One of the most common forms of the disease is scalp psoriasis.
The disease itself is not an infectious process, but the disease is inflammatory.
The symptoms of psoriasis are very typical of fungal diseases - red or pink spots on the head that have a different shape.
In addition to the formation of one or more skin rashes, itching, burning and inflammation appear on the skin.
Causes of Psoriasis
Why does psoriasis appear on the head and what is it? Doctors still don't know why some people develop psoriasis on the scalp. Doctors regularly propose new theories and refute old ones. The causes of the development of the disease are often associated with a genetic predisposition, and among the factors that cause its occurrence include:
- Genetic Stress - Parents with psoriasis have been shown to be an order of magnitude more likely to have children with this diagnosis.
- The violation of the formation and maturation of epidermal cells, according to one of the hypotheses, is the main reason for the development of the disease.
- It is also believed that the reason is not due to the epidermis, but rather to the body's own immunity, which produces the wrong factors that negatively affect the skin.
- According to some scientists, disorders of the endocrine system also contribute to the development of the disease.
Today, the most likely cause of the development of psoriasis is considered to be autoimmune processes in the body of a sick person.
Is your hair falling out?
Patients with a disease are often interested in the question - can hair loss be observed in psoriasis? It should be noted that mass baldness does not occur. If such a process occurs, it is in an insignificant amount, since the hair follicles are deep, and the disease does not affect them.
Is psoriasis contagious?
This fear is linked to the unusual occurrence of psoriasis and its history. In ancient times, psoriasis was mistaken for a form of the terrible disease leprosy. From the above reasons for the appearance of psoriasis, it is clear that this disease cannot fall under the category of infectious. Therefore, when asked whether it is possible to contract psoriasis, the answer is one - no.
Symptoms
Psoriasis of the scalp is accompanied by a characteristic rash, represented by spots or, more often, plaques from pale pink to brownish red. In most cases, the elements of the rash are infiltrated from a minimal palpable elevation above the level of healthy skin to a pronounced infiltration of more than 1 mm.
In the initial stages only diffuse, without inflammatory manifestations and clear boundaries, abundant peeling in the form of scales is possible. It is very similar to other dermatoses of the head, which makes the differential diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis of the head very difficult.
The most typical symptom of psoriasis is the "psoriasis crown" - the transition of the process from the scalp to the smooth skin of the adjacent forehead areas, to the areas above and behind the ears, to the back of the earlobes, the occipital region and the neck.
Depending on the area and severity of the symptoms, there are 3 degrees of damage to the scalp:
- Easy- its main manifestation is the appearance on the head of small single lesions, covered with thin small scales;
- Heavy- Psoriasis affects the scalp completely, the scales are much larger and thicker than when the disease is mild.
Clinical studies show that in most patients no single factor can be identified that could explain the onset of the disease. A combination of several of these reasons is most frequently observed, which gives rise to classifying psoriasis as a polyetiological disease.
The difference between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis
Differential diagnostic signs of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis:
- Psoriasis, unlike diabetes mellitus, is characterized by increased infiltration of the elements of the rash due to acanthosis and hyperproliferation of the epidermis.
- Psoriasis rashes often extend beyond the scalp, onto the forehead (the so-called "psoriasis crown"), onto the neck, onto the ears.
- Peeling in psoriasis is dry, in diabetes the scales are more oily.
- Greater itching is observed in diabetes.
It is also necessary to carefully examine and question the patient for damage to nails and joints, the presence of which may speak for psoriasis and significantly affect further therapeutic tactics.
Treatment of psoriasis of the scalp
When scalp psoriasis is diagnosed, a number of measures are used to treat it, including:
- general therapy;
- local treatment;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- Spa treatment.
In mild cases of psoriasis of the scalp and the lack of progression, in most cases it is enough to prescribe local drugs for treatment - shampoos, gels, ointments, tar, etc. At the same time, therapy of an ever-advancing inflammatory process allows the use of a wider arsenal of pharmacological drugs of variousGroups and require physiotherapy techniques.
How do you treat psoriasis with medication?
In the complex of general therapy, doctors can include the following drugs:
- Vitamin complexes and vitamins C, A and group B;
- Non-specific immunotherapeutic agents: ATP, aloe;
- Aromatic retinoids;
- Cytostatics;
- Hemodez Solution;
- Enterosorbents;
- Monoclonal antibodies;
- Immunomodulators;
- Antihistamines;
- NVPS;
- Sedatives;
- Calcified autologous blood.
The use of corticosteroids and cytostatics during the course of treatment is advisable in the case of severe psoriasis and significant severity of the scalp symptoms. They need to be used very carefully: such funds can aggravate the course of the disease.
Shampoo for psoriasis of the scalp
Is It Possible To Cure Scalp Psoriasis With Shampoos? As a rule, even using a very effective shampoo is not enough. However, a prerequisite for the success of the treatment is the use of special remedies in complex therapy.
All medicinal shampoos help reduce the inflammatory process, relieve or reduce itching, but the use of just one shampoo is not effective - treatment must be comprehensive.
Anoint
Local treatment always helps to increase the effectiveness of the drug. With the progressive stage of psoriasis, 2% salicylic and boron salidol ointments are useful. If there is an exudative component and severe inflammation, then creams and ointments containing corticosteroids are needed.
Non-hormonal ointments contain birch, pine, juniper, and coal tar. They can be made both as ointments and as a paste.
Diet for psoriasis of the head
The diet should be consistent. The food portions should be small, according to the motto "better less, but more often". The last meal should be 7 p. m. to midnight at the latest, and a glass of kefir or yogurt can be drunk at night.
- It is necessary to completely refrain from alcoholic beverages. Their use during remission can provoke an exacerbation.
- Fatty, spicy and smoked foods should be excluded from the menu.
- Sweets are also not recommended - cakes, pastries, chocolate, sugar - all should be banned in psoriasis. Only small amounts of honey are allowed.
Of drinks, tea with sea buckthorn, rose hip or black currant leaves is useful.
Spa treatment
During your stay in the hospitals, you must participate in the following procedures:
- Heliotherapy;
- Mud therapy;
- Hydrogen sulphide baths and bathing in hydrogen sulphide springs.
The course of treatment is carried out in special sanatoriums, they help reduce the frequency of relapses and achieve long-term remission.
PUVA therapy
PUVA therapy is a physiotherapeutic treatment method that includes the use of a photoactive drug and the irradiation of the skin with long-wave UV radiation.
Quite a long application experience and evaluations by specialists prove the effectiveness of PUVA therapy in the treatment of various dermatological diseases (including psoriasis), especially if the course persists and other therapeutic methods are ineffective. According to statistics, a positive effect is achieved in about 80-85% of cases.
Hair care rules
In order to achieve better hair and scalp condition, it is necessary to follow basic rules of care, as well as the recommendations of a doctor:
- Wash your hair only with the recommended special shampoo.
- Comb the hair with a natural bristle comb.
- Systematically treat the scalp with disinfectant mixtures.
- Comb your hair very gently, gently, without damaging the scalp.
- Try to dry your hair naturally without using a hairdryer.
- With psoriasis of the head, you need to avoid complex styling, which will require the use of various styling products.