Does Shaving Your Head Help Scalp Psoriasis

Tips To Shave Safely With Psoriasis

Hair removal can quickly go from chore to challenge when you have psoriasis plaques. These tips can help make the experience less grueling.

When you have psoriasis, seemingly simple tasks can become potentially perilous undertakings. Everyday grooming, for example, can trigger an outbreak of plaques, thus complicating your psoriasis management plan.

Hair removal, especially, may lead to skin irritation and even bleeding, which can in turn cause a psoriasis flare. This reaction called the Koebner phenomenon, after the doctor who first identified it is when a minor skin injury, such as a cut or a sunburn, results in a new psoriasis lesion on the site of the affected area.

About half of all people with psoriasis experience the Koebner phenomenon at some point, and about 10 percent will see it every time they get a cut or other trauma.

Kasi Burns, 30, is all too familiar with psoriasis and the Koebner phenomenon. Burns has been living with psoriasis for more than half her life.

It started on her scalp and then moved down her neck, flaring up in various spots across her body.

Although her psoriasis management strategies are working and her condition is mostly under control she describes it as pink with some scales she had to deal with unpleasant grooming experiences for the better part of her young adulthood.

I’m hoping that at some point a company will come up with a safe and nonpainful way for those of us with psoriasis to be able to remove unwanted hair, she says.

Genes Cause 90% Of Male Hair Loss

Normal hair thinning involving the temples, frontal hairline, and crown of the scalp, known as “pattern alopecia,” occurs in almost everyone as they age. Its extent depends on genetic and hormonal factors. In women, this is usually seen after menopause. In men, it occasionally occurs as early as the mid-20s. There is no cure for this condition, but topically applied minoxidil and oral finasteride can promote hair growth in some patients. Hair transplantation is used to camouflage this type of hair loss.

When To See A Doctor

If you suspect you have scalp psoriasis, you should schedule an appointment with a doctor. They may examine your scalp to rule out other conditions before sending you to a dermatologist for further evaluation and treatment.

If you dont already have a dermatologist, the Healthline FindCare tool can help you find a physician in your area.

Recommended Reading: Light Therapy For Psoriasis At Home

Treatment: Where To Start

The most common treatments for mild cases are medications that you put directly on your scalp. If you have a more severe case or have psoriasis elsewhere on your body, you may need a medication that treats your whole body. You can take these medications by mouth or injection.

If your psoriasis doesn’t respond well after repeated use of one medication, your doctor may replace or combine it with another type of treatment.

One of the first steps is to soften and remove scales. This makes it easier for medications to do their job.

• Apply over-the-counter products to your scalp to help soften scales and make them easier to peel off. Look for products with the active ingredients salicylic acid, lactic acid, urea, zinc pyrithione, or selenium sulfide.
• Gently loosen the scales with a brush or fine-toothed comb.
• Shampoo your scalp to remove the scales, using a salicylic acid shampoo or soap.
• Apply thick creams to your scalp while it’s still damp to hold in the moisture.

To apply medication:

What Causes Scalp Psoriasis

Scalp and other forms of psoriasis occur when the immune system doesnt work properly. Skin cells grow too quickly, growing within days rather than weeks. The body cant shed these skin cells quickly enough to match the new growth. They pile up on the skins surface, causing psoriasis.

People with family members who have scalp psoriasis are more likely to have the condition themselves. Those with HIV, stress, obesity, and those who smoke are also more likely than others to have this condition.

Common triggers that set off or worsen flare-ups of scalp psoriasis include:

• infections, including strep throat or skin infections
• skin injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, insect bites, or severe sunburn
• stress

Also Check: Home Remedies To Cure Psoriasis

Topical Treatments For Moderate To Severe Scalp Psoriasis

If your symptoms are more severe and the plaques on your scalp are thick, you will probably need prescription treatment. Your GP can recommend a topical treatment containing corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, or dithranol. Prescription products containing these ingredients include dermovate scalp application, locoid scalp lotion, dithrocream and dovobet gel.

You should use these treatment exactly as directed by your doctor. Make sure that you apply the medicated product directly to the scalp, and not to the hair.

In addition to these medicated treatments, you might also try using emollients on your scalp, as these can help to soften thick plaques. An emollient is a rich moisturiser which can prevent itching and inflammation, and create a protective barrier on the skin, sealing in moisture. One to consider using is grahams natural psoriasis cream, which is made from manuka honey and calendula. Formulated with natural ingredients, this moisturising treatment offers effective relief will helping to normalise the skins structure.

If you are going to use an emollient on your scalp, you should try the following method:

How To Treat Scalp Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is one scalp condition you should never ignore. Compared to people with psoriasis who don’t have scalp symptoms, people who have scalp psoriasis tend to be at higher risk of psoriatic arthritis, which is marked by joint pain and inflammation. So if you think you have scalp psoriasis, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare providerpsoriasis can affect many parts of the body.

