Among psoriasis, facial psoriasis is always a concern for people with skin diseases. The disease does not affect health but makes many people feel guilty and inferior. To get rid of psoriasis in the face, please learn about the treatment in the article below.
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Causes of facial psoriasis
Facial psoriasis is a skin disease that belongs to the group of psoriasis . The disease mainly affects the skin with skin symptoms forming red, swollen, white scaly lesions or sometimes causing itching and bleeding.
According to experts, currently psoriasis in the facial skin has not had an exact cause. However, it is judged that the disease is caused by an immune system disorder.
Normally, the T lymphocytes have the function of identifying bacteria and viruses that enter the body so that they can be killed. But when infected, the cells are indistinguishable and attack healthy skin epidermal cells and cause them to die faster.
In addition, many studies believe that the disease is discovered due to the following factors:
- Genetic factors: Diseases and genetic factors are closely related. This means that if someone in the family has a loved one who is sick, the risk of you getting sick is quite high.
- Infection: The immune system is weakened by the onset of streptococcal bacteria. Not cleaning or using detergent can make the situation worse.
- Skin damage: The skin of the face that is cut or scratched also causes the facial skin to become scaly.
- Immune system disorders: The immune system attacks the body’s cells instead of attacking viruses or bacteria. Causes damage to skin cells, forcing skin cells to proliferate, causing psoriasis.
- Fatigue: Body fatigue, psychological instability due to insufficient sleep. Or living in a polluted environment, work stress is also a cause of psoriasis.
- Sun: Regular exposure to the sun on the face causes damage to the skin as well as facilitates the formation of psoriasis on the skin of the face.
- Other causes: Obesity, corticosteroid abuse, vitamin D deficiency, and consumption of stimulant drinks are also responsible for the formation of psoriasis in the facial skin.
Manifestations of facial psoriasis
Facial psoriasis also has symptoms similar to conventional psoriasis. The signs of facial psoriasis can be listed as:
- The skin of the face of a person with psoriasis will often get dry and cracked. The surface of the skin will have thick layers of horny, white or pink scales that are peeled like fish scales.
- Red lesions will occur on the skin, these lesions 2 – 3cm in diameter. Causing an itchy sensation, the patient must frequently scratch, if the condition persists, it can cause bleeding, infection and leave some complications.
- The brim of the eyelids are redder and stiffer than usual, and can be raised or lowered, causing eye strain or even inflammation.
- This scaly layer can appear in the mouth as the area in the cheeks, nose, on the lips, gums or tongue. These scales are white or gray in color.
- In addition, psoriasis on the face can appear more on the cheeks, upper lip, oily skin or hairline.
Is facial psoriasis dangerous?
Facial psoriasis does not pose a risk to life. This is just a common skin disease, just soon detected and actively treated, the disease will quickly subside. However, if left for a long time, the disease can cause harmful effects such as:
- Hypertension: According to research, people with psoriasis are more likely to increase blood pressure than normal people and account for about 20%.
- Obesity and diabetes: Drugs for the treatment of psoriasis can cause obesity, which increases blood sugar levels.
- Psychology: People with facial psoriasis tend to have low self-esteem, inferiority complex and lead to prolonged depression.
- Eye effects: Psoriasis on the eyelids after a while will cause dry eyes, itching and confusion with pupil movement. Case leading to inflammation of the eyelids is likely to impair vision.
Treatments for psoriasis in the face
Currently, dermatologists believe that facial psoriasis has not yet found a thorough treatment, so measures such as the use of drugs and phototherapy are being used to improve condition and help stabilize in the long run. Specifically:
1. Use medicine to treat psoriasis in the face
The facial skin is a sensitive area, as the facial skin is softer and weaker than the rest of the body. So the doctor will appoint the patient to use must be very careful. In addition, the use of drugs will help control cell growth, destroy keratosis, hydrate and limit damage.
- Synthetic Vitamin D: Has the effect of controlling the growth of skin cells, this vitamin can cause irritation to the skin, so be careful when used.
- Drugs containing low concentrations of corticosteroids: Drugs that reduce redness and swelling. The drug is recommended to be used several times a week, it is not allowed to use long-term because the drug can cause skin abrasion.
- Crisaborole ointment: This is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of eczema or psoriasis due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
- Retinoids (vitamin A): This is a drug that helps to remove psoriasis to minimize swelling and inflammation, including the drug Tazarotene.
- Pimecrolimus (Elidel) and tacrolimus (Protopic): FDA-approved medications for eczema and psoriasis. However, doctors recommend that the drug should be used only for a short time, because it is closely linked with cancer.
- Coal tar (coal derivative): The drug has antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antipruritic and inhibits the proliferation of ginger and dendritic cells. The drug comes in many forms such as: gel, cream, ointment, soap.
- Salicylic Acid: The drug is indicated for use along with steroids or coal tar to help speed up the treatment process.
- Lotion, moisturizer: Although the product is not effective in treating psoriasis, it helps to reduce itching, improve dry, scaly skin.
2. Treatment of psoriasis with phototherapy
In addition to using medications for treatment, patients can also use phototherapy psoriasis treatments. This is a method of using light radiation shining on the skin’s surface to stimulate the production of B vitamins to help prevent immune cells from getting disrupted.
- Natural light: Use of natural light or artificial light to aid in the treatment of psoriasis patients.
- UVB Phototherapy: Ultraviolet rays are classified into UVA and UVB rays. In particular, UVB rays are used to treat psoriasis quite commonly because they can slow down the growth and peeling of skin cells.
- Measures Goeckerman: This is a combination of UVB rays and coal tar, this method is indicated for people with moderate – mild psoriasis.
- Excimer laser: This is a beam that helps focus the UVB light in the area of the psoriasis skin and does not affect the surrounding skin. This therapy is only to be used for subjects with moderate psoriasis.
3. Treat facial psoriasis with natural therapies
In addition to using medications, there are several home remedies that can be used with natural ingredients that are safe and less irritating to your skin. Some natural remedies you can consider:
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into 2 tablespoons of fresh milk and apply the mixture to the affected area of your face with psoriasis. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with water. Use it often to get better.
- Aloe vera: Use the gel inside the aloe vera leaf to gently moisturize the skin of the scaly face. Persistently do this once a day until the symptoms subside.
Effective prevention of facial psoriasis
In addition to treating psoriasis on the face, you should also improve your lifestyle, change a healthy living environment to help the treatment be most effective, for example:
- Keep your face clean, when going out on the street, pay attention to wear a mask and sunglasses.
- Add green vegetables and fruits containing vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E in the diet, help increase the body’s resistance.
- Regular exercise and sports for about 30 minutes a day to improve fitness.
- Limit the use of stimulants such as tobacco, alcohol, beer, and coffee. Limit red meat, dairy, and dairy products.
- Should pay attention and use the drug according to the prescription of the doctor and follow-up on time.
Psoriasis on the skin of the face, although not having a serious effect, causes loss of aesthetics, affecting the patient’s quality of life. This is a condition that needs long-term treatment, requires perseverance from the patient as well as incorporating a scientific lifestyle to help prevent outbreaks.
