Is It Normal To Have Oily Hair With Acne
Oily hair is a sign of a scalp biome disorder. Believe it or not, the microbe that causes acne is a normal inhabitant of the healthy scalp, part of the scalp microbiome. When your scalp is healthy, this microbe is part of the bacterial community that lives in harmony with itself and with your skin.
Best shampoo and conditioner for menWhat is the best hair shampoo for men? The best mens shampoo for fine hair is Kevin Murphys Wash and Rinse because it strengthens the hair follicles and adds volume, making each strand thicker.Is shampoo better than conditioner?Conditioning shampoos may be better than two separate bottles if you shower every day or if you have curly or brittle hair. If you have fine or oily hair, use separate shampoo and câ¦
What To Look For In A Psoriasis Shampoo
One of the top recommendations for psoriasis shampoos, according to Rachel Maiman, MD, board-certified dermatologist at in NYC, is clobetasol, a topical steroid thats only available by prescription. Dr. Maiman explains that corticosteroids are helpful for psoriasis because they reduce immune system overactivity, which slows the rapid production of skin cells that causes excessive flaking. With that said, there are over-the-counter psoriasis shampoos that can be beneficial as well. Here are the ingredients the experts say to seek out in your shampoo formula:
What Is Psoriasis And Scalp Psoriasis Specifically
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that speeds up skin’s cell turnover. Normal skin turnover takes around three to four weeks, but when you have psoriasis, this process only takes a few days. Psoriasis in general is actually very common, affecting approximately eight million people in the US.
Like many skin conditions, the causes of psoriasis aren’t clear cut. “Psoriasis is caused by a complex interaction between genetics, the immune system, and environmental factors,” said Dr Wong, adding that generally, with psoriasis, “skin develops thickened, raised red plaques with a characteristic coarse, silvery scale.” In darker skin tones, “coloring can come across as more of a dark rose healing scab with slight exposure of pink underneath,” Hill told POPSUGAR. Psoriasis can also occur on many parts of your body, including your scalp.
Scalp psoriasis specifically presents the same as explained above but obviously is most prominent on the scalp and around the hairline. “The flaking in psoriasis can be very extreme and often causes a lot of embarrassment to people,” Dr Wong said. It’s important to note that the symptoms seen in psoriasis on the scalp are different from dandruff, despite them appearing similar to the untrained eye, which is why it’s important to seek medical advice and not self-diagnose.
Read Also: How To Prevent Guttate Psoriasis
What Are The Most Common Scalp Psoriasis Symptoms
Youre probably wondering, What does scalp psoriasis looks like? Generally, you might notice flaking or scaly patches of raised skin on your scalp first, Dr. Bhutani says. These patches can also be inflamed, thick, and swollen6, and sometimes extend to the forehead, the back of the neck, or behind the ears. On light skin tones, psoriasis plaques on the scalp typically appear pink or red with silvery scales. For people with dark skin, these lesions may range in color and appear salmon-y pink, silvery white, violet, or brown, depending on your specific skin tone7.
But the signs of scalp psoriasis go far beyond the physical effects. Scalp psoriasis, honestly, causes some of the largest impact on quality of life, Dr. Bhutani says. Thats because severe symptoms can interrupt sleep, create feelings of anxiety, and hurt a persons self-esteem, especially if the scalp psoriasis plaques are clearly visible.
In addition to plaques, other scalp psoriasis symptoms include6:
- An extremely itchy scalp that can be distracting
- A burning sensation or soreness on your scalp
- Cracked and/or bleeding skin from scratching too much or from having a dry scalp
- Temporary hair loss if you excessively touch your scalp or attempt to pick off your scales, which can forcibly remove hair follicles
Are There Any Ingredients In Hair Dye To Avoid If You Have Scalp Psoriasis
When it comes to avoiding certain ingredients in hair dye, the answer unfortunately isnt very simple. Hill recommended minimizing ammonia , as well as avoiding natural organic oils, as these can exacerbate psoriasis for some people. Dr Wong said people with more-sensitive scalps might want to avoid PPD, which is the most common cause of hair-dye allergies and skin irritation. However, she noted that if your psoriasis is under control, you shouldnt need to worry about avoiding certain ingredients.
