Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the epidermis. This pathology is not contagious, as it is not caused by an infection, but by an autoimmune disorder. The disease is characterized by excessive division of skin cells resulting in the formation of dense plaques. Inflammation affects any part of the body. Scalp psoriasis is a fairly common disease. A characteristic of the localization of the rash on the head is the complexity of the treatment. This form of psoriasis often becomes the cause of the development of complexity and dissatisfaction with the self, as it is visible to others. Elements of the rash look unattractive and require prompt treatment.
The reasons for the development of the disease
Scalp psoriasis develops for the same reasons as damage to the skin on the body. Factors that influence the appearance of patches on the skin can be:
- emphasize;
- increased sebum secretion;
- prolonged exposure to the sun;
- allergy;
- skin damage;
- reduced immunity.
Stress aggravates many diseases, including psoriasis.
Regardless of the reasons that cause the development of the first stage of the disease, psoriasis is always accompanied by an excessive division of epidermal cells, which explains the appearance of the causative factors. rash. This is due to the body's autoimmune response, which stimulates immunity to attack skin cells.
The disease is characterized by a undulating process with periods of exacerbation and remission. Doctors often call the pathology a psychosis, since the exacerbations of psoriasis are directly related to the patient's psychological state.
Stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, lack of vitamins in the body can cause abnormal exacerbations and the appearance of new elements of the rash.
Despite the incredible appearance of the rash, psoriasis is completely non-contagious, as it is the result of internal disorders rather than infection or virus.
Although doctors have yet to determine the exact cause of the disease, most tend to assume psoriasis is the result of systemic disorders in the body caused by hormonal imbalances, Nervous system and metabolism are not stable. , malnutrition and cold climates.
Symptoms of psoriasis
Psoriasis on the head begins with the appearance of dense nodules that cannot be seen on the outside. Over time, the nodules link with each other, forming islands. The skin around the rash is swollen and inflamed, and dry, scaly layers may appear.
Over time, the nodules become dense and flat, beginning to peel off on the surface with the formation of large scales, dandruff-like in shape and structure.
Scalp psoriasis is usually localized in the temples, behind the ears, on the neck, and along the hairline. Usually, flaking and plaques form along the cracks.
The disease can manifest itself at any age. Usually, the first episode of psoriasis occurs during puberty and before the age of 20 or over 35 years old.
Scalp psoriasis is classified according to the severity of the symptoms. The mild form of the disease is characterized by the formation of isolated and moderately desquamous inflammatory foci. A rash of this type is not prominent and responds well to drug therapy.
For a severe episode of psoriasis on the head, a photo allows you to assess the severity of symptoms, the entire head, the hair growth area, and the back of the neck as features. The elements of the rash are large, scaly very large and visible to the naked eye.
Scalp psoriasis can affect both the scalp and the surrounding skin.
Timely diagnosis plays an important role in scalp psoriasis. An experienced dermatologist will make a diagnosis during the external examination of the patient. The difficulty lies in that, many patients do not go to the doctor, do not know how psoriasis on the scalp is mistaken for dandruff. It is important to remember that early psoriasis responds well enough to treatment, but if it is not treated promptly it will inevitably worsen and damage more and more areas of the skin.
If you detect the first symptoms of a lesion on the scalp, you should consult a doctor, because if psoriasis is diagnosed, treatment should be comprehensive and prompt.
Stages of the disease
Regardless of the localization of the rash, scalp and body skin psoriasis always progresses in several stages. The first stage is an exacerbation of the disease. During this stage, new papules form on the skin, noting an excessive division of epidermal cells. The papillomas merge into large lesions, which then turn into plaques that in turn begin to peel off. The duration of an exacerbation depends on a number of factors and can last up to several months. During this stage, the rash elements cover the scalp, the epidermis around the ears and on the neck, and can spread down the back. Scalp psoriasis is often accompanied by localized lesions on the whole body.
The second stage of the disease is standing still. During this stage, 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. In the static phase, nothing happens literally - the arrays don't increase in size, but they don't decrease either. The peeling remains the same, the epidermis looks dense and inflamed. This phase can also take months.
The next stage is remission of the disease. During this stage, the inflammatory process decreases, sloughing is stopped due to the stop of the division of epidermal cells. The plaques gradually become softer, decrease in size, and disappear completely. With proper skin care, after the disease has been cured, there is not even a trace left, however, usually, depigmented areas are formed at the site of plaques.
Then the condition subsided, in which the skin looked perfectly healthy. Remission time depends on the lifestyle and general health of the patient. It does not last forever, as the psoriasis does not go away, it is only temporarily in remission. The next flare-up can occur for months or years due to stress, climate change, or reduced immunity. With the next exacerbation, the psoriasis progresses in stages again, beginning with the appearance of new papules, ending with a reduction in the size of the plaques and complete restoration of the skin.
