Treatment of psoriasis at home: methods here!

Types of psoriasis for self-treatment

The following types of psoriasis can be treated at home:

vulgar (ordinary);
seborrheic psoriasis, or scalp psoriasis;
palmoplantar psoriasis;
guttate psoriasis;
psoriasis of the nails, face, elbows and feet.

Read more about each type in the review article: “What types of psoriasis are there?”

Some forms are strictly prohibited from being treated at home; these severe forms require hospitalization and inpatient treatment:

exudative psoriasis;
pustular psoriasis;
psoriatic arthritis;
psoriatic erythroderma.

What you need to know about psoriasis

the disease has a seasonal course;
There are several types: teardrop-shaped, herpes-shaped and warty. With the latter type, growths in the form of warts appear on the scales;
this disease is not contagious: using the same towel with a carrier of psoriasis is not critical;
can be inherited from relatives. To predict the development of the disease, pay attention to the skin condition of your loved ones;
the development of psoriatic arthritis is possible. It affects the joints;
the disease is well treated at the Dead Sea. Patients specifically buy trips to Israel to get rid of their illness.

Psoriasis photo

The photo clearly shows what psoriasis looks like on different parts of the body. Before selecting home treatment, make sure of the diagnosis.

Today, psoriasis is considered one of the most common chronic dermatoses. According to various sources [1], this disease affects from 0.2 to 8% of the world's population.

The onset of the disease varies among different patients. Provoking factors may be skin trauma, stress, the use of certain medications, alcohol abuse, infectious diseases (especially those caused by streptococcus and viruses), etc. [2, 3].

Men and women suffer from psoriasis equally often, but in girls, as a rule, psoriasis occurs at an earlier age: thus, the first signs of the disease appear in girls at the age of 16-20 years, and in men - at 18-32 years [4]. The high probability of manifestation of the psoriatic process remains at the age of 40 to 50 years [5]. The urban population gets sick much more often than the rural population, which is apparently due to an unfavorable environmental situation, an accelerated pace of life, various stressful situations and other negative psycho-emotional factors [6]. More often, at the beginning of the disease, there are few rashes; they are characterized by a monomorphic rash in the form of papular elements with a diameter of 1-3 mm to 2-3 cm or more, pink in color, covered with silver-white scales. As a rule, at this stage, the severity and prevalence of the psoriatic process is assessed as mild (PASI≤10). Efflorescence can persist for a long time in the same places, especially on the scalp and in the area of large joints. At this stage, as a rule, treatment of psoriasis does not cause great difficulties, and it is quite enough for the patient to prescribe an appropriate diet, carry out restorative measures and external therapy [7].

For mild psoriasis, emollients and moisturizers are most often used, combining them with other active local agents. Keratolytic drugs reduce the severity of hyperkeratosis and soften psoriatic scales, which in turn facilitates their removal. Like emollients, keratolytic agents are also usually combined with other drugs. Various dosage forms of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) are most often used to treat psoriasis, but their systemic absorption leads to a number of serious side effects.

The use of retinoids for 12 weeks shows good clinical efficacy, and it can be increased when used together with GCS.

During the development of the disease, with an increase in the number of elements and their peripheral growth, the papules merge and form plaques of various sizes and shapes. At this moment, psoriatic lesions are characterized by a high degree of prevalence, severity of erythema and infiltration, which aggravates the patient’s condition. As a rule, the severity and extent of the psoriatic process (PASI) is assessed as moderate (10≤PASI≤30) or severe (30≤PASI≤72). The favorite localization of psoriasis is the extensor surfaces of the extremities, especially in the area of the elbow and knee joints. The rash may affect the skin of the torso; The scalp is often affected.

Treatment of psoriasis is a complex therapeutic task [8]. In accordance with the pathogenetic processes, therapy for psoriasis is aimed at eliminating inflammation, suppressing the proliferation of epithelial cells, and normalizing their differentiation. In many cases, therapeutic measures can be successful, since there are a number of therapeutic methods for this dermatosis, but, unfortunately, all these measures provide only a temporary effect [9]. Pharmacotherapy and phototherapy can clear the affected skin and relieve unpleasant symptoms, but remission is usually short-lived and most patients experience a recurrence of the disease within a year.

For the treatment of moderate and severe psoriatic process, systemic therapy is prescribed: phototherapy, the use of vitamin A analogues and various options for immunosuppression.

Phototherapy blocks DNA replication, reducing skin cell proliferation; This method is quite effective, but is associated with a risk of developing skin cancer, which is why it is prescribed to patients over 50 years of age with intensely disabling psoriasis.

