A certain percentage of people on earth suffer from psoriasis. First of all, psoriasis appears precisely on the scalp, which is recommended to be treated when the first symptoms appear. The causes of the disease have not yet been determined, but the symptomatology is pronounced. It is recommended to consult a doctor for treatment, to be treated comprehensively and to observe preventive measures.
Causes
Psoriasis is a disease, the main causes of which remain a mystery to humans. Numerous studies are being conducted on this topic, new results, new causes and theories are emerging that raise even more questions. With psoriasis, the rate of new cell formation increases, as a result of which many of them are formed, the skin begins to harden and an inflammatory process begins.
So far, the following fact has been recognized as the cause of the disease - in psoriasis, the process of cell division is disrupted, the rate of keratinocyte formation increases, which leads to the appearance of the disease.
Increasing the rate of cell renewal causes an inflammatory process, and the inflammatory process, in turn, leads to an even higher rate of cell division, which is a vicious circle. An inherited predisposition leads to a high degree of separation.
Sometimes a violation of the immune system, which manifests itself as a result of stress, following 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 in healthy people.
Hundreds of years ago it was believed that people with psoriasis were cursed and could transmit these diseases to others.
Other factors that lead to the development of psoriasis:
- Genetic diseases are formed when viruses and bacteria enter the body, leading to a change in the structure of chromosomes.
- Skin infections, purulent inflammation.
- Violation of the metabolism of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates.
- Chronic inflammation - sinusitis, otitis media, tonsillitis and others. In many patients with psoriasis, high rates were observed in the analysis of lymphocyte and leukocyte counts in the blood.
- Very dry or very humid air where the patient is constantly.
- Stress, anxiety, depression.
- Taking antibiotics, an immunomodulator leads to impaired immunity and, as a result, psoriasis.
- Increased risk of alcohol and tobacco use.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body, unhealthy food, eating foods with allergens, overweight.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Diseases of the internal organs.
If a person has noticed the appearance of symptoms of psoriasis, localized dry skin, roughness, redness, then you should immediately contact a dermatologist for diagnosis.
Psoriasis appears on the head for several reasons, from which is observed a special structure of the skin, frequent microtraumas received when itching of the skin at this site.
According to statistics, one percent of people worldwide suffer from psoriasis, while in eight out of ten patients psoriasis is localized in the head region, in four out of ten it is localized 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 has a predisposition to psoriasis, then his symptoms may appear suddenly with the slightest stress or anxiety. Identify a patient risk group. Typically, the symptoms of psoriasis 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 lung is characterized by the formation of small lesions, which are covered with the same small psoriatic plaques.
- In severe forms, psoriasis affects the entire scalp area, the lesions combine, the skin is dry, psoriatic plaques form into large plaques, the skin becomes much thicker.
stages
Psoriasis of the head appears in several stages.
- The progressive stage is characterized by the development of the disease, the formation of new lesions.
- During the stationary phase, the symptoms of the disease do not change in any way. The new do not appear, the old do not change.
- With the regressive phase, the symptoms are eliminated. It can last up to two years.
Symptoms may vary by season. In winter psoriasis, the cause of the disease may be the lack of ultraviolet radiation, but if the symptoms intensify in the summer, then the reason is the opposite - an excess of ultraviolet radiation.
Symptoms
Dermatological diseases affect not only the physical condition of the patient, but also his psychological stability. Psoriasis, which is a chronic disease, i. e. incurable, is particularly 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 psoriasis on the body can be wiped off with clothes, then with psoriasis on the scalp, this trick will not work. Usually, patients start getting psoriasis from this area. Sometimes psoriasis does not spread further, especially if its symptoms are constantly treated with good and effective medication, but the disease can spread to other parts of the body.
Scalp psoriasis is also called seborrheic. The disease is characterized by severe scaling of the scalp, which resembles dandruff. Also, the patient suffers from itching, the formation of psoriatic plaques in this area.
An important fact for patients with psoriasis is that the hairs on the scalp do not fall out either at the onset of the disease or during its development.
The skin under the psoriatic plaques may bleed when it itches, so patients should not scratch their skin. The affected area may be red due to the inflammatory process.
