Psoriasis is a disease which, because of too low social awareness, often causes exclusion. Meanwhile, psoriasis is not contagious and does not pose a threat to the environment of a sick person, so it should not cause fear or be a reason for rejection. Unfortunately, this is still happening very often, which is why I think it is worth getting to know her better and understand how important our support is for people who are struggling with it. Today on my blog about what psoriasis actually is, how it manifests itself and who it concerns.
Psoriasis, once confused with leprosy, nowadays considered an autoimmune disease, is a chronic disease characterized by periods of remission followed by exacerbations of the disease. Due to the fact that there are several types of this disease, the course can be very diverse and, unfortunately, if it manifests itself, it remains with the patient for life.

Psoriasis is one of the most common skin conditions with a typical symptom of scaly patches. It can affect anyone, but much more often than children suffer from adults, and it affects both women and men. Unfortunately, it is a disease that not only affects the patient's external appearance, but also very difficult his daily functioning, and what is worse is also the cause of mental disorders.

Too fast and bad

The skin of a healthy person needs about 28 days to regenerate, in people with psoriasis, the skin cells divide about 7 times faster, i.e. the process of their complete replacement takes about 4 days. It is excessive production of the epidermis that leads to the formation of lesions in people affected by psoriasis.

What's behind it?

Unfortunately, it is still difficult to answer this question unambiguously, genes and the immune system are blamed here, which for unknown reasons, instead of protecting us, turns against us, and chronic inflammation arises within the skin. There are also a number of factors that trigger psoriasis, increase its symptoms, or accelerate its recurrence. Belong to them:

• Infections, streptococcal infections are the most dangerous, but other bacteria, viruses and fungi can also trigger it. Particular attention should be paid to throat, ear and bronchial infections. These types of infections can lead to the first signs of drip psoriasis, most often diagnosed in children.
• Injuries, very often the symptoms of psoriasis appear or intensify as a result of mechanical damage to the skin, then we are talking about the Koebner phenomenon.
• Stress is also recognized as a factor that can activate psoriasis, cause its first symptoms, aggravate existing or reduce remission.
• Drugs, it happens that psoriasis increases as a result of taking certain medications, e.g. used to treat depression (containing lithium carbonate), beta-blockers, improper treatment with corticosteroids, and even some of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

It also happens that psoriasis is caused, accelerated by relapse or exacerbation of symptoms by other factors, e.g. hormonal disorders, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption or smoking.

The skin condition also changes with the changing seasons. In the winter, when we stay in heated rooms, the skin dries faster and the symptoms of psoriasis get worse, while in the summer, when the skin has more contact with the sun, the lesions decrease and sometimes even completely disappear.

Different types, different symptoms

Plaque psoriasis is most common, red plaques appearing on the skin, covered with white scales and clearly demarcated lesions from healthy skin. Plaques often occur symmetrically, and the most characteristic places where they appear are knees, elbows, the sacrum and the scalp. Patients also often complain of persistent itching, skin pruritus in places where lesions appear. In turn, drip psoriasis takes the form of small red, scaly, drop-like lesions that are most commonly located on the torso, limbs, and top of the head. This type of psoriasis is most common in children and adolescents. Pustular psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of small pustules filled with pus very often surrounded by erythema. Changes can occur all over the body, but most often they occur on the limbs. Inverted psoriasis occurs in the form of smooth red patches that appear mainly in the folds and folds of the skin, e.g. in the bends of the elbows, under the knees, under the breasts or in the groin. The affected skin is very delicate and prone to irritation, which is why inflammation often occurs in this form of the disease. Nail psoriasis, on the other hand, usually occurs with another type of psoriasis, although of course there are also cases when it is its only form. Patients notice indentations on the nails and psoriatic papules located under the plate and softened horn masses. The nails turn yellow or white, do not adhere to the ground, delaminate, and fall off in the acute course of the disease. The most severe form of psoriasis is psoriatic erythroderma. The changes occur all over the body, they are accompanied by persistent itching and pain, and the affected skin can go down with entire patches. The disease can be life-threatening, fortunately it is very rare.

How to care for sick skin?