In its mild form, psoriasis can be easily confused with dandruff.
Diagnostic
Psoriasis rash on the head can appear in both adults and children, since psoriasis in children is not uncommon. It is important to promptly detect the onset of the pathological process and to see a dermatologist.
Shaving is used to diagnose the disease. The affected epidermis reacts with local lesions with a number of specific signs that are specific to psoriasis.
When shaving, flakes flake off with dandruff without causing pain, itching, or discomfort. The result of long exposure and removal of plaque from keratinized particles, a thin layer of skin found under the scaly layer. It is inflamed, tinged with bright pink and shines like a stearin. If this membrane is damaged, small blood droplets will appear on the surface of the plaque, indicating the damage of the capillaries too close under the skin.
This reaction of the epidermis is called the "psoriasis trio" and is a unique symptom of this disease, allowing for an accurate diagnosis without the need for laboratory tests.
The principles of treatment
A dermatologist will advise in detail how to cure psoriasis on the head. The fact that everyone's disease manifests itself in its own way, so there is no one general treatment regimen that is suitable for 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 long-term remission. As doctors' practice shows, a properly selected treatment regimen allows you to forget about the disease for several years.
An integrated approach to the treatment of psoriasis is taken, which includes:
- the use of hormonal ointments to reduce inflammation;
- use of non-hormonal drugs to relieve symptoms;
- physical therapy to speed up the skin recovery process;
- changes to diet and spa procedures.
The basis of treatment includes drugs for external use, which are applied to inflammatory foci. In some cases, treatment is complemented by taking a psoriasis medication on the head, preferring immunostimulants and vitamin pills.
It is not possible to cure psoriasis, but the elimination of its manifestations for a long time is completely possible.
Conservative therapy
Traditionally, dermatologists prescribe two types of skin treatment - hormone-free ointments and glucocorticoid preparations.
Glucocorticoid ointment is used in short courses in the exacerbation of the disease. They help stop inflammation and slow disease progression, allowing you to quickly end exacerbations. However, these drugs are not safe. They penetrate into the blood in general and have a systemic effect on the body, causing disturbance of the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands. Hormonal ointment is selected only by a dermatologist. Today, many doctors are slowly turning away from the use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of psoriasis, noting their short-term effects.
The main ways of the fight against the disease are physiotherapy, hormone-free ointments and lifestyle changes.
Non-hormonal drugs are divided into several groups:
- preparations with naftalan and solidol;
- ointment with tar;
- sulfur preparations;
- zinc-based cream.
Such ointments have keratolytic properties, that is, they contribute to the sloughing of keratinized particles of the epidermis. All ointments do not have a systemic effect on the body and have a fat basis, so they quickly soften atheroma.
Ointment extracted from birch and coal tar is recommended for patients with an oily scalp. Such funds suppress inflammatory processes and increase local immunity, prevent further cell division in the affected area.
Ointments with naphthalene and solid oils are used for very dry patches with a large number of removable flakes. Their main goal is to prevent the spread of the pathological process to healthy areas of the skin. They effectively soften the affected areas and improve the overall appearance of the epidermis, while providing anti-inflammatory effects.
Preparations with zinc exfoliate the skin and protect against secondary infections. They are used for any form of scalp psoriasis, as they act quickly and delicately. Sulfur ointments, sulfur and zinc ointments - these drugs are suitable for most patients and quickly have a marked therapeutic effect.
The advantage of hormone-free drugs is their natural composition, without contraindications and side effects. Such drugs can even be used to treat young children, as they do not have a systemic effect on the body.
The advantage of natural ointments is harmless
The average course of treatment is 20 days, the ointment is applied up to three times a day. The downside of treating the scalp with ointment is the unpasteurized appearance of the hair, as all medications are oily and quickly plump the hair. An alternative is special treatment shampoos, however, as reality shows, the best therapeutic effect is achieved when shampoos and ointments are used simultaneously.
Synthetic therapy
When treating psoriasis on the head at home, an important role is performed by general enhancement therapy. Dermatologists said, applying ointment to treat psoriasis on the head is not enough but it is necessary to take measures to improve the whole body.
Complex therapies include:
- sedative;
- antidepressants and sedatives;
- immunostimulants;
- vitamin;
- tonic;
- cytostatics;
- retinoids;
- antihistamines.
Since psoriasis exacerbations are always accompanied by stress and disruption of the nervous system, sedatives and tranquilizers play an important role. The goals of this therapy are to minimize the devastating effects of stress, improve sleep, restore normal functioning of the nervous system, and normalize mood. Sedatives include drugs, valerian alcohol, peony, and mugwort. Medicines are available without a prescription and are mild medications that can help normalize sleep and reduce stress. For depression, neurological disorders, and other psychiatric disorders that develop against the background of psoriasis, you should consult with a psychiatrist about prescribing powerful medications such as sedatives and antipsychotics. depression.
