Monday, March 25, 2024

Scalp Psoriasis On Black Skin

Moisturize At Least Twice A Day

Picking BIG scalp flakes Psoriasis and Dermatitis SEW IN WEAVE REMOVAL

Using emollients especially creams with exfoliating acids such as lactic, glycolic, or salicylic acid is key to reducing itching and scaling. It should be done in addition to whatever therapy is prescribed by your doctor, Dr. Pelle says. Apply moisturizer twice a day for the best results. You can also use it to soothe itchiness and help you resist the urge to scratch.

Lack Of Black Female Voices And Advocates

As I began to search the internet for psoriasis images and articles, I was immediately disheartened. I found countless images of people who looked nothing like me. Their psoriasis looked nothing like mine.

I spent days searching online for Black stories and images, in hopes of finding anyone who may have been enduring the same struggles I was going through.

I finally found an article written a few years back by a Black woman who runs a psoriasis support group. I read her story and was nearly brought to tears by her decades of suffering because doctors had no idea how to properly treat her Black skin.

I also felt discouraged, as though Id have to endure more suffering along my psoriasis journey because theres still little advancement for treating psoriasis on Black skin.

It wasnt until I found a young Black woman on social media, whod been living with psoriasis for over two decades, that I began to become hopeful. Her story and images gave me hope.

I connected with both women online. As a result, I have felt more empowered to share my story.

The voices of Black women and other women of color are virtually nonexistent within the psoriasis community. Im determined to be that voice and show women of color that a full life with psoriasis is possible.

Treating Skin Of Color

For some psoriasis patients, getting the right diagnosis isnât always so black and white. And once minorities receive the proper diagnosis, they often face unique risks, challenges and stigmas.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on 06/17/2020. NPF has released a statement regarding the current racial injustice in the U.S.

When Brenda Kong was diagnosed with psoriasis in 1993, her family had been in the U.S. about 11 years. âMy parents spoke limited English, and there isnât a word in our language for psoriasis,â says Kong, who was born in Cambodia and whose parents spoke Khmer. âThey didnât understand what it was, and for a long time, they couldnât understand why Western doctors couldnât heal me.â

Kong, now 37, was diagnosed with psoriasis at 13 and psoriatic arthritis at 22. As an active young athlete, she tried to hide her skin by wearing long socks when she played volleyball and tennis, but her condition was difficult to conceal. Her parentsâ friends offered unsolicited advice about which foods to cut from her diet and which herbal teas to drink. Theyâd ask embarrassing questions and lift her sleeves to examine her skin. âThey were trying to help, but when youâre a teenager, youâre sensitive to everything,â says Kong, who lives in Oakland, California.

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What Is Cdc Doing About Psoriasis

In 2010, CDC worked with experts in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and public health to develop a public health perspective that considers how these conditions affect the entire population. The resulting report is Developing and Addressing the Public Health Agenda for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis pdf icon. You can read a short article about the agendaexternal icon in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

CDCs National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey , an intermittent source of national psoriasis data, has included questions about psoriasis as late as the 2013-2014 cycle. A recent analysis of NHANES data estimates that 7.4 million adults had psoriasis in 2013external icon.

  • Psoriasis causes patches of thick red skin and silvery scales. Patches are typically found on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of feet, but can affect other places . The most common type of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis.
  • Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis that eventually occurs in 10% to 20% of people with psoriasis. It is different from more common types of arthritis and is thought to be related to the underlying problem of psoriasis.
  • Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are sometimes considered together as psoriatic disease.

Who is at risk for psoriasis?

Anyone can get psoriasis. It occurs mostly in adults, but children can also get it. Men and women seem to have equal risk.

Can I get psoriasis from someone who has it?

Treatments Are Equally Effective

African American Scalp Psoriasis

Treatment for psoriasis is typically the same across the board for all races, however, there are certain factors, like hair type, that may affect a physicians suggested treatment plan for a patient with say, scalp psoriasis. Hair care practices in African American patients are very different than those in Caucasian patients, so this can influence how we treat scalp psoriasis, says Joshua Zeichner M.D., who serves as the director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Its important to tailor a prescription regimen to the personal needs and preferences of the patientfor instance, if someone is only washing their hair once per week or every other week, we can’t necessarily use the same treatments as we would if they were washing daily, as over-washing can lead to increased dryness and damage to the hair itself.

As for skin tone, Dr. Sodha says there are no off-limit treatments. We follow the same algorithm of treatment using topical therapies for less severe disease, followed by light therapy and systemic treatments for patients needing a more aggressive approach. Dr. Finney agrees: Treatments in psoriasis are the same across all ethnic groupsthe only minor difference is that when light treatment is chosen, higher doses may be required in darker skin tones due to the increased amount of melanin present in the skin, he says.

