Psoriasis diagnosis

Written By The HealthMeth Team - Updated On Saturday, March 13, 2021 6:00 PM

Overview

Psoriasis , also known as psoriasis or psoriasis, is a non-infectious disease, in which the development of skin cells occurs rapidly, leading to the formation of layers of skin that are crusty and thick, causing itching and discomfort, and psoriasis is an autoimmune disease , as the immune activity The abnormal self-nature that occurs in psoriasis patients causes an increase in the development of skin cells, for example the cycle of replacing skin cells in non-infected people takes approximately 21-28 days, while it may take approximately 2-6 days only in psoriasis patients, and it should be noted The symptoms of psoriasis tend to return and disappear in the form of episodes, as its symptoms develop and intensify in certain periods, while they improve and decrease in severity in other periods, ranging from one month to 12 months in each episode. [1]


Psoriasis symptoms may start or get worse after exposure to certain triggers, such as: skin infection or sore throat , exposure to stress and tension, sunburn or skin wounds, in addition to practicing some negative behaviors; Such as smoking and alcoholism, and having low levels of vitamin "D" below normal limits and using certain types of medications may also trigger psoriasis symptoms. [2]

To learn more about psoriasis, you can read the following article: ( What is psoriasis and what is its treatment ) .


Psoriasis is considered a chronic disease, and it is worth noting the need to keep to the doctor constantly and follow-up the case, as the patient's subjection to appropriate treatment helps to control the condition and reduce various infections in the body, thus reducing the possibility of developing complications. [3]

To learn more about psoriasis complications, read the following article: ( Complications of Psoriasis ) .


Psoriasis diagnosis

So far, there is no specific tool or special and accurate laboratory blood tests that help diagnose psoriasis accurately, but fortunately the diagnosis of psoriasis is often clear to some extent, and the treating physician relies on diagnosing the condition on a set of methods, and the most prominent of which is: (4) ]


Physical examination

One of the most important diagnostic methods for confirming or denying psoriasis is a physical examination and revealing the nature of the symptoms that a person is complaining about, in which the doctor inquires about the symptoms that the patient suffers from, examines and reveals the skin areas affected by the symptoms, and searches for any signs and symptoms that may be associated with psoriasis. , Such as: the appearance of redness, skin peels, and infections, as well as taking into account any abnormal changes in the skin and nails , [5] It should be noted that the symptoms of psoriasis may differ according to the type, and the details of that come: [6]

  • Psoriasis Allohristih: , causing psoriasis Alluigih the appearance of plaques and red patches, covered with scales with white color to silver, as this type mainly affects the bottom area of the back, knees , and elbows, in addition to the scalp, and is the most common psoriasis types , [6] According to the American Academy of Dermatology , this type represents a rate of 80-90% of the cases of psoriasis. [7]
  • Guttate psoriasis : Also known as guttate psoriasis, it causes small red spots all over the body, and often appears on the chest, legs, and arms, [6] and this type represents 10% of cases of psoriasis. . [4]
  • Psoriasis pustular: , affecting adults by more than children, and their symptoms appearance protrusions painful filled with pus, so that the area skin surrounding the bumps swollen and red, and when dry may leave behind blotching scaly brown color, referred to as They usually appear on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
  • Psoriasis flexures: , characterized by her appearance in the plies areas of the body; Such as under the chest or armpits, and the groin area, and it is indicated that it results in redness, sore, and shiny skin.
  • Psoriasis roasted skin: , is considered a severe case are rare , accompanied by the emergence of some symptoms; Such as redness of skin areas with large areas of the body that appear to be burning, severe pain, itching, and loss of fluids that cause damage to the skin, and this condition may be accompanied by rapid heartbeat, and this condition may affect the person's ability to maintain a constant body temperature; This in itself causes them to feel extremely hot or cold.
  • Psoriatic arthritis: , represents one of the types of arthritis may develop in patients with psoriasis, and cause this type swollen joints, stiffness, and a sense of oryx, may affect any of the joints of the body, but it mostly affects the joints of the hands, The feet, the knee, the neck, the spine, or the elbows. [8]


