A certain percentage of people in the world suffer from psoriasis. First of all, psoriasis is clearly visible on the scalp, it is recommended to treat it at the first symptoms. The causes of the disease have not yet been determined, but the symptoms are clearly expressed. It is recommended to consult a doctor for treatment, receive comprehensive treatment and follow preventive measures.
Reasons
Psoriasis is a disease, the main causes of which remain a mystery to humans. Numerous studies are being conducted on this subject, new results are emerging, and new causes and theories are emerging that raise more questions. With psoriasis, the rate of formation of new cells increases, resulting in the formation of many of them, the skin begins to harden and the inflammatory process begins.
So far, the cause of the disease is recognized as follows - in psoriasis, the process of cell division is disrupted, the rate of formation of keratinocytes increases, which leads to the appearance of the disease.
An increase in the rate of cell renewal leads to an inflammatory process, and the inflammatory process in turn leads to an even higher rate of cell division, which is a vicious circle. Hereditary predisposition leads to high rates of division.
Sometimes such a process is caused by a breakdown of the immune system caused by stress after an infectious disease. For example, the number of people with psoriasis among people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus is three times higher than in healthy people.
Hundreds of years ago, it was believed that people with psoriasis were cursed and could pass the disease on to others.
Other factors that contribute to the development of psoriasis:
- Genetic diseases that occur when viruses and bacteria enter the body cause changes in the structure of chromosomes.
- Skin infections, purulent inflammation.
- Disorders of lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Chronic inflammation - sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, etc. In many patients with psoriasis, high levels of lymphocytes and leukocytes were observed in the blood.
- Very dry or very humid air where the patient is constantly.
- Stress, anxiety, depression.
- Taking antibiotics, an immunomodulator causes a violation of immunity and eventually psoriasis.
- Increase the risk of alcohol and tobacco use.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body, unhealthy diet, intake of allergens, overweight.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Diseases of the internal organs.
If a person sees signs of psoriasis, local dry skin, roughness, redness, you should immediately contact a dermatologist for diagnosis.
For some reason, psoriasis appears at first, they indicate a special structure of the skin, where microtraumas are often obtained when scratching the skin.
According to statistics, one percent of people worldwide suffer from psoriasis, eight out of ten patients develop psoriasis in the head area, and four out of ten people 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 prone to psoriasis, then his symptoms may appear unexpectedly with the slightest stress or anxiety. Separate the risk group of patients. Typically, psoriasis symptoms first appear in patients between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.
Types
Symptoms may 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 covered with the same small psoriatic plaques.
- In severe forms, psoriasis affects the entire scalp, the lesions coalesce, the skin dries out, psoriatic plaques form on large plaques, and the skin becomes rougher.
Stages
Psoriasis of the scalp occurs in several stages.
- The progressive stage is characterized by the development of the disease, the emergence of new lesions.
- In the inpatient phase, the symptoms of the disease do not change in any way. New ones do not appear, old ones do not change.
- Symptoms are eliminated with a regressive phase. It can last up to two years.
Symptoms may vary seasonally. The cause of the disease in winter psoriasis may be a lack of ultraviolet radiation, but if the symptoms worsen in the summer, the opposite is true - excessive ultraviolet radiation.
Symptoms
Dermatological diseases affect not only the physical condition of the patient, but also his psychological stability. Psoriasis, a chronic, 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 requires a lot of time, effort and sometimes money.
If you can hide the psoriasis on the body with clothes, this trick will not work with psoriasis on the scalp. Patients usually develop psoriasis in this area. Sometimes psoriasis does not spread further, especially if its symptoms are always treated with good and effective medications, but the disease can spread to other parts of the body.
Scalp psoriasis is also called seborrhea. The disease is characterized by severe scalp-like scales. The patient also 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 at the beginning or development of the disease.
The skin under the psoriatic plaques may bleed during scratching, so patients should not scratch their skin. The affected area may be red due to the inflammatory process.
The disease progresses and recedes from time to time. With relapse, the symptoms of the disease return, in which case the patient must use medication to relieve the symptoms so that remission can begin. Symptoms of psoriasis are not pronounced in remission.
The length of each period depends on many factors. The remission period can be up to two years.
