A certain percentage of people on earth suffer from psoriasis. First of all, psoriasis occurs on the scalp, which is recommended to be treated when the first symptoms appear. The causes of the disease have not been determined yet, but the symptoms are pronounced. It is recommended that you consult a doctor for treatment, that you receive comprehensive treatment and adhere to preventive measures.
Causes
Psoriasis is a disease whose underlying causes remain a mystery to humans. Numerous studies are being conducted on this topic, new results are emerging, new causes and theories are asking even more questions. With psoriasis, the rate of formation of new cells increases, which causes too many of them to form, the skin begins to harden and the 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 rate of keratinocyte formation increases, which leads to the appearance of the disease.
The increased rate of cell renewal causes the 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 rate of division.
Sometimes such a process leads to a violation of the immune system, which occurs as a result of stress, after an infectious disease. For example, among people infected with the immunodeficiency virus, the number of people with psoriasis is three times higher than in healthy people.
Hundreds of years ago, it was believed that people with psoriasis were cursed and could transmit these diseases to others.
Other factors that lead to the development of psoriasis:
- Genetic diseases that occur when viruses and bacteria enter the body, leading to changes in chromosome structure.
- Skin infections, purulent inflammation.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Chronic inflammation - sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, etc. High rates of lymphocyte and leukocyte counts have been observed in many patients with psoriasis.
- Too dry or too humid air in the place where the patient is constantly.
- Stress, anxiety, depression.
- Taking antibiotics, immunomodulators leads to weakened immunity and, as a result, psoriasis.
- Increase the risk of alcohol and tobacco use.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body, unhealthy diet, consuming foods with allergens, being overweight.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Diseases of internal organs.
If a person notices the appearance of symptoms of psoriasis, localized dry skin, roughness, redness, he should immediately consult a dermatologist for a diagnosis.
For some reason, psoriasis appears on the head, which leads to a special structure of the skin, frequent microtraumas that are obtained by scratching the skin in this place.
According to statistics, one percent of people worldwide suffer from psoriasis, while in eight out of ten patients psoriasis is localized in the head area, in four out of ten it is localized only on the head. In six out of ten people, the disease is not limited to the scalp, but spreads to the elbows, knees, palms and other areas.
If a patient has a predisposition to psoriasis, then his symptoms may appear unexpectedly with the least amount of stress or anxiety. Determine the risk group of patients. Typically, the symptoms of psoriasis first appear in patients between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.
Types
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, which are covered with the same small psoriatic plaques.
- In severe forms of psoriasis, it affects the entire head area, the lesions are combined, the skin is dry, psoriatic plaques form in large plaques, and the skin becomes significantly rougher.
Phases
Scalp psoriasis occurs in several stages.
- The progressive stage is characterized by the development of the disease, the formation of new lesions.
- During the inpatient stage, the symptoms of the disease do not change in any way. New ones do not appear, old ones do not change.
- With the regressive stage, the symptoms are eliminated. It can last 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 the symptoms worsen in the summer, then the reason is the opposite - an excess of ultraviolet radiation.
Symptoms
Dermatological diseases affect not only the patient's physical condition, but also his mental stability. Psoriasis, which is a chronic or incurable disease, is especially difficult to tolerate. In order to improve the quality of life, it is necessary to constantly eliminate the symptoms of the disease, which requires a lot of time, effort, and sometimes money.
If psoriasis on the body can be hidden by clothing, then with psoriasis on the scalp this trick will fail. Usually patients begin to suffer from psoriasis in this area. Sometimes psoriasis does not spread further, especially if its symptoms are constantly treated with good and effective drugs, but the disease can spread to other parts of the body.
Scalp psoriasis is also called seborrheic. The disease is characterized by severe scalp peeling reminiscent of dandruff. Also, the patient suffers from itching, the formation of psoriatic plaques in this area.
An important fact for people with psoriasis is that the hair on the scalp does not fall out either at the beginning of the disease or during its development.
The skin under the psoriatic plaques may bleed when scratching, so patients should not scratch the skin. The affected area may be red due to the inflammatory process.