Family and medical history

The diagnosis also includes inquiring about the family and genetic history of the sufferer when an individual is suspected of having psoriasis, as it has been found that the genetic role may play a role in the development of psoriasis. [5] According to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance People with psoriasis suffer from one of their family members from psoriasis as well, [9] and medical history has an important role in the diagnosis. The use of some types of medicines or following certain factors and lifestyles may increase the likelihood of developing psoriasis or increase its severity, [5] and there are some factors And other triggers that may increase the likelihood of developing psoriasis or making its symptoms worse, have been previously reported. [2]


Other checks

There are some tests that may help differentiate psoriasis from other health problems that may result in symptoms similar to those of psoriasis, including biopsy. But it should be noted that it is one of the rare methods used in the diagnosis of psoriasis, in which the doctor takes a small sample from the person’s skin under local anesthesia, and then it is examined carefully under a microscope, in addition to that there are other tests that are done to detect certain types of psoriasis, and it is possible Explain that in some detail as follows: [10]


Tests for psoriatic arthritis

There are some tests that may help detect psoriatic arthritis and rule out other conditions, and among the most important of these tests are the following: [11]

  • Blood tests: includes detection of several things, including the following:
    • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); This test gives an estimate of the extent of inflammation in the body, and the rate of red blood cell deposition may increase in cases of psoriatic arthritis, and other diseases may lead to an increase in it as well. Such as autoimmune disease, infection, tumors , or liver disease, and it may be elevated in pregnant women as well.
    • Iron test, in some cases, people with psoriatic arthritis may have anemia, or a low number of healthy red blood cells.
    • The antigen test (HLA-B27), as more than half of people with psoriatic arthritis with spine inflammation have this genetic marker, so detection of it is an effective diagnostic method for confirming psoriasis.
    • Other blood tests, such as analysis of rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), as these tests are performed to rule out rheumatoid arthritis.
  • X-ray imaging: , as the X-ray image helps to reveal the presence of any changes in the structure of cartilage, or joint and bone damage that may be related to arthritis in the spine, hands, or feet, and in this Context It is indicated that the image obtained when performing this type of imaging differs in the case of psoriatic arthritis than that obtained when performing X-ray imaging for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
  • Joint fluid test: In which the doctor withdraws a sample of fluid from one of the joints in which a person feels pain, to rule out gout , by detecting the extent of uric acid accumulation in joint fluids.
  • Bone density analysis: Psoriatic arthritis causes a decrease in bone density . Your doctor may want to measure bone strength to facilitate and limit the diagnosis.


Tests for guttate psoriasis

The doctor may be able to diagnose guttate psoriasis by performing a physical examination, detecting the apparent skin symptoms, and inquiring about the patient's medical history and the nature of the medications the person uses, and in many cases he may resort to taking a blood sample or a swab from the throat to detect the presence of streptococcus bacteria. It may be a trigger for guttate psoriasis, and a biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis accurately. [12]


Tests for pustular psoriasis

After the doctor reveals the symptoms and inquires about the person’s medical history, the patient may be asked in severe cases to undergo some tests. Such as blood tests that reveal the number of white blood cells , and tests to detect the efficiency of liver and kidney function, and levels of phosphate, calcium , and electrolytes . [13]


Diagnosis of the degree of psoriasis

The evaluation and determination of the degree of psoriasis plays a role in choosing the appropriate treatment for the person’s condition, and can also be used to infer the extent of improvement resulting from following the treatments. The severity of the degree of psoriasis has been divided into moderate, moderate, and severe, and is classified according to several factors. Including, the area of ​​the body affected by psoriasis, the severity of the symptoms resulting from the injury, the extent of the impact of the injury and the symptoms on the daily life of the injured, and the details of that follow: [14]

