Medical Treatment For Scalp Psoriasis

Following Your Treatment Plan Is Key To Getting Results

When working with a dermatologist, it is important to use the treatment exactly as prescribed and for as long as recommended. Many patients fail to see clearing because they stop following their treatment plan.

ImagesBefore and after treating scalp psoriasis: Photographs used with permission of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008 58:614.

ReferencesAl-Mutairi N, Al-Haddad A. Targeted phototherapy using 308 nm Xecl monochromatic excimer laser for psoriasis at difficult to treat sites. Lasers Med Sci. 2013 28:1119-24.

Bagel J, Lynde C, et al. Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis with scalp involvement: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of etanercept. J Am Acad Dermatol 2012 67:86-92.

Chan CS, Van Voorhees AS, et al. Treatment of severe scalp psoriasis: from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 60:962-71.

Guenther L. Current management of scalp psoriasis. Skin Therapy Lett. 2015 20:5-7.

Paghdal KV, Schwartz RA. Topical tar: Back to the future. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Aug 61:294-302.

Renton C. Diagnosis and treatment of adults with scalp psoriasis. Nurs Stand. 2014 Feb 26-Mar 4 28:35-9.

Wong, JW, Kamangar F, et al. Excimer Laser Therapy for Hairline Psoriasis: A Useful Addition to the Scalp Psoriasis Treatment Algorithm. Skin Therapy Letter. 2012 176-9.

Is It Scalp Psoriasis

Some other skin conditions can cause similar symptoms.

Seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap, often affects babies. It causes a patchy, red rash that looks greasy or moist to form on the scalp.

Ringworm, a fungal infection, can cause a crusty, red rash to form on the scalp, usually in the shape of a ring. With scalp psoriasis, the affected patches of skin are scaly and dry and do not usually form a ring.

Psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis, is a common condition that appears to develop when the immune system sends the wrong signals to the body.

When the immune system sends these messages to the skin cells, the cells multiply too quickly.

Normally, new cell formation on the scalp may take weeks. With psoriasis, cells form within days. This makes it difficult for the body to shed the excess cells. As the skin cells build up on the surface of the scalp, they form scaly patches.

The of scalp psoriasis is unknown, but research suggests there is a genetic link.

People who have a family member with the condition have a higher risk of developing scalp psoriasis.

In 2016, published by nutritionists noted that psoriasis may be more likely in people who have:

• inflammatory factors that occur with obesity
• dietary factors, such as gluten sensitivity

The National Psoriasis Foundation note that a number of other factors may trigger a flare-up of symptoms in people who are prone to scalp psoriasis.

These include:

How To Treat Scalp Psoriasis At Home

Its important to note that home remedies can help ease symptoms but theyre not proven cures. The following home treatments are generally safe and may help you reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate scalp psoriasis. Those with more aggressive forms of the condition should consult a doctor before starting home treatment.

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What Does Scalp Eczema Look Like

Here is the picture of eczema on the scalp for you:

Scalp eczema can be associated with red, itchy, and inflamed skin. One of the remarkable symptoms of scalp eczema is the excessive shedding of white skin flakes from your scalp. Over a period, scalp eczema can result in bacterial and fungal infections in the affected area, extreme discomfort, and anxiety.

What Are Causes And Risk Factors Of Scalp Psoriasis

It is generally accepted that scalp psoriasis, like all psoriasis, is related to genetic defects that affect certain parts of the immune system. There are undoubtedly environmental risk factors that trigger its initial development in genetically predisposed individuals. The notion that “emotional stress” plays a causal role or at least exacerbates psoriasis has been difficult to prove. There is no question, however, that psoriasis of the scalp can be an extremely stressful experience.

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What You Can Do: Reach Out

If youve been feeling low for a while, consider getting help from a mental health professional like a counselor. Build a good support system, too. You can join a psoriasis help group through the National Psoriasis Foundation. It can make you feel better to talk about what youre going through, especially with people who understand. They can help remind you that youre more than your skin.

What Are Other Types Of Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type. About 80% to 90% of people with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis.

Other, less common types of psoriasis include:

• Inverse psoriasis appears in skin folds. It may look like thin pink plaques without scale.
• Guttate psoriasis may appear after a sore throat caused by a streptococcal infection. It looks like small, red, drop-shaped scaly spots in children and young adults.
• Pustular psoriasis has small, pus-filled bumps on top of the red patches or plaques.
• Sebopsoriasis typically appears on the face and scalp as red bumps and plaques with greasy yellow scale. This type is a cross between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.

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Oats Or Colloidal Oatmeal

• sunburn

Some people also notice that their psoriasis symptoms get worse after eating certain foods or as a result of allergies. Research has not yet conclusively proven that these factors can trigger psoriasis, however.

