Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the epidermis. The pathology is not contagious, because it is not caused by infectious causes, but by an autoimmune disorder. The disease is characterized by excessive division of skin cells, leading to the formation of dense plaques. Inflammation affects any part of the body. Scalp psoriasis is a fairly common form of the disease. The peculiarity of the localization of the rash on the head is the complexity of the treatment. This form of psoriasis often becomes a cause of complex development and self-dissatisfaction, because it is visible to others. The elements of the rash do not look aesthetically pleasing and require timely treatment.
Reasons for disease development
Scalp psoriasis develops for the same reasons as body skin lesions. Factors that act as a stimulus for the appearance of plaque on the skin can be:
- stress;
- seborrhea;
- prolonged sun exposure;
- allergic reaction;
- skin damage;
- reduced immunity.
Stress exacerbates many diseases, including psoriasis.
Regardless of the reasons that triggered the development of the first episode of the disease, psoriasis is always accompanied by excessive division of epidermal cells, which explains the appearance of the elements of the rash. This is due to the body’s autoimmune response that triggers an immune attack on skin cells.
The disease is characterized by a wavy course with periods of worsening and remission. Physicians often refer to pathology as a psychosomatic disorder because exacerbations of psoriasis are directly related to the patient’s psychoemotional state.
Stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, lack of vitamins in the body can cause extraordinary deterioration and the appearance of new elements of the rash.
Despite the repulsive appearance of the rash, psoriasis is not contagious at all, because it is the result of internal disorders, but not infections or viruses.
Despite the fact that doctors have not yet determined the exact cause of the disease, most are inclined to believe that psoriasis is the result of systemic disorders in the body caused by hormonal imbalance, nervous system instability and metabolic processes, malnutrition and cold climate.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Psoriasis on the head begins with the appearance of dense nodules that are invisible from the outside. Over time, the nodules merge with each other, forming islands. The skin around the accumulation of elements of the rash swells and becomes inflamed, dry crusts and scaly parts may appear.
Over time, the nodules become thick and flat, peeling begins on their surface with the formation of large scales, in a dandruff-like shape and structure.
Scalp psoriasis is most commonly localized in the temporal region, behind the ears, on the neck, and along the hairline. Peeling and plaques often form along the partition.
The disease can manifest at any age. Most often, the first episode of psoriasis occurs either during puberty and before the age of 20 or over the age of 35.
Scalp psoriasis is classified according to the severity of the symptoms. The mild form of the disease is characterized by the formation of isolated foci of inflammation and moderate desquamation. The rash with this form is not conspicuous and responds well to drug treatment.
The severe course of psoriasis on the head, whose photograph allows the severity of symptoms to be assessed, is characterized by the whole head, the area of hair growth and the back of the neck. The elements of the rash are large, the scales are very large and visible to the naked eye.
Scalp psoriasis can affect both the scalp and the skin around it.
Timely diagnosis plays an important role in scalp psoriasis. An experienced dermatologist will make the diagnosis already during the external examination of the patient. The difficulty lies in the fact that many patients do not go to the doctor, not knowing what psoriasis looks like on the scalp and replacing it with dandruff. It is important to remember that psoriasis in the initial stage of the head responds well enough to treatment, however, the lack of timely therapy will inevitably lead to disease progression and damage to more and more areas of the skin.
If you find the first symptoms of scalp damage, you should consult a doctor, because if psoriasis is diagnosed, treatment should be comprehensive and timely.
Stages of the disease
Regardless of the localization of the rash, psoriasis of the scalp and body skin always takes place in several stages. The first stage is the worsening of the disease. During this period, new papules form on the skin, excessive division of epidermal cells is noticed. The papules merge into large lesions, which then transform into plaques, and these in turn begin to peel. The duration of exacerbation depends on a number of factors and can last for several months. During this period, the elements of the rash cover the scalp, the epidermis around the ears and on the neck and can descend to the back. Scalp psoriasis is often accompanied by focal lesions on the body skin.
The second phase of the disease is stationary. During this period, the progression of the disease stops, the number of elements of the rash does not change, the disease stops spreading to healthy areas of the skin. During the stationary phase, literally nothing happens - the plaques do not increase in size, but they do not decrease either. The peeling remains the same, the epidermis looks thick and inflamed. This phase can also take many months.
The next stage is disease alleviation. During this period, the inflammatory process subsides, the peeling stops, as the division of epidermal cells stops. The plaques gradually become softer, decrease in size, and then disappear completely. With proper skin care, after recovery from the disease, no trace remains, however, most often areas with damaged pigmentation are formed at the site of plaques.
Then there is remission during which the skin looks absolutely healthy. The duration of remission depends on the lifestyle and general health of the patient. It does not last forever, because psoriasis does not go away, but only temporarily subsides. The next worsening can happen in a few months or years due to stress, climate change, or reduced immunity. With the next worsening, psoriasis continues in several stages, starting with the appearance of new papules, ending with a reduction in the size of the plaques and complete renewal of the skin.
