What You Need to Know About Psoriasis of the Scalp

Nobody likes a nasty case of dandruff, especially when summertime comes and the head tends to produce more oil and sweat that spreads to the hair. Dandruff can be such an annoyance, but if you think you have too much dandruff in your hair, that might not just be dandruff, that just might be psoriasis of the scalp.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is basically a skin disease that is not infectious, causing a certain individual to have red patches on different parts of the skin. Other people sometimes have psoriasis in the form of scaly patches, which can easily be peeled off, because of overproduction of skin cells. These scaly patches can sometimes be irritated when they are peeled. While psoriasis can appear on any parts of the skin, almost half of the people who have psoriasis have the disease on their scalp. For some people, the psoriasis covers only part of their scalp, making it look like they have chronic dandruff. Unfortunately, no amount of anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner can make it go away.

Kinds of Scalp Psoriasis

For some people, their psoriasis can cover their entire head, sometimes even going beyond the hairline and going down towards the ear and neck area. Severe psoriasis of the scalp can even form thick crusts on the head. People with scalp psoriasis also frequently experience severe itching, which irritates the scalp when the person scratches his or her scalp. For some people, stress and fatigue worse can also make their psoriasis worsen.

A person who suffers from scalp psoriasis should seek help from a doctor as to what medications he or she should take to control the psoriasis. While there are many treatments available for psoriasis, doctors recommend that the treatment and the medications should be combined, rotated, or changed routinely because the psoriasis might not respond to the medications after a few repetitions.

Treatment for Scalp Psoriasis

For mild psoriasis, chemicals such as salicylic acid and other products containing tar can be used as a treatment. Though these products are readily available on drugstores and pharmacies, it is always best to consult the doctor for the recommended dosage.

Steroids can also be used to treat psoriasis, where the doctor will inject some of it in the scalp. A more severe case of psoriasis needs different medications such as oral retinoids, methotrexate and other that are available once you consult with your doctor. Since severe psoriasis can also cause some yeast infection, you doctor might also ask you to take antimicrobial medications.

If you are looking for a more natural treatment of psoriasis, then you only need to go out and walk under the sun for short periods of time. Exposure to the sunlight and UV rays – provided that they do not give you sunburn – has been known to improve psoriasis, or even make them disappear.
 
When it comes to psoriasis of the scalp¸ you have to remember that it is the scalp that you are treating, not the hair. So don’t get worked up with shampooing your hair three times a day, consult a doctor to get the best medication you can get for your scalp psoriasis.