A certain percentage of people on earth suffer from psoriasis. First of all, psoriasis appears precisely on the scalp, which is recommended to treat when the first symptoms appear. The causes of the disease have not yet been determined, but the symptoms are pronounced. It is recommended to consult a doctor for treatment, to receive comprehensive treatment and to observe preventive measures.
Causes
Psoriasis is a disease whose root causes 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 formation of new cells increases, as a result of which too many are formed, the skin begins to harden, and an inflammatory process begins.
Until now, the following fact has been recognized as the cause of the disease: in psoriasis, the process of cell division is disrupted, the rate of keratinocyte formation increases, which leads to the onset of the disease.
The increased rate of cell turnover causes an inflammatory process, and the inflammatory process, in turn, leads to an even higher rate of cell division, which is a vicious cycle. A hereditary predisposition leads to a high rate of division.
Sometimes a violation of the immune system, which appears as a result of stress, after an infectious disease, leads to such a process. For example, among people infected with the immunodeficiency virus, the number of patients with psoriasis is three times higher than among healthy people.
Several hundred years ago it was believed that people with psoriasis were cursed and could transmit these diseases to other people.
Other factors that lead to the development of psoriasis:
- Genetic diseases form when viruses and bacteria enter the body and cause a change in the structure of chromosomes.
- Skin infections, purulent inflammation.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Chronic inflammation: sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis and others. In many patients with psoriasis, high rates were observed in the analysis of the number of lymphocytes and leukocytes in the blood.
- Too dry or too humid air where the patient is constantly.
- Stress, anxiety, depression.
- When taking antibiotics, an immunomodulator leads to impaired immunity and, as a result, psoriasis.
- Increase the risk of alcohol and tobacco use.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body, unhealthy diet, intake of foods with allergens, overweight.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Diseases of the internal organs.
If a person has noticed the appearance of psoriasis symptoms, localized dry skin, roughness, redness, he should immediately contact a dermatologist for a diagnosis.
Psoriasis appears on the head for some reason, which shows 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 located in the head region, in four out of ten it is located only in 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 the patient is predisposed to psoriasis, his symptoms can arise unexpectedly with the least stress or anxiety. Assign a group of patients at risk. Symptoms of psoriasis usually first appear in patients between the ages of 15 and 25.
Types (forms)
Symptoms can vary depending on the type of psoriasis. The two main forms of the disease are mild and severe.
- The lung is characterized by the formation of small lesions, which are covered by the same small psoriatic plaques.
- In severe forms, psoriasis affects the entire area of the head, the lesions are combined, the skin is dry, the psoriatic plaques form in large plaques, the skin becomes much rougher.
Stages
Scalp psoriasis occurs in several stages.
- The progressive stage is characterized by the development of the disease, the formation of new lesions.
- During the stationary stage, the symptoms of the disease do not change in any way. The new ones don't appear, the old ones don't change.
- With the regressive stage, the symptoms are eliminated. It can last up to two years.
Symptoms can vary depending on the season. In winter psoriasis, the cause of the disease may be a lack of ultraviolet radiation, but if the symptoms intensify in summer, the reason is the opposite: an excess of ultraviolet radiation.
Symptoms
Dermatological ailments affect not only the physical condition of the patient, but also his psychological stability. Psoriasis, which is a chronic, that is, incurable disease, is especially difficult to tolerate. To improve the quality of life, it is necessary to constantly eliminate the symptoms of the disease, which takes 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 not work. Usually patients start to get psoriasis in this area. Sometimes psoriasis does not spread further, especially if its symptoms are constantly treated with good and effective medications, but the disease can spread to other parts of the body.
Scalp psoriasis is also called seborrheic. The disease is characterized by severe flaking of the scalp, which resembles dandruff. Also, the patient suffers from itching, the formation of psoriatic plaques in this area.
An important fact for patients 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 psoriatic plaques can bleed when scratched, so patients should not scratch their skin. The affected area may become red due to the inflammatory process.
The disease progresses and regresses periodically. With a relapse, the symptoms of the disease return, in which case the patient must use medications to eliminate the symptoms and the time of remission begins. In remission, the symptoms of psoriasis are not pronounced.