In milder forms, psoriasis can be easily mistaken for dandruff.
Diagnosis of the disease
Psoriatic rash on the head can occur in both adults and children, because psoriasis in children is not uncommon. It is important to detect the beginning of the pathological process in time and visit a dermatologist.
The scraping method is used to diagnose diseases. The affected epidermis responds to local damage with a series of specific signs that are characteristic only of psoriasis.
When scraped, the scales fall off the dandruff without causing pain, itching, or discomfort. As a result of long-term exposure and cleaning of plaque from keratinized particles, there is a thin film of skin under the scales. It is inflamed, painted bright pink and glows like a stearin stain. If this film is damaged, small drops of blood appear on the surface of the plaque, which indicates damage to the capillaries that are too close to the skin.
This reaction of the epidermis is known as the "psoriatic triad" and the symptom is unique to this disease, which enables an accurate diagnosis without laboratory tests.
The principle of treatment
A dermatologist will consult in detail on how to treat psoriasis on the head. The fact is that everyone's disease manifests itself in its own way, so there is no universal treatment regimen that would suit all patients without exception.
The goal of psoriasis therapy is to stop the progression of the disease, improve the appearance of the skin and achieve permanent remission. As the doctor's practice shows, a properly chosen treatment regimen allows you to forget about the disease for up to several years.
An integrated approach to the treatment of psoriasis is applied, which includes:
- use of hormonal ointments to relieve inflammation;
- use of non-hormonal medications to relieve symptoms;
- physiotherapy to accelerate skin recovery;
- dietary changes and spa treatments.
The basis of treatment is drugs for external use that are applied to foci of inflammation. In some cases, the treatment is supplemented by taking psoriasis pills on the head, preference is given to immunostimulating drugs and vitamins.
It is impossible to cure psoriasis, but it is possible to get rid of its manifestations for a long time
Conservative therapy
Traditionally, dermatologists prescribe two types of skin treatments - non-hormonal ointments and glucocorticoid preparations.
Glucocorticoid ointments are used in short courses in the phase of disease worsening. They help stop inflammation and reduce the rate of disease progression, allowing you to stop the deterioration quickly. However, these drugs are not safe. They penetrate the general bloodstream and act systemically on the body, causing disorders of the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands. Hormonal ointments are selected only by a dermatologist. Today, many physicians are moving away from the use of glucocorticoid drugs in the treatment of psoriasis, noting their short-term effect.
The main lines of the fight against the disease are physiotherapy, non-hormonal fats and lifestyle changes.
Non-hormonal drugs are divided into several groups:
- preparations with naphthalene and solidol;
- tar grease;
- sulfur preparations;
- zinc-based creams.
Such ointments have keratolytic properties, ie they contribute to the peeling of keratinized particles of the epidermis. All fats do not have a systemic effect on the body and have a fat base, which is why they quickly soften deposits.
Birch and charcoal tar-based ointments are recommended for patients with oily scalp. Such agents stop the inflammatory process and increase local immunity, preventing further cell division in the affected area.
Ointments with naphthalene and solid oil are used for very dry plaques with a large number of detachable scales. Their main goal is to prevent the spread of the pathological process to healthy skin. They effectively soften the affected areas and improve the overall appearance of the epidermis, while providing an anti-inflammatory effect.
Zinc preparations exfoliate the skin and protect against secondary infections. They are used for any form of scalp psoriasis because they act quickly and sensitively. Sulfur tar ointment, ointment with sulfur and zinc - these drugs are suitable for most patients and quickly have a pronounced therapeutic effect.
The advantage of non-hormonal drugs is their natural composition, the absence of contraindications and side effects. Such drugs can also be used to treat young children because they do not have a systemic effect on the body.
The advantage of natural fats is harmlessness
The course of treatment is on average 20 days, the ointment is applied up to three times a day. The disadvantage of scalp scalp treatment is the messy appearance of the hair as all the medications are greasy and stain the hair quickly. An alternative are special medicated shampoos, however, as practice shows, the best therapeutic effect is achieved by the simultaneous use of shampoos and ointments.
General therapy
In the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp at home, general strengthening therapy plays an important role. Dermatologists say that it is not enough to collect fat for psoriasis on the head, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen the whole body as a whole.
Complex therapy includes:
- sedatives;
- antidepressants and tranquilizers;
- immunostimulants;
- vitamins;
- tonics;
- cytostatics;
- retinoids;
- antihistamines.
Because exacerbation of psoriasis is always accompanied by stress and nervous system disorders, sedatives and tranquilizers play an important role. The goal of such therapy is to reduce the destructive effects of stress, improve sleep, restore the normal functioning of the nervous system and normalize mood. Sedatives include medications, alcoholic tinctures of valerian, peony and lemon balm. Medications are dispensed without a prescription and are mild medications that can help normalize sleep and relieve stress. For depression, neurosis, and other mental disorders that occur in the background of psoriasis, you should consult a neurologist about the appointment of powerful medications such as sedatives and antidepressants.