If you are really worried about the dye but want to experiment with color and arent touching up your roots, Hill suggests trying a hair-color technique, like balayage, that keeps dyes off your scalp altogether. In addition to this, since the hairline is commonly affected by psoriasis, Dr Wong recommends using a thick, petroleum-based emollient like Vaseline to protect surrounding skin and behind your ears to minimize potential irritation from contact with dyes.
In short, if your psoriasis is particularly severe or flaring, you shouldnt dye your hair, as it could cause further irritation, but if your psoriasis is under control, there isnt any reason you need to avoid coloring your hair. If youre still uncertain, speak with your GP or dermatologist and visit a hair colorist who has experience with scalp conditions.
Also Check: Best Shampoo For Psoriasis Canada
Recommended Reading: Aloe Vera Plant For Psoriasis
Dont Dye During A Scalp Psoriasis Flare
If your scalp is highly inflamed, its a good idea to wait until your psoriasis calms down before playing with color. Thats because the dyes could cause further irritation, inflammation, and discomfort. I advise my patients to get their psoriasis under control before using chemicals of any kind on the scalp, says Pariser. If you get dermatitis on top of psoriasis, you can get weeping , crusting, and hair sticking together.
RELATED: Scalp Psoriasis? Tips You Can Try Today
Should You Go To A Professional Hair Colorist If You Have Scalp Psoriasis
The short answer is yes, simply because it reduces the risk of causing further irritation to your skin. On a practical level, if your scalp psoriasis presents on the back of your head or somewhere that’s difficult to see, you might not be aware of a flare or irritation if dyeing your hair at home.
“If someone is managing psoriasis, they should absolutely be working hand in hand with a colorist for the best approach, technique, product, and application that will inflict less harm and not trigger a psoriasis flare-up,” Hill said. During your appointment, you should always make the colorist aware of any hair or scalp issues that you have or have previously experienced, even if they aren’t active or flaring at the time, plus any allergies or sensitivity to products or ingredients, Dr Wong noted.
Everyone should have a patch test done before getting their hair dyed, but this is even more important for people who have psoriasis or are sensitive to dyes. Dr Wong recommends doing a small patch test by placing the dye on the scalp or neck or behind your ears to rule out allergy or irritation. She noted that even though dyes may be PPD-free , you may still have a sensitivity towards them.
If going to the salon isn’t something you want to do or cannot afford, Dr Wong said that as long as you “treat the flare first and restore the scalp back to health before dyeing your hair”, you should be fine dyeing your hair at home.
Recommended Reading: Can You Swim In A Pool With Psoriasis
Should You Go To A Professional Hair Colourist If You Have Scalp Psoriasis
The short answer is yes, simply because it reduces the risk of causing further irritation to your skin. On a practical level, if your scalp psoriasis presents on the back of your head or somewhere that’s difficult to see, you might not be aware of a flare or irritation if dyeing your hair at home.
“If someone is managing psoriasis, they should absolutely be working hand in hand with a colourist for the best approach, technique, product, and application that will inflict less harm and not trigger a psoriasis flare-up,” Hill said. During your appointment, you should always make the colourist aware of any hair or scalp issues that you have or have previously experienced, even if they aren’t active or flaring at the time, plus any allergies or sensitivity to products or ingredients, Dr Wong noted.
Everyone should have a patch test done before getting their hair coloured, but this is even more important for people who have psoriasis or are sensitive to dyes. Dr Wong recommends doing a small patch test by placing the dye on the scalp or neck or behind your ears to rule out allergy or irritation. She noted that even though dyes may be PPD-free , you may still have a sensitivity towards them.
If going to the salon isn’t something you want to do or cannot afford, Dr Wong said that as long as you “treat the flare first and restore the scalp back to health before dyeing your hair”, you should be fine dyeing your hair at home.
