When it comes to lichen, a skin disease of various etiologies is implied. Equally, the only manifestation of this disease is a rash, which consists of small, itchy nodules.
As a rule, the onset of the disease is preceded by prolonged stress or reduced immunity in humans. More often, children are deprived because their immunity is considered to be weak. The disease is transmitted by household. How to recognize time to time?
What looks like a zoster in a person: the very first symptoms
Depriving a lot of species, but they all have common features:
- lighter or darker spots appear on the skin;
- the affected areas are flaky, itchy, and the hair located on them falls out;
- the general condition of the patient is not disturbed.
When the first signs appear, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. You can never self-medicate because one type of lichen can be easily confused with another, and the treatment can be very different.
Only a qualified doctor will be able to correctly and accurately diagnose, and then the treatment will give a quick and positive result. If you miss the time, the virus spreads, and the consequences can last forever.
Causes of lichen
The reasons for the occurrence of depriving a person are only two. Since this disease is infectious, the pathogens are a variety of viruses and fungal microflora. Why do some people get sick and others not? Doctors cannot answer this question.
It is believed that the case in the weakening of immunity. Most often, the disease develops in people who have suffered a strong emotional shock, or have a history of chronic diseases, or genetic predisposition. The duration and nature of the course in patients is very different, no pattern has been identified.
Types of pathogens:
- Zooanthrophilous fungi provoke the development of depriving people and animals. They are transmitted from a sick animal to a person.
- Anthropophilic fungi can only infect humans; they are transmitted only from a sick healthy person.
- Geophilic fungi infect humans after contact with the ground.
- Viruses cause pink or shingles. Several of these types of virus are in the body of a healthy person, but do not manifest themselves, and only under certain circumstances cause the disease.
Varieties of depriving a person
As mentioned above, there are several varieties. Each of them is unique in its own way and this requires a more detailed description of each of them.
- Pink lichen;
- Ringworm;
- Shingles;
- Pityriasis (varicolored) versicolor;
- Lichen planus;
- Simple (white) versicolor.
Pink lichen
It happens more often in young girls or children in the autumn-spring period, the cause of the disease is the virus, presumably, herpes. This kind of lichen is non-contagious.
Signs and symptoms: first, a round focus appears on the body, but after a week some more similar ones appear. They never form plaques. Patients noted itching and slight soreness.
Children sometimes have headaches, weakness and loss of appetite, symptoms of a cold. After three weeks, the lesions fade and disappear. Without timely or improper treatment, it can turn into eczema.
What it looks like: a spot of light red or pink-yellow color with peeling inside, and a red border around the periphery, the affected area protrudes slightly above the skin. Its diameter is approximately one to two centimeters.
Ringworm (microsporia)
Most often, this kind of sick children, infection occurs from animals, it is they who carry the fungus trichophyton. The disease is very contagious and is transmitted by contact.
Signs and symptoms: rashes are red, they tend to merge. Foci can be located anywhere on the body. In the place of the defeat break off the hair, and then fall out.
What it looks like: the spots have clear contours and they are red in color, there is a roller around the edges consisting of bubbles of pink color. In the center of the hearth is a lighter color with grayish scales.
Shingles
It is more common in older people in the fall or winter. The cause of the disease is the herpes virus zoster, which is the cause of chickenpox. People who have not had this disease before can become infected by the patient.
Signs and symptoms: the disease begins acutely, there is a burning sensation and pain occurs, flu symptoms appear, after a while small rashes appear. They are located along one of the sensory nerves.
As it looks: reddish spots of a round or irregular shape, They are raised above the skin and swollen. Later, bubbles of various sizes appear successively. Bubbles are located in isolation, but close to each other.
Pityriasis (varicolored) versicolor
The causative agent of this disease is a yeast, most often it affects young people and children after 10 years, suggesting that only genetically susceptible people can get it.
Signs and symptoms: spots appear most often on the back, chest, in the armpits, from there they go to the side surfaces of the body, shoulders and abdomen. Feet and hands are not affected. Spots are isolated and have a multi-colored color. The affected skin is covered with scaly skin.
What it looks like: spots of various sizes from yellow-ocher to dark brown. Outlines and oval, and round, and cylindrical, merge into large pockets that resemble a geographical map.
Red lichen planus
It is a chronic disease, most affected women 50-60 years old. The etiology is not known, presumably viral.
The first rash disappears in a few weeks, but can return throughout life. With this type of lichen, severe itching is observed.
What it looks like: small nodules with a shiny surface (shine is a characteristic feature of this species of depriving), sharply delimited from the surrounding skin. Their color is dark red, bluish, and, in some cases, brownish. In the very center of some nodules there is a small indentation. They sometimes merge.
Simple (white) versicolor
Probably the most mysterious of all types of depriving. This disease has not yet been explained in terms of etymology. Diagnosing depriving, its symptoms and methods of treatment cause questions among many doctors. Boys from 3-16 years old are ill with this variety, then self-healing occurs most often. Presumably the causative agent is a fungus.
Signs and symptoms: This versicolor is not aggressive. It is located on the side surfaces of the cheeks, shoulders and hips. In adults, as in children, this versicolor passes away without causing any worries.
What it looks like: painless spots of whitish color, slightly elevated above the surface of the skin, have fuzzy contours and occasionally finely peel off.
Conclusion
A huge role in the onset of the disease plays the correct differential diagnosis. It is carried out based on the initial distinguishing features. Such as:
- Ringworm is characterized by the appearance of a spot with jagged edges, it peels off, white crusts appear. The location of this lesion is usually on the hairy part of the body and may itch a little. The patient is very contagious and it is necessary to urgently contact the attending physician;
- Pink versicolor manifested pink, slightly flaky, stained, with a red rim. It starts with one, but after a while there are more. Foci can be located anywhere on the body;
- The main symptom of shingles is pain in the affected areas, rashes look like chickenpox. Inside the bubbles there is a liquid and, bursting, it forms crusts;
- Lichen planus can be recognized by bumps, red, they merge with each other. Characterized by severe itching;
- Pityriasis versicolor on light skin can be immediately and not notice, subtle spots scaly a little.
In case of revealing any signs of depriving immediately consult a doctor. Be healthy!
Additional information about lichen is in the next video.