Vitamin A analogues are mainly prescribed for the treatment of severe and rare forms of psoriasis. These drugs have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin cell proliferation. However, their use is also associated with severe adverse events, including liver damage and embryonic defects.

Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease. Undoubtedly, changes in the immune system, either genetically determined or acquired under the influence of external and internal factors, play a large role in its pathogenesis.

Immune system disorders are detected both at the cellular and humoral levels and consist in the activation of immunological reactions, accompanied by changes in the content of immunoglobulins of the main classes, circulating immune complexes, the pool of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, B and T populations and subpopulations of lymphocytes, cells killers, phagocytic activity of segmented leukocytes. To normalize these processes, various drugs belonging to the group of immunosuppressants are used.

Methotrexate is an analogue of folic acid, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis and has the ability to stop cell division. Methotrexate is usually prescribed to treat very severe forms of psoriasis that cannot be treated with other drugs, but its use is associated with the suppression of all dividing germs and is associated with liver damage.

Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine have a selective effect on T cells. Cyclosporine is commonly used in the treatment of severe scaly psoriasis, but its use is limited to the treatment of patients with resistant psoriasis due to adverse effects such as renal failure, paresthesia and hirsutism.

In recent years, genetically engineered drugs—monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)—have become widely used for the treatment of psoriasis. The names of drugs created on the basis of MAT reflect their structure and basic properties. Thus, drugs with the ending “-cept” block cytokines and, accordingly, prevent cell cooperation; drugs with the ending “-ximab” contain animal mAbs and, by binding to tumor necrosis factor α, block it; with the ending “-mumab” - only human (humanized) MAbs with a similar mechanism of action.

MAT in the treatment of psoriasis is characterized by high efficiency. Due to the manifestation of anticytokine activity, they act specifically on the links of the pathological process, as a result, the quality of life of patients is noticeably improved, and a long period of remission of this disease is achieved [10].

The prescription of such drugs, despite their high clinical effectiveness, is associated with a number of contraindications and the appearance of undesirable reactions in the form of nausea, headache, and decreased blood pressure. Cases of the development of certain autoimmune diseases, as well as exacerbation of infectious processes against the background of their long-term use, have been described. Today, the prescription of MAT remains a therapy for the “select”, since the widespread use of these drugs is hampered by their significant exchange cost [11].

The high clinical effectiveness of drugs that can influence the immunological mechanisms of psoriasis development is not in doubt today, but the problem of developing new immunotropic drugs remains urgent, the use of which, along with high efficiency, will be characterized by a low level of adverse events and availability for widespread use in everyday medical practice .

The modern development of the Russian pharmaceutical industry within the framework of the development strategy of the pharmaceutical industry of the Russian Federation (RF) for the period until 2022 has made it possible to bring to the market a number of high-tech domestic pharmacological drugs characterized by a high profile of effectiveness and safety. It should be noted their low cost, which can significantly reduce the exchange rate of treatment compared to foreign drugs.

The result of many years of hard work was the first representative of a new generation of synthetic peptide immunosuppressants - Timodepressin

.
Timodepressin
was developed by a team of researchers at Pharma Bio LLC in collaboration with the Medical Radiological Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (Obninsk) and the Institute of Immunology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Moscow).
The drug was approved by the Pharmaceutical Committee of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for medical use in 2000 (registration certificate number: P No. 000022/01-2000; P No. 000022/02-2000; P No. 000022/03-2000; P No. 000022/04-2000) . Thydepressin
is a synthetic dipeptide consisting of D-amino acid residues of glutamic acid and tryptophan.

Timodepressin

(γ-D-glutamyl-D-tryptophan disodium salt) is an individual chemical compound of peptide nature, obtained by chemical synthesis as a result of structural and functional studies of biologically active low-molecular peptides. The drug is available in the form of a 0.1% solution for injection in 1 ml ampoules (5 ampoules per package), as well as in the form of a nasal spray in 5 ml (0.5 mg) bottles.

Consisting of unnatural D-amino acids connected by a γ-peptide bond, Thymodepressin

is a new class of synthetic peptide drugs that selectively block the proliferation of immune precursor cells.
The specific properties of the drug Timodepressin
make it possible to selectively suppress the functional activity of immunocompetent cells, inhibit the development of autoimmune processes without affecting the cells of other organs and tissues, while minimizing the risk of side effects.
Thydepressin
can be used both as monotherapy and in complex treatment of patients with various diseases. The drug is approved for the treatment and prevention of autoimmune diseases of various origins: autoimmune primary and secondary cytopenias, hypoplastic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis; as a cytoprotective therapy to protect and preserve stem cells, to prevent granulocytopenia, during cytostatic chemotherapeutic effects.