  • Moderate psoriasis: The area of ​​the body affected by psoriasis in this case is less than 3% of the total skin area, and this means the appearance of separate spots on the extremities and scalp, and psoriasis is considered moderate if the symptoms resulting from it are controlled by using some topical medications that It is applied to the skin, or if it has little effect on the quality and manner of daily life.
  • Moderate psoriasis: The area of ​​the body affected by psoriasis ranges between 3-10% of the total skin area, and this means that its symptoms may affect the arms, legs, scalp, and trunk, and psoriasis is considered moderate if it is not able to control the resulting symptoms By using some topical medications that are applied to the skin, or if their effect on the quality and way of daily life is significant.
  • Severe psoriasis: Psoriasis is referred to as severe if the affected body area exceeds 10% of the total body skin area, or if it affects an area of ​​the face, the palms of the hands, or the soles of the feet, and psoriasis is also considered severe if the symptoms cannot be controlled. Resulting from it through the use of some topical medications that are applied to the skin, or if their effect on the quality and way of daily life is very severe.


Advice and advice for psoriasis patients

There are many tips that help a person with psoriasis cope with the disease, and relieve symptoms resulting from it, and the most prominent of which can be explained as follows: [15]

  • Follow a healthy diet: Eating certain foods and drinking certain types of drinks may contribute to an increase in the severity of symptoms, so it is advised to stay away from and reduce them as much as possible, including: sugar, white flour, red meat, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, and drinks that contain caffeine . All of them are substances that may stimulate the occurrence of inflammation, and on the other hand it is advised to focus on eating foods that may relieve skin irritation, such as: pineapple, broccoli, and spinach.
  • Reducing stress and tension: It is recommended to control stress as much as possible, and this can be achieved by practicing various relaxation techniques. Like meditation, this by itself will help reduce the severity of psoriasis symptoms.
  • Exercising : walking, jogging, swimming, and yoga . Exercising in the open air for a suitable period and being exposed to sunlight on a daily basis will stimulate the production of vitamin "D" and reduce the incidence of infections.
  • Moisturizing the skin: Care and care must be taken to moisturize the skin twice a day at least.
  • Acceptance of the shape of the skin: It is advised to avoid negative thoughts related to the effect of the disease on the person’s skin and its general appearance, while making sure to follow the principle of self-support and encouragement, and using phrases that improve the mood, as feeling positive and optimistic plays a role in enhancing the function of the immune system, and this is reflected positively on the person’s psyche. And his body, and thus this contributes to greatly easing the psychological symptoms of the disease.
  • Losing weight in cases of obesity: Some studies have shown that reducing excess weight can contribute to reducing the severity of psoriasis. [16]


References

  1. "What to know about psoriasis" , medicalnewstoday , Retrieved 12 13-2019 . Edited.
  2. ^ A b "Psoriasis" , Www.mayoclinic.org , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  3. "The whole-body effect of psoriatic disease" , www.psoriasis.org , Retrieved 12 13-2019 . Edited.
  4. ^ A b "Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin." , www.psoriasis.org , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  5. ^ A b v "Psoriasis Diagnosis" , www.news-medical.net The , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  6. ^ A b v "What does a psoriasis rash look like ?" , www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 18-12-2019. Edited.
  7. "WHAT IS PSORIASIS?" , www.aad.org , Retrieved 18-12-2019. Edited.
  8. "psoriatic arthritis" , www.nhs.uk , Retrieved 18-12-2019. Edited.
  9. "Psoriasis - A simple explanation" , www.papaa.org , Retrieved 19-12-2019. Edited.
  10. "Psoriasis" , www.mayoclinic.org , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  11. "Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis and Tests" , www.webmd.com , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  12. "Guttate Psoriasis" , www.webmd.com , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  13. "Pustular Psoriasis" , www.webmd.com , Retrieved 13-12-2019. Edited.
  14. "How Severe Is Your Psoriasis?" , www.webmd.com , Retrieved 14-12-2019. Edited.
  15. "How I live with psoriasis every day" , www.psoriasis.org , Retrieved 14-12-2019. Edited.
  16. "How can diet affect psoriasis?" , www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 19-04-2020. Edited.