Because the causes of the disease have not been fully understood, there is no drug that can cure psoriasis. The therapy is therefore only symptomatic and its task is to reduce the discomfort. Psoriasis treatment is also appropriate skin care, which, in combination with the preparations recommended by the doctor, can extend the period of remission. It is very important to use cosmetics designed for sensitive skin. It is necessary to constantly clean it, moisturize it and soothe irritation and itching. Cosmetics containing light ichthyol are often recommended, they help regulate the multiplication of skin cells and significantly reduce irritation, relieve itching, and thanks to their antibacterial and antiviral properties reduce the risk of infection. For skin care of people suffering from psoriasis, it is also recommended to use emollients that effectively protect the skin against water loss. It is also extremely important to use preparations that gently exfoliate the epidermis, e.g. those containing urea are recommended. It is absolutely necessary to give up soaps and replace them with foams, gels or emulsions without soap specially formulated for delicate skin. Cosmetics containing allergenic fragrances and dyes that may further irritate and dry the skin are also unsuitable. It should also be remembered that suffering from psoriasis, we can not afford to give up proper care, even during remission. If we properly care for our skin and follow the doctor's recommendations, we will significantly extend the asymptomatic period of the disease and make its recurrence more gentle.

In the treatment of psoriasis, phototherapy is also very often used, benefiting from the beneficial effects of UVA and UVB radiation. However, it should be remembered that not everyone can undergo this form of treatment, so it is very important that the doctor decides about it, who will also adapt the treatments to the individual needs of the patient and will constantly monitor the progress of treatment. In severe cases of psoriasis, it may be necessary to undergo biological therapy.

Psoriasis, although not infectious disease, unfortunately very often, is the cause of embarrassment and withdrawal from the lives of those affected. It happens that it leads to severe depression, which unfortunately leads to the resignation from treatment, intensifies the symptoms of the disease and threatens the patient's life. That is why it is very important not only to quickly start proper treatment, but also to spread information about psoriasis so that people in the patient's immediate environment can support him and help him go through a hard time when the symptoms of the disease are worse.

The weather has not spoiled us lately, the wind, rain and low temperatures came far too quickly. The effect of such a change in weather are colds, which many people now complain about. Clogged noses, bloodshot tired eyes, scratching throats, coughing and high temperature, typical symptoms that knock us off our feet and take away all our energy.

How to get on your feet quickly? Today on my blog a few home, natural ways to deal with colds.

1. Stay at home

This is the first and most important rule, if you feel you have a cold, stay home. As our grandmothers said, every cold must be properly "poured out" and "sweated". A sick body should not be exposed to constant temperature changes, so the best place for us for the next few days will be the bed and the "friend" of the warm quilt. Thanks to this, it will certainly be easier to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, avoid dangerous complications and get to our feet faster. It is really not worth leaving the house at this time, it does not make much sense to go to work when we have a cold, not only does our physical and intellectual fitness decrease, but we also become a real threat to other employees who will probably soon feel that " something undresses them. "

2.Garlic + honey + lemon

The wonderful properties of garlic are certainly known to our grandmothers, who with his help healed various types of infections.

Garlic copes well with pathogenic microorganisms, it is said to be a natural antibiotic, but in addition to bacteria, it also fights viruses and fungi that attack us. However, we must remember that it is best to consume it raw, after heat treatment it loses a lot of its beneficial properties. Therefore, when we have a cold, we can confidently grate it and put it on sandwiches, brick effect :).

Of course, this natural "real" honey combats harmful bacteria and viruses, has anti-inflammatory properties and helps us to get rid of persistent cough. However, this is not the end, honey provides our body with large amounts of vitamins and minerals it needs, thanks to which it effectively strengthens our immunity. Lime honey was used for my cold at home, but raspberry, acacia, buckwheat and multifloral are well-known in the case of infection.

Lemon contains a lot of vitamin C, which for years has been considered an excellent agent supporting the treatment of viral infections. In recent years, although opinions on this subject are divided, it does not hurt to try, vitamin C certainly will not hurt us, and maybe help.

How to prepare a cold syrup? Just a few (3-4) cloves of garlic (choose Polish), freshly squeezed lemon juice and slightly less than half (about 1/3) of a glass of honey. Garlic squeeze through a special press or grate on a grater and grind thoroughly, then mix it with lemon and honey. During a cold, it is enough if we drink 2-3 tablespoons of this natural syrup every day. We can also use it to strengthen our body prophylactically, then we only need one tablespoon a day.

3. Ginger tea

Ginger has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, fights bacteria and viruses, helps lower temperature, relieves sore throat, relaxes secretions and has expectorant effects. Ginger also works great as a means of strengthening our immunity, thanks to which we recover faster and we are less susceptible to further illnesses. Make yourself a tea with ginger and lemon and see what the effects of this treatment will be. Slice about 2 cm ginger root into thin slices or grate on a grater, pour hot water and brew together with tea, then add lemon juice and a little honey to it. Drink warm tea 2 times a day and warm up in bed properly, in this way you will certainly quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms of a cold and reduce the time of illness.

