Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the epidermis. The pathology is not contagious, as it is provoked not by infectious causes but by an autoimmune disorder. The disease is characterized by excessive division of skin cells, which leads to the formation of dense plaques. Inflammation affects every part of the body. Scalp psoriasis is a fairly common form of the disease. The peculiarity of the localization of rashes on the head is the complexity of treatment. This form of psoriasis often becomes the cause of the development of complexes and self-dissatisfaction, as it is visible to others. The elements of the rash do not look aesthetically pleasing and require timely treatment.
The reasons for the development of the disease
Scalp psoriasis develops for the same reasons as skin lesions on the body. Factors that act as a trigger for the appearance of plaques on the skin can be:
- stress;
- seborrhea;
- prolonged sun exposure;
- alergic reaction;
- skin damage;
- reduced immunity.
Stress exacerbates many diseases, including psoriasis.
Regardless of the reasons that caused the development of the first episode of the disease, psoriasis is always accompanied by excessive division of epidermal cells, which explains the appearance of the elements of the rash. This is due to the body's autoimmune response, which provokes an immune attack on skin cells.
The disease is characterized by a wavy course with periods of exacerbation and remission. Doctors often call the pathology a psychosomatic disorder because the exacerbations of psoriasis are directly related to the patient's psychoemotional state.
Stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, lack of vitamins in the body can provoke extreme exacerbation and the appearance of new elements of the rash.
Despite the repulsive appearance of the rash, psoriasis is not contagious at all, as it is the result of internal disorders, but not of infections or viruses.
Despite the fact that doctors have not yet determined the exact cause of the disease, most tend to believe that psoriasis is the result of systemic disorders in the body caused by hormonal imbalances, nervous system instability and metabolic processes, malnutrition and coldclimate.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Psoriasis of the head begins with the appearance of dense nodules that are invisible on the outside. Over time, the nodes merge with each other to form islands. The skin around the accumulations of rash elements becomes swollen and inflamed, dry crusts and scaly areas may appear.
Over time, the nodules become thick and flat, on their surface begins peeling with the formation of large scales, in shape and structure resembling dandruff.
Psoriasis of the scalp is most often localized in the temporal area, behind the ears, on the neck and along the hairline. Peeling and plaque often form on the parting.
The disease can occur at any age. Most often, the first episode of psoriasis occurs either during puberty and before the age of 20, or over the age of 35.
Scalp psoriasis is classified according to the severity of the symptoms. The mild form of the disease is characterized by the formation of isolated foci of inflammation and moderate desquamation. The rash with this form is not striking and responds well to medication.
For severe psoriasis of the head, a photo of which allows you to assess the severity of symptoms, are characterized by the entire head, the area of hair growth and the back of the neck. The elements of the rash are large, the scales are very large and visible to the naked eye.
Scalp psoriasis can affect both the scalp and the skin around it.
Early diagnosis plays an important role in scalp psoriasis. An experienced dermatologist will make a diagnosis during an external examination of the patient. The difficulty lies in the fact that many patients do not go to the doctor without knowing what psoriasis of the scalp looks like and confuse it with dandruff. It is important to remember that psoriasis in the initial stage of the head responds well enough to treatment, but the lack of timely therapy will inevitably lead to disease progression and damage to more and more areas of the skin.
If you find the first symptoms of scalp damage, you should consult a doctor, because if psoriasis is diagnosed, treatment should be comprehensive and timely.
Stages of the disease
Regardless of the location of the rash, psoriasis of the scalp and skin of the body always occurs in several stages. The first stage is exacerbation of the disease. During this period, new papules form on the skin, excessive division of epidermal cells is noted. The papules merge into large lesions, which then transform into plaques, which in turn begin to peel off. The duration of exacerbation depends on a number of factors and can last up to several months. During this period, the elements of the rash cover the scalp, the epidermis around the ears and neck and can descend to the back. Scalp psoriasis is often accompanied by focal lesions on the skin of the body.
The second stage of the disease is immobile. During this period, the progression of the disease stops, the number of elements of the rash does not change, the disease stops spreading to healthy areas of the skin. During the stationary stage, literally nothing happens - the plaques do not increase in size, but do not decrease. The peeling remains the same, the epidermis looks thick and inflamed. This stage can take many months.
The next stage is to reduce the disease. During this period, the inflammatory process subsides, the peeling stops, as the division of epidermal cells stops. The plaques gradually become softer, decrease in size and then disappear completely. With proper skin care, after recovery from the disease, not even a trace remains, but most often in the place of plaques are formed areas with damaged pigmentation.
Then comes remission, during which the skin looks absolutely healthy. The duration of remission depends on the lifestyle and general health of the patient. It does not last forever, because psoriasis does not disappear, but only temporarily disappears. The next exacerbation may occur after a few months or years due to stress, climate change or reduced immunity. In the next exacerbation, psoriasis again occurs in several stages, starting with the appearance of new papules, ending with a reduction in the size of the plaques and complete recovery of the skin.