Timodepressin is administered

intramuscularly and intranasally. At the initial stage of treatment, the drug is prescribed systemically; The course of treatment and dosage regimens are selected individually depending on the dynamics of clinical manifestations. A single dose is 1 ml of a 0.1% solution, the maximum single dose is 2 ml of a 0.1% solution. The drug is administered once daily.

Timodepressin

used in adults and children from the age of two, used both in monotherapy and in complex treatment and prevention of psoriasis: the drug is administered intramuscularly at 1-2 ml of solution daily for 7-10 days, then a break for 2 days, then the cycle is repeated. Depending on the clinical situation, 3 to 5 cycles can be performed.

Intranasal Timodepressin

prescribed primarily as maintenance therapy and for the prevention of relapses, as well as in the treatment of children. The drug is administered 1-2 doses (0.5 mg) of nasal spray into each nasal passage daily for 7-10 days, the course of treatment can be continued after a 2-day break.

For patients with generalized psoriatic erythroderma Timodepressin

2 ml of solution is administered intramuscularly daily for 14 days, then intranasally with the simultaneous addition of GCS in medium doses.

Comparative analysis of the results within the departments supervised by the teaching staff of the Department of Dermatovenereology of the Pediatric Faculty of the State Budgetary Institution of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Research Medical University named after. N.I. Pirogov, in the period from 2000 to 2013 demonstrated high clinical effectiveness of the inclusion of the drug Timodepressin

in treatment regimens for patients with psoriasis.
Moreover, the severity of the therapeutic effect of the drug Timodepressin
was not determined by the characteristics of the clinical variant of psoriasis - favorable results after treatment were observed with approximately the same frequency in various forms of psoriasis, which led to a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients.
In some cases, in terms of the strength of the therapeutic response and the dynamics of regression of the psoriatic process, Timodepressin
was superior to routine methods of treating psoriasis.
The use of the drug Timodepressin
was not accompanied by the development of side effects inherent in known immunosuppressants; In addition, it is convenient to use both in hospital and outpatient practice.

Psoriasis - symptoms of the disease

Psoriasis in the initial stage manifests itself as red spots, itching, burning in these places. Severe forms manifest with fever and high temperature. In any case, you need to undergo an examination to accurately establish the diagnosis.

Symptoms of the disease are shown in photographs.

Stages of hand psoriasis

The disease occurs in alternating phases of relapses and remissions. The course can be severe, moderate or mild. During an exacerbation, the disease goes through several stages. Psoriasis on the hands, stages:

the initial stage of progression - a psoriatic rash appears, the symptoms of the disease quickly increase;
stationary – no new elements appear, the rashes do not fade or become smaller;
regressing - the rash turns pale, swelling subsides, all signs of exacerbation disappear, and gradually only white or brownish spots remain on the skin, which also disappear over time.

Any form of the disease, in the absence of adequate treatment, can be complicated by joint damage and erythroderma - inflammation of large areas of skin with severe swelling and redness.

Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

The material - “Review of 53 folk recipes for the treatment of psoriasis” - presents effective recipes against psoriasis. Select several recipes yourself, to do this, choose one or more methods from each section. For example, you can use the following complex:

Folk remedies give results in the treatment of psoriasis

Take 10-30 drops of Rhodiola rosea root extract
Take a quarter cup of chicory decoction
Take 300-500 ml of blackcurrant infusion
of plantain infusion 30 minutes before meals, 3-4 times a day.
Take half a glass of sea buckthorn juice, infusion or decoction It is also good to use sea buckthorn oil , 1-2 tbsp. l. per day, along with food. The described recipes treat the disease comprehensively:

Rhodiola rosea helps the body fight adverse effects;
chicory calms without causing drowsiness;
black currant normalizes the functioning of the adrenal glands;
Great plantain restores lipid metabolism in the body;
Sea buckthorn improves skin tone and restores its protective functions.

Folk remedies for psoriasis have no contraindications and have a minimum of side effects. Choose several recipes for treating psoriasis at home. The results of such treatment appear individually; here it is impossible to predict which recipe will work (you may have to replace it with another).

With rare exceptions, traditional methods have almost no contraindications due to their natural composition.

Vitamin teas for patients with psoriasis

For psoriasis, take vitamin teas, they replenish the lack of substances and help fight the disease.

