SCALP PSORIASIS

CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENT FOR SCALP PSORIASIS

Scalp psoriasis is a common discomfort that can occur at any age.

It can develop from mild to moderate to serious disease.

Raised scaly patches and flaked skin that may resemble dandruff on the scalp. but it differs from dandruff by the scalp will appear like a silvery sheen and dry scales.

It can attack a person's entire head or a portion of the scalp in the head.

General Symptoms

1. In mild condition, the symptoms will be shown by small scaly patches.

2. In severe condition, the scalp becomes itchy, with flaking red bumps.

3. Some people may have burning sensations

Scalp psoriasis if left untreated can spread over neck, ears, and forehead.

In severe conditions, some people may suffer some hair loss temporarily. Hair loss itself is not a symptom due to psoriasis but it will happen on scratching the scalp vigorously due to itching. Vigorous scratching may not only result in hair loss but also causes bruises and bleeding.

Other skin conditions such as Seborrheic Dermatitis may also produce similar symptoms like red rashes but will occur only on the scalp and not spread to other areas.

In Seborrheic Dermatitis the patches are moist while in Scalp Psoriasis the patches are dry and scaly.

Ringworm also causes crusty red rashes on the scalp but unlike psoriasis that appear in circular or ring shape.

Causes

Although the exact cause is not yet established, The American Academy of Dermatology states that scalp psoriasis occurs when our immunity system sends wrong signals to the body cells.

When the body cells receive wrong signals from the body's immune system, they multiply rapidly per day and beyond the control of the scalp to shed off the old aged cells. This causes the irregularities in the cell multiplication and the not removed old cells form dry patches.

Usually, the cell multiplication in the scalp may take up to many weeks to produce new cells. In the meanwhile, the scalp will shed off the old cells. But because of the wrong signals received from our body immune system the entire formation and shed off system gets disturbed.

One of the risk factors is genetic links. If anyone in the family got the condition this may cause another member of the family to get it.

Stress is another risk factor that can cause scalp psoriasis by triggering wrong immune signals to the scalp.

Pain killers like indomethacin mostly used in rheumatic arthritis and cardiac medicines like quinidine used as an anti-arrhythmic in cardiology can also trigger wrong immunity signals to the scalp and subsequently cause scalp psoriasis.

Time To See Doctor

At any time depending upon the severity of the condition usually, when a rash appeared on the body it is the time to see a dermatologist.

But a thorough diagnosis is necessary to confirm as the rash is due to psoriasis. Some times a biopsy is needed on the rashes for confirmation.

Although scalp psoriasis may flares up periodically it is not a serious medical condition and can be well controlled by proper treatments.

Treatments

Currently, no known total cure for scalp psoriasis is available. But there are many OTC and prescription medicines are available to control the symptoms.

Topical medications are usually applied on the scalp followed by systemic medications.

Topical medications include shampoos, ointments, and creams contain coal tar and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid helps to soften the unwanted skin scales which can be easily shed off. The only drawback with salicylic acid it may weaken the hair to cause breakage.

Coal tar can help to improve the condition by retarding cell multiplication and reducing inflammation.

Systemic treatments are recommended if topical treatments prove ineffective. Many systemic preparations contain steroids. Steroids decrease the overactive immune response which causes the irregular multiplication of the scalp cells. But the treatment with steroids is risky as it may decrease our resistance to infections and hence it should be taken under doctor's advice.

Light Therapy.

Light contains ultraviolet B radiation that can be used to treat scalp psoriasis by showing the affected area periodically as per the medical advice to the special lamp which emits only UV-B radiation.

Scalp psoriasis patients should expose to UV-A radiation by using tanning beds which is more dangerous.

Prevention

Although there are no known prevention procedures for scalp psoriasis the following tips can be helpful to get rid of that:-

1.Seek immediate treatments

2. Always use mild shampoos to avoid scalp damages

3. Avoid scratching.

4. Keep the scalp moist.

5. Avoid triggers like stress, and medications misuse such as indomethacin and quinidine.