Psoriasis vulgaris: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

Definition

What is psoriasis vulgaris?

Psoriasis vulgaris is psoriasis characterized by the appearance of lesions (broken skin), characterized by plaques or red patches with thick skin scales consisting of a layer of dead skin.

The skin disease, also known as plaque psoriasis, is divided into several different types. However, most cases that occur are large plaque psoriasis and small plaque psoriasis.

Large plaque psoriasis often appears earlier when a person is under 40 years of age. It is characterized by a thick red plaque with clearly defined margins and silvery scales.

Large plaque psoriasis generally runs in families, but it can also be triggered by metabolic factors.

Meanwhile, small plaque psoriasis often presents with many small skin lesions. The plaques are thinner, red in color, and have fine scales. There are some lesions that appear faint and merge with the skin, there are also lesions with a more defined border.

Although it can appear at any age, small plaque psoriasis is more common in people over the age of 40.

The symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris are difficult to treat. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments that can be used to control symptoms.

How common is this disease?

Plaque psoriasis is one of the most common types of psoriasis. Among all psoriasis cases about 80 - 90% of the symptoms show a form of psoriasis vulgaris.

The World Health Organization states that 125 million people or 2-3% of the world's population suffer from psoriasis. In Indonesia alone, people with psoriasis (ODEPA) in 2016 are estimated to be 1-3 percent.

Most psoriasis sufferers are men. This is based on a report published by American Family Physician. Meanwhile, women also have the same opportunity to contract this disease.

Still according to the report, as many as 30% of psoriasis sufferers show early symptoms such as psoriasis vulgaris. Nearly 60% of psoriasis sufferers report that their initial symptoms are problems that can reduce their quality of life.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris?

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, incurable skin disease. Symptoms may disappear and reappear due to certain trigger factors. However, this skin disease cannot be passed from person to person.

The typical symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris that can differentiate it from other types of psoriasis are as follows.

• Red plaques or patches on the skin with thick silver scales.
• Thickened skin.
• A dry, thin, silvery-white layer covering the plaque.
• It most commonly appears on the scalp, elbows, knees and lower back.
• Dry, cracked skin that bleeds.
• Itching and burning in the affected area.

The size of the plaque or spot can range from the size of a coin to the size of the palm. The part of the skin affected by psoriasis often causes itching and burning sensations. In addition, the skin is easy to break and bleed easily.

The skin affected by psoriasis may turn red. In areas of skin that are darker in color, psoriasis causes the skin to darken until it even looks like purplish gray or dark brown.

In addition, the toenails and hands can also be affected by plaque psoriasis. For those on the nails, this disease is commonly called nail psoriasis.

When should I see a doctor?

If this is the first time you experience the signs and skin problems that have been mentioned, immediately consult a skin specialist. Especially if the symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris that you are experiencing have been going on for a long time.

The following are other conditions that require further medical examination.

• Continues and makes you sick and uncomfortable so that it interferes with daily activities.
• Makes you worry about your appearance.
• Causes joint problems, such as pain, swelling or other diseases that interfere with daily activities.
• Difficult to do daily routine.

If during psoriasis treatment the symptoms do not get better, seek medical help immediately. This condition means you need different types of treatment or a combination of medications to control symptoms.

Cause

What causes psoriasis vulgaris?

The cause of psoriasis is not known with certainty, but it is most likely that psoriasis is caused by an autoimmune disorder.

Autoimmune is a condition in which the immune system, which plays a role in fighting foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells. As a result, skin cell regeneration is too fast.

Under normal conditions the body will replace dead skin cells by producing new skin cells within a few weeks.

Meanwhile, in the case of psoriasis vulgaris, the growth of new skin cells only occurs in a matter of days. This condition causes a buildup of skin cells so that the skin surface becomes thick.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for plaque psoriasis?

Psoriasis symptoms can disappear immediately after going through treatment, but can come back at any time. The risk of recurrence of symptoms mainly occurs when there are trigger factors that can affect the immune system reaction.

The following are various factors that can predispose a person to developing psorisasis vulgaris.

• There is a family history of psoriasis.
• Viral and bacterial infections.
• Stress.
• Obesity or being overweight.
• Insect bite or wound on the skin.
• Hormonal changes.
• Consumption of certain drugs such as lithium, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, and beta blockers.
• Extreme weather changes.

Each person with psoriasis can have different trigger factors. Therefore, it is important for you to know what trigger factors cause psoriasis symptoms to recur.

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose plaque psoriasis?

The way doctors diagnose psoriasis vulgaris is by a physical exam to identify symptoms. There is usually no need for blood tests or other laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis.

During the examination, the doctor will ask about the symptoms you feel and observe the location of the skin lesions. Then, the doctor asks about the family's medical history. The goal is to check whether you have a risk of psoriasis that runs in your family or not.

There are also several things that doctors consider in diagnosing the disease. Among them are the patient's health condition from blood pressure and weight, age, and gender.

Even so, doctors usually need to distinguish psoriasis vulgaris from other types of psoriasis such as psoriasis guttate which has similar characteristics but is caused by a bacterial infection.

However, if the results of the initial diagnosis are uncertain, the doctor may take a sample of the affected skin cells and then perform a biopsy, which is a procedure for taking a skin sample to be examined in the laboratory. Sampling also involves administering a local anesthetic.

Treatment

What are my treatment options for psoriasis vulgaris?

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, incurable skin disease. When psoriasis progresses, symptoms can be mild or serious, resulting in intense itching and burning.

Prompt treatment can control the severity of these symptoms as well as stop skin thickening due to autoimmune disorders.

Treatment is generally divided into three categories, namely topical drugs (topical drugs), oral or injectable drugs, and light therapy. Some of the treatment options and medications for psoriasis vulgaris are as follows.

• Croticosteroid cream or ointment prescribed by a doctor and used routinely, but not for more than 8 weeks.
• Retinoids are drugs that are derivatives of vitamin A to control the production of new skin cells.
• Systemic drugs such as methotrexate and cyclosporine that control immune system reactions.
• Biological therapy through the drug abatacept, which works to directly target the affected part of the immune system, namely T cells. Biological treatment also inhibits proteins in the immune system that can cause psoriasis arthritis, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 17, and interleukins 12 and 23. To target each protein, the drugs used were certolizumab pegol, secukinumab, and tildrachizumab-asmn.
• Light therapy (phototherapy) by firing ultraviolet light on the skin to suppress the growth of skin cells.
• Vitamin D3 to reduce the production of skin cells.

As you get older, your immune system will get stronger and work better. Thus, autoimmune reactions that cause psoriasis are less common.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies for treating psoriasis?

Indeed, psoriasis vulgaris may not occur for a long time. However, the recurrence of this condition is not always certain.

Therefore, in addition to avoiding the risk factors, you can take the following steps to help treat or prevent psoriasis vulgaris from recurring:

• Perform scalp care using a special psoriasis shampoo containing salicylic acid and coal tar.
• Bathing regularly to remove scales on the skin and keep the skin moist.
• Reduce stress by engaging in relaxation activities such as meditation and yoga
• Have a balanced diet with food sources that inhibit inflammation or inflammation.
• Doing exercise regularly.

If you still have questions or concerns, please contact your doctor for solutions.