Rose hips and flowers

Vitamin tea No. 1. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over rose hips and black currants (1 tsp each) and leave for an hour. Drink half a glass 3-4 times a day.
Vitamin tea No. 2. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over rose hips and rowan berries (1 tsp each) and leave for an hour. Drink half a glass 3-4 times a day.

Treatment with ultraviolet 311 nm

A lamp for the treatment of psoriasis
Ultraviolet 311 nm has been used for treatment since the 60s of the last century.
Leading medical device supplier Phillips produces narrow-band spectrum treatment lamps that treat psoriasis. In Russia, this device (Dermalight lamp) is used in clinics and at home. At home, you need to irradiate psoriatic plaques and rashes strictly according to the time specified in the instructions . Depending on the area of spread of the disease, this can be several minutes or half an hour. Conduct sessions every other day. You can use the Dermalight lamp with additional medications if there is extensive peeling or crusting. If the spots peel off a little, it is enough to simply remove the scales from the surface of the skin and shine without additional products.

The lamp affects the disease from different angles :

Stops excessive division of skin cells.
Restores normal metabolism in skin cells (keranocytes).
Restores the balance of cytokines - these cells are responsible for inflammatory processes in the body.

As a result, psoriatic plaques gradually decrease in size and disappear.

The device is completely safe , certified and designed specifically for home treatment. Can be used by children over 3 years of age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.

Clinical researches

The conducted clinical study proves the high efficiency, safety and tolerability of products for daily skin care of children with mild and moderate forms of atopic dermatitis and during remission, accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life of patients. As a result of therapy, a decrease in the activity of the inflammatory process, a decrease in dryness, itching and flaking was noted.

The products are recommended by the St. Petersburg branch of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia.

It has been clinically proven that La-Cri cream for dry skin moisturizes and nourishes the skin, relieves itching and irritation, and also soothes and restores the skin.

Sources:

Chapman M. Shane, Habiff Thomas P., Zug Catherine A., Dinoulos James G. H., Campbell James L., Dermatology. Handbook of differential diagnosis, MEDpress-inform, 2014.
Sukolin Gennady Ivanovich, Illustrated clinical dermatology. Brief alphabetical reference book, Lux Print publishing house, 2010.
Sukolin Gennady Ivanovich, Clinical dermatology. A short guide to the diagnosis and treatment of dermatoses, Notabene, 2017.

External remedies for the treatment of psoriasis

Ointments help with psoriasis

Ointments and creams are used to treat all forms of psoriasis. At home, it is convenient to use Skin-cap, Psoril, and Daivonex.

"Kartalin" and salicylic ointment give a weak effect and can be used as an adjuvant. Hormonal ointments can be dangerous to use on your own at home. Use them only as prescribed by a doctor and under strict monitoring of the results.

Ointments have a complex effect on the symptoms of psoriasis:

relieve inflammation;
reduce itching;
exfoliate scales;
soften the skin.

The course of treatment is individual for each person and takes at least 1 month. Most ointments cause an addictive effect - after prolonged use, the product stops working, and when the drug is discontinued, the plaques return.

Each ointment has its own contraindications. Only ointments with natural composition have no contraindications. Read more about each ointment in the material: “Review of 10 ointments for psoriasis.” All are suitable for home treatment except the first section (hormonal ointments).

Symptoms of psoriasis on various parts of the body

The clinical symptoms of psoriasis in the arms and legs have characteristic features. The following symptoms indicate the formation of psoriatic lesions on the upper and lower extremities:

A characteristic papular rash, which is most often localized on the knees and elbows, on the inner thighs and forearms.
With mechanical impact on psoriatic plaques, increased peeling is observed, and the papule itself in appearance resembles a stearin stain.
When the keratinized scales are completely removed, a shiny thin film is visualized on the surface of the plaque.
The Auspitz phenomenon occurs. When a thin psoriatic film is removed, a moist surface is visualized on the surface of the plaque, covered with droplets of blood resembling dew. Blood drops do not merge with each other, but are located separately from each other.
In addition, when psoriatic lesions form in the area of the legs and arms, new foci of papular rash tend to appear in those places that were previously damaged by combs, abrasions and cuts. This condition is called the Koebner phenomenon.

Symptoms of scalp psoriasis

The location of the papular skin rash in scalp psoriasis is the occipital and frontal zone, as well as the area behind the ears. Most often, psoriatic lesions spread along the hairline. Initially, psoriatic plaques are small in size and isolated in nature. As the disease progresses, the pathological structures increase in volume and merge with each other, spreading over the entire surface of the scalp. At the stage of initial changes, psoriatic peeling resembles seborrhea of the scalp. Additionally, intense itching and visible skin irritation occur. Unlike seborrhea, psoriasis does not cause hair loss.