“This is one of the reasons that it is so important to recognize scalp psoriasis and treat it aggressively,” says Dr. Friedman.

You can treat scalp psoriasis with some of the same shampoo ingredients used for dandruff.

Also Check: What Causes Scalp Psoriasis To Spread

It Started As A Running Joke

After I finished my M.Sc. degree, I took off traveling for 6 months starting in Europe and eventuallywinding up in Nepal, where I volunteered in local orphanages. Lice checks were a pretty regular thing at the orphanages, and the other volunteers and I often joked about what we would do if we ended up with lice.

I bragged that I would be totally cool with shaving my head if it ever came down to it. I mean, there arent many options, you shave your head or you take your chances with whatever local pesticide is available and convince someone to pick all the nits out of your hair. No brainer, right?

Estrogen Cycles For Women

A woman goes through different cycles off-balanced and imbalanced estrogen levels sometimes. In puberty, there are high levels of estrogen in womens parties. Therefore, the hair growth is quite healthy at the age of puberty. When a woman goes through pregnancy there are chances for her to have a high level of estrogen.

Don’t Miss: What Vitamins Can Help Psoriasis

Homeopathy Treatment For Hair Fall

Hair falling treatment in homeopathy treats not only the physical complaints but also targets the mind and gently restores mind- body equilibrium thus, it treats patients as a whole. This makes it an excellent solution for hair problems related to the mind, such as stress-related patchy hair loss , hair-pulling disorder , or stress-induced massive hair shedding.

Itching Flaking Or Crusting Of The Scalp

Itching, flaking, or crusting of the scalp may be caused by:

• Cradle cap, an oily, yellow crusting on a baby’s scalp. It is common in babies and is not caused by an illness. It does not mean that a baby is not being well cared for. See a picture of cradle cap.
• Dandruff, a shedding of the skin on the scalp that leaves white flakes on the head, neck, and shoulders. It may be a form of a skin condition called eczema, which causes increased shedding of normal scalp skin cells. Dandruff can also be caused by a fungal infection. Hormonal or seasonal changes can make dandruff worse.
• Head lice, tiny wingless insects that cause itching and raw patches on the scalp. Head lice are most common in school-age children.
• Ringworm, a fungal infection of the outer layer of the scalp and in the hair. It usually causes a rash made up of circular patches with raised, red edges that resemble worms. The rash spreads from these edges, often leaving the centre clear, giving it a ring shape.
• Ongoing skin conditions, such as psoriasis and seborrhea.
• An uncommon, recurrent skin condition called lichen planus. This condition appears more often during stress, fatigue, or exposure to medicines or chemicals.

You May Like: Is Biotin Good For Psoriasis

What Is Scalp Folliculitis

This is an inflammatory disorder that affects the hair follicles in the scalp. The hair follicles on your scalp become inflamed or irritated. The skin condition is characterized by small and itchy pustules on the scalp, often most bothersome on the frontal hairline. These bumps may vary in size and severity from person to person. Bacteria, yeast infection, ingrown hair and other reasons could be the contributing factors for scalp folliculitis.

While the condition isnt life-threatening, it can be itchy, painful and embarrassing. However, with your doctors timely intervention, you can get rid of it.

How Long Does Scalp Folliculitis Last

Folliculitis gets cured within 7-10 days without treatment. However, in some severe cases, it may cause permanent hair loss or scarring.

In general, folliculitis can be treated easily by a timely intervention by your doctor. According to our chief dermatologist, Dr. Harish Koutam, Severe scalp folliculitis definitely needs medical attention. It has multiple etiologies. It is better to avoid harsh shampoos while cleansing hair to reduce aggravation.

Also Check: Mejor Medicina Para La Psoriasis

The Benefits Of Shaving Your Head

As men get older, they seem to spend more and more time thinking about hair loss. When men start to get thinning hair, they can work hard to keep it a secret. Hats are utilized more often when they are not at work and they may be trying all different kinds of hair thickening and hair loss products. However, when they look in the mirror, they realize the hair thinning is not stopping and its only a matter of time before they are completely bald.

Obsession on trying to stop hair loss can happen for some men and they may be spending a lot of money on different products to avoid further hair loss. Its important to remember that you are not alone if you are suffering from hair loss! 25% of men will have hair loss by the time they are 30 and 60% will have hair loss in their 60s.

There is no need to be embarrassed by hair loss and men should actually consider embracing it. Shaving your head just might be a good solution for you, especially if you are considering getting Scalp Micropigmentation, which works best for patients who have a closely-shaven scalp. Scalp Micropigmentation is a medical hairline tattoo that is a great hair loss solution for men who are completely bald.