It is worth noting that environmental triggers alone do not cause psoriasis. People without a genetic predisposition for psoriasis will not develop it, even when they experience these triggers.

In the following sections, we will cover the different types of shampoo and home remedies that people with scalp psoriasis can try.

Is Psoriasis The Same As Eczema

Psoriasis and eczema are two different skin conditions. They differ in where the disease appears on the body, how much it itches and how it looks. Eczema tends to appear more often behind the knees and inside the elbows. Eczema also causes more intense itching than psoriasis. Many people, especially children, can get both eczema and psoriasis.

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Scalp Psoriasis Vs Dermatitis

Scalp psoriasis and dermatitis are both common skin conditions affecting the scalp. These conditions share some of the same treatments and symptoms, including redness and flaky skin. However, these conditions have different causes and your doctor will be able to tell them apart.

Signs of scalp psoriasis include silver-red scales on the skin that often extend beyond the hairline, with itching and sometimes pain. With dermatitis, you may notice reddish skin covered by white or yellow scales, along with dandruff and itching. Treatment for psoriasis is often more aggressive than that for dermatitis.

Medical Treatments For Scalp Psoriasis

So youve tried shampooing your scales away. But does it feel like theyre not really clearing up? Its a bummer, for sure, and now youre wondering what else you can do. Anything?

Good news: there are other avenues you can explore, though youll want to discuss them with your doc first.

• Coal tar. Its not just for shampoo you can apply it directly to your skin.
• Keratolytics. These are peeling agents that are commonly available in creams and shampoos.
• Topical corticosteroids. Like keratolytics, its available in creams and can stop that itchy feeling.
• Prescription shampoo. Yup, your doc can help you get your hands on the stronger stuff.
• Steroid injections. You can a direct injection into your patches .
• Oral meds. These generally slow down the formation and development of your patches.
• UV light treatment. This is an effective, pain-free treatment for psoriasis scales.

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How Do You Treat Scalp Psoriasis

Theres no cure for scalp psoriasis, but there are ways to manage its symptoms. I always remind my patients that theyll need to continue treating it to keep it under control, says the dermatologist Steve Daveluy, MD, an assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.

According to data published in February 2016 in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, a combination of treatments works best against scalp psoriasis.

Treatments for scalp psoriasis may include the following:

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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Scalp Eczema Ayurvedic Treatments

• As per Ayurveda, eczema on the scalp can be correlated to the condition of Vicharchika.
• To treat scalp eczema, Ayurveda suggests the following herbal applications:

A. Herbal Bathing

The affected area is bathed using the decoction or fermented liquid prepared from khadira herb. Dusting powders, oil, or ointment prepared from khadira are used for topical scalp eczema treatments.

When you have severe scalp eczema symptoms, then triphala kashaya or decoction should be used to wash the infected lesions.

B. Dusting With Herbal Powders

If the eczema patches are oozing fluid, then the powders prepared from herbs such as neem, turmeric, tree turmeric, etc. are used for dusting the infected areas.

C. Herbal Lepa For Scalp Eczema

Mix 100 ml of neem oil, 100 ml of sesame oil, and 50 gms of turmeric powder to prepare a lepa or herbal cream. Applying this lepa on eczema patches helps to reduce symptoms effectively.

D. Herbal Hair Products

When you have scalp eczema, it is better to opt for Ayurvedic hair products such as oils, shampoos, hair packs, or serums that contain Pitta dosha balancing ingredients.

Some of the skin-soothing ingredients you can look for in hair products when you have scalp eczema are manjistha, sariva, mahanimba, chandana, karanja, haridra, kutaja, bakuchi, chakramarda, daruharidra, neelini, vasaka, gudoochi, nimba, khadira, etc., says Dr. Zeel.

E. Herbal Oil Treatment

F. Herbal Medications For Internal Administration To Control Eczema

Otezla Is Proven To Help Get Clearer Skin On The Scalp

In a clinical trial, 201 people taking Otezla were compared to 102 people taking a placebo .

Some people also experienced a reduction in scalp and whole body itch after just 4 months of treatment. See the charts below for a closer look at the percentage of people that experienced an improvement while taking Otezla.

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What Causes Psoriasis Outbreaks

Psoriasis outbreaks differ from person to person. No one knows exactly what causes flare-ups. Common psoriasis triggers may include:

• Skin injury .
• Streptococcal or other infection that affects the immune system.
• Certain prescription medications .
• Cold weather, when people have less exposure to sunlight and humidity and more to hot, dry indoor air.

What Causes Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an immune system problem. Your immune response overreacts, causing inflammation, which leads to new skin cells growing too fast.

Typically, new skin cells grow every 28 to 30 days. But in people with psoriasis, new cells grow and move to the skin surface every three to four days. The buildup of new cells replacing old cells creates the silvery scales of psoriasis.

