A certain percentage of the people on earth suffer from psoriasis. First of all, psoriasis occurs precisely in the scalp, treatment of which is recommended when the first symptoms appear. The causes of the disease have not yet been clarified, but the symptoms are pronounced. It is recommended to consult a doctor for treatment, receive comprehensive treatment and observe preventive measures.
causes
Psoriasis is a disease the causes of which remain a mystery to humans. Numerous studies are being carried out on this subject, new results appear, new causes and theories that raise even more questions. With psoriasis, the rate of new cells forming increases, as a result of which too many of them are formed, the skin begins to harden, and an inflammatory process begins.
So far, the following fact has been recognized as the cause of the disease - in psoriasis, the process of cell division is disturbed, the formation of keratinocytes increases, which leads to the appearance of the disease.
The increased cell renewal causes an inflammatory process and the inflammatory process in turn leads to an even higher rate of cell division, which is a vicious circle. Hereditary predisposition leads to a high division rate.
Sometimes a violation of the immune system that occurs as a result of post-infectious disease stress leads to such a process. For example, people who are infected with the immunodeficiency virus have three times the number of patients with psoriasis than healthy people.
Hundreds of years ago it was believed that people with psoriasis were cursed and could pass these diseases on to others.
Other factors that lead to the development of psoriasis:
- Genetic diseases that arise when viruses and bacteria enter the body, causing a change in the structure of chromosomes.
- Skin infections, purulent inflammation.
- Violation of fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Chronic inflammation - sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis and others. In many patients with psoriasis, high rates of analysis of the number of lymphocytes and leukocytes in the blood have been observed.
- Too dry or too humid air where the patient is constantly.
- Stress, anxiety, depression.
- When taking antibiotics, an immunomodulator leads to a deterioration in immunity and subsequently to psoriasis.
- Increase your risk of alcohol and tobacco use.
- Deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body, unhealthy diet, eating foods with allergens, being overweight.
- Endocrine Disorders.
- Diseases of the internal organs.
If a person has noticed the appearance of symptoms of psoriasis, localized dry skin, roughness, redness, you should immediately contact a dermatologist for diagnosis.
Psoriasis occurs on the head for some reason, from which a special structure of the skin is noted, frequent microtraumas that appear when scratching the skin in this place.
According to statistics, one percent of people worldwide suffer from psoriasis, in eight out of ten patients the psoriasis is localized in the head area, in four out of ten it is only localized on the head. In six out of ten people, the disease isn't confined to the scalp, but spreads to the elbows, knees, palms of the hands, and other areas.
If the patient is predisposed to psoriasis, symptoms may appear unexpected with the slightest amount of stress or anxiety. Assign a risk group of patients. Typically, psoriasis symptoms first appear in patients between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.
Types (forms)
Symptoms can vary depending on the type of psoriasis. The two main forms of the disease are mild and severe.
- The lungs are characterized by the formation of small lesions covered with the same small plaques of psoriasis.
- In severe forms, psoriasis affects the entire head area, the lesions are combined, the skin is dry, psoriatic plaques are formed in large plates, the skin becomes much coarser.
Stages
Scalp psoriasis occurs in several stages.
- The advancing stage is characterized by the development of the disease and the formation of new lesions.
- During the stationary stage, the symptoms of the disease do not change in any way. New ones don't appear, old ones don't change.
- With the regressive stage, the symptoms are eliminated. It can take up to two years.
Symptoms can vary seasonally. In winter psoriasis, the cause of the disease may be a lack of ultraviolet radiation, but if symptoms intensify in summer, the reason is the opposite - an excess of ultraviolet radiation.
Symptoms
Dermatological complaints not only affect the patient's physical condition, but also his psychological stability. Psoriasis, a chronic, incurable disease, is particularly difficult to endure. In order to improve the quality of life, it is necessary to constantly get rid of the symptoms of the disease, which takes a lot of time, effort, and sometimes money.
If clothes can be used to hide psoriasis on the body, this trick won't work for scalp psoriasis. Usually, patients with psoriasis from this area begin to develop the disease. Sometimes psoriasis stops spreading, especially if its symptoms are constantly treated with good and effective medicines, but the disease can spread to other parts of the body.
Scalp psoriasis is also known as seborrheic psoriasis. The disease is characterized by excessive flaking of the scalp that resembles dandruff. In addition, the patient suffers from itching, the formation of psoriatic plaques in this area.
An important fact for people with psoriasis is that hair in the scalp does not fall out either at the onset of the disease or during its development.
The skin under psoriatic plaques can bleed when scratched, so patients should not scratch their skin. The affected area may be reddened due to the inflammatory process.
