One of the most common forms of the disease is psoriasis of the scalp.
The disease itself is not an infectious process, but, nevertheless, the disease proceeds in an inflammatory nature.
Symptoms of psoriasis are very typical for fungal diseases - spots of red or pink form on the head, 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 on the head occur, and what is it? Doctors still don't know why some people develop scalp psoriasis. Doctors periodically put forward new theories and refute old ones. The causes of the development of the disease are often associated with a genetic predisposition, and the factors that cause their appearance 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.
- Disturbance in the endocrine system, according to some scientists, also contributes to the development of the disease.
The most likely cause of the development of psoriasis today is considered to be autoimmune processes in the body of a sick person.
Does your hair fall out?
Often patients suffering from an ailment 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, since the hair follicles are deep and the disease does not affect them.
Is psoriasis contagious?
This fear is associated with the unusual appearance of psoriasis and its history. In ancient times, psoriasis was mistakenly considered a form of the terrible disease of leprosy. From the above reasons for the appearance of psoriasis, it is clear that this disease cannot fall under the category of infectious. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to get infected with psoriasis is one - no.
Symptoms
Psoriasis of the scalp is accompanied by the appearance of a characteristic rash on the skin, represented by spots or, more often, plaques ranging from pale pink to brownish red. In most cases, the elements of the rash are infiltrated from a minimal palpable elevation 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 dermatoses of the head, which greatly complicates the differential diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis on the head.
The most typical symptom for psoriasis is the "psoriatic crown" - the transition 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 back surface of the earlobes, the occipital region and the back of the neck.
Depending on the area and severity of symptoms, there are 3 degrees of damage to the scalp:
- Easy- its main manifestation is the appearance on the head of small single lesions covered with thin small scales;
- Heavy- psoriasis affects the scalp completely, the size of the scales is much larger, and they are much thicker than with a mild severity of the disease.
Clinical studies show that in most patients, no single factor can be identified that could explain the onset of the disease. Most often, a combination of several of these reasons is observed, which gives grounds to classify psoriasis as a polyetiological disease.
The difference between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis
Differential diagnostic signs of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis:
- Psoriasis, in contrast to diabetes mellitus, is characterized by a more pronounced infiltration of the elements of the rash due to acanthosis and hyperproliferation of the epidermis.
- Rashes in psoriasis often extend beyond the scalp, to the forehead (the so-called "psoriatic crown"), to the neck, ears.
- Peeling with psoriasis is dry, with diabetes the scales are more oily.
- More pronounced itching is observed with diabetes.
It is also necessary to carefully examine and question the patient for damage to the nails and joints, the presence of which may speak in favor of psoriasis and significantly affect the further tactics of therapy.
Scalp psoriasis treatment
When psoriasis of the scalp was diagnosed, a set of measures is used for treatment, including:
- general therapy;
- local treatment;
- physiotherapy procedures;
- Spa treatment.
In mild cases of scalp psoriasis and the absence of progression, in most cases, it is sufficient to prescribe local drugs for treatment - shampoos, gels, ointments, tar, etc. At the same time, the therapy of a constantly progressive inflammatory process may require the use of a wider arsenal of pharmacological drugs of various groups and physiotherapy techniques.
How to treat psoriasis with medication?
In the complex of general therapy, doctors may include the following drugs:
- Vitamin complexes and vitamins C, A and group B;
- Nonspecific immunotherapy drugs: ATP, Aloe;
- Aromatic retinoids;
- Cytostatics;
- Hemodez solution;
- Enterosorbents;
- Monoclonal antibodies;
- Immunodulators;
- Antihistamines;
- NVPS;
- Sedatives;
- Calcified autologous blood.
The inclusion of corticosteroid drugs and cytostatics in the course of treatment is advisable in severe psoriasis and significant severity of symptoms on the scalp. They must be used very carefully: such funds can provoke an aggravation of the course of the disease.
Shampoo for psoriasis of the scalp
Is it possible to cure psoriasis on the scalp with shampoos? As a rule, using even a very effective shampoo is not enough. However, the use of special healing agents in complex therapy is a prerequisite for the success of treatment.
All medicinal shampoos help to reduce the inflammatory process, relieve or reduce itching, but the use of only one shampoo is not effective - the treatment must be comprehensive.
Ointments
Local treatment always helps to increase the effectiveness of the drug. In the progressive stage of psoriasis, 2% salicylic and boron-salidol ointments 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 coal tar. They can be produced both as ointments and as a paste.
Diet for psoriasis of the head
Nutrition should be uniform. Portions of food should be small, on the basis of "better less, but more often. "The last meal should be no later than 19-00 o'clock, at night it is allowed to drink a glass of kefir or yogurt.
- It is necessary to completely abandon alcoholic beverages. Their use during the period of remission can provoke an exacerbation.
- Fatty, spicy and smoked foods should be excluded from the diet.
- Sweets are also not recommended - cakes, pastries, chocolate, sugar - all of them should be prohibited for psoriasis. Only small quantities of honey are allowed.
From drinks, tea with sea buckthorn, rose hips or black currant leaves will be useful.
Spa treatment
During your stay in the hospitals, you must attend the following procedures:
- heliotherapy;
- mud therapy;
- hydrogen sulfide baths and bathing in hydrogen sulfide springs.
The course of treatment is carried out in special sanatoriums, they help to reduce the frequency of relapses and achieve long-term remission.
PUVA therapy
PUVA therapy is a physiotherapeutic method of treatment that includes the use of a photoactive drug and irradiation of the skin 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 persistent 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 your hair and scalp, you need to adhere to the basic rules of care, plus recommendations from a doctor:
- Wash your hair only with the recommended special shampoo.
- Comb the hair with a natural bristle comb.
- Systematically treat the scalp with disinfectant mixtures.
- Comb your hair very gently, gently, without injuring the scalp.
- Try to dry your hair naturally without using a hairdryer.
- With psoriasis of the head, you need to avoid complex styling that requires the use of various styling products.