A Flaking Scalp And Skin Are Some Of The Most Frustrating Symptoms Of Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis Heres How To Stop Shedding
It can be enough of a challenge to deal with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis flare-ups the physical appearance and itchy discomfort of psoriasis plaques is upsetting and frustrating for patients. But when psoriasis plaques begin to build up and flake off the skin, leaving behind dandruff-like evidence of the condition on your clothes and surroundings, it can make things even worse. Many patients feel like flaking adds to the stigma they already experience, in part because it calls more attention to the disease from others.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin cell buildup that appears as red, scaly, itchy patches on your skin and scalp that can burn and sting. These plaques can also become so thick and dry that they start to flake off the skin in large, silver-toned scales. When it happens on your scalp, it can look like severe dandruff. Research shows that about half of psoriasis patients experience scalp psoriasis, though some estimates say that 90 percent of patients will deal with scalp psoriasis at some point. Sometimes psoriasis plaques on your body shed their scales, too. In one study, doctors rated flaking, along with itch, as one of the most physically bothersome symptoms in their psoriasis patients.
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Moderate To Severe Psoriasis Treatments
Your doctor may prescribe steroids, lotions, solutions, sprays, or foams to treat moderate to severe scalp psoriasis. Some topical treatments are applied directly to the skin, then shampooed and rinsed out, including:
- Anthralin . Apply this cream once a day for 10 to 30 minutes.
- Calcipotriene . This is a prescription form of vitamin D. Apply it at night and cover your scalp with a shower cap. Leave it on overnight. Don’t get it in your eyes.
- Calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate . This is a combination of a type of vitamin D and a strong steroid in a suspension or ointment. You use it once a day. Don’t get it in your eyes.
- Tazarotene . This vitamin A treatment comes in a cream, foam, or gel form. If using it at night, put it on clean, dry skin, and let the medication dry before you go to sleep. Applying a moisturizer after the medication may help prevent drying.
Follow your doctor’s directions for all medications. Don’t use stronger steroids for more than a 2-week cycle without your doctor giving you the OK.
What Are Office Treatments For Scalp Psoriasis
Rarely, it may be of benefit to inject triamcinolone acetonide directly into psoriatic plaques. Aside from the pain involved, the benefit only lasts about six weeks at best. Ultraviolet light in wavelengths near 313 nm is effective in psoriasis. The hair, however, can pose a barrier to effective administration unless it is removed or sparse. The excimer laser produces out laser light in these UV wavelengths also and can be of benefit if the amount of scalp involvement is limited.
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What To Do For Infection
If your scalp psoriasis becomes infected, you may have crusting, redness, warmth, tenderness, and sometimes swelling of your lymph nodes. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic treatment for this problem.
Show Sources
National Psoriasis Foundation: “Specific locations: scalp,” “Scalp Psoriasis,” and “Over-the-Counter Topicals,” “Traditional systemic medications,” “Moderate to severe psoriasis: Biologic drugs.”
Handa, S. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2010.
Skin Therapy Letter: “Treatments for Scalp Psoriasis with Emphasis on Calcipotriol Plus Betamethasone Dipropionate Gel .”
Herbal And Natural Remedies
The National Psoriasis Foundation suggest that the following alternative preparations may help reduce the symptoms of psoriasis:
Apple cider vinegar: Applying organic apple cider vinegar directly to the scalp may help reduce itching. However, it can also cause irritation. To avoid this, dilute it in equal parts with water or rinse the scalp after the vinegar dries. Do not use it on open wounds.
Aloe vera: Applying gel or creams containing 0.5 percent aloe vera may help reduce redness and scaling.
Oatmeal: Adding oatmeal to a bath or applying an oatmeal paste to areas with psoriasis helps reduce symptoms in some people, although there is no research evidence to support this.
Tea tree oil shampoo: This may help relieve symptoms, although there is no scientific evidence to prove it. Try a little first, because some people have an allergic reaction to tea tree oil.
Turmeric: Consuming as a spice in food, as a supplement, or in a topical gel may help reduce symptoms or psoriatic activity.
The Office of Dietary Supplements note that turmeric is generally considered safe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin. However, people should check with a doctor before using any complementary therapies or supplements.
Capsaicin ointment: This may help reduce itching by numbing the nerve endings, but it may also cause a burning sensation. More research is needed to guarantee its safety and effectiveness.
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What Is The Difference Between Scalp Psoriasis And Dandruff
Dandruff is a skin condition that affects your scalp. Its itchy, white or yellow flakes on your scalp. Medical researchers arent sure of the exact cause of dandruff, but they think factors may include:
- A yeast called Malassezia that overgrows on your skin.