To find out what psoriasis looks like on the scalp, go to the symptom photo section.
Treatment
So far no one was able to send in the perfect solution, which is not strange.
There are many medications to treat the symptoms of psoriasis. As a result of the use of drugs and folk remedies, complex therapy, the patient's quality of life improves.
You should first contact a dermatologist to diagnose the disease. The doctor will conduct all the necessary research and analysis to make an accurate diagnosis.
Folk remedies
Folk recipes are used to treat psoriasis on the scalp. It is recommended to use it as part of a complex therapy to increase the effect of the drug.
Independent use of traditional medical prescriptions is prohibited. They should be discussed with your healthcare professional and used only after approval.
The following remedies are often used to treat psoriasis on the scalp:
- Celandine is effective in eliminating the inflammatory process. The grass is washed and dried, red wine is added to it and the skin is treated with the resulting product.
- Tincture with white wine is made from sunflower baskets. The juice is squeezed from the sunflower and the skin is treated with this agent.
- Elderberry is also effective in relieving itching, inflammation and redness of the skin. The flowers are soaked in water for two hours. The solution is taken orally.
- Honey is mixed with egg white and shampoo, applied to the affected areas, washed with water.
Medications
Medications for the treatment of each patient are selected in the presence of the attending physician, according to test results, stage of the disease, level of immunity. He will tell you how to treat psoriasis on the scalp.
A medication prescribed by a dermatologist may not always be suitable, even for an experienced patient. Many products have no effect at the beginning of use. In complex therapy, it is recommended to take medication, ie to combine several forms of medication.
There are several groups of medications for the treatment of psoriasis and various.
Hormonal agents contain active components - hormones that have a very effective effect on the body and quickly relieve symptoms, but their long-term use is not recommended.
Steroids can be systemic, taken orally in tablet form, or given intravenously / intramuscularly. Ointments containing hormones are less effective. However, they can not be used for a long time, because the skin pigment at the site of application of the product may change, becoming thin, traumatic, prone to secondary infection.
In addition, withdrawal symptoms are often observed after the use of hormonal drugs. This is a return of symptoms after long-term treatment and discontinuation of the drug, but with even greater symptoms.
Therefore, it is not recommended to use hormonal drugs for a long time, to apply to sensitive skin, to apply to large areas of skin, as well as to cancel the use of the drug, the dose should be gradually reduced. .
Non-hormonal drugs are also used to treat psoriasis. They are used to relieve symptoms, inflammation, itching, redness of the skin. They have a smaller list of contraindications and side effects.
The main active ingredients of this group of drugs eliminate inflammation, narrow blood vessels, soothe, moisturize and soften the skin. The active ingredients include zinc, tar, salicylic acid and other substances.
They can be used at any stage of the disease. In addition, there are many different forms of release of such drugs. They also differ in their effectiveness and recommendations for use, reviews of their effect in the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp can be learned in the forums.
Zinc can be used as needed, but tar-based products are not recommended more than twice a week. In addition, they should be used in conjunction with moisturizers, because tar dries the skin.
Patients often prefer 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 have no therapeutic effect.
Users of cosmetic products choose oils and shampoos that moisturize the skin, eliminate itching and dandruff on the scalp with psoriasis.
For the treatment of psoriasis, drugs are used that suppress the immune system, metabolism, and stop the process of skin cell renewal and division.
These remedies can be taken only under the supervision of a physician, because there is a large list of contraindications and side effects.
It is also necessary to improve the patient's general condition by following a special diet that excludes foods containing allergens from the patient's diet. It is recommended to take vitamin and mineral complexes.
Patients may be prescribed physiotherapy. For example, ultraviolet radiation is indicated for "winter" psoriasis.
Prophylaxis
The following recommendations should be followed for prevention:
- You need to take good care of your skin, wash it more often with baby or other hypoallergenic soap.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
- Avoid stressful situations. Depression and anxiety can cause relapses.
- Observe the daily routine.
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes.
- Follow a special diet that eliminates allergens from the diet. Also, the diet is selected individually for the patient and his required amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Many people question whether scalp psoriasis is contagious. The answer is no, the disease is not contagious.