Know All About The Possibility Of Psoriasis Causing Hair Loss – Part 1

Psoriasis causes hair loss. What are the causes and treatments? Know more about the medical condition faced by millions.

Know All About The Possibility Of Psoriasis Causing Hair Loss – Part 1

Image Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Why Psoriasis?

Commonly causing skin changes on the knees, elbows, hands, feet, and scalp is a medical condition known as psoriasis. Red, raised, scaly patches appear and hair loss may occur when it affects the scalp. 

To reduce the risk of psoriasis symptoms worsening and leading to hair loss try the early treatment. 

While it is found that psoriasis affects up to 7.5 million Americans, it is likely due to the immune system not working correctly according to the medical opinion. 

It can be widespread or the scalp psoriasis can occur in one or two patches. It is found to be affecting the whole scalp, forehead, back of the neck as well as behind the ears. 

Distinguish Between Psoriasis And Scalp Psoriasis

Involving skin changes on the scalp and around the hairline is psoriasis.

Causing skin cells to grow too quickly, psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder resulting in scaling and inflamed skin along with other symptoms. Leading to hair loss is scalp psoriasis. 

As the skin cells grow, they are formed deep within the skin and thereafter slowly move to the surface. Here the dead skin cells are shed as the new cells replace dead cells. Taking around a month to complete is this process. 

In the case of Psoriasis, this process of skin regeneration is speeded up. It takes only a few days for the new cells to form and rise to the surface when a person has psoriasis. Causing the skin to build up in patches on the surface is the speed at which this happens. 

Known as plaque is the buildup on the skin where plaque psoriasis comes as the most common form of psoriasis. 

Patches of red, thickened skin with silver streaks begin to form as the skin builds up. It is observed that these patches happen to be itchy or painful. Along with swelling and stiffness in their joints, a person may experience dry cracked skin that bleeds.

These patches of excess cells affect the skin of the head in scalp psoriasis. 

Whereas scalp psoriasis comes as a type of plaque psoriasis other kinds of psoriasis can affect the scalp. With intense itching, the scratching can then cause skin damage. 

The Symptoms

Skin changes can appear on the scalp forehead, back of the neck and behind the ears in scalp psoriasis. 

Here a person may notice the following:

  • Ranging from barely noticeable to pronounced and inflamed lesions, red patches on the scalp. 
  • That resembles dandruff whereas having a silvery sheen is the flaking and scales. 
  • Cracking and bleeding of a dry scalp.
  • Interfering with life and sleep is the itching that ranges from a mild annoyance to extreme 
  • On the scalp, you may experience burning, soreness, or pain                                                                                                                             

As a result of scratching the scalp or removing the scales, there may be temporary hair loss. 

Scratching can make this worse as bleeding can occur if the skin becomes dry and cracked. A fungal or other infection may result if the breaks in the skin occur. 

They may wish to see a doctor as they may need treatment for infection if the person notices swollen lymph nodes in the neck or crusting on the scalp. 

Typically going through phases of flares and remission is psoriasis including scalp psoriasis. 

Symptoms appear and may become severe during a flare, and the symptoms may disappear for a long time during a phase of remission. The hair usually regrows during periods of remission with scalp psoriasis. 

What About Prevention And Treatment?

Before it starts, preventing an outbreak of scalp psoriasis is the best way to avoid hair loss. 

Crucial to prevention is proper treatment with a dermatologist providing medical treatment clearing up an outbreak quickly before the symptoms become severe causing complications. 

A doctor may suggest applying the following treatments to the affected area depending on how severe the symptoms are:

  • To reduce inflammation and itching, try corticosteroid injections
  •  For topical application, use vitamin D cream.
  • Depending on the thickness of a person’s hair try the light therapy
  • Use the medications that are applied directly to the skin. 
  • To allow the medication to penetrate the surface use a scale softener that softens skin patches. 

Although symptoms appear on the skin, psoriasis is a condition that affects the whole body. A doctor may prescribe systemic medications that a person takes by mouth or injection if the symptoms are severe. 

Here Options Include:

  • A type of drug that targets specific genes in the body is known as biologics.
  • A disease-modifying drug that affects the way the immune system works is methotrexate.
  • A form of Vitamin A called retinoids.
  • An immunosuppressant that slows the immune system called cyclosporine.

There is also a possibility that doctors prescribe the combination of drugs or treatment types. 

It may help to use medicated shampoos containing salicylic acid or coal tar. As the acids may weaken hair follicles, shampoo with salicylic acids can also lead to further hair breakage. 

The Continuation 

There is more information handy on the treatments for scalp psoriasis. Read the next part of the article for more info. 

What's Your Reaction?

like
0
dislike
0
love
0
funny
0
angry
0
sad
0
wow
0