4. Infusion of cistus

Cistus is a very effective medicine for colds, it has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, it deals with viruses, bacteria and fungi very quickly, and it also perfectly increases the resistance of our body. All this thanks to polyphenols, whose purge contains a lot, thanks to which it effectively eliminates the action of free radicals. Cistus relieves a sore throat, clears nose and sinuses and relieves cough, is an excellent natural medicine that helps us quickly return to full form. It is also a good idea to drink the infusion of cistus as a preventive measure during periods when diseases affect us more often than usual. Pour a teaspoon of purge with hot water, cover and let it brew for a few minutes, then all you have to do is strain the brew and it's ready. You can enrich its taste and properties by adding some lemon juice to it and sweetening it with honey.

5. Turmeric + cinnamon + honey + milk

It is a mix of unique ingredients with truly wonderful properties, thanks to which you can quickly get rid of cold symptoms that bother you. Turmeric very quickly eliminates inflammation, is considered an effective natural drug that destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi and clearly improves the condition of our body. Turmeric allows you to quickly get rid of a sore throat, clears the nose and relieves coughing. Cinnamon works great in respiratory infections, has anti-inflammatory properties and, like turmeric, stimulates our immune system. If you want to try this unique mixture, mix a teaspoon of turmeric and cinnamon with warm milk (1 cup) and a tablespoon of honey, you can add a little ginger or a teaspoon of ground cardamom, which also has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, reduces swelling of the mucous membranes, making it easier for us breathing and perfectly soothes coughing. Be sure to season your drink with a little black pepper, which increases the absorption of curcumin. It is enough to drink such a drink once a day, remembering to keep it warm.

There are many more home remedies for colds, you probably have your proven and favorite ones. When using them, do not forget that each body reacts to the ingredients they contain differently, so take into account any possible allergic reactions, and if you feel really bad, better see a doctor. Home remedies may not be enough for you, and there is really no joke about illness.

More and more people suffer from digestive system diseases, mainly they suffer from indigestion, heartburn, stomach aches, constipation and diarrhea. Most often, the cause of these ailments is a bad diet, all you have to do is eat something heavy so that our digestive system refuses to obey us. It is therefore worth getting to know and include in the diet food products that can alleviate and even prevent digestive problems.

1. Fermented products

Such as yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, pickled cucumbers, cabbage and beets contain a lot of beneficial bacteria - probiotics. They beneficially change the composition of the intestinal flora, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, support digestion, the immune system and increase resistance to infection. Probiotics are also helpful in combating diarrhea caused by antibiotic therapy, relieve symptoms of indigestion, constipation, bloating and effectively support therapy in irritable bowel syndrome.

2. Whole grain products

There are many reasons why whole grains should be eaten. One of them is probably that the grains are an excellent source of insoluble fiber, thanks to which intestinal motility improves, constipation and unpleasant symptoms associated with hemorrhoids disappear faster. Insoluble dietary fiber is also great at cleansing the body of toxins and by-products of metabolism, and prevents colon cancer. The sources of fiber are primarily whole grains, such as pasta, bread, brown rice, seeds, nuts, as well as zucchini, celery, onions, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, raisins, grapes and dark green leafy vegetables.

3. Oatmeal

It's a rich source of water-soluble fiber, that's why when added to water or milk they turn into a slurry. Products containing soluble fiber are recommended for anyone who has a problem with irregular bowel movements. We are talking about both constipation and diarrhea, fiber perfectly affects the work of the digestive system, cleanses the intestines and restores regularity of bowel movements. It is also perfect for people who want to lose a few unnecessary kilograms, because fiber swelling under the influence of water keeps the feeling of satiety for a long time. In addition, fiber regulates blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition to oatmeal, you'll also find it in oatmeal, peas, lentils, apples, strawberries, oranges, beans, cucumbers, nuts and flax seeds.

4. Fish

Fish is a healthy addition to any diet. It is believed that they are rich in protein valuable for our body, and contained in fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel omega-3 fatty acids, protect against cardiovascular diseases, reduce the level of triglycerides in the body, slow down the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels and regulate blood pressure. In addition, eating fish has a beneficial effect on the state of the large intestine, protecting it against inflammation and cancer.

5. Ginger

Ginger is great at alleviating stomach problems. It is widely used as a natural remedy in the treatment of nausea and diarrhea. He is also very good at eliminating the symptoms of motion sickness and reducing nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy and chemotherapy.