Symptoms of nail psoriasis

An alternative name for nail plate psoriasis is onychodystrophy. This form of chronic dermatosis develops in 50% of cases in people with cutaneous psoriasis. Characteristic manifestations of this disease include:

Complete or partial separation of the nail plate from the bed;
Rapid keratinization and proliferation of the subungual epithelium;
Inflammatory damage to the soft tissues located around the nail plates;
The appearance of small psoriatic plaques around the nails;
Small subungual hemorrhages of black or brown color.

Unlike fungal nail infections, with psoriasis there is no unpleasant odor, the nail plates are not deformed, and the nails themselves acquire a yellow tint.

Psoriasis on the scalp: treatment at home

Shampoos are intended for the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp. The most effective of them, according to reviews and recommendations of doctors, are:

Shampoo "Skin-cap"
A medical study showed results in 83.3% of cases, the reviews were positive.
Shampoo "Skin-cap"
Shampoo "Psorilom"
Reviews about the product are positive, there have been no studies. The product has a completely natural composition.
Shampoo "Psorilom"
Shampoo "Etrivex"
It has both positive reviews and recommendations from doctors. However, you need to use it at home with extreme caution - it contains a hormonal substance.
Shampoo "Etrivex"

Shampoos relieve the symptoms of psoriasis - itching, flaking. As a result, the plaques gradually disappear. However, they cause an addictive effect and only act for the duration of use.

Contraindications for each product are individual.

It is convenient to use ultraviolet 311 nm in combination with shampoos. The method gives results after 2-3 weeks of treatment and provides long-term remission of scalp psoriasis.

How to eat healthy

Nutrition is of particular importance as it affects metabolism, the disturbances of which underlie the disease. It is useless to treat psoriasis without following a diet. Important: in the patient’s diet, 70% should be products of plant origin and only 30% should be animal products. Recommended to use:

any fruits and vegetables (fresh, boiled, stewed) except those prohibited;
fresh juices; Citrus juices are especially useful; lemon juice can be used as a salad dressing;
more clean water.

Limit consumption (no more than a few times a week):

lean meat and fish;
low-fat cottage cheese and fermented milk products;
cereals;
some fruits and berries: plums, currants, cranberries, blueberries.

Exclude from the diet:

fat meat;
fatty dairy products;
sweets, baked goods;
vegetables from the nightshade family: tomatoes, eggplants, hot and bell peppers;
all spicy, sour, smoked, fried, canned foods;
drinks: sweet soda, cocoa, strong coffee, tea, alcohol.

Results

Psoriasis is a systemic disease that manifests itself not only on the skin.

Affects the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. This disease disrupts the functioning of the adrenal glands, liver, and metabolic processes. Therefore, it is necessary to treat comprehensively, to influence those organs that are not working correctly. Psoriasis is not contagious. Some types of psoriasis can be treated at home : vulgar, seborrheic, palmoplantar, guttate. And also psoriasis on the elbows, legs, face, head.

How to treat psoriasis at home? Methods:

ultraviolet 311 nm;
tablets for psoriasis;
external agents (ointments, creams, gels);
shampoos for the treatment of psoriasis on the head;
folk remedies (external and internal).

For the treatment of psoriasis in no more than 20% of the body, a complex: ointment (shampoo) and ultraviolet 311 nm gives good results. Persistent remission is observed after 2-3 months of treatment.

With the severity of the disease, where the disease has spread to more than 20% of the body, you need to consult a doctor. A competent dermatologist will select a treatment package and the required dosage of medications.

Preventive measures for psoriasis on the hands

Prevention measures should concern not only psoriasis of the skin of the hands, but also nails. The rash may spread to them.

Basic rules to follow:

Regular moisturizing of the skin. For this purpose, special creams are used. Without dyes and flavors. Preferably on a natural basis. An example is Losterin cream. Its composition is based on deresined naphthalan, D-panthenol, salicylic acid, almond oil and urea. The components of the cream soften the epidermis and have high nutritional properties.
Nail plate care. Nutrition and hydration. You can use pure esters of lemon, orange and lavender. They prevent delamination.
Elimination of irritating factors. Especially during an exacerbation. The use of decorative cosmetics should be limited. Contact less with household chemicals, and wear gloves when doing household chores. In cold weather, you need to protect your hands from wind and frost with wool and leather gloves.

If you follow these rules and consult a doctor on time, the likelihood of relapse is significantly reduced.