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Psoriasis And Skin Conditions As A Black Person

It took 9 months of suffering and being misdiagnosed twice before I got an accurate diagnosis.

The more I research the issue of Black people living with psoriasis, the more Im learning about how often were misdiagnosed. Its not only psoriasis this pattern happens with many skin conditions, including those related to COVID-19 .

From what Ive learned so far, psoriasis symptoms are typically evaluated based on data used to diagnose conditions on white skin. As a result, people of color arent properly treated and often face prolonged suffering without a confirmed diagnosis.

Our healthcare system needs decolorization. By this I mean that our healthcare system must view and accept all skin colors as equally worthy of understanding, research, diagnosis, and treatment.

This must happen if healthcare researchers and doctors are interested in truly helping Black people understand our skin conditions and ailments. It must happen in order for us to live fuller and healthier lives.

How To Get A Diagnosis For Psoriasis On Black Skin

The only way to know for sure that you have psoriasis is to go to a dermatologist.

Theyll perform a physical exam, looking for signature signs of psoriasis like lesions, scaling, or flaking skin.

Your doc may also do a skin biopsy, removing a small amount of your skin to test it for psoriasis. This is a good option if a physical exam isnt 100 percent accurate.

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Home Treatment For Psoriasis

There are some home remedies that may help minimize outbreaks or reduce symptoms of psoriasis:

  • Exposure to sunlight.
  • Apply moisturizers after bathing to keep skin soft.
  • Avoid irritating cosmetics or soaps.
  • Do not scratch to the point you cause bleeding or excessive irritation.
  • Over-the-counter cortisone creams can reduce itching of mild psoriasis.

A dermatologist may prescribe an ultraviolet B unit and instruct the patient on home use.

Quality Of Life And Disease Severity

How to Get Rid of Scalp Psoriasis

Studies suggest the quality of life effect on people with darker skin is far worse than it is for people with fair skin. Potential reasons may include the long-lasting effect of psoriasis, especially in the development of pigment abnormalities. Cultural perceptions of the disease may also adversely affect the quality of life, as psoriasis tends to be a condition of stigma and misconception. This was confirmed by a study reported in 2011 by the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology noting that African Americans and Asians were more profoundly affected by psoriasisboth physically and emotionallythan people with fair skin.

Disease severity may also be a problem for people with darker skin. A study reported in 2017 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology aimed to determine differences in severity based on ethnicity. The studys researchers examined a database of ethnically diverse psoriasis patients who were seen at the University of San Franciscos Department of Dermatology. What they found was that African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians had more severe psoriasis than the white study subjects.

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Ringworm Of The Scalp

Despite the name, ringworm is not a worm at all, but rather a fungal infection that can affect the skin, scalp, and hair follicles. When it affects the scalp, its known as tinea capitis, or ringworm of the scalp.

Ringworm in all its forms is highly contagious. Contact with an infected person or animal is a major risk factor for getting the disease. However, you can also contract ringworm simply by touching something that an infected person touched. Ringworm is most common among children.

The condition is characterized by itchy red scales on the scalp. These scales are round in appearance, giving the condition its name.

If left untreated, these scales can become inflamed, causing them to enlarge. As this happens, hair becomes brittle and falls out. It may also lead to scarring of the scalp and subsequent permanent hair loss.

Ringworm is treated with antifungal medications. Medical shampoos or creams may also be called for to treat the itch and help prevent the condition from spreading.

Given the highly contagious nature of the disease, youll want to clean or purge potentially infected items. This means throwing out combs and brushes and sterilizing all laundry that may have come into contact with ringworm. Youll also want to check pets and family members for signs of infection.

» Learn more about ringworm, as well as natural and medical treatments to get rid of the fungal infection

Articles On Types Of Psoriasis

Knowing which kind of psoriasis you have helps you and your doctor make a treatment plan. Most people have only one type at a time. Sometimes, after your symptoms go away, a new form of psoriasis will crop up in response to a trigger.

In general, most types of psoriasis result from the same triggers:

Here’s how you can spot the 7 types of psoriasis and what you can do to treat them.

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What If Its Not Psoriasis

Psoriasis is sometimes mistaken for other skin conditions. Heres what they usually look like on dark skin:

  • Eczema. This common condition is known for reddish, raised lesions. You also might have purple, dark brown, or gray patches.
  • Lichen planus. This autoimmune condition can cause white lesions or purplish bumps. In some cases it can appear inside your mouth.
  • Fungal skin infections. These can happen when the fungus among us infects your skin. This type of infection can make your skin itch, burn, or crack.
  • Cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This chronic autoimmune condition affects about two-thirds of folks with lupus. It can cause discolored patches on your skin.

The Same Treatments Stand No Matter What The Patients Skin Tone May Be

Managing natural hair and scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis ...