In addition, vitamins are prescribed (A, C, E, group B). Their goal is to normalize nervous system activity, have an antioxidant effect, accelerate skin regeneration and normalize immunity. The composition has antioxidants in the composition to help flush toxins out of the body, restore skin regeneration and protect cells from negative influences.
Vitamins are indispensable in the treatment process.
Immunostimulants must be used, but only as directed by the doctor. Self-administration of such drugs can negatively affect your health and worsen the course of the disease.
Cytostatics and retinoids prevent excessive division of epidermal cells, working from within. Due to their many contraindications and side effects, these drugs are prescribed by a dermatologist after a thorough examination.
Shampoos for psoriasis
Despite the fact that the first line of treatment includes ointments for psoriasis on the head, it is still necessary to use special shampoos. They both help cure psoriasis on the scalp and help to delicately clean the cuticles without over drying.
You can use hypoallergenic baby shampoos to clean the delicate scalp.
The shampoo 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, foaming and immediately washed off - this is necessary to clear the scalp from the accumulated skin flakes. The product is then reapplied, foaming with massage movements and left for five minutes, after which the medication must be rinsed off. As such, the shampoo both cleanses the skin and has a therapeutic effect.
Between medicated shampoos, you need to wash your hair often, hair doesn't look tidy due to the use of greasy ointments. For daily shampooing for psoriasis, children's shampoo should be used with medicinal herbs in the composition - chamomile, calendula, sage. Priority should be given to children's products from the very first days of life, as the ingredients in these shampoos are the safest and most natural.
Physiotherapy for psoriasis
Physiotherapy helps to increase the effectiveness of drug treatment. With scalp psoriasis, darsonvalization and PUVA treatments are considered to be the most effective and safest.
The first method is based on exposure to low-frequency currents. The procedure is performed using a special device with a comb-shaped electrode. For 10 minutes, simply brush your hair with the included preparation. This effect helps to improve metabolism and speed skin regeneration. Usually the course of treatment consists of 25 procedures.
One of the most common treatments for psoriasis is PUVA therapy. It is a type of ultraviolet radiation. The result is improved skin condition, increased local immunity and stimulates regeneration. The treatment period also includes 20-25 procedures.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine knows how to cure psoriasis on the head as soon as possible, however dermatologists warn that such remedies can only be applied in addition to drugs and physical therapy.
Folk remedies will complement traditional treatment, but will not replace it.
Folk remedies for scalp psoriasis are based on the preparation of cleansers and masks from natural ingredients. Here are the most effective recipes.
- Sea buckthorn oil mask with yolks improves metabolism and speeds recovery. Such a remedy can only be used at the plaque healing stage, since sea buckthorn oil speeds up this process significantly. Another unique property of the oil is the prevention of pigmentation disturbances in the affected areas. To prepare the mask, heat the oil to a comfortable temperature, mix with one yolk and one teaspoon of honey and apply to the scalp for 40 minutes.
- Another effective and safe remedy is to apply a blue or green clay mask. Clay is rich in valuable trace and macro elements, improves metabolism, saturates skin cells with beneficial substances and speeds up recovery. To prepare the mask, pour the clay with warm water, mix well and cover on the skin for half an hour under the plastic cap.
- Put 4 tablespoons of fresh cactus in the meat grinder, squeeze through cheesecloth. Mix the juice obtained with half a glass of red wine and use a cotton swab to apply the plaque for 15 minutes, then rinse with water. Fresh onion juice can be used in a similar way.
- Pour 150 ml of tincture into two large tablespoons of dried coriander, pour into a glass container with a lid and leave for 10 days. The drug is then used to treat plaque. After applying the product, rinse it off after 10 minutes. If you use too much tincture, you can burn your skin.
Folk remedies for the treatment of psoriasis on the head will help speed up the recovery. Concomitant treatment with medicines, folk remedies and tonics showed a good result.
Lifestyle and prognosis
With psoriasis, you should reconsider your lifestyle and make changes to your diet. It is necessary to minimize eating foods that cause allergies, give up fast foods, smoked foods, and high fat. It is important to avoid stress, and normalize sleep and work schedule. For psoriasis, spa treatments and climate change are recommended. Mud baths and mineral salts help to improve the skin's condition.
The prognosis depends on the type of disease and the methods of treatment. It is not possible to completely get rid of the psoriasis, but properly selected therapies allow you to achieve lasting remission.
Preventive measures are to strengthen the nervous system and immunity, fight stress promptly, and lead a healthy lifestyle.