How Can You Tell If You Have Scalp Psoriasis Vs Dandruff
The color that red, pink or purple color is very distinguishing of scalp psoriasis, says Dr. Gohara. So are the dry, thick plaques, which can be silvery in color. Scalp psoriasis can also spread beyond the hairline and behind the ears. A dermatologist can help you determine what condition you have.
Don’t Miss: Is Sulphur Good For Psoriasis
Hair Dye And Psoriasis Flares
What if you need to dye your hair during a psoriasis flare? If you have a âcanât missâ hair color appointment on your calendar , do everything you can to prevent a flare from happening.
Keep up with your psoriasis treatment. For scalp psoriasis, treatment may include one or more of the following:
- Medicine applied to the scalp
- Medicated shampoos
Things That Are Making Your Scalp Psoriasis Worse
Scalp psoriasis, a condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches on your scalp, stems from the immune system yet unhealthy habits and environmental factors can trigger symptoms. Learn how to dodge the itchiness and flakes with these seven things that could be making the condition worse.
You May Like: Does Psoriasis Stay In One Spot
Do Scalp Psoriasis Home Remedies Work
How you take care of your hair and scalp can have a big impact on your scalp psoriasis flare-ups. In addition to the treatment plan your doctor recommends, you may want to try some of the following tips at home12:
Skip styling tools when possible: Since heat can further dry out your scalp and exacerbate symptoms, its best to avoid blow-drying, curling, and straightening tools if you can. When brushing your hair, use gentle pressure to avoid further irritation. If you have natural hair and are used to consistent styling that requires heat, talk to your dermatologist or stylist to figure out a plan that reduces the risk of potential flare-ups while maintaining the health of your hair.
Avoid the tight up-do: If you have longer hair and have hair loss, you may also want to avoid pulling it back tightly in a ponytail, since that can pull on the already-fragile scalp and possibly lead to more hair loss. If you must pull your hair back, keep the hair low and loose to prevent excess tugging.
Choose hair products wisely: Using certain hair products, such as hair dyes, can also be irritating to your scalp. Ask your dermatologist for brand recommendations or if there are ways your stylist can dye your hair that might be more gentle on your scalp.
It Can Affect The Scalp Hairline Forehead Back Of The Neck And Skin Around The Ears
Did You Know?
Symptoms may include fine scaling that looks like dandruff, or appear as thick, crusted plaques that cover the entire scalp. Other skin disorders, such as seborrheic dermatitis, may resemble psoriasis. However, scalp psoriasis appears powdery with a silvery sheen, while seborrheic dermatitis looks yellowish and greasy. Scalp psoriasis is common in patients of color, but treating it can be particularly tough due to the hair type.
Scalp psoriasis may be an indicator of psoriatic arthritis , as many people have both. If you think you have scalp psoriasis, see a dermatologist to diagnose scalp psoriasis and visit a rheumatologist to screen for psoriatic arthritis.
No matter how severe your scalp psoriasis is, there are options for treating the itching and flakes â from over-the-counter shampoos and topicals to light therapy, oral treatments and biologics.
You May Like: Does Celery Juice Help Psoriasis
What Is The Treatment
There are many treatment options that can help scalp psoriasis and often a combination approach using a number of different treatments may be required until the symptoms have settled. It is important to remember to continue to treat the scalp even if hair falls out. Hair usually grows back once the inflammation and scale has cleared.
Treatments can be time-consuming and you may find them easier if you ask someone to help you. It is important to choose one that suits your lifestyle carrying out intensive treatments over the weekend, for example, when you have more free time. Psoriasis is not curable, but the signs and symptoms can be well controlled.
It can take at least eight weeks until you gain adequate control of the plaques, whichever treatment you use. Remember to try to treat psoriasis daily when it is active.
If, however, you have seen no improvement after 4 weeks continuous treatment, you should return to your doctor or nurse for further assessment.
Once you have achieved clearance, it is important to maintain the improvement. This can usually be done with regular use of a tar shampoo and or by moisturising the scalp occasionally with an oil or emollient. Some people find daily treatment of the scalp an advantage in keeping the scales from returning, but this would be a personal reference depending on your circumstances. If you have no success in controlling your scalp psoriasis, ask your GP to refer you to a specialist.
