with psoriasis. Use an indoor humidifier to increase humidity.

Let tar work. Tar-containing shampoos, skin creams and body lotions can loosen psoriasis scales. Tar-containing bath oils are especially effective for psoriasis throughout the body. These over-the-counter (OTC) products have been successfully used for psoriasis treatment for many years.

Use salicylic acid. You can also remove scales with "salicylic acid ointment" (a salicylic acid preparation). Shampoos, skin creams, gels and other psoriasis topical medications containing salicylic acid are over-the-counter.

Try over-the-counter cortisone. Over-the-counter topical treatments containing 1% cortisone (Cortaid is a commonly used cortisone brand) can also alleviate itching and skin irritation caused by psoriasis, especially for skin wrinkles or facial plaques. However, you must obtain the doctor's consent before using the drug, and follow the drug packaging instructions and use it with caution. Topical use of excessive amounts of steroids (such as cortisone) can cause thinning of the skin and easy abrasion.

Use medication with caution. Certain drugs, such as antimalarials, beta blockers (such as propranolol) and lithium, can cause some patients with psoriasis to get worse. You want to make sure that all the doctors involved in your treatment understand your skin symptoms. If some of the drugs currently used exacerbate the condition of psoriasis, talk to your doctor about reducing your dose or switching to another medicine.

Use plastic wrap. Many years ago, doctors knew that covering the lesions of psoriasis helped to resolve the disease. This method of covering also helps the drug to penetrate into the skin and prolong the duration of action of the moisturizer. You can use regular kitchen plastic wrap or buy a special over-the-counter patch (Actiderm). Apply the medicine prescribed by the doctor (be sure to check with your doctor first, use the medicine you can use with the covered plastic wrap) or moisturizer, and then cover with a layer of plastic wrap. Do not wrap for too long to prevent the skin from being too moist and prone to secondary infections; if you need detailed instructions, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Choose soap carefully. A powerful soap will make the skin dry, irritate the skin and exacerbate itching, so choose a mild soap. You can choose from a wide range of mild soaps containing moisturizers such as Basis, Alpha Keri, Purpose, Nivea Cream Bar and Oilatum. If your skin is already dry and irritated, you can also choose a soap-free detergent such as Lowilla Cake, Aveeno Cleansing Bar or pHisoDerm Dry Skin Formula. If you are not sure which product to use, consult a doctor or pharmacist. No matter which product you choose, be sure to rinse it off and apply a moisturizer immediately to prevent itching and dryness.

Use warm olive oil. If the psoriasis scale on the scalp is severe, heat a small amount of olive oil to warmness, gently massage the scales with olive oil to soften it and remove the scales. Then use shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly.

Use skin care products with caution. Psoriasis can make the skin particularly sensitive to irritating substances, so be careful when using hair dyes, perm, or straighteners. Use a product that may be irritating to ensure that the skin is substantially damaging, and avoid irritating products if there is an open wound.

Try a little pepper. A special case of the principle of non-irritating treatment is capsaicin, a component that imparts a spicy taste to pepper. Some evidence suggests that capsaicin helps relieve itching, scaling and discomfort in psoriasis. It is found in a variety of over-the-counter products used to relieve arthritis, muscle strain, and the pain associated with such diseases. When capsaicin is applied to the plaque, there may be a short-lived burning sensation. In addition, it must be kept away from the eyes and mucous membranes because it produces a strong burning sensation. However, you can try some of the capsaicin-containing ointments in the smaller psoriasis lesions to see if they work.

Avoid skin damage. Even minor injuries, such as sun exposure, abrasions, and irritation from tight clothing can induce or exacerbate psoriasis. Dermatologists refer to the cause of this psoriasis as the "Koebner phenomenon."

Timely treatment of infection. Systemic infections such as streptococcal pharyngitis (streptococci infection) can cause recurrence of psoriasis in some patients. When you notice signs of initial infection (such as sore throat or fever), you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Although there is no cure for psoriasis, we can make life more comfortable through treatment and self-conditioning. Read on to the next section for some of the widely used strategies for treating psoriasis. With the doctor's consent, you can try some or all of them to develop a self-treatment plan that suits you.

 

There are dozens of home remedies that can be used to alleviate psoriasis discomfort. Here are some home remedies and alternative therapies.

Go out to the sun. Sounds incredible? Although doctors require most patients to avoid sun exposure to prevent skin cancer and wrinkles, they encourage psoriasis patients to go out to the sun because ultraviolet rays in the sun often eliminate psoriasis. Although doctors are not yet able to explain the medical mechanism by which sunlight helps to heal psoriasis, sunlight may slow the proliferation of skin cells, which is quite important for the treatment of psoriasis. However, no matter what everything has to be "degree", if too much exposure to the sun causes sunburn, it often leads to disease.