In mild forms, psoriasis can easily be confused with dandruff.
Diagnosis of the disease
Psoriatic rashes on the head can occur in both adults and children, as psoriasis in children is not uncommon. It is important to promptly detect the beginning of the pathological process and visit a dermatologist.
The scraping method is used to diagnose the disease. The affected epidermis responds to local damage with a number of specific signs that are unique to psoriasis.
When scraped, the scales fall off with dandruff without causing pain, itching or discomfort. As a result of prolonged exposure and cleaning of the plaque from keratin particles, a thin layer of skin is found under the scales. It is inflamed, bright pink in color and shines like a stearin stain. If this film is damaged, small droplets of blood appear on the surface of the plaque, indicating damage to the capillaries that are too close under the skin.
This reaction of the epidermis is known as the "psoriatic triad" and is a symptom unique to this disease that allows an accurate diagnosis without laboratory tests.
Principle of treatment
A dermatologist will consult in detail how to treat psoriasis of the head. The fact is that everyone's disease manifests itself in its own way, so there is no universal treatment regimen that suits all patients without exception.
The goal of psoriasis therapy is to stop the progression of the disease, improve the appearance of the skin and achieve lasting remission. As the practice of doctors shows, the right treatment regimen allows you to forget about the disease for up to several years.
An integrated approach to the treatment of psoriasis is practiced, which includes:
- the use of hormonal ointments to relieve inflammation;
- use of non-hormonal drugs to relieve symptoms;
- physiotherapy to accelerate skin recovery;
- dietary changes and spa treatments.
The basis of treatment consists of drugs for external use, which are applied to the foci of inflammation. In some cases, treatment is supplemented by taking pills for psoriasis of the head, preference is given to immunostimulating drugs and vitamin drugs.
It is impossible to cure psoriasis, but to get rid of its manifestations for a long time is quite possible
Conservative therapy
Traditionally, dermatologists prescribe two types of skin treatments - non-hormonal ointments and glucocorticoids.
Glucocorticoid ointments are used in short courses in the stage of exacerbation of the disease. They help to stop the inflammation and reduce the rate of disease progression, which allows you to quickly stop the exacerbation. However, these drugs are not safe. They penetrate the general blood flow and have a systemic effect on the body, causing disturbances in the functioning of the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands. Hormonal ointments are selected only by a dermatologist. Today, many doctors are moving away from the use of glucocorticoid drugs in the treatment of psoriasis, noting their short-term effect.
The main lines of disease control are physiotherapy, non-hormonal ointments and lifestyle changes.
Non-hormonal drugs are divided into several groups:
- preparations with naphthalene and solidol;
- tar ointments;
- sulfur preparations;
- zinc-based creams.
Such ointments have keratolytic properties, ie they contribute to the exfoliation of keratinized particles of the epidermis. All ointments do not have a systemic effect on the body and have a fatty base, which is why they quickly soften plaques.
Ointments based on birch and charcoal tar are recommended for patients with oily scalp. Such agents stop the inflammatory process and increase local immunity, preventing further cell division in the affected area.
Ointments with naphthalene and hard oil are used for very dry plaques with a large number of removable flakes. Their main purpose is to prevent the spread of the pathological process on healthy skin. They effectively soften the affected areas and improve the overall appearance of the epidermis, while providing an anti-inflammatory effect.
Zinc preparations exfoliate the skin and protect against secondary infections. They are used in any form of scalp psoriasis, as they act quickly and delicately. Sulfur tar ointment, ointment with sulfur and zinc - these drugs are suitable for most patients and quickly have a pronounced therapeutic effect.
The advantage of non-hormonal drugs is their natural composition, lack of contraindications and side effects. Such drugs can even be used to treat young children, as they have no systemic effect on the body.
The advantage of natural ointments is harmlessness
The course of treatment is an average of 20 days, the ointment is applied up to three times a day. The disadvantage of treating the scalp with ointments is the uneven appearance of the hair, as all drugs are oily and quickly color the hair. An alternative are special medicated shampoos, but as practice shows, the best therapeutic effect is achieved with the simultaneous use of shampoos and ointments.
General therapy
In the treatment of psoriasis of the head at home, general strengthening therapy plays an important role. Dermatologists say that it is not enough to take ointments for psoriasis of the head, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen the whole body.
Complex therapy includes:
- sedatives;
- antidepressants and tranquilizers;
- immunostimulants;
- vitamins;
- tonics;
- cytostatics;
- retinoids;
- antihistamines.
As exacerbation of psoriasis is always accompanied by stress and nervous system disorders, sedatives and tranquilizers play an important role. The purpose of such therapy is to minimize the destructive effects of stress, improve sleep, restore normal functioning of the nervous system and normalize mood. Sedatives include medications, alcoholic tinctures of valerian, peony and motherwort. Medications are available without a prescription and are mild medications that can help normalize sleep and relieve stress. In case of depression, neurosis and other mental disorders that occur against the background of psoriasis, you should consult a neurologist about the appointment of powerful drugs such as tranquilizers and antidepressants.
