Psoriasis or psoriasis is a chronic but benign and non-contagious disease. In the world they suffer from about 2 – 4% of the population. Psoriasis is characterized by the presence of inflamed, highly reddened areas of skin with well-defined edges and sharply different from the surrounding skin. On the affected areas, there is a constant exfoliation of the surface layer of the skin in the form of silver-shiny scales of various sizes. The causes of psoriasis are still unknown. In particular, it is precisely because of this that he cannot be completely cured of psoriasis and, unfortunately for patients, can be accompanied by more and more exacerbations.
Various forms of manifestation of psoriasis are known. The most common is psoriasis
vulgaris ( Psoriasis vulgaris ), which accounts for over 90% of cases of
this disease. Arthropathic psoriasis ( Psoriasis _ arthropathica
), in which the joints are intensively involved in the pathological process, as
well as pustular psoriasis ( Psoriasis pustulosa ), characterized by the
formation of purulent pustules in the affected areas.
Characteristic of all forms of psoriasis is that the course and severity of the
disease are very different in different patients and therefore the clinical
picture of the disease is extremely diverse.
Psoriasis vulgaris is classified into two main types. In 60-70% of
cases, we are talking about type I psoriasis, which first develops between the
ages of 10 and 25 years. Psoriasis type II appears most often only in the
second half of life, i. between 35 and 60 years of age. Type II differs from
type I in that the manifestations of the disease observed in it are, as a rule,
less pronounced.
Typical places where psoriatic rashes appear include the extensor surfaces of
the limbs, as well as the scalp and eyebrows. With the defeat of these places,
psoriasis is rarely accompanied by itching. However, the disease can also
affect the flexor surfaces of the joints, the armpits, the navel, or the crease
in the anus. Due to increased sweating, severe itching can appear in these
areas.
Approximately 30-50% of patients suffering from psoriasis, the disease occurs
not only with the development of skin manifestations, but also with changes in
the nails on the fingers and toes. The increased exfoliation of the skin
observed in all cases is due to a violation of the development of its upper
layers.