Pityriasis is a fungal disease that affects the epidermis. The disease manifests itself by the appearance of pigment spots on the skin, which over time can combine into large affected areas.
The content of the article:
Causes of pityriasis
Symptoms of pityriasis
Diagnosis of pityriasis
Treatment of pityriasis
Prevention of pityriasis
Pityriasis
The color of the spots can be yellow, pink, brown with characteristic peeling, there is no inflammation. Bran-like lichen got its name because of its typical peeling. It is also called multicolored lichen due to the acquisition of different shades that appear with the disease. The solar fungus also belongs to the varieties of pityriasis. When receiving sunbathing, infected areas of the skin acquire a brighter shade. Treatment is carried out with antifungal ointments and wipes, shampoos and medications. Also, antimycotic therapy is used for common forms of lichen.
Also, pityriasis can very often be found in pregnant women, since the hormonal background is disturbed and therefore the barrier function of the body is reduced, it becomes even easier to catch lichen. But there are also advantages in this situation, lichen is not transmitted to the child and does not harm his health in any way. When lichen appears, you should immediately consult a doctor and not be treated at home, since not all drugs can be taken by pregnant women. Treatment will consist in the use of antifungal and antiviral drugs. It may also be prescribed to wipe the spots of pityriasis with vinegar.
When symptoms of itching appear, antihistamines are prescribed.
Pityriasis also occurs in children, whose infection can be picked up through public items or through animals. The disease proceeds without signs for about two weeks, then manifests itself with spots of different sizes. Localized on the shoulders or back. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor and with the help of drugs such as tar ointment or iodine tincture.
Causes of pityriasis
Pityriasis is a member of the keratomycosis group. This is a fungal disease, during which only the stratum corneum of the epidermis is affected. Infection with such a disease occurs as a result of close physical contact with the patient.
The main factors that establish a favorable environment in the body for the development of the disease are a violation of the immune system, diabetes mellitus, obesity or excessive sweating in the presence of a disease such as pulmonary tuberculosis. Frequent use of soap-type products and thereby a decrease in the barrier function of the skin, sun exposure to the skin due to excessive tanning in the sun or in a solarium can also cause the appearance of pityriasis.
Also, scientists with the help of various studies have proved that pityriasis is transmitted quite simply. You only need to contact a person infected with an infection, or use his personal items once, for example, a comb or a towel, and you are already a carrier of the same disease.
Symptoms of pityriasis
Pityriasis is characterized by the multiplication of pathogens in the upper layer of the epidermis, which leads to disruption of the work of melanocytes, cells that produce melanin, which gives the skin color. The disease begins in the sac of the hair follicle, then the spot gradually increases or even combines with neighboring areas.
With pityriasis, the spots have a size of about one centimeter in diameter, during the course of the disease, the spots increase, merge together. These spots do not protrude above the surface of the skin and have no signs of inflammation. The shade of the spots may be different, the stratum corneum of the epidermis flakes off and is easily detected when scratching the skin.
Pityriasis is localized on the skin of the back and chest. It can also be expressed on the neck or side of the trunk. As a rule, patients do not feel any special sensations, but in some cases there is itching.
Pityriasis develops over several years. If systematic therapy is not followed, relapses are possible.
Diagnosis of pityriasis
Pityriasis is often diagnosed at a consultation with a dermatologist. In order to confirm the diagnosis, an iodine test of the Balser is carried out and it consists in applying an alcohol solution to the skin.
Luminescent diagnostics is carried out in a darkened room, it reveals red-yellow fluorescence of spots. Examination of scraping under a microscope with pityriasis helps to identify fungal particles in the scales of the epidermal layer.
Treatment of pityriasis
Recently, quite a lot of medications have been developed for the treatment of pityriasis, but still some patients have relapses of this disease. This happens when the patient, during treatment, again infects himself by using poorly treated previously objects that the patient touched.
In some cases, it happened when the patient, already being completely healthy, received the same diagnosis, infected himself with a poorly disinfected towel. This happens when preventive measures are not followed during the treatment of lichen. There is not enough literature that would describe how to get rid of pityriasis, how to properly process household items in order to prevent re-infection.
Treatment should be carried out comprehensively and only those drugs prescribed by the doctor should be used. Quite often, special creams, shampoos, ointments and solutions are used in the treatment of lichen. Among them, we can distinguish names that are quite familiar to us, such as boric acid and nizoral.
When large affected areas of the skin appear, pityriasis is prescribed daily intake of Griseofulvin or Fulcin tablets.
There are also many folk remedies for the treatment of pityriasis, for example, sweet rue or onion, simple lotions of burdock and cranberries. Sour cream is applied to a clean sheet of cabbage and used as a compress, juice is squeezed out of onions and the skin is rubbed with it.
Apple vinegar is lubricated with lichen-affected areas of the skin, this procedure is repeated several times a day. Sage leaves are finely chopped and mixed with cream, the skin is smeared with mush once a day.
But still, in order not to harm your body and not spoil your appearance, you should go to a doctor’s appointment.
Prevention of pityriasis
If we take into account the factor of the occurrence of lichen, which is a fungus located in the layers of the epidermis, it is necessary to remove the causes of its occurrence. The patient is forbidden to wear clothes that caused the disease. He is allocated several disinfected things to wear.
For a more accurate diagnosis, an iodine test is performed. An iodine solution is applied to the skin, the affected areas are wiped with alcohol and the reaction is monitored. Lichen spots after such a procedure turn dark brown. Also, to identify a pathological pathogen, the doctor prescribes an analysis for microscopic examination.
Prevention of pityriasis consists in disinfection of the room and all objects in order to prevent the spread of infection. If one of the family members is infected, the rest should be examined with a fluorescent lamp. Then all clothes and bed linen need to be washed and ironed on both sides with a hot iron. Visits to a dermatologist should not be stopped until he says that you are completely healthy.
