Scalp Psoriasis And Natural Hair

Hey loves. I hope you are doing great. Today I thought of discussing psoriasis or more particularly, Scalp Psoriasis. This is a topic of interest to me considering, I have very itchy and sensitive scalp and on trying to find out what was wrong with me, I found a lot of information about scalp psoriasis and thought to share with you guys. I hope it helps another sister or brother out there.

What is scalp psoriasis?

Apparently, scalp psoriasis is a very common inflammatory skin disorder that may present itself as raised scaly patches on the scalp. It ranges from mild with a single patch on the scalp to several patches or covering the whole scalp and even spilling to the face mainly the forehead, neck and behind the ears. It produce dandruff like flaking, and the symptoms of scalp psoriasis include, scaly bumpy patches, silvery white scales, dry scalp, burning or sore scalp, itching and hair loss.

What causes scalp psoriasis?

Scalp psoriasis like the other psoriasis that is often found on knees and elbows, is caused by an immune disorder which causes skin cells to grow too quickly leading to build up which then sheds as scales. Scalp psoriasis is hereditary so if you are genetically predisposed to it, you might experience a flare up at some point/s in your life. The itchiness of scalp psoriasis may be very intense and long lasting such that scratching is unavoidable. It is a common belief that the scratching is what leads to hair loss and not the scalp psoriasis. However, follicle disruption and heavy scaling may also cause noticeable hair loss. Hair normally grows back though once the disease is under control.

How to treat Scalp Psoriasis

The best you can do is to see your doctor or a dermatologist who can recommend certain treatments for you. The options range from over the counter medications and shampoos for milder psoriasis to prescription steroids and other treatments for more severe cases. I advise that you do not go ahead and self-diagnose but will rather see a health professional who will look at your scalp and do some tests so as to rule out other scalp conditions like dermatitis which are often mistaken for scalp psoriasis. Over the counter shampoos used to control psoriasis are normally those that contain tar, selenium and/or salicylic acid. As much as you will need to use such shampoos frequently to control the scalp psoriasis, they may weaken the hair shaft and cause breakage. So due care needs to be taken to make sure it is applied to the scalp and not the hair shaft.

Occasionally, it may be necessary to cover the scalp with, Coconutoil, Olive oil, Mineral oil, or petroleum jelly over night before shampooing in the morning in order to soften the scales and also to relieve the itchiness and soreness. Cover the hair area with a shower cap so that the moisture can help soften the scalp making them easier to wash out and help the scalp to heal.

For many scalp psoriasis patients, the condition does not completely go away after treatment but there flare ups here and there throughout their lives. In the next post, I will look at how to keep scalp psoriasis under control and minimise flare ups and also some home treatments you can do to minimise symptoms.

Till then, many blessings to you and yours