The length of each period depends on many factors. The duration of the referral can be up to two years.
To find out what psoriasis looks like on the scalp, let's move on to the symptom photos section.
Treatment
Until now, no one has been able to find a cure for psoriasis.
There are many medications available to treat psoriasis symptoms. As a result of the use of drugs and folk remedies, complex therapy, improves the quality of life of the patient.
First of all, you need to contact a dermatologist for the diagnosis of the disease. The doctor will carry out all the investigations and tests necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Home remedies
For the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp, folk recipes are used. Its use is recommended as part of a complex therapy to enhance the effect of medications.
It is forbidden to use recipes of traditional medicine independently. They should be discussed with your healthcare professional and should be used only after approval.
The following remedies are often used to treat psoriasis on the scalp:
- Celandine is effective in alleviating the inflammatory process. The herb is washed and dried, red wine is added and the skin is treated with the resulting product.
- A tincture is made with white wine from sunflower baskets. Sunflower juice is squeezed out and the skin is treated with this agent.
- Elderberry is also effective in relieving itchiness, inflammation, and redness of the skin. The inflorescences are soaked in water for two hours. The solution is taken orally.
- The honey with the egg white and the shampoo are mixed, applied to the affected areas and washed off with water.
Medicines
Drugs for the treatment of each patient are selected in the presence of the attending physician, based on the results of the test, the stage of the disease and the level of immunity. He will tell you how to treat psoriasis on the scalp.
Not always a drug prescribed by a dermatologist, even an experienced one, may be suitable for a patient. Many products have no effect at the beginning of their use. It is recommended to take drugs in complex therapy, that is, to combine several forms of drugs.
There are several groups of psoriasis medications and various treatments.
Hormonal agents contain in their composition active components - hormones, which have a very effective effect on the body and quickly relieve symptoms, but their use for a long time is not recommended.
Steroids can be systemic, taken orally in tablet form, or given intravenously / intramuscularly. Ointments with hormones in the composition are much less effective. But they can not be used for a long time, because the skin at the place of application of the product can change the pigment, becomes thin, traumatic and prone to secondary infection.
Also, after the use of hormonal drugs, withdrawal symptoms are often observed. This is when, after prolonged treatment and discontinuation of the drug, the symptoms return, but with even greater symptoms.
Therefore, it is not recommended to use hormonal preparations for a long time, apply to areas with sensitive skin, apply to large areas of the skin, and also cancel the use of the drug, it is necessary to gradually reduce the dose. .
Non-hormonal medications are also commonly used to treat psoriasis. They are used to relieve symptoms, inflammation, itching, redness of the skin. They have a much shorter list of contraindications and side effects.
The main active ingredients in this group of drugs relieve inflammation, constrict blood vessels, soothe the skin, hydrate and soften it. Of the active components, zinc, tar, salicylic acid and other substances stand out.
They can be used at any stage of the disease. Furthermore, these drugs have many different forms of release. They also vary in effectiveness and recommendations for use, reviews of their effect in the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp can be studied in the forums.
Zinc can be used as often as needed, but tar-based products are not recommended more than twice a week. Also, they must be used in conjunction with moisturizers because tar dries out 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 they do not have any therapeutic effect.
Of cosmetic products, users opt for oils and shampoos that hydrate the skin, eliminate itchiness and dandruff on the scalp with psoriasis.
For the treatment of psoriasis, drugs are used that suppress the immune system, metabolism, stopping the process of renewal and division of skin cells.
These funds can only be taken under the supervision of a doctor, because they have a large list of contraindications and side effects.
It is also required to improve the general condition of the patient by following a special diet that excludes foods with allergens from the patient's diet. It is recommended to take vitamin-mineral complexes.
Physiotherapy may be prescribed for patients. For example, UV radiation is indicated for "winter" psoriasis.
Prophylaxis
For prevention purposes, the following recommendations should be observed:
- You should take good care of your skin, wash it more often with baby soap or other hypoallergenic soap.
- Refuse the consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
- Don't 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. Also, the diet is selected 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.