If you are experiencing some thinning hair or balding and you would like to learn more about scalp micro-pigmentation, you can contact the experienced hair loss physician, Dr. Yates. He will be able to determine what is causing your hair loss and will let you know what your options are for treatment.

Do Use Natural Products

The best natural products for your hair and scalp are usually the ingredients you can also ingest. As a child, I remember my grandmother using apple cider vinegar to grease my scalp, as it can help with infections and scaling. Other scalp-friendly products include olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado.

Also Check: Does Sweating Make Psoriasis Worse

Reasons Your Scalp Itches And How To Get Relief

When your scalp itches, it can be difficult to think about anything else. You may feel that the itch will never stop, but relief is possible. Getting rid of the itch begins with finding out why your scalp itches. Here are 10 reasons for an itchy scalp along with dermatologists advice on what can bring relief.

Is It Scalp Psoriasis Or Dandruff

You’ve spotted flaking. You’re definitely itchy. And you’re ready to know what you’re dealing with. But how can you tell if it’s scalp psoriasis vs. dandruff?

You may not be able to determine this on your own. To be fair, even the pros have a hard time telling the difference, Dr. Friedman says. Your dermatologist may examine the rest of your body to see if there is evidence of psoriasis anywhere else to make the call, he explains. “I will also look at fingernails to see if there is any pitting or separation of the plate from the nail bed,” he says. Nail psoriasis symptoms include white, brown, or yellow nails and crumbling.

Read Also: Start Of Psoriasis On Elbow

Do Consult A Doctor Before You Use Meds For Body Or Scalp

Just because it can go on your body doesnt mean its suitable for your scalp. The NPF states that there are a variety of topicals that are safe for both the body and scalp, some of which include anthralin, Dovonex, Taclonex and Tazorac. Also be sure not to use anything prescribed for the scalp unless directed by a doctor.

Shaving Head To Treat Scalp Plaques

Posted Wed 28 Sep 2016 01.31 by DanielC

Posted Fri 30 Sep 2016 23.46 by wendizzle9224, Psoriasis warrior since the age of 7.

Posted Fri 30 Sep 2016 by obi1138Hey guys,long time sufferer,even longer drum and metal lover!hoping to meet,chat and find fellow afflicteds….let’s stick together!

Posted Sat 1 Oct 2016 13.03 by wendizzle9224, Psoriasis warrior since the age of 7.

Posted Sun 2 Oct 2016 18.28 by obi1138Hey guys,long time sufferer,even longer drum and metal lover!hoping to meet,chat and find fellow afflicteds….let’s stick together!

Posted Mon 3 Oct 2016 23.58 by Grizzly BearGot P in 1990 when serving in forces. Got diagnosed with PA late early this year. Using Stelara 90 mg.

Posted Thu 6 Oct 2016 14.24 by Antonio369

Posted Fri 24 Feb 2017 16.20 by Metarie1985Beauty standard ignorer, unapologetic P sufferer for 10 years, determined to stay positive!

You May Like: Is Psoriasis A Communicable Disease

Does Rashing Make Hair Thicker Or Faster

• Rashing your hair regardless of which region of your body doesnt mean that your hair gets thicker or faster.

• The origins of this myth can be connected to the fact as hair regeneration can first look different. Untrimmed beard hair has a thin, shiny tip. You will see the coarser base when you experience a re-growth of hair and not the softer, thinner area that will finally grow back.

• New hair might look darker, too. This is partly because of its thickness but because the new growth has not yet been subjected to natural components. Sun exposure, soaps, and other substances can all make your hair clearer.

• The dark tint of regrowing hair could also be more apparent than you are used to. You can notice new hairs considerably more if you do have lighter skin. All this is about the contrast in hue, and it is not attributable to the shaving process. Rashing can still cause side effects, however. This is most likely due to unsuitable shaving procedures.

Potential adverse effects include:

Avoid Sun Damage To Your Hair

Since hair is composed of dead protein, it is important maintain it correctly to optimize its appearance. Having luxuriantly abundant hair is a clue to general good health. Because hair does not repair itself, it is susceptible to environmental degradation by sunlight, dryness, chemicals, and physical trauma. An excellent haircut, avoiding chemical treatment, hats, and post-shampoo conditioners can improve and promote healthy-appearing hair. On the other hand, you can always shave the scalp, which for some men seems to work well.

Recommended Reading: Difference Between Eczema And Psoriasis On Hands

What Causes Folliculitis On The Scalp

Folliculitis on the scalp may develop if hair follicles are damaged. This can happen due to several factors, such as:

• Wearing helmets for a long time
• Shaving your head
• Bacterial infection
• Long-term application of topical antibiotics
• Using unchlorinated water in a hot tub or being in unclean water for a long time
• Consumption of few drugs such as corticosteroid