The disease periodically progresses and recedes. With relapse, the symptoms of the disease return, in which case the patient should use medication to relieve the symptoms in order for remission to occur. 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 on the scalp looks like, let’s move on to the part of the photos of the symptoms.
Treatment
So far no one was able to send in the perfect solution, which is not strange.
There are many medications available to treat the symptoms of psoriasis. As a result of the use of medicines and folk remedies, complex therapies, the quality of life of patients improves.
First of all, it is necessary to contact a dermatologist to diagnose the disease. The doctor will conduct all the necessary research and analysis to make an accurate diagnosis.
Folk remedies
Folk recipes are used to treat psoriasis on the scalp. They are recommended for use as part of a complex therapy to improve the effect of drugs.
It is forbidden to use recipes of traditional medicine on your own. They should be discussed with your healthcare professional and used only after approval.
The following medications are often used to treat psoriasis on the scalp:
- Celandine is effective in alleviating the inflammatory process. The grass is washed and dried, red wine is added and the resulting product is used to treat the skin.
- Tincture with white wine is made from sunflower baskets. The juice is squeezed from the sunflower and this product is used to treat the skin.
- 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, rinsed with water.
Medications
Medicines for the treatment of each patient are chosen in the presence of a doctor, according to the test results, the stage of the disease, the level of immunity. He will tell you how to treat psoriasis on the scalp.
A medication prescribed by a dermatologist, even an experienced one, may not always be appropriate for the patient. Many products have no effect at the beginning of use. It is recommended to take drugs in complex therapy, ie to combine several forms of drugs.
There are several groups of psoriasis medications and different treatments.
Hormonal agents contain active components - hormones, which have a very effective effect on the body and quickly relieve symptoms, but their use is not recommended for a long time.
Steroids can be systemic, taken orally in tablet form or given intravenously / intramuscularly. Fats with hormones in the composition are much less effective. But they cannot be used for a long time, because the skin at the place of application of the product can change the pigment, it becomes thin, traumatic, prone to secondary infection.
In addition, withdrawal symptoms are often observed after the use of hormonal drugs. This is when after prolonged treatment and cessation of medication, symptoms return, but with even greater symptoms.
Therefore, long-term use of hormonal preparations, application to areas with sensitive skin, application to large areas of skin, as well as discontinuation of the drug, is not recommended, it is necessary to gradually reduce the dose. .
Non-hormonal drugs are also often used to treat psoriasis. They are used to relieve symptoms, inflammation, itching, redness of the skin. They have a much smaller list of contraindications and side effects.
The main active ingredients of this group of drugs alleviate inflammation, narrow blood vessels, soothe the skin, hydrate and soften it. Of the active components stand out zinc, tar, salicylic acid and other substances.
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 the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp can be studied on forums.
Zinc can be used as often as needed, but tar-based products are not recommended more than twice a week. In addition, they should be used together with moisturizers because tar dries the skin.
Patients often opt for ointments to treat scalp psoriasis.
Cosmetics are also very popular among patients because they improve the appearance of the scalp, but at the same time have no therapeutic effect.
From cosmetic products, users opt for oils and shampoos that hydrate the skin, eliminate itching and dandruff in the scalp in psoriasis.
Drugs that suppress the immune system, metabolism, stop the process of renewal and division of skin cells are used to treat psoriasis.
These drugs can be taken only under the supervision of a doctor, because they have a large list of contraindications and side effects.
It is also necessary to improve the general condition of the patient by adhering to a special diet that excludes foods with allergens from the patient's diet. It is recommended to take vitamin and mineral complexes.
Patients may be prescribed physiotherapy. For example, ultraviolet radiation is indicated for "winter" psoriasis.
Prophylaxis
For prevention purposes, the following recommendations should be followed:
- You need to take good care of your skin, wash it more often with baby or other hypoallergenic soap.
- Refrain from smoking alcohol and tobacco.
- Don’t get into stressful situations. Depression, anxiety can cause relapse.
- Stick to your daily routine.
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes.
- Adhere to a special diet that excludes allergens from the diet. Also, the diet is chosen individually for the patient and his required amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Many people wonder if scalp psoriasis is contagious. The answer is no, this disease is not contagious.