In addition, vitamins (A, C, E, group B) are prescribed. Their purpose is to normalize the activity of the nervous system, the antioxidant effect, to accelerate skin regeneration and to normalize immunity. The preparations with antioxidants in the composition help to remove toxins from the body, restore skin regeneration and protect cells from adverse effects.
Vitamins are indispensable for treatment.
Immunostimulants should be used, but only as directed by a physician. Self-administration of such drugs can adversely affect health and worsen the course of the disease.
Cytostatics and retinoids stop the excessive division of epidermal cells by acting from within. Due to the large number of contraindications and side effects, such drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist after a thorough examination.
Shampoos for psoriasis
Despite the fact that the first line of treatment consists of ointments for psoriasis of the head, special shampoos must be used. They help both to treat psoriasis of the scalp and to gently cleanse the epidermis without drying it out.
You can use hypoallergenic baby shampoos to gently cleanse the scalp.
Shampoos can be used up to three times a week. The course of treatment is 30-40 days and depends on the form of the disease. The shampoo is applied to wet hair, foam and immediately rinsed - this is necessary to clean the scalp from accumulated skin flakes. The product is then reapplied, foamed with massaging movements and left for five minutes, after which the drug should be washed off. In this way, the shampoo simultaneously cleanses the skin and has a therapeutic effect.
Between applications of medicated shampoo there is a need for frequent washing of the hair, which looks tidy due to the use of oily ointments. For daily shampooing for psoriasis, it is recommended to use baby shampoos with medicinal herbs in the composition - chamomile, calendula, sage. Preference should be given to products intended for children from the first days of life, as the composition of such shampoos is the most natural and safe.
Physiotherapy for psoriasis
Physiotherapy helps to increase the effectiveness of drug treatment. In scalp psoriasis, darsonvalization and PUVA therapy are considered the most effective and safest methods.
The first method is based on exposing low frequency currents. The procedure is performed using a special device with a comb electrode. Within 10 minutes, simply comb your hair with the included detergent. This effect improves metabolic processes and accelerates skin regeneration. The course of treatment usually consists of 25 procedures.
One of the most popular treatments for psoriasis is PUVA therapy. This is a type of ultraviolet radiation. The result is improved skin trophism, increased local immunity and stimulation of regeneration. The duration of treatment also consists of 20-25 procedures.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine knows how to get rid of psoriasis of the head as soon as possible, but dermatologists warn that such drugs can be used only in addition to drugs and physiotherapy.
Folk remedies will complement the traditional treatment, but will not replace it.
Traditional remedies for psoriasis of the scalp are based on the preparation of rinses and masks from natural ingredients. Below are the most effective recipes.
- Mask of sea buckthorn with egg yolk improves metabolic processes and accelerates recovery. Such a drug can be used only at the stage of healing of the plaque, as sea buckthorn oil significantly accelerates this process. Another unique property of the oil is the prevention of pigmentation disorders in the areas of skin lesions. To prepare the mask, heat the oil a little to a comfortable temperature, mix with one egg yolk and a spoonful of honey and apply on the scalp for 40 minutes.
- Another effective and safe remedy is a blue or green clay mask. Clay is rich in valuable micro- and macroelements, improves metabolic processes, saturates skin cells with nutrients and accelerates recovery. To prepare the mask, pour the clay with warm water, stir and apply on the skin for half an hour under a plastic cap.
- Take 4 tablespoons of fresh celandine in a meat grinder, squeeze through cheesecloth. Mix the resulting juice with half a glass of red wine and with a cotton swab apply on plates for 15 minutes and then rinse with water. Fresh onion juice can be used in the same way.
- Pour 150 ml of medical alcohol in two tablespoons of dried celandine flowers, pour into a glass jar with a lid and leave for ten days. The drug is then used to treat the plaque. After applying the product, it should be washed after 10 minutes. If you overexpose a tincture of celandine, you can burn your skin.
Such folk remedies for the treatment of psoriasis of the head will help speed recovery. Simultaneous treatment with drugs, folk remedies and tonics shows a good result.
Lifestyle and prognosis
With psoriasis, you need to reconsider your lifestyle and change your diet. It is necessary to minimize the consumption of allergenic foods, to give up fast food, smoked and fatty foods. It is important to avoid stress, to normalize sleep and work schedule. In psoriasis, spa treatment and climate change are recommended. Mud baths and mineral salts help to improve the condition of the skin.
The prognosis depends on the form of the disease and the methods of treatment. It is impossible to completely get rid of psoriasis, but properly selected therapy allows you to achieve long-term remission.
Preventive measures are to strengthen the nervous system and immunity, timely fight against stress and a healthy lifestyle.