In addition, vitamins (A, C, E, group B) are prescribed. Their goal is to normalize the activity of the nervous system, antioxidant effect, accelerate skin regeneration and normalize immunity. Preparations with antioxidants in the composition help to remove toxins from the body, restore skin regeneration and protect cells from negative influences.
Vitamins are essential for healing.
Immunostimulants must be used, but only according to the doctor's instructions. Self-administration of such drugs can adversely affect health and worsen the course of the disease.
Cytostatics and retinoids stop the excessive division of epidermal cells, acting from within. Due to the large number of contraindications and side effects, such drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist after a comprehensive examination.
Psoriasis shampoos
Despite the fact that the first line of treatment consists of ointments for psoriasis on the head, special shampoos are necessarily used. They help treat psoriasis on the scalp and provide a gentle cleansing of the epidermis without excessive drying.
You can use hypoallergenic baby shampoos for sensitive scalp cleansing.
Shampoos can be used up to three times a week. The course of treatment is 30-40 days and depends on the form of the disease. The shampoo is applied to wet hair, foams and rinses immediately - it is necessary to clean the scalp from accumulated skin flakes. The product is then reapplied, foamed with massage movements and left for five minutes, after which the medicine must be washed off. Thus, the shampoo also cleanses the skin and has a therapeutic effect.
Between the application of the medicated shampoo, there is a need for frequent washing of the hair, which looks messy due to the use of greasy fats. For daily shampooing of psoriasis, it is recommended to use children's shampoos with medicinal herbs in the composition - chamomile, calendula, sage. Preference should be given to products intended for children from the first days of life, because the composition of such shampoos is the most natural and safest.
Physiotherapy for psoriasis
Physiotherapy helps to increase the effectiveness of drug treatment. In scalp psoriasis, darsonvalization and PUVA therapy are considered to be the most effective and safest method.
The first method is based on exposure to low frequency currents. The procedure is performed using a special device with an electrode in the form of a comb. Within 10 minutes, simply comb your hair with the supplied product. This effect improves metabolic processes and accelerates skin regeneration. Usually the course consists of 25 procedures.
One of the most popular treatments for psoriasis is PUVA therapy. It is a type of ultraviolet radiation. The result is improved skin trophism, increased local immunity and stimulated regeneration. The duration of treatment also consists of 20-25 procedures.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine knows how to get rid of psoriasis on the head as soon as possible, but dermatologists warn that such drugs can be used only with medication and physiotherapy.
Folk remedies will complement the traditional treatment, but will not replace it.
Traditional remedies for scalp psoriasis are based on the preparation of rinses and masks from natural ingredients. Below are the most effective recipes.
- The mask of oily buckwheat with egg yolk improves metabolic processes and speeds up recovery. Such a drug can be used only in the stage of plaque healing, because burdock oil significantly accelerates this process. Another unique property of the oil is the prevention of pigmentation disorders in the areas of skin lesions. To prepare the mask, heat the oil a little to a comfortable temperature, mix with one egg yolk and a tablespoon of honey and apply on the scalp for 40 minutes.
- Another effective and safe remedy is a mask made of blue or green clay. Clay is rich in valuable micro- and macroelements, improves metabolic processes, saturates skin cells with useful substances and accelerates recovery. To prepare the mask, pour warm water over the clay, stir and apply on the skin under a plastic cap for half an hour.
- Turn 4 tablespoons of fresh celandine in a meat grinder, squeeze through cheesecloth. Mix the resulting juice with half a glass of red wine and apply with a cotton swab on the deposits for 15 minutes, then rinse with water. Fresh onion juice can be used in the same way.
- In two large spoons of dried celandine flower pour 150 ml of medical alcohol, pour into a glass jar with a lid and leave for ten days. The drug is then used to treat plaque. After applying the product, it should be washed after 10 minutes. If you overexpose celandine tincture, you can burn your skin.
Such folk remedies for the treatment of psoriasis on the head will help speed recovery. Simultaneous treatment with drugs, folk and tonic drugs shows a good result.
Lifestyle and prognosis
With psoriasis, you should reconsider your lifestyle and change your diet. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of allergenic foods, give up fast food, smoked and fatty foods. It is important to avoid stress, normalize sleep and work schedule. Spa treatments and climate change are recommended for psoriasis. Mud baths and mineral salts help to improve the condition of the skin.
The prognosis depends on the form of the disease and the methods of treatment. It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but properly chosen therapy allows you to achieve long-term remission.
Preventive measures are strengthening the nervous system and immunity, timely fight against stress and a healthy lifestyle.