- An increased level of androgens.
- An increased level of skin lipids.
- An inflammatory reaction.
Scalp psoriasis is an autoimmune disease.
Psoriasis Skin Flakes: What Are They
Flakes in psoriasis are the dead cells at the outer layer of the skin that are being shed, saysMitchell Bressack, MD, a dermatologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago who specializes in treating psoriasis. The outer layer of the skin normally turns over every 28 days, which means that it takes about a month for the bottom layer of cells to make their way to the top.
In people with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, however, the cells at the base of the epidermis multiply more rapidly than normal and they progress from the base of the epidermis to the surface more rapidly than normal, so theres an increase in the number of dead cells being shed from the surface of the skin on a daily basis, Dr. Bressack says. This appears as scales, which can flake off in large pieces.
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Ways To Treat Psoriasis At Home
Psoriasis is a recurring autoimmune disorder characterized by red, flaky patches on the skin.
Even though it affects your skin, psoriasis actually begins deep inside your body in your immune system.
It comes from your T cells, a type of white blood cell. T cells are designed to protect the body from infection and disease. When these cells mistakenly become active and set off other immune responses, it can lead to psoriasis symptoms.
Even though theres no cure, many treatments exist to ease the symptoms of psoriasis. Here are 12 ways to manage mild symptoms at home.
Heal Psoriasis From Inside
Psoriasis is an auto-immune illness where your faulty immune system causes rapid growth of skin cells resulting in thick psoriasis patches on various parts of the body.
An auto-immune condition like psoriasis triggers when the level of toxins in your body goes out of control slashing the safety limit. When you eat food, your digestive system process that food to get energy and various vital nutrients to sustain a healthy life. After getting these stuffs, it is the responsibility of your liver and kidney to flush off the remaining food wastes from your body in the form of stool and urine. This is how your body works.
If due to any reason, this equilibrium gets disturbed- either you start injecting more toxins or your liver becomes incapable to remove the toxins-then these toxins would pile up. This increased level of toxins would seep through the pores of the intestinal walls to enter into the bloodstream. With blood circulation, these toxins would reach every part of your body and would start accumulating in body cells. Your impaired liver would seek help from skin. Your skin is the largest body organ and after liver and kidney, it is the third most important organ responsible for elimination of toxins from the body. Your skin would facilitate elimination of these accumulated body toxins from your body in the form of psoriasis scales.
So, to heal psoriasis, first of all, we have to identify the factors that can increase body toxins:
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Does Coconut Help Psoriasis
While it may be a good add-on to your psoriasis treatment plan, coconut oil isnt a stand-alone solution. For psoriasis medications like steroids to work well, its best to soften the hard scales so the meds can get to the skin below. Coconut oil can help soften and loosen the scales first.
How can I stop hair loss and regrow hair naturally?
Does psoriasis shorten your life? Psoriasis by itself doesnt affect life expectancy. However, if you have the condition, youre at higher risk of other diseases that may have a higher mortality risk, such as heart disease.
How can I heal my scalp? Mild cases often benefit from medicated shampoo designed to treat the scalp and ease itching. Ingredients to look for in OTC medicated shampoos include salicylic acid and tar. If that doesnt help, or your condition worsens, see your doctor. Severe cases may need topical or injectable steroids.
Is Hair Loss Due To Dandruff Temporary Or Permanent
Hair loss due to dandruff is not permanent. Once you treat the dandruff, your hair follicles are restored and hair grows back.
Wrapping Up
Numerous scalp conditions can be mistaken for dandruff. Though not a direct cause for hair fall, dandruff can accelerate hair fall. If you have extreme scalp itching or hair that falls out in clumps, consult your dermatologist without a delay. Most importantly, love yourself despite all the physical issues.
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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.
How To Stop Hair Loss After Covid
Most importantly, be patient. Though losing hair can be scary, I always reassure patients that they wont go bald from COVID-related shedding, Dr. Kuhn says. Typically, the best thing to do is simply wait it out. In the meantime, practicing healthy hair habits is paramount.
You want to make sure that youre doing everything you can to minimize the risk of losing any more hair, Dr. Bhanusali notes. That means avoiding heat styling and/or using the lowest temperature whenever you do, minimizing intense chemical processes such as highlighting and straightening, and avoiding tight hairstyles that put tension on the hair.
You can also consider getting tested for nutrient deficiencies to ensure thats not exacerbating the situation. If you are, in fact, lacking in a certain vitamin or mineral thats associated with hair healthDr. Bhanusali notes that vitamin D and iron deficiencies are commontalk to your doctor about how to incorporate more of it into your diet and/or if youll need to try a supplement .
