A certain percentage of people on earth suffer from psoriasis. First of all, psoriasis occurs precisely on the scalp, this disease is recommended to be treated when the first symptoms appear. The cause of the disease is still unknown, but the symptoms are clear. It is advisable to consult a doctor for treatment, get a comprehensive treatment and take preventive measures.
Reason
Psoriasis is a disease, the root cause of which is still a mystery to humans. More research is being done on this topic, new results emerge, new causes and theories raise even more questions. With psoriasis, the rate of formation of new cells increases, as too many cells are formed, the skin begins to harden and the inflammatory process begins.
To date, the following fact has been recognized as the cause of the disease - in psoriasis, the process of cell division is interrupted, the rate of formation of keratinocytes is increased, leading to the appearance of the disease.
An increased rate of cell renewal causes inflammation, and inflammation leads to an even higher rate of cell division, which is a vicious cycle. A genetic predisposition leads to high division rates.
Sometimes a violation of the immune system, which appears due to 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 that of healthy people.
Several hundred years ago, it was believed that people with psoriasis were cursed and could pass these diseases on to others.
Other factors that lead to the development of psoriasis:
- Genetic diseases form when viruses and bacteria enter the body, resulting in changes in the structure of chromosomes.
- Skin infection, purulent inflammation.
- Violation of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Chronic inflammation - sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis and others. In many patients with psoriasis, a high percentage is observed in the analysis of the number of lymphocytes and white blood cells in the blood.
- The air is too dry or too humid where the patient frequently lies.
- Stress, anxiety, depression.
- Taking antibiotics, immunomodulators leads to impaired immunity and consequent psoriasis.
- Increased risk of alcohol and tobacco use.
- The body lacks vitamins and minerals, an unhealthy diet, eating foods with allergens, being overweight.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Diseases of internal organs.
If a person notices the appearance of symptoms of psoriasis, local dryness, roughness, redness, then you should immediately contact a dermatologist for a diagnosis.
Psoriasis appears on the head for some reason, in which a special structure of the skin is noted, the bacteria often appear when scratching the skin in this place.
According to statistics, one percent of the people in the world have psoriasis, while eight out of ten psoriasis patients are localized to the head region, out of ten patients are localized only on the head. 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, then his symptoms can arise suddenly with even the slightest stress or anxiety. Allocate a group of patients at risk. Usually, psoriasis symptoms first appear in patients between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.
Types (forms)
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, covered with similar small psoriatic plaques.
- In severe form, psoriasis affects the entire head area, the lesions combine, the skin is dry, the psoriasis closes in large patches, the skin becomes much coarser.
Stages
Scalp psoriasis occurs in several stages.
- The advanced stage is characterized by the development of the disease, the formation of new lesions.
- During the sedentary phase, the symptoms of the disease do not change in any way. The new does not appear, the old does not change.
- With the regressive stage, the symptoms are eliminated. It can last up to two years.
Symptoms may vary by season. In winter psoriasis, the cause of the disease can be a lack of ultraviolet radiation, but if the symptoms intensify in the summer, then the opposite reason - an excess of ultraviolet radiation.
Symptom
Dermatological diseases not only affect the patient's physical condition but also affect the patient's psychological stability. Psoriasis, being a chronic, incurable disease, is particularly difficult to tolerate. To improve the quality of life, it is necessary to constantly eliminate the symptoms of a disease that 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. Often, patients begin to develop psoriasis from this area. Sometimes psoriasis doesn't spread further, especially if its symptoms are continuously treated with good and effective medicines, but the disease can spread to other parts of the body.
Scalp psoriasis is also known as psoriasis. It is characterized by severe scaling of the scalp, resembling dandruff. In addition, the patient experienced 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 at the onset of the disease or during the development of the disease.
The skin under the psoriasis patches can bleed when scratched, so the person should not scratch the skin. The affected area may become red due to the inflammatory process.
The disease progresses and regresses cyclically. When the disease recurs, the symptoms of the disease return. In this case, the patient needs to be given drugs to eliminate the symptoms so that the remission period begins. When in remission, the symptoms of psoriasis are not as pronounced.