Psoriasis runs in families. There may be a genetic component. Parents may pass it down to their children.

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Turn Up With Turmeric

Another noted anti-inflammatory and skin soother, a daily turmeric supplement can help treat psoriasis .

If youd rather not take a turmeric pill, you can add the spice directly to your food. Whether you enjoy a turmeric latte or a delicious curry, there are lots of turmeric recipes to try to help your skin.

Consider A Scalp Mask

Want to take a break, feel a little bit luxurious, and give yourself an easier time with getting rid of those scales?

You can plop a plastic cap over your soapy locks and stand under the shower for 10 minutes.

Keeping the water warm rather than hot will lock in those active ingredients.

Its worth taking your time and following these steps gently but thoroughly:

Be meticulous. Be painstaking. Comb every inch of your hair, especially around the scales. Youll thank yourself for it later.

Then, rinse out the suds.

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Scalp Psoriasis Clinical Presentation Treatment

• Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition in which inflammatory changes occur. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, Psoriasis affects about 2 to 3 percent of people worldwide.
• Symptoms may vary from person to person. Usually symptoms may include raised and scaly skin patches, or plaques, that can vary in color depending on a persons skin tone.
• Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that may worsen at times and then improve. Its an autoimmune condition caused by an overactive immune system that leads to rapid growth of skin cells.

There are different types of psoriasis. Psoriatic changes are mostly noticed on

• elbows
• back
• scalp

Psoriasis may affect the whole body or specific body parts like the legs and trunk, or areas where skin touches skin, like under the breasts or in the groin or armpits . Psoriasis can also affect the hands, feet,fingernails and joints.

• Stress

What Causes Scalp Eczema

There are different types of dermatitis conditions that can result in scalp eczema. Seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis are the most common forms of scalp eczema.

• Seborrheic dermatitis occurs when your immune system overreacts to the growth of yeast present in your skin while the sebaceous glands on your scalp start producing sebum excessively.
• Contact dermatitis is caused when your skin reacts to irritants or allergens such as fragrances, cobalt, nickel, balsam of Peru, etc.
• Atopic dermatitis is caused due to genetic variation and environmental factors that can trigger aggravation of dryness on your scalp.

Scalp eczema caused by contact dermatitis can go away once your skin stops being exposed to the particular irritant triggering it. However, scalp eczema caused by seborrheic or atopic dermatitis can be a stubborn skin condition that can persist for years, says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

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Home Remedy For Scalp Psoriasis

If you’re struggling with scalp psoriasis at the moment, this natural treatment can be really powerful. Designed to slough away flakes and penetrate the patches beneath, my salt / oil treatment should leave the scalp feeling soothed and hair shiny. It’s important with any treatment that includes essential oils to test a small amount on the skin first for allergies. As this treatment involves dead sea salts, open cuts and patches will sting like hell! Whilst this can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful, the stinging does subside. If it’s still too much initially you might simply want to add these salts and oils to your bath and massage the diluted water into your scalp rather than applying it directly.

Dead Sea Salts contain minerals known to be incredibly beneficial when naturally healing psoriasis. In addition, since rosemary has natural antiseptic properties, it’s a superior disinfectant for our skin and hair. In fact, this essential oil is known to promote a healthy, moisturised scalp and has even been said to reverse premature greying!

In my ‘how to apply’ video I’m using a towel on the floor of my bathroom. You don’t have to massage it in this way. It might be easier for you to apply this in the bath or shower .

INGREDIENTS

PART 1

200g Dead Sea or Epsom Salts

1 tbsp baking soda

15 drops rosemary essential oil

PART 2

100ml coconut oil

20 drops rosemary essential oil

Juice of half a lemon

Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A

For this treatment, you’ll first be given a tablet containing compounds called psoralens, or psoralen may be applied directly to the skin. This makes your skin more sensitive to light.

Your skin is then exposed to a wavelength of light called ultraviolet A . This light penetrates your skin more deeply than ultraviolet B light.

This treatment may be used if you have severe psoriasis that has not responded to other treatment.

Side effects include nausea, headaches, burning and itchiness. You may need to wear special glasses for 24 hours after taking the tablet to prevent the development of cataracts.

Long-term use of this treatment is not encouraged, as it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

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Psoriasis: Skin Scalp And Nail Care

Illnesses & Conditions Categories

If you have psoriasis, your skin is very sensitive. To protect your skin, avoid:

• Skin care products that irritate your skin.
• Scratching and picking your skin, and skin injuries such as cuts or scrapes.
• Cold, dry climates. Cold weather makes symptoms worse.

The most important thing you can do is to keep your skin moist. Use moisturizing creams, ointments, and lotions.