Psoriasis is a common disorder, although not known much. The number of people suffering from this disease worldwide is more than 100 million. The fact that it is a common skin disease brings to mind whether there is any connection with hair loss. Does scalp psoriasis cause hair loss?
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What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis can be defined as an autoimmune condition that affects the scalp and the skin on other parts of the body. People experiencing the disease have scaly red spots on their skin and this is accompanied by itching. The scalp, elbows, neck, ears, feet, and nail beds are the most common places. It can be at different severity for everyone.
The causes of the disorder are currently unknown and studies in this area are still going on. However, specialists state that the basis of the disease is the attack of the immune system on skin cells.
White blood cells in the blood, which are in charge of body defense, attack skin cells for an unknown reason. The body wants to change the damaged skin cells. This causes excessive skin cell production. As a result, the disorder occurs when skin cells are pushed outwards and turn into scaly red spots.
How Is Psoriasis On The Scalp Diagnosed?
Between 45% and 56% of people with psoriasis also have scalp psoriasis. It can adversely affect the scalp, hairline, around the ears, forehead, and neck. A significant symptom of the disease is in the form of thin scales that look like dandruff or completely cover the scalp.
Psoriasis can be similar to seborrheic dermatitis or other skin conditions. In psoriasis, the scalp has a silvery powdery appearance. Seborrheic dermatitis, on the other hand, causes the skin to appear yellowish and oily.
Scalp psoriasis can be a sign of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), as many people have both simultaneously. If you think you have psoriasis, you should see a specialist dermatologist for a diagnosis. You should also visit the rheumatologist for a PsA scanning.
The disorder manifests itself with silvery, scale-like red spots. In some people, it is also accompanied by hair loss. The loss is sometimes in the form of bald patches. However, this hair loss is usually temporary.
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Is Scalp Psoriasis Contagious? Who is at Risk?
This condition is not contagious. You do not run the risk of acquiring the disease because of someone around you. It is inherited. If anyone in your family has this disease, you may also be at risk. Considering the patients, it is seen that the majority of them have people with the disease in their families.
Does Scalp Psoriasis Cause Hair Loss?
Hair loss due to scalp psoriasis is a condition that can develop due to various reasons. Experiencing itching on the scalp as a result of the disorder causes the plates here to loosen. Thus, temporary hair loss occurs. Exfoliation of the plates in the skin results in the loss of hair.
One of the important effects of the disorder is itching. Itching and severe scratching on the scalp can be expressed as another cause of the loss. However, it should be noted that this situation may not be seen in everyone.
It may be possible to use special shampoos containing salicylic acid in the treatment of the disease. Hair loss is among the side effects of such shampoos. After the scalp is completely cleaned, it is seen that the loss is temporary.
Read Also: Can My Hair Grow Back After Hair Loss?
Treatment of Psoriasis
The disorder, which is mentioned in general terms, seriously reduces the life quality of people and can cause avoiding people. The majority of patients have swelling and stiffness in their joints. This is accompanied by sensitive, scaly skin that bleeds when scratched.
Due to their scaly skin, people do not want to be in social environments. This results in a negative social impact on the patients. Therefore, treatments to eliminate scalp psoriasis hair loss and other effects should be applied immediately. The treatments used at this stage are generally as follows:
- By placing ice packs on the irritated parts of the skin, the related area can be relieved.
- People with inflamed scalp should avoid being exposed to heat for a long time. Hairdryers and similar hair styling tools should not be used in this period.
- Diet, alcohol and smoking, weather conditions, and similar triggers should be eliminated. Changing the lifestyle can give effective results.
- Conditioner can be used to keep the hair and scalp moist. Besides, it is possible to cool and relax the scalp with products containing menthol.
Read Also: How is the Exact Reason Determined in Hair Loss Test?
Which Shampoos Should People Who Experience Scalp Psoriasis Hair Loss Prefer?
It is very important to use the right shampoos for those who experience scalp psoriasis hair loss. Normal shampoos will not contribute to the condition of people suffering from this disease. It should be kept in mind that some may even make the situation worse. Therefore, at this point, the disease should be taken into account when choosing shampoo.
There are shampoos developed by different brands for psoriasis. When making a preference, you should focus on the ingredients as well as the brands of the shampoos. At this point, you should still get the best advice from your doctor. In general, the shampoo to be preferred should contain the following ingredients:
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Salicylic Acid
It is an exfoliating agent that softens thick scales and helps to remove them. Thanks to its effect, it allows other medications used to have a greater effect on the skin.
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Coal Tar
It makes the scalp get rid of the dead skin cells. Besides, it is effective in reducing skin cell production.
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Hydrocortisone
It is a mild corticosteroid that reduces itching and inflammation.
The presence of these substances in the content of the shampoo you choose will reduce itching and scales. You can buy shampoos with these ingredients from pharmacies or other sales points without a prescription. However, do not forget to consult your doctor and get his approval while doing this. Again, your doctor can give the best advice about which type of shampoo will be better for your scalp.
Read Also: How Fast Does PRP Treatment Give Results for Your Hair Loss?
CONCLUSION
Scalp psoriasis hair loss can be treated with the right interventions. Most of the time loss is temporary. However, sometimes there may be permanent baldness or thinning in some parts of the hair, depending on the disease. In such cases, you can benefit from hair transplantation or similar treatments given by specialist surgeons in Cosmeticium. At Cosmeticium, we enable you to regain your old look in a short time with hair transplantation.
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