The disease periodically progresses and regresses. With a relapse, the symptoms of the disease return, in which case the patient should take medication to get rid of the symptoms so that the period of remission begins. In remission, the symptoms of psoriasis are not pronounced.
The length of each period depends on many factors. The duration of remission can be up to two years.
To find out what psoriasis looks like in the scalp, let's go to the symptoms section.
treatment
So far, no one has been able to find a cure for psoriasis.
There are many drugs available to treat psoriasis symptoms. The use of medicines and folk remedies, as well as complex therapy, improves the patient's quality of life.
First of all, to diagnose the disease, you need to contact a dermatologist. The doctor will perform all the necessary examinations and analyzes to make an accurate diagnosis.
Home remedies
For the treatment of psoriasis in the scalp, folk recipes are used. They are recommended as part of complex therapy to enhance the effects of drugs.
It is forbidden to use traditional medicine recipes independently. They should be discussed with your doctor and only used after approval.
The following remedies are commonly used to treat psoriasis on the scalp:
- Celandine is effective in relieving the inflammatory process. The herb is washed and dried, red wine is added and the skin is treated with the resulting product.
- A tincture with white wine is made from sunflower baskets. The juice is pressed from the sunflower and the skin is treated with this agent.
- Elderberry is also effective in relieving itching, inflammation, and redness of the skin. The inflorescences are soaked in water for two hours. The solution is taken orally.
- Honey with egg white and shampoo are mixed, applied to the affected areas and washed off with water.
Medication
The drugs for the treatment of each patient are selected in the presence of the attending physician according to the test results, the stage of the disease and the level of immunity. He will tell you how to treat scalp psoriasis.
A drug prescribed by a dermatologist, even an experienced one, may not always be suitable for a patient. Many products have no effect at the beginning of use. It is recommended to take drugs in complex therapy, that is, to combine several forms of drugs.
There are several groups of drugs for psoriasis and different treatments.
Hormonal funds in their composition contain active components - hormones that have a very effective effect on the body and quickly relieve symptoms, but it is not recommended to use them for a long period of time.
Steroids can be systemic, taken orally in tablet form, or given intravenously / intramuscularly. Ointments with hormones in the composition are much less effective. However, they cannot be used for a long time because the skin at the site of application of the product can change pigment, become thin, traumatic and prone to secondary infections.
In addition, withdrawal symptoms are often observed after taking hormonal drugs. This is when symptoms return after prolonged treatment and discontinuation of the drug, but with symptoms even worse.
Therefore, it is not recommended to use hormonal preparations for a long period of time, apply to areas with sensitive skin, apply to large areas of the skin, and also stop using the drug. It is necessary to gradually reduce the dosage.
Non-hormonal drugs are also commonly used to treat psoriasis. They are used to relieve symptoms, inflammation, itching, redness of the skin. You have a much smaller list of contraindications and side effects.
The main active ingredients of this group of drugs soothe inflammation, narrow blood vessels, soothe, moisturize and soften the skin. Of the active ingredients, zinc, tar, salicylic acid and other substances are mentioned.
They can be used at any stage of the disease. In addition, such drugs have many different forms of release. They also differ in effectiveness and recommendations for use. Reviews of their effect in treating psoriasis in the scalp can be studied on the forums.
Zinc can be used as often as needed, but tar-based products are recommended no more than twice a week. They should also be used in conjunction with moisturizers as tar dries out the skin.
Patients often opt for ointments to treat scalp psoriasis.
Cosmetics are also very popular with patients because they improve the appearance of the scalp, but at the same time have no therapeutic effect.
When it comes to cosmetic products, users opt for oils and shampoos that help moisturize the skin, relieve itching and flaking in the scalp in psoriasis.
To treat psoriasis, drugs are used that suppress the immune system and metabolism, and stop the process of renewal and division of skin cells.
These funds can only be taken under medical supervision, as they have a large list of contraindications and side effects.
It is also necessary to improve the general condition of the patient through a special diet that excludes foods with allergens from the patient's diet. It is recommended to take vitamin and mineral complexes.
Physiotherapy can be prescribed to the patient. For example, ultraviolet radiation is indicated for "winter" psoriasis.
prophylaxis
For prevention, the following recommendations should be observed:
- You need to take good care of your skin and wash it more often with baby or other hypoallergenic soap.
- Refrain from smoking alcohol and tobacco.
- Do not get into stressful situations. Depression, anxiety can cause a relapse.
- Observe the daily routine.
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes.
- Follow a special diet that excludes allergens from the diet. The diet is also selected individually for the patient and the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates required.
Many people wonder if scalp psoriasis is contagious. The answer is no, this disease is not contagious.