One of the most common forms of the disease is scalp psoriasis.
The disease itself is not an infectious process, but, nevertheless, the disease persists in an inflammatory nature.
The symptoms of psoriasis are very typical of fungal diseases - red or pink spots on the scalp, which have a different shape.
In addition to the formation of single or multiple rashes, itching, burning, and inflammation appear on the skin.
Causes of psoriasis
Why does psoriasis appear on the head and what is it? Doctors still do not know why some people develop scalp psoriasis. Doctors periodically put forward new theories and reject old ones. Causes of disease development are often associated with a genetic predisposition, and factors that cause their occurrence include:
- Genetic burden - it has been proven that in parents with psoriasis, the likelihood of having children with this diagnosis is an order of magnitude higher.
- Violation of the formation and maturation of epidermal cells, according to one of the hypotheses, is the main reason for the development of the disease.
- There is also an assumption that the reason is not in the epidermis, but in the body's immunity, which produces the wrong factors that negatively affect the skin.
- Concerns in the endocrine system also contribute to the development of the disease, according to some scientists.
The most probable cause of the development of psoriasis today is considered to be autoimmune processes in the body of a sick person.
Do your hair fall out?
Often patients suffering from a disease are interested in the question - can hair loss be observed in psoriasis? It should be noted that mass baldness does not occur. If such a process occurs, then in an insignificant amount, as the hair glands are deep and the disease does not affect them.
Is psoriasis contagious?
This fear is related to the unusual occurrence of psoriasis and its history. In ancient times, psoriasis was mistakenly considered a form of terrible leprosy. From the above reasons for the appearance of psoriasis, it is clear that this disease can not fall into the category of infectious. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to become infected with psoriasis is one - no.
Symptoms
Psoriasis of the scalp is associated with the appearance of a characteristic rash on the skin, represented by spots or, more often, plaques ranging from pale pink to reddish brown. In most cases, the rash elements have infiltrated from a minimal palpable rise above the level of healthy skin to a pronounced infiltration of more than 1 mm.
In the initial stages, only diffuse, without inflammatory manifestations and clear boundaries, abundant peeling in the form of dandruff is possible. It is very similar to other scalp dermatoses, which greatly complicates the differential diagnosis and treatment of scalp psoriasis.
The most typical symptom for psoriasis is the "psoriatic crown" - the passage of the process from the scalp to the smooth skin of the adjacent areas of the forehead, to the areas above and behind the ears, to the posterior surface of the earlobes. occipital region and back of neck.
Depending on the area and severity of the symptoms, there are 3 degrees of scalp damage:
- easily- its main manifestation is the appearance on the head of small single lesions covered with small thin scales;
- HeavyPsoriasis completely affects the scalp, the size of the scales is much larger and they are much thicker than with a slight severity of the disease.
Clinical studies show that in most patients no single factor can be identified that may explain the onset of the disease. Most often, a combination of several of these reasons is observed, which provides the basis for classifying psoriasis as a polyetiological disease.
The difference between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis
Differential diagnostic signs of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis:
- Psoriasis, unlike diabetes mellitus, is characterized by a more pronounced infiltration of redness elements due to acanthosis and hyperproliferation of the epidermis.
- Rash in psoriasis often extends beyond the scalp, to the forehead (the so-called "psoriatic crown"), to the neck, to the ears.
- Peeling with psoriasis is dry, with diabetes the scales are more oily.
- More pronounced itching is observed with diabetes.
Careful examination and questioning of the patient for nail and joint injuries is also necessary, the presence of which may speak in favor of psoriasis and significantly affect further therapy tactics.
Treatment of scalp psoriasis
When psoriasis of the head is diagnosed, a range of treatment measures are used, including:
- general therapy;
- local treatment;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- Spa treatment.
In mild cases of psoriasis of the head and lack of progression, in most cases, it is enough to prescribe local medicines for treatment - shampoo, gel, ointment, tar, etc. At the same time, therapy of an ever-progressive inflammatory process may require the use of a wider arsenal of pharmacological drugs of different groups and physiotherapeutic techniques.
How to treat psoriasis with medication?
In the general therapy complex, physicians may include the following medications:
- Vitamin complexes and vitamins C, A and group B;
- Nonspecific immunotherapy drugs: ATP, Aloe;
- Aromatic retinoids;
- Cytostatics;
- hemodez solution;
- Enterosorbents;
- Monoclonal antibodies;
- Immunodulues;
- Antihistamines;
- NVPS;
- sedatives;
- Autologous calcified blood.
The inclusion of corticosteroid drugs and cytostatics during treatment is advisable in severe psoriasis and considerable severity of symptoms on the scalp. They must be used very carefully: such funds can provoke a worsening of the course of the disease.
Shampoo for scalp psoriasis
Is it possible to cure psoriasis on the scalp with shampoo? As a rule, using a very effective shampoo is not enough. However, the use of specific healing agents in complex therapy is a prerequisite for the success of treatment.
All medicated shampoos help reduce the inflammatory process, relieve or reduce itching, but the use of only one shampoo is not effective - the treatment should be comprehensive.
ointment
Topical treatment always helps to increase the effectiveness of the medicine. In the progressive stage of psoriasis 2% salicylic ointments and bor-salidol will be useful. If there is an exudative component and severe inflammation, then the appointment of creams and ointments with corticosteroids will be required.
Non-hormonal ointments contain birch, pine, juniper and charcoal tar. They can be produced as an ointment or as a paste.
Diet for scalp psoriasis
Feeding should be uniform. Food portions should be small, based on "better less, but more often". The last meal should be no later than 19-00, at night it is allowed to drink a glass of kefir or yogurt.
- It is necessary to completely abandon alcoholic beverages. Using them during the remission period can provoke a deterioration.
- Fatty, spicy and smoked foods should be excluded from the diet.
- Sweets are also not recommended - cakes, pastries, chocolate, sugar - they should all be banned for psoriasis. Only small amounts of honey are allowed.
From drinks, sea urchin tea, rose hips or black grape leaves will be helpful.
Spa treatment
During your stay in the hospital, you should follow these procedures:
- heliotherapy;
- clay therapy;
- hydrogen sulfide baths and washing in hydrogen sulfide sources.
The course of treatment is carried out in special sanatoriums, they help reduce the frequency of relapses and achieve long-term remission.
PUVA therapy
PUVA therapy is a physiotherapeutic method of treatment that involves the use of a photoactive drug and skin radiation with long-wave UV radiation.
Quite a long experience of use and reviews of specialists prove the effectiveness of PUVA therapy in the treatment of various dermatological diseases (including psoriasis), especially in the case of a continuous course and with the ineffectiveness of other therapeutic methods. According to statistics, a positive effect is achieved in about 80-85% of cases.
Hair care rules
To achieve a better condition of the hair and scalp, you must adhere to the basic rules of care, plus the doctor's recommendations:
- Wash your hair only with the special shampoo recommended.
- Comb your hair with a natural comb.
- Systematically treat the scalp with disinfectant mixture.
- Comb your hair very gently, gently, without damaging the scalp.
- Try to dry your hair naturally without using a hair dryer.
- With scalp psoriasis, you should avoid complex styling that requires the use of various styling products.