Thankfully, there are a variety of options when it comes to treating psoriasis. You can combat the condition with topical steroids and phototherapy or with oral medications and biologics for more severe cases. I the biologics, because of the superior way that they control the disease with a simple injection every few weeks, Dr. Hartman says. Most of these medications can be self-injected, so you can safely administer them at home to treat your psoriasis without worrying about frequent trips back to the doctor’s office.

Coping with psoriasis in between treatments can be tricky since there’s no true cure for the condition, but there are topical remedies like these soothing dermatologist-approved lotions that might provide some relief in the meantime.

The bottom line: This immune disease might be more prevalent in patients with lighter skin, but people with Black skin can also suffer from psoriasis and are more likely to have severe cases of it if they do. Lesions can look purple-gray or dark brown. If you think you may have psoriasis, check with a derm.

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How Can Parents Help

For some children, psoriasis is just a minor inconvenience. For others, it is a difficult medical condition.

To manage symptoms and make outbreaks less likely, your child should:

Kids and teens with psoriasis may feel uncomfortable with the way their skin looks. Help your child understand that psoriasis is common and treatments can help.

Whether your child’s psoriasis is mild or severe, learn about the condition together. Offer to help find a therapist or join a support group if that might help. Talk to your doctor or check websites like:

Medical Treatment Topical Agents

The first line of treatment for psoriasis includes topical medications applied to your skin. The main topical treatments are corticosteroids , vitamin D-3 derivatives, coal tar, anthralin, and retinoids. These drugs may lose potency over time, so often they are rotated or combined. Ask your doctor before combining medications, as some drugs should not be combined.

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Restoring Edges For Black Women

I encourage you to find out more about the treatment options currently available for restoring edges for black women as well as other African-American hair loss treatments specifically designed for Afro-textured hair.

To learn more about restoring African-American hair or for a free consultation call Dr. Frank for more information at 751-4246.

How Is Psoriasis Treated

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Psoriasis is usually treated by a dermatologist . A rheumatologist may also help with treatment. Treatments can include:

  • ultraviolet light from the sun or from home or office treatments. But in some children, sunlight can make psoriasis worse.
  • creams, lotions, ointments, and shampoos such as moisturizers, corticosteroids, vitamin D creams, and shampoos made with salicylic acid or coal tar
  • medicines taken by mouth or injected medicines

A doctor might try one therapy and then switch to another, or recommend combining treatments. It’s not always easy to find a therapy that works, and sometimes what works for a time stops helping after a while.

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How Psoriasis Is Diagnosed

A GP can often diagnose psoriasis based on the appearance of your skin.

In rare cases, a small sample of skin called a biopsy will be sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.

This determines the exact type of psoriasis and rules out other skin disorders, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, lichen planus, lichen simplex and pityriasis rosea.

You may be referred to a specialist in diagnosing and treating skin conditions if your doctor is uncertain about your diagnosis, or if your condition is severe.

If your doctor suspects you have psoriatic arthritis, which is sometimes a complication of psoriasis, you may be referred to a doctor who specialises in arthritis .

You may have blood tests to rule out other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and X-rays of the affected joints may be taken.

Treating Scalp Psoriasis In Women Of African Descent

Dr. Andrew Alexis is the Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai St. Lukes and Mount Sinai Roosevelt. He is also Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Alexis is the Co-Chair of the Skin of Color Seminar Series in New York City. During the 2017 conference he provided practical pearls and treatment outlines for African American patients with scalp psoriasis.

Dr. Alexis recommends selecting a treatment regimen that is compatible with the patients hair care practices including less frequent hair washing in women of African descent . Daily hair washing, especially with most prescription shampoos, is often associated with increased hair dryness and breakage. In addition, it is also very time consuming for most women of African descent due to common styling practices.

Suggested Regimen for African-American Females:

  • Once weekly washing with prescription shampoo. This may be increased to two times a week depending on the severity and patient preferences
  • Continue with usual conditioner
  • Once weekly topical fluocinolone acetonide in peanut oil vehicle applied to the scalp for 6-8 hours overnight prior to washing or several times per week without washing
  • Once to twice daily application of POTENT topical steroid in vehicle that is compatible with hair care practices and hair texture Ask the patient for vehicle preferences
  • Alternative: calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate topical suspension daily

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What Are The Types Of Psoriasis

In children, common types of psoriasis include:

Plaque psoriasis. This is the most common type of psoriasis. It causes plaques and silvery scales, usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. They can be itchy and painful and may crack and bleed.

Guttate psoriasis. This type often shows up after an illness, especially strep throat. It causes small red spots, usually on the trunk, arms, and legs. Spots also can appear on the face, scalp, and ears.

Inverse psoriasis. This causes smooth, raw-looking patches of red skin that feel sore. The patches develop in places where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, buttocks, upper eyelids, groin and genitals, or under a woman’s breasts.

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