Overall, the connection between COVID-19 and dermatologic symptoms, those that affect the skin and hair, remains somewhat unclear. Were still learning in real time about things that occur after the virus or the vaccine, and its hard to delineate when things are definitive versus theoretical, Dr. Bhanusali says. In other words, our understanding of the virus, including what we can do to mitigate its side effects, is constantly evolving.
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Whats The Difference Between Scalp Psoriasis And Dandruff
Dr. Bhutani says it can be really tough to tell scalp psoriasis and dandruff aparteven for doctors! Although both conditions can cause those annoying flakes, which may be the only visible symptom at first for some people, they tend to pop up for different reasons. Unlike scalp psoriasis, dandruff isnt an autoimmune issue and can be spurred by various factors, like having very dry or oily skin, which can lead to an overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus that thrives on a moist scalp10.
But you may be able to pick up on subtle differences if you look a bit closer. Dandruff flakes can be white or yellow, which is not common in scalp psoriasis. With scalp psoriasis, plaques have a dry scale with more clearly defined edges, and the scales themselves are often thicker with a silvery sheen.
If your scalp is extremely itchy or you have any other scalp psoriasis symptoms, then you may want to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, who can thoroughly assess whats going on. If youre only noticing some flaking and have tried an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo but havent noticed improvement, then you may want to see a dermatologist anyway theyll be able to take a closer look and prescribe something a bit stronger if you need it.
The Mental Burden Of Skin Flakes In Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis
You dont need a medical study to tell you that scaling and flaking is bothersome, but the evidence exists nonetheless: 65 percent of patients rank flaking, peeling, and shedding on their body as one of the top three most distressing symptoms they experience, per research published in The Journal of Dermatological Treatment.
The problem with any skin disease is that its on the outside. You have to deal with how the world is interacting with you and your skin disease. It can cause a lot of pain and suffering, says Amy Wechsler, MD, who is board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry and author of the book The Mind-Beauty Connection. For instance, if psoriasis flakes are on your hands, you may be worried about shaking hands in work or social settings to say hello.
The challenge then becomes controlling and responding to flares, cleaning up flakes, and explaining them to friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Generally, the more widespread the disease, or the more difficult it is to cover up, the greater the effect it has on quality of life, says Dr. Bressack.
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How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed
Doctors usually diagnose psoriasis by examining the skin, scalp, and nails. They’ll also ask whether someone else in the family has psoriasis and if the child recently had an illness or started taking a new medicine.
Rarely, doctors might take a skin sample to check more closely. A biopsy can tell the doctor whether it’s psoriasis or another condition with similar symptoms.
Pretreat Your Hair Before Applying Any Rx
When it comes to scalp psoriasis, priorities count. Apply scale-softening agents or oils to psoriasis patches first, before you dab on medication. Any treatment you use afterward will penetrate the skin more easily, upping the benefits. Next, choose a peeling agent that includes salicylic acid in the ingredients list, which softens scales, making them easier to remove.
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Getting Social With Scalp Psoriasis
Remember, youre not alone! Here are some social media communities for people like us living with scalp psoriasis. Join in on these online conversations and find out how others manage their scalp psoriasis. Here are some of my favorite Instagram blogs: , , .
In the meantime, tell me what products you use to treat your scalp psoriasis. You can DM me .
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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
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Facing The Mirror Was A Challenge For Me
During those years of severe psoriasis, I would seldom look myself in the mirror and that too only for a few seconds. It was something like- I used to hate seeing myself in the mirror and avoiding mirror was my way of forgetting about my psoriasis. Although I had psoriasis patches all over my body, but it was psoriasis on face that really took a toll on me.
My severe scalp psoriasis made this behavior more powerful. As a result of thick psoriasis scales on my scalp, I would experience heavy hair fall every day. Every day in the morning, my pillow would be full of broken hairs. Also, during combing, a lot of hairs would fall. To minimize this hair fall, I used to have short hairs most of the time. Those short hairs would let me skip combing.
So, practically, there was no requirement to see myself in the mirror as there was no need of combing.
But, do we see ourselves in the mirror only to comb our hair?
Obviously not!
We see ourselves in mirror to adore ourselves. I remember a quote- We can love someone else only if we love ourselves.
So, adoring yourself in front of the mirror seeing yourself in the mirror and smiling exploring various ideas to groom yourself while looking in the mirror- all these things shows that you love yourself and when you love yourself, then your self esteem will be higher and you will be able to enjoy a healthy life with warmth in relation with family and friends.