Here’s What You Should Know About Scalp Psoriasis
Samantha started to feel a worsening itch on the back of her head. She thought of it as a mild reaction to the weather, however, the itch kept worsening as days went by. When she began to feel scaly bumps develop behind her head, she headed to her doctor who diagnosed her as having scalp psoriasis.
Psoriasis is an increasingly common skin condition and yet so little is known about the disease. The existence of myths perpetuates fear around the condition and often makes people hesitant to discuss their problems or seek help. Let’s understand what scalp psoriasis means, explore the causes, and discuss viable psoriasis treatment options.
Understanding Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis is a common autoimmune disorder in which your body’s skin cells multiply at a faster rate than normal. The normal period for new skin cells to generate lasts anywhere between 3 to 5 weeks. In psoriasis, new skin cells are formed every 3 to 5 days. Thus, as new cells multiply, the old cells on the surface don’t get sufficient time to live out their life cycle. This collision of the old and new cells leads to a red, scaly rash called psoriasis.
Apart from your scalp, the psoriasis rash can also appear on your neck and behind the ears. Most of the time, the sores are mild and barely noticeable. However, sometimes the rash can erupt into bumpy red scales that cause severe itching. These sores can bleed if handled roughly and are known to cause discomfort when shampooing or combing.
Symptoms of Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis is an emotionally troubling condition. Apart from physical symptoms, the long-term nature of the disease can cause depression and anxiety. Here are some of the main physical symptoms of scalp psoriasis:
- Appearance of red, scaly lesions on the scalp
- Flaking that appears similar to dandruff
- Bleeding from the scalp when exposed to pressure from combing
- Constant itching and hair breakage
- Hair loss and baldness in severe cases
Causes of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition in which your body mistakenly attacks its own cells. In the case of psoriasis, your body mistakenly believes that your skin cells are old and need to be replaced quickly. This causes your system to regenerate new cells and push them up to the surface at an abnormally fast speed.
Scalp psoriasis is triggered by different factors in different people. Here are the three most common triggers of scalp psoriasis:
- Genetic factors
Studies have shown that genetics plays an important role in determining many hair and scalp conditions. If you have a family history of scalp psoriasis, chances are high that you will develop the condition too.
- Lifestyle factors
Chronic stress, chain-smoking, cold weather, and pollution are known to trigger a susceptibility to psoriasis. While, these factors don’t directly cause psoriasis, they weaken the immune system and bring out a dormant sensitivity to the disease.
- Medical factors
Certain illnesses have been linked with an increased risk of scalp psoriasis. These include psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure and colitis. Physical trauma caused by an accident or due to a surgery can also lead to an onset of psoriasis.
Busting Some Myths
Psoriasis is one skin condition that has been the subject of many myths and misinformation. The most common of these is that scalp psoriasis spreads through physical contact. This is false and you cannot get scalp psoriasis by sharing a comb or a cap. The next biggest myth on the condition is that scalp psoriasis happens due to lack of hair hygiene. While failing to shampoo can cause dandruff, it certainly cannot cause scalp psoriasis.
If left untreated, scalp psoriasis can lead to baldness. This is all the more reason to handle it seriously and prevent psoriasis related hair loss. Most people feel that scalp psoriasis is just a rash that will go away on its own. However, this is highly unlikely as psoriasis is a long-term condition which usually worsens without proper treatment.
Homeopathic Psoriasis Treatment
Homeopathic remedies for psoriasis are natural and free from chemical side-effects. The gentle nature of healing makes these medicines suitable for young children, expectant mothers, heart patients, and those recovering from any other illness or trauma.
Homeopathy focuses on holistic healing. This means that it helps heal your immune system so that your body can fight infection on its own. Merely suppressing physical symptoms of a disease doesn’t help for a relapse can occur at any time. Homeopathic remedies for psoriasis have shown high success rates in curing and controlling the skin condition for life. Don’t let scalp psoriasis ruin your confidence. Speak to a homeopathic doctor today for healthy hair for you and your loved ones!
