Psoriasis causes many problems in the form of discomfort and aesthetic problems, and its localization on the head adds to the complexity of treatment. The danger of the disease also lies in the addition of fungal infections. How to treat psoriasis and what are its symptoms?
Causes of head psoriasis
To date, there is no clear answer as to what causes the appearance of psoriasis on the head. Experts put forward several theories about the onset of the disease:
- Violations of metabolic processes, against the background of which the cell life cycle is reduced from 40 to 5 days. Therefore, there is a stratification of dead tissue on top of the plaques.
- genetic predisposition. If one of the parents has a disease in the family, the probability of a child developing psoriasis is 25%, for both parents 75%.
- Dysfunction in the thyroid. Hormonal disorders are often the cause of a dermatological disease.
- Autoimmune processes in which the immune system recognizes epidermal cells as foreign bodies.
Head psoriasis can also be made worse by the following factors:
- stressful conditions;
- irrational diet;
- living in a zone with bad ecology;
- Smoking;
- Drink alcohol.
All experts are absolutely sure: the disease occurs under the influence of several reasons, and its elimination becomes the first step towards remission.
Scalp psoriasis
One of the complex forms of the disease is scalp psoriasis. This is because the treatment process is difficult because of the hairline, and the symptoms of the disease in the first stages resemble simple dandruff.
symptoms
Scalp psoriasis is characterized by symptoms similar to those of a disease localized to other parts of the body. The following manifestations of the disease can be distinguished:
- Single rashes or extensive accumulations of plaques appear on the surface of the skin.
- There is sebum on the surface of the lesions, due to which the rashes acquire a yellow tint. Dead cells mixed with fat begin to form nodules.
- Dandruff, similar to dandruff, accumulates on the hair.
- The course of the disease is accompanied by severe itching.
- In children, reddening of the epidermis of the head is observed, which subsequently becomes wet.
Since the lesions are on the surface of the skin, the disease does not reach the hair follicles, so hair growth is not disturbed and their loss remains at normal levels. The photo shows what psoriasis looks like, localized on the scalp.
consequences
Psoriasis of the scalp can have unpleasant consequences:
- The disease brings less discomfort than psychological inconveniences. The patient often falls into a deep depression.
- Due to constant itching and scratching, the disease causes a constant feeling of pain in the patient.
- In the erythrodermic form of psoriasis, hair follicles are affected, which can subsequently lead to hair loss.
Therefore, treatment of psoriasis on the head should be timely.
Important! Psoriasis from the scalp can spread to the face, neck, and shoulders.
Features of the treatment
Only a dermatologist, after a detailed examination and laboratory examination, will tell you how to cure psoriasis on the scalp. The disease itself cannot go away, in the fight against it, complex therapy is required, which involves the use of both traditional and alternative medical methods. In addition, psoriasis of the scalp should be treated with physiotherapy. Only in this case can therapy be successful.
Shampoos against psoriasis
In the treatment of psoriasis, the scalp requires special care, which does not allow the use of conventional cosmetic shampoos. A hair wash should be selected taking into account the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
We can distinguish the main types of shampoos:
- Tar. They contain birch or juniper tar, which well relieves the symptoms of the disease in the form of burning, and also effectively fights excessive peeling.
- Antifungal. Aims at the destruction of the pathogenic fungal infection. In addition, the drug well soothes the irritated epidermis.
- therapeutic. This category of shampoos contains components such as zinc or salicylic acid. The products have active moisturizing properties.
All these tools should be used according to the instructions.
lotions
Spray lotions are commonly used in the treatment of scalp psoriasis. This is the most convenient, since when sprayed, the medicine does not leave impurities on the hair and evenly irrigates the entire surface of the skin with a solution. The most popular lotions are:
- A steroid drug that also contains salicylic acid. The tool disinfects the skin well and effectively and quickly relieves itching. The course of therapy is 3 weeks.
- Spray containing only natural herbal extracts. Recommended to prolong remission. The drug moisturizes the dermis well and eliminates itchy sensations.
- Non-hormonal solution, the active ingredient of which is zinc oxide. The component well stops inflammatory processes and effectively fights fungal infections.