Over the years, people have rushed to the Dead Sea to treat psoriasis. The Dead Sea has a daily sunshine duration of 300 days, and people can almost continuously illuminate this therapeutic light. More importantly, the Dead Sea is located 396.2 meters below sea level, forming an air filter that allows psoriasis patients to bathe in the sun for long periods of time without sunburn. The salt content of the Dead Sea is extremely high, allowing people to float on the surface without any effort. (Some cosmetics companies sell products that contain salt and minerals from the Dead Sea and may also have some symptoms to relieve symptoms.)

Although you may not be able to go to the Dead Sea for the next holiday, you can still use the sun to achieve healing. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends that you apply a thin layer of mineral oil to the skin lesions before sun exposure to enhance the sun's appearance and keep the skin moist. However, mineral oil also increases the risk of sunburn, so the sun exposure time is short.

Similarly, in order to avoid the sun damage caused by plaque-free skin, sunscreen should be applied to the skin with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15; sunscreen should be applied 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and should be recoated frequently. Especially after swimming or sweating. (Do not apply sunscreen to the plaque, as this will help eliminate plaque from UV rays.) If you use UV light to treat psoriasis, be sure to check your skin regularly to determine if you have skin. Cancer signs.

Light up your life. Regardless of the shade, UV therapy (sometimes called phototherapy) can be done in the doctor's office or even in the privacy of your own home. indeed so. You can fully enjoy the benefits of sunlight with home light therapy equipment that produces UV-B (UVB).

In fact, the sun contains two types of ultraviolet light, the so-called A and B segments. UVB light has been found to slow the abnormal growth of skin cells that mark psoriasis. (UVA light does not seem to have a therapeutic effect, but it can be used with an oral drug called psoralen, which is called PUVA therapy and is usually used for more stubborn or severe cases of psoriasis.) According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, studies have shown that 80% of patients with psoriasis have better efficacy with UVB phototherapy.

You should first discuss with your doctor if you have a home UVB light therapy; usually, the doctor will first go to the clinic, and after the condition is stable, let you buy a phototherapy device for use at home. (The ultraviolet light used in home phototherapy devices is different from the ultraviolet light in artificial sunburn studios or salons.) As with sun bathing, phototherapy at home should also be taken care of to avoid sunburn, and regular dermatologists should be required to check the skin.

Nutritional therapy. Nutritional therapy believes that the lack of certain foods or some substances contained in certain foods can lead to excessive proliferation of skin cells. Food allergies also seem to be related to the disease. Doctors have long discovered that Eskimos on Greenland consume a large amount of cold water fish daily, but rarely suffer from psoriasis. For this reason, some experts believe that fish oil may be the key. A survey of the University of California at Davis and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor showed that high-dose oral fish oil supplements may help control psoriasis. However, in order to achieve good therapeutic results, fish oil research participants must consume a large amount of fish oil supplements, and such long-term high-dose intake of pure fish oil may lead to excessive vitamin A and D. Moreover, like other fats, fish oils are also very hot.

Most dietary nutrition experts believe that replacing most of the red meat in the diet with cold water fish is a health measure. Although it may not be possible to control the efficacy of psoriasis in fish oil research, increasing fish oil intake is completely harmless. However, if you plan to use fish oil supplements, please discuss them with your doctor in detail. Foods that should be removed from the diet include: alcohol and excessive animal foods. A Swedish study showed that people with psoriasis had a vegetarian diet (no meat, fish, milk and eggs) for three to four weeks, and the symptoms were less severe than when they were on a regular diet. In addition to animal foods, wheat and acidic foods (citrus, tomatoes, coffee, pineapple and soda) are also susceptible to psoriasis.

Relax. Doctors believe that tension can lead to a sudden increase in psoriasis. Inevitably, you will sometimes make you emotionally stressed. In order to alleviate the intensification of your condition, you need to find a way to relax. One study found that if a patient undergoing phototherapy listens to a meditation-relaxed tape, the skin will recover faster. Other effective relaxation methods used by patients with psoriasis include: hypnosis, massage, delusion, tai chi and yoga.

Detoxification. The treatment is based on the elimination of toxins and metabolic wastes in the body, which can restore the function of skin cells back to normal. Another theory holds that psoriasis is a manifestation of the body's attempt to expel toxins through the skin; patients with psoriasis have higher levels of endotoxin (bacterial cell wall components) in the gut. Some cleaning methods include water bans that allow the body to expel toxins and empty the intestines through the enema to assist in fasting.