This disease is a chronic, inflammatory, and recurring process that primarily affects the scalp area.
It is generally accepted that scalp psoriasis is only the initial stage in the onset of psoriasis, which involves the development of more severe forms throughout the body.
Features of manifestations and the course of the disease
A disease such as psoriasis of the scalp manifests itself by the appearance of a dense "cap" in the scalp, which is then accompanied by severe itching and peeling.
There is another variant of the manifestations, when individual small plaques are formed.
Symptoms of psoriasis differ from seborrheic dermatitis, the complete absence of violations of the structure of the hair roots.
With psoriasis of the scalp, there are no symptoms of hair loss whatsoever.
The scales that form in psoriasis are high in sebum so they can be easily identified by touch, which cannot be said about the peeling in seborrheic dermatitis.
Some of the most at risk areas of the head with psoriasis include:
- The area around the ears, earlobes.
- Separation area.
- Frontal, occipital and cervical regions.
Scalp psoriasis is common, characterized by frequent relapses, and chronic.
This dermatological disease always has a chronic degree, since full recovery is impossible.
It is the scalp psoriatic disease that is considered to be the most common.
The reasons for the development of the disease
The main cause of this condition is hereditary predisposition.
If a person's close relatives have the disease, the likelihood of hereditary transmission is at least 70%.
Secondary causes of psoriasis are:
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Decrease in the body's defenses.
- Diseases of the liver and biliary tract.
- Alcohol abuse and tobacco smoking.
- Being in a state of constant stress, lack of sleep.
- Wrong diet.
However, these are nowhere near all reasons why this disease can occur.
Some reasons are too rare so try not to mention them.
Most often this disease is registered in people aged 40-42 years and older. If people under the age of 20 suffer, this is usually associated with a weakened immune system or hormonal disorders. Therefore, after prescribing a vitamin regimen and restructuring a person to focus on an active, healthy lifestyle, the irritation will go away.
It is noticeable that after any well-thought-out treatment, the skin gradually clears, no scars remain, and papules with inflammation do not return.
The main symptoms
In each of the areas described above, psoriasis of the scalp develops, it is always accompanied by the appearance of single or multiple foci of inflammation, complemented by the appearance of characteristic dense scales and accompanied by severe itching.
The primary stage of the disease has almost no pronounced symptoms, often patients do not know that the dermatological pathology will overtake them. The patient has no complaints, the external examination shows no specific symptoms.
Some patients also note that the initial stage is very similar to dandruff, so long treatments with shampoos are possible to get rid of the faulty pathology.
If the process is neglected, it can spread deep into the skin, affect the hair's root system and cause hair loss.
A disease like psoriasis of the scalp has its own stages of course, including:
- Stage of progress. New symptoms of inflammation appear. This process takes place in the direction from the center to the periphery.
- Stationary stage. It is characterized by a relative calm, during which no new inflammatory elements are formed, but the existing symptoms do not go away.
- Regression phase. At this stage, the main symptoms of psoriasis subside. Typical psoriasis eruptions are replaced by foci of pigmentation.
Treatment features
A procedure like scalp psoriasis treatment should be viewed as a whole set of measures. This package of measures can be roughly divided into:
- General therapy.
- Local therapy.
- Physiotherapy treatment.
- Spa treatment.
- Traditional methods.
General or drug therapy includes the appointment of the following groups of drugs that can effectively treat psoriasis:
- Sedatives.
- Multivitamin tablets.
- Hyposensitizing drugs.
- Drugs with a cytostatic effect.
- Corticosteroid drugs.
- Antihistamines.
- Immunomodulatory agents.
- Drugs for non-specific drug therapy (ATP).
It is important to remember that the use of drugs with a cytostatic effect and corticosteroids is possible only with severe illness. They should be used with extreme caution, otherwise they can cause a significant aggravation of the disease.
Antibacterial drugs can only be used if a pathogenic microflora is attached.