Topical steroids
Vitamin D analogues
Risks
Combination Shampoo For Psoriasis And Color Treated Hair
For this article, we are going to specifically discuss over-the-counter shampoo products. If your scalp psoriasis is so bad that it requires a prescriptive shampoo then you will have limited choices to deal with your color treated hair.
All over-the-counter shampoos will use either coal tar or salicylic acid as an active ingredient. These ingredients have been studied and accepted by the FDA as effective for treating scalp psoriasis. These two ingredients work in the same way but may perform differently for each individual. Coal tar and salicylic acid are natural exfoliating ingredients. They will help your body to remove the dead skin cells caused by your psoriasis. This is important because if you can control the exfoliating process you will avoid the scaly build up that is often caused by scalp psoriasis. So which ingredient is right for you? The only way to find out is to try the product. For some people, coal tar will work great and salicylic acid will do nothing for them. For others, the opposite will be true. And then there will be others that will find either one will work well. If you are not sure which one to choose it is best to start with salicylic acid and if it does not work then move on to coal tar. The reason this is suggested is because salicylic acid is virtually odor free and coal tar can sometimes have an offensive smell that has to be masked with fragrances.
Recommended Reading: Symptoms Of Guillain Barre Syndrome And Psoriasis
How Common Is Scalp Psoriasis
It is common and approximately half of all people with psoriasis also have it on their scalp. The reason it deserves special mention is that it can be more difficult to treat and usually requires specifically formulated treatments.
Psoriasis on the scalp forms in the same way as on other parts of the body but the hair traps the scale and so it does not rub away as it would, for instance, on the elbow. The result is that the scale can quickly build up, causing a thicker plaque which becomes more difficult to treat . This difficulty is compounded by the hair, which acts as a physical barrier obstructing the easy application of creams and ointments to the affected skin. Children can get scalp psoriasis too. Treatments will be much the same as those used for adults. On rare occasions, scalp psoriasis has been known to disappear spontaneously, but it can remain on the scalp for lengthy periods of time too.
Ask For Gentle Treatment
Ask the stylist that is doing the hair coloring to be gentle. Ask them to avoid using firm brushes, which can further scrape the scalp.
You could also request water at normal temperature. Warm or cool water is less likely to cause adverse reactions. You want to avoid water at more extreme temperatures.
Also Check: Best Soap For Psoriasis And Eczema
Natural Is Not Always Safe
Some beauty products can be classified as natural, but that doesnt always mean they are safe. The FDA allows manufacturers to use natural as long as the product didnt come from outer space. But you have to do your own research on the product. Natural products that are high in alcohol are just a big NO-NO.
Dont Dye During A Flare
We touched on this before, but never dye your hair before a flare-up. When the scalp psoriasis is bad, wait for the flare-up to pass. You want the condition under control.
Flare-ups make your scalp even more sensitive, and even the smallest touch of chemicals can worsen the situation. Not to mention, you are more likely to have an adverse reaction to the hair dye.
Ive had psoriasis since I was about nine years old.
My dad has had it pretty much forever.
Mine arrived post parentals divorce. I was a kid who internalised everything so, given its heredity tendencies, I guess it was bound to manifest its ugly scaly self on me at some time.
When it first appeared, it took up residence in the usual suspect places elbows, knees and scalp.
I cant remember when it kindly upped camp and shifted off my elbows and knees but I was grateful it did. Kids tease and this just gave them another thing to have a go at me about.
The scalp stuff? Yep, thats been my lifelong frenemy which I havent wanted to keep close but its stuck around anyway.
As a kid I was dragged around every skin specialist in Brisbanes Wickham Terrace. The only upshot of this was that I got a day off school every six months. It didnt improve my psoriasis but it did improve my resolve to mostly just let it be .
Im also a somewhat vain person. Thats no secret.
You May Like: Eczema Vs Psoriasis On Face