The length of each period depends on many factors. The period of remission can be up to two years.
To learn what scalp psoriasis looks like, let's move on to the symptom photo section.
The treatment
So far, no one has been able to find a definitive 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, the patient's quality of life is improved.
First of all, you need to contact a dermatologist to get a diagnosis. Your doctor will conduct all the research and analysis necessary to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Folk remedies
To treat psoriasis of the scalp, folk recipes are used. They are recommended to be used as part of complex therapy to enhance the effect of the drug.
Traditional formulas should not be used independently. They should be discussed with your healthcare professional and should only be used after approval.
The following remedies are commonly used to treat psoriasis of the scalp:
- Cedarwood is effective in reducing the inflammatory process. This herb is washed and dried, red wine is added, and the skin is treated with the resulting product.
- White wine made from baskets of sunflowers. Juice from sunflowers and skins treated with this agent.
- Elderberries are also effective in reducing itching, inflammation, and redness on the skin. The inflorescences are soaked in water for two hours. The solution is taken orally.
- Honey with egg whites and shampoo mix well, apply to acne-prone skin, wash with water.
Drugs
The drugs to treat each patient are selected in the presence of the attending physician, according to the test results, the stage of the disease, the level of immunity. He will tell you how to treat scalp psoriasis.
Medicines prescribed by a dermatologist, even an experienced person, may not always be suitable for the patient. Many products don't work when you start using them. The drug should be used in complex therapy, i. e. a combination of several drug forms.
There are several classes of psoriasis medications and different treatments.
Hormonal drugs contain active ingredients - hormones, which have a very effective effect on the body and quickly relieve symptoms, but should not be used for a long time.
Steroids can be administered systemically, orally as tablets, or intravenously/intramuscularly. Ointments 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 can change pigmentation, become thin, prone to injury, susceptible to secondary infections.
In addition, after the use of hormonal drugs, withdrawal symptoms are often observed. This is when, after prolonged treatment and discontinuation of the drug, symptoms return, but with even greater symptoms.
Therefore, hormonal preparations should not be used for a long time, applied to sensitive skin, large areas of skin, and at the same time must cancel the use of the drug, it is necessary to reduce the dose gradually. .
Non-hormonal medications are also commonly used to treat psoriasis. They are used to relieve symptoms, inflammation, itching, and redness on the skin. They have a much smaller list of contraindications and side effects.
The main active ingredients of this group of drugs help reduce inflammation, constrict blood vessels, soothe the skin, moisturize and soften the skin. Among the active ingredients are noted zinc, tar, salicylic acid and others.
They can be used at any stage of the disease. In addition, such drugs have various forms of release. They also differ in effectiveness and recommendations for use, and reviews of their effectiveness in the treatment of scalp psoriasis can be studied in forums.
Zinc can be used as often as needed, but tar-based products are not recommended more than twice a week. Also, they should be used in conjunction with moisturizer because tar dries out the skin.
Patients often choose ointments to treat scalp psoriasis.
Cosmetics are also very popular with patients because they improve the appearance of the scalp, but at the same time do not have any therapeutic effect.
From cosmetic products, users choose oils and shampoos that moisturize the skin, eliminate itching and dandruff in the scalp when having psoriasis.
To treat psoriasis, drugs are used to suppress the immune system, metabolism, and stop the renewal and division of skin cells.
These funds can be taken only under the supervision of a doctor, since 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 allergenic foods from the patient's diet. It is recommended to take complexes of vitamins and minerals.
Physical therapy may be indicated for the patient. For example, UV irradiation is indicated for "winter" psoriasis.
Preventive
For preventive purposes, the following recommendations should be observed:
- You need to take good care of your skin, washing it more often using baby soap or hypoallergenic soaps.
- Refuse alcohol and tobacco.
- Don't get into stressful situations. Depression and anxiety can lead to relapse.
- Observe your daily routine.
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes.
- Follow a special diet that excludes allergens from the diet. In addition, the diet is selected individually for the patient and their required protein, fat and carbohydrate intake.
Many people wonder if scalp psoriasis is contagious? The answer is no, this disease is not contagious.