Local therapy for psoriasis of the scalp includes the use of the following active ingredients:
- Ointments with a keratoplastic effect: ichthyol ointment, naphthalan ointment, salicylic ointment, sulfur-tar ointment.
- Glucocorticoid ointments. Such an ointment is used only in severe cases of the course of the disease.
- Folk remedies for topical use.
Shampoos are used as another effective treatment. The only limitation is that this tool is only effective when combined with other methods.
The following have proven effective in the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp:
- Tar shampoo.
- Zinc shampoo.
- Shampoo with ketoconazole.
Physiotherapy is another effective topical agent for treating psoriasis.
The following physiotherapeutic agents are used to treat psoriasis of the head:
- UV exposure of the skin.
- Hydrotherapy.
- Plasmapheresis method.
- Hemisorption.
- Laser irradiation.
- Mud packs and applications.
- Heliotherapy.
- Bathing in hydrogen sulphide springs and medicinal baths.
A typical technique is stress relief and psychological stress relief. To do this, sedatives are prescribed to the patient to relieve high nervous irritability. The saturation of the patient's body with vitamins is one of the most important details in the treatment.
When deciding which diet is best for a patient, attention is always paid to the tolerance of food and drugs, as well as to the food itself within its range. This important detail helps to relieve the patient's gastrointestinal tract as well as his other internal organ systems.
As additional methods, folk remedies are used.
Methods of traditional medicine
Can Scalp Psoriasis Be Cured Using Traditional Methods? There is no clear answer to this question.
We can only say that folk methods are ineffective as a standalone method of treatment, only as a complement to the main method. Let's look in detail at the most effective alternative methods of treating scalp psoriasis.
Method number 1. It is necessary to prepare the celandine juice by first passing the celandine through a meat grinder and then expressing it. This product can be supplemented by adding 40 ml of dry red wine and then applied in the form of lotions to the affected areas of the scalp.
Method number 2. To lubricate the scalp, you can also use an alcoholic tincture of celandine herb. To prepare it, you need to pour half a glass of dry herbs with 0. 5 liters of 70% medicinal alcohol (you can use vodka).
This remedy should be left for 7 days, after which it can be used to wipe the affected areas. After applying the tincture, you can also rinse your hair with a strong chamomile infusion.
Method number 3. As an excellent tool for general detoxification of the body, you can use "monastery tea", which will cleanse the body of toxins, cleanse the liver and help get rid of all manifestations of psoriasis. During the treatment period, this tea can be drunk instead of the usual black or green tea.
Method number 4. It is possible to treat skin symptoms of psoriasis of the scalp with folk methods using the fruits and stems of rose hips.
To do this, the stems and fruits must be burned to ashes, after which this agent must be rubbed into the affected areas. Apothecary petroleum jelly can be added to the ashes for better absorption.
It is recommended to remove traces of oil on the skin and hair from folk remedies with a solution of vinegar. It is usually made in a ratio of 50x50 parts. There are many treatment options, but it is always important to choose the right one. The best thing to do is to get the advice of experts.
prophylaxis
To prevent psoriasis of the scalp from recurring, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- Observe the rules of personal hygiene, properly care for your hair and scalp.
- Refrain from smoking alcohol and tobacco.
- Limit stressful situations as much as possible.
- Observe the way you work and rest.
- Follow a special diet.
- Take multivitamin supplements every six months.
- It is necessary to dye your hair with hypoallergenic dye only, or not to dye it at all.
- Treat any existing diseases in a timely manner.
- For general strengthening of the body, it is necessary to use folk methods.
From all of the above, we can conclude that scalp psoriasis is not a disease in itself, but just another manifestation of such a serious disease.
From a financial cost point of view, the treatment described can be described as budgetary, while the stereotype "the more expensive the better" is unacceptable. There is nothing more precious in the world than your own health and the health of your loved ones. And remember thatit is better to prevent the disease than to cure it later.
Bless you!