Sprays can also be used on other parts of the body, but after consultation with the treating specialist. It is not necessary to wash off the medicine after use.
home remedies
Alternative medical prescriptions are very popular in therapy against psoriasis. They are completely natural and do not harm the patient. In addition, these funds will not harm the wallet. The following most effective recipes can be identified:
- soda bath. Pour a full pack of baking soda into the bath. You must lie in the water with your head thrown back so that the solution covers your head up to the forehead area. It is recommended to cover the ears with earplugs. The process takes 30 minutes.
- It is also recommended to wash your hair regularly with tar or sulfur soap. To do this, grate the product on a fine grater and dissolve in a little water. Use like normal shampoo.
- salicylic oil. A very effective remedy for pimples. You just need to moisten a cotton pad in the substance and lubricate the partitions. It is necessary to process seven separations.
Many patients do not trust folk remedies, but some of them can be more effective than even the most expensive pharmacy drugs.
Advisory! Care should be taken to avoid recipes containing essential oils, burning and irritating substances.
Scalp psoriasis
Psoriasis of the scalp is localized in the following areas:
- behind the ears;
- at the back of the head;
- on mucous membranes;
- near the arches of the eyebrows;
- on the cheeks.
Rashes on the face are particularly noticeable because they cannot be covered by clothing. At the same time, the use of masking cosmetics is strictly prohibited.
symptoms
The disease manifests itself as follows:
- First, light spots appear on the face.
- Then small dots appear in the center, which quickly grow and turn into papules.
- These formations soon begin to be covered with a thick layer of dead cells.
The formation of rashes is accompanied by severe itching. In the photo you can see what psoriasis looks like on the head.
consequences
A skin disease can have unpleasant consequences:
- When combing the papules, scratches and sores appear, which can become a source of infection.
- The localization of rashes on the eyelids is the cause of the pathology of the eyeball.
- Psoriasis can cause inflammation in the joints and liver.
To prevent the development of concomitant diseases, timely treatment is necessary.
Characteristics of therapy
The skin of the face is very delicate, so the patient's task is not only to get rid of the disease, but also to maintain external attractiveness. How to cure psoriasis on the head, a dermatologist will advise.
Anoint
Ointment for psoriasis on the head is the most common tool in the fight against the disease. There are two types of funds for local use:
- Hormonal ointments. They contain glucocorticosteroids, which quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease, which is why they are often used during an exacerbation.
- Nonsteroidal ointments. These products contain herbal ingredients and one or two active ingredients like zinc oxide or ichthyol. They have a milder effect on the body, so you can use them for a long time.
When choosing an ointment, the severity of the course of the disease should be compared with the strength of the remedy.
home remedies
The following most effective recipes can be distinguished:
- Greasy solidol and birch tar should be mixed evenly. Apply the mass to the lesions for 20 minutes. Then rinse off and moisturize the skin with cream.
- You can also use sea buckthorn oil and apply it to the plaques before bed. The tool disinfects and heals wounds well.
It is recommended to take decoctions from medicinal collections inside.
General principles of therapy
Since the disease requires a complex action, there is little local treatment. It is necessary to comprehensively get rid of psoriasis by any available means.
Medical therapy
In the treatment of psoriasis, the following groups of drugs are used:
- antihistamines;
- immunosuppressants;
- enterosorbents;
- antibiotics;
- Homeopathy.
As a rule, several groups of drugs are prescribed at once, depending on the severity of the disease and the clinical picture.
Important! You can not prescribe a drug yourself, you should first seek advice from a dermatologist.
physical therapy
Physiotherapy is an integral part of the fight against the disease. A distinction is made between the following procedures:
- phototherapy;
- laser exposure;
- magnetotherapy;
- ultrasonic exposure;
- mud treatment.
Usually such methods are prescribed during the dormant period of the disease, which contributes to the prolongation of remission.
diet
It has been proven that some products can not only aggravate the disease, but also aggravate the symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable to follow a diet that limits the consumption of the following foods:
- canned food;
- fatty foods;
- Fast food;
- alcoholic products;
- Coffee;
- red fruits and vegetables;
- Confectionery.
Protein and fiber-rich foods, steamed or baked in foil, should be preferred.
Despite the complexity of the course of the disease, head psoriasis is not a sentence. It is only necessary to strictly adhere to complex therapy, and the disease will not make itself felt for a long time.