The disease periodically progresses and regresses. With a relapse, the symptoms of the disease return, in which case the patient must use medication to eliminate the symptoms in order for the remission time to begin. In remission, the symptoms of psoriasis are not pronounced.
The duration of each period depends on many factors. The duration of the pardon can be up to two years.
To find out what psoriasis looks like on the scalp, let’s move on to the photos section of the symptoms.
Treatment
So far, no one was able to send in the perfect solution, which is not strange.
There are many medications available to treat the symptoms of psoriasis. As a result of the use of folk remedies and remedies, complex therapy, the patient's quality of life improves.
First of all, you should contact a dermatologist for the diagnosis of the disease. The doctor will perform all the necessary research and analysis to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Folk remedies
For the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp, popular recipes are used. They are recommended for use as part of complex therapy to enhance the effect of medication.
Independent use of traditional medicine prescriptions is prohibited. They should be discussed with your healthcare professional and should only be used after approval.
The following remedies are often used to treat psoriasis on the scalp:
- Celandine is effective in relieving the inflammatory process. The plant is washed and dried, red wine is added and the skin is treated with the resulting product.
- A solution of 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 with egg white and shampoo are mixed, applied to the affected areas, washed off with water.
medicaments
Medications for the treatment of each patient are selected in the presence of the attending physician, according to the results of the analysis, the stage of the disease, the level of immunity. He will show you how to treat psoriasis on the scalp.
Not always a medication prescribed by a dermatologist, even an experienced one, may be appropriate for a patient. Many products have no effect at the beginning of use. It is recommended to take drugs in complex therapy, that is, to combine several forms of drugs.
There are several groups of medications for psoriasis and different treatments.
Hormonal agents contain in their composition active ingredients - hormones, which have a very effective effect on the body and quickly relieve symptoms, but their use for a long time is not recommended.
Steroids can be systemic, taken orally in tablet form or administered intravenously / intramuscularly. Hormone ointments in the composition are much less effective. But they can not be used for a long time, because the skin at the site of application of the product may change pigment, become thin, traumatic, prone to secondary infection.
In addition, after the use of hormonal drugs, withdrawal symptoms are often observed. This is when, after prolonged treatment and discontinuation of the drug, the symptoms return, but with even greater symptoms.
Therefore, it is not recommended to use hormonal preparations for a long time, application to areas with sensitive skin, application to large areas of the skin, as well as cancellation of the use of the drug, it is necessary to gradually reduce the dose. .
Non-hormonal medications are also commonly used to treat psoriasis. They are used to relieve symptoms, inflammation, itching, redness of the skin. They have a much smaller list of contraindications and side effects.
The main active ingredients of this group of drugs relieve inflammation, narrow blood vessels, soothe the skin, hydrate and soften it. Of the active ingredients, zinc, tar, salicylic acid and other substances are observed.
They can be used at any stage of the disease. In addition, such medicines have many different forms of relief. They also differ in effectiveness and recommendations for use, reviews of their effect in the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp 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. In addition, they should be used in conjunction with moisturizers because tar dries the skin.
Patients often choose 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 do not have any therapeutic effect.
From cosmetic products, users choose oils and shampoos that moisturize the skin, eliminate itching and dandruff on the scalp with psoriasis.
For the treatment of psoriasis are used drugs that suppress the immune system, metabolism, stopping the process of renewal and division of skin cells.
These funds can be taken only under the supervision of a doctor, because 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 vitamin and mineral complexes.
Physiotherapy can be prescribed to patients. For example, ultraviolet radiation is indicated for "winter" psoriasis.
Prophylaxis
For preventive purposes, the following recommendations should be followed:
- You need to take good care of your skin, wash it more often using baby soap or any other hypoallergenic soap.
- Refuse alcohol and tobacco.
- Do not get into stressful situations. Depression, anxiety can cause a relapse.
- Observe the daily routine.
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes.
- Follow a special diet that excludes allergens from the diet. Also, the diet is chosen individually for the patient and his required amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Many people wonder if scalp psoriasis is contagious. The answer is no, this disease is not contagious.