Psoriasis is an incurable autoimmune disease that causes scales, itching, and soreness on the skin. This is a fairly common pathological condition that is recorded with the same frequency in males and females.
To reduce the number and intensity of relapses, a person suffering from this disease is advised to give up long exposure to the sun, alcohol, smoking, and the use of certain foods (citrus, honey, chocolate and other common allergens). You cannot starve, so as not to create stressful situations for the body and not to disrupt biorhythms. During remission (after the plaques have disappeared), doctors advise the patient to follow a healthy lifestyle.
Routine vaccination in children and adults is often the cause of allergic reactions. In this regard, patients with psoriasis are concerned about whether vaccination will trigger an exacerbation of the disease. To understand whether the procedure can cause another relapse, it is necessary to study what is it?
Vaccination action
To prevent infection of the population with some infectious diseases, doctors recommended routine vaccination. Vaccinations begin to be given to children from the first day of life.
A drug containing an antigen is injected into the body. The human immune system produces antibodies that successfully “defeat” the foreign element. Thanks to this, in the future, the risk of contracting a specific infectious disease in a person is reduced.
Some people who have not previously suffered from psoriasis, after receiving the vaccine, complain of the appearance of plaques characteristic of this disease. Whether such a reaction is associated with the penetration of a pathogenic agent into the body, it is impossible to say for sure. Doctors say psoriasis is a genetic disorder. At the same time, it has been proven that the vaccine may well provoke a relapse and worsen the course of the disease. In this regard, the question arises whether it is possible to be vaccinated for psoriasis? How to carry them out?
Vaccination for psoriasis is not a contraindication. Vaccination is carried out for children and adults in full. The most popular option is by injection. If for any reason it is not possible to give an injection (for example, there is a high risk of relapse due to skin damage), your doctor may recommend immunization with an oral vaccine. The most famous is the polio vaccine. A living disease-causing agent with low virulence is introduced into the body, and the immune system easily copes with it. The oral live vaccine is in no way inferior and even superior in efficiency to injectable vaccination, as it protects the body from polio for life.
Vaccinations for skin diseases
Since the vaccine affects the body’s defenses, and psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, in order not to provoke relapses, patients are advised to read the following reminder:
- It is possible to prevent the development of allergic reactions by using vaccines of the same series for the entire course of immunization.
- To avoid the consequences of the vaccination, it is worth getting vaccinated during the period of remission (at least a week after the disappearance of the plaques).
- Vaccination is carried out against the background of adequate concomitant therapy, taking into account the severity of the disease.
- A few days before and several days after the vaccination for psoriasis, patients are advised to take antihistamines to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
- It is advisable to vaccinate in the first half of the day, since the functional state of organs changes in a person in the evening.
- Fighting a pathogenic agent can weaken the body’s defenses, therefore, in order to avoid contracting infectious diseases, a person suffering from psoriasis is advised to reduce the number of contacts with other people.
Psoriasis and vaccinations that are not required
To protect themselves from the effects of the flu, many people are additionally vaccinated against this seasonal illness. Despite the fact that the vaccine is not included in the list of mandatory, doctors advise to give it to patients suffering from psoriasis.
Skin diseases seriously weaken the immune system, which increases the risk of infection with viral diseases in the autumn-winter period. Not being vaccinated in a timely manner for psoriasis can have negative consequences. Before vaccination, it is imperative to visit a therapist, dermatologist, allergist and undergo an examination – to pass blood and urine tests. If psoriasis is severe, vaccination will have to be abandoned.
Special care must be taken when immunizing children. Mothers of breastfed babies should take antihistamines before vaccinations. The doctor prescribes the type of drug and dosage individually. Any initiative is unacceptable.
Psoriasis is not a contraindication for vaccination. Despite this, it must be remembered that any effect on the skin can cause a relapse. Before being vaccinated for psoriasis, it is necessary to undergo an examination and receive recommendations from doctors.