Psoriasis Scalp Treatment Options
Scalp psoriasis occurs when the skin cells grow too quickly and cause red lesions to appear. It is a common form of psoriasis, affecting about half of the people with psoriasis. It is not confined to the neck, but can be found around the ears, on the forehead, and on the neck. There is no cure, but there are many psoriasis scalp treatments, such as natural treatments, topical steroids, and tar products.
Tar products are good as a mild psoriasis scalp treatment. For scalp psoriasis, tar products are usually in the form of shampoo. You can get them by prescription or over-the-counter. Tar shampoo needs to stay on the scalp for a few minutes before it is rinsed away to be effective. Unfortunately, the strong and unpleasant odor of tar shampoo means it is not the perfect solution. It also has the tendency to stain pillow cases. These, however, may be minor annoyances compared to steroid’s side effects.
Your doctor may prescribe steroids for your psoriasis scalp treatment. These come in many forms such as gels, creams, foams, sprays, ointments, and lotions. Steroids can vary in strength and not all will be suitable for long term use so speak to your doctor about how you should use the steroid and any potential side effects.
When applying topical steroids for scalp psoriasis, extra caution is needed to make sure that none of the medication gets into your eyes or ears. Some medications are alcohol and water based and formulated specifically for scalp psoriasis.
A simple psoriasis scalp treatment you can try at home is using warmed olive oil on your scalp. Massage it in to loosen plaques before washing your hair. This can safely be used with any doctor prescribed treatment.
Not all psoriasis scalp treatments involve medication. One option is to use phototherapy. Your scalp must be exposed to artificial UV light. This is ideal for people with little to no hair. Otherwise, you’ll have to make several parts in your hair for the treatment to get to your skin. Another option is a special UV comb.
To most effectively deal with scalp psoriasis, you’ll need to consider all the different psoriasis scalp treatments. By taking advantage of topical steroids, tar shampoos, and natural remedies, you’ll be able to better control all of the symptoms.
