What You Need To Know About Scalp Psoriasis – Part 1

What Is Scalp Psoriasis?

When your immune system sends faulty signals and skin cells grow too quickly, this skin disease happens. Often with silvery scales, these pile up in red patches. Having it on the scalp is at least half the people with psoriasis. You can also get it on the forehead, behind the ears as well as down the back of your neck. 

Who Can Get It?

From someone else who has it, you can’t catch scalp psoriasis. It doesn’t come to be contagious. Whereas it is hereditary. Passed along in your family’s genes are these conditions. Having at least one person in their family with the disease are most people who get psoriasis. 

Symptom: Red And White Patches

It is found that Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the disease. It comes looking like areas of thick, swollen, red patches with well-defined edges. The silvery-white scales are found on top of these areas. Be gentle with yourself when you comb your hair, shampoo, or put on and take off hats as its easy to knock them off and cause bleeding. 

What You Can Do

Helping with scales are salicylic shampoos and other solutions. High potency steroids in the form of creams, gels, solutions, and foams are prescribed by the doctors. You may want to try others on your scalp whereas creams can be greasy. Directly on damp skin, it might help to put clobetasol foam, a corticosteroid. It is also available in a prescription spray. 

Symptom: Dry And Flaky Scalp

They tend to pile up and flake off as skin cells grow and reach the surface of your skin too fast. It comes looking like dandruff. Scalp psoriasis causes a silvery sheen and dry scales unlike that. Being waxy or greasy can the dandruff be. 

Shampoo For A Dry And Flaky Scalp

Helping in treatment are several kinds both over the counter and prescription. For thin plaques try selenium sulfide (1%), zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole (an anti-yeast OTC medicine), as well as tar-based ones.  

Salicylic acid shampoos can work well for thicker scales. For every person not all of these works. If it doesn’t work, switch to another after you try one for a few weeks. 

When you would normally lather up, use the medicated shampoo first. Afterward, it is OK to use your regular shampoo and conditioner. Coming a bit smelly are the tar-based options. 

Symptom: Itchiness

One of the toughest parts of having psoriasis is this. It may appear intense and non-stop. It feels like a burning sensation for some people. 

Try not to scratch no matter how bad it gets. It can break open the skin and make you bleed while it may feel good at the moment. It results in setting you up for hair loss and possible infection. 

It can be a sign of an infection if you spot swollen lymph nodes. So that you can get treated, talk with your doctor. 

Moisturize And Cool To Stop The Itch

Lotions, moisturisers, or even heavy ointments like petroleum jelly are the first things you might want to try. For an extra soothing effect, chill them in the refrigerator before you use them. Giving you reliefs are cool water or cold packs. 

Try An Overnight Treatment

Two options are mineral oil-based Baker P&S solution or Derma-Smoothe FS scalp oil. To loosen scales, put on either at night and cover with a shower cap. Shampoo off in the morning. 

Cut The Itch With Apple Cider Vinegar

Using this on the scalp for a few times a week are some people. It may burn a bit when you put it on as it's long been used as a disinfectant. To cut the sting, you can mix it with equal parts of water. There are some who use it full strength and then rinse once it dries. If you have cracks or open skin don’t try this one. It is sure to hurt. To notice a difference in itchiness it may take a few weeks. Check with your doctor before you try natural remedies in general. 

Tea Tree Oil

There aren’t any studies to prove it whereas this is another natural remedy that some people say gives them relief. With this oil in it as an ingredient pick up shampoo. Try a little bit on your arm to see if you react before you go all in. Some people may be allergic to it. 

The Continuation 

We bring you more remedies and medications in the next part. So, stay tuned.