Home Blog

Psoriasis is a reddish rash on the skin that causes itching and flakiness. The most common symptom is a thick, reddish, flaky skin. Psoriasis is not very common, but affects up to 10% of the population. It cannot therefore be considered rare. In this article, we will take a look at what psoriasis is and scalp psoriasis in particular. We will discuss the common symptoms as well as the most effective remedies to cure the problem.

Causes

Nobody knows exactly what causes psoriasis. Some doctors feel that there could be a genetic factors involved, while others feel that there are other reasons that contribute to psoriasis. Although the causes of psoriasis are not known, their contributing factors are known. Below, we detail a few of the most common contributing factors to psoriasis.

• Infections are known to trigger psoriasis attacks, especially that of the upper respiratory tract
• Dry skin
• Injury to the skin like burns, cuts or even insect bites
• Stress
• Too little exposure to sunlight
• Sunburn
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Medication such as antimalarial drugs, beta blockers, and lithium

Psoriasis of the scalp is no different from psoriasis elsewhere in the body. Psoriasis is known to affect any place in the body, including the sensitive skin of the genitalia, the scalp, and even the fingernails. The exact mechanism is, however, not known. Some doctors feel that it is an immune system response gone haywire. The understanding is that the body’s own immune system causes an inflammatory reaction in the skin that causes it to overproduce skin cells. This is the reason why psoriasis manifests itself as patches on the skin. Other factors such as stress and dry air are believed to be factors that trigger psoriasis, although how this happens is not known.

How to Cure Psoriasis on the Scalp?

Treating psoriasis on the scalp is very similar to treating psoriasis anywhere in the body. The most common treatment method is the topical application of creams. The most common methods of treating psoriasis are as follows.

• Corticosteroids: They are used to reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis. They are also useful in reducing the high turnover in skin cells.
• Vitamin D3: Calcipotriene is a synthetic form of vitamin D3 that is applied on the skin to control the turnover of skin cells. It is, however, known to cause irritation and is therefore, not widely recommended.
• Vitamin A: Retinoid is a synthetic form of vitamin A that works similar to vitamin D3, but without as many side effects. However, even this causes irritation of skin.
• Coal Tar Preparations: Gels and ointments based on coal tar can be applied directly to the skin or as a shampoo to wash the hair. They, however, do not work very quickly, and sometimes, they can have a h3 unpleasant odor. They may even stain clothing and are therefore not very popular.
• Anthralin: Anthralin reduces the turnover in skin cells and inflammation. It should, however, not be left on the skin for longer than 30 minutes as it can cause serious irritation.

Home Remedies

As the cause of psoriasis is not known, it cannot also be cured. Psoriasis can, however, be controlled, and if it is not very serious, there are some natural remedies that will help.

• Soothing bath oils will lubricate the skin, remove the scales, and reduce itching. By soaking in a bath containing oatmeal epsom salts and coal tar solution for 15 minutes, the symptoms of psoriasis can be reduced.
• Shampoos that contain clobetasol propionate have also shown to be effective at treating scalp psoriasis. They are also very popular as it is easier to apply shampoo to the scalp than creams or ointments.
• Calcipotriene and/or betamethasone scalp solutions have also been found to be very effective.
• Exposure to sunlight is effective in certain cases, although it may not be very effective in treating scalp psoriasis.
• Systemic treatment such as taking internal medication like methotrexate cyclosporine, hydroxyurea, and other antibiotics are also other forms of treatment.

A doctor will choose the best way to treat the condition, and it is best to consult with your doctor before pursuing any course of treatment for scalp psoriasis.

References

1. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000434.htm
2. www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/psoriasis/default.asp