The first manifestations of psoriasis often appear at first, and then spread throughout the body. Psoriasis on the head occurs with a risk of itching and bacterial complications. If you suspect a psoriatic nature of the rash, you should consult a doctor immediately - the disease responds well to treatment at the very beginning. The article contains all the information about the symptoms and all known treatments for this form of the disease.
Causes of psoriasis in the head
It is a chronic non-infectious dermatological process that develops in hereditary individuals. The causes of psoriasis in the head and the mechanism of its development are not fully understood. But it has been established that the process develops against the background of metabolic and immune disorders. The body loses control over the division of skin epithelial cells: they begin to divide faster. Signs of keratinization also manifest themselves in the form of peeling. At the same time, inflammatory processes develop in the skin.
The main cause of scalp psoriasishereditary. Scientists are trying to identify the genes responsible for the transmission of the disease from generation to generation. Separately modified areas associated with different genes found in patients and their close relatives have already been identified.
But a person with a genetic predisposition does not necessarily get sick. External and internal predisposing factors are equally important. Psoriasis of the scalp begins when people with a genetic predisposition are exposed to the following factors:
- mechanical irritation of the skin (with a hairbrush with hard teeth; damage to small wounds and scabs caused by seborrhea, etc. );
- exposure to cold;
- transmitted infectious diseases; often after streptococcal impetigo - purulent rash, mainly on the skin of the face; develops in children and stimulates the development of the autoimmune process;
- chronic stress and high load;
- frequent smoking, alcohol abuse;
- diet disorders - irregular diet, dry eating, excessive consumption of high-calorie foods and hot spices;
- with hormonal disorders affecting the condition of the sebaceous glands of the skin - obesity, imbalance of sex hormones, diabetes mellitus, diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, hypothalamus;
- in diseases of the liver and kidneys with dysfunction of these organs; toxins are neutralized in the liver and excreted by the kidneys; Intoxication can be a starting point in the development of the disease.
Under the influence of one or more factors, the body's interaction with the environment is disrupted. Protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, which accelerates metabolic processes in the skin and causes its peeling.
Psoriasis of any localization can spread throughout the body, so do not delay treatment.
Changes in the immune system manifest themselves in the form of increased sensitivity of the skin to any external influences (along with combing or frequent hair coloring). In response to such effects, antibodies are produced in their cells and cause an autoimmune inflammatory process. The reasons for the onset of inflammation are not yet fully understood. This is one of the priorities of medicine in the treatment of psoriasis.
Symptoms of scalp psoriasis
Psoriasis on the head manifests itself in the form of characteristic symptoms. The disease can begin with acute multiple rashes (vulgar form of psoriasis) or with gradual itching and peeling of the skin, and only then the characteristic rash (seborrheic form) appears.
More often the onset is gradual, in the form of dandruff and crusting. In the early stages, these are small areas in the occipital region. The peeling spreads to larger areas and itching begins. Constant scratching of the skin contributes to its roughness and abrasion. What does scalp psoriasis look like? The picture shows the initial symptoms of psoriasis on the head:
In the area of scratches and abrasions appear first redness, then small inflamed nodules and papules surrounded by a bright edge that rises above the surface of the skin. The rash, accompanied by severe itching, increases in size and merges with each other. The features of the spill are:
- white "sawdust" covering the papules; when scraped, resembles a stearin stain; in the seborrheic form the scales are yellowish, and the phenomenon of the stearin stain is less pronounced;
- if you break all the "chips", a smooth transparent surface opens up;
- further crumbs cause blood droplets to appear on the surface - "blood clots".
The photo shows three signs:
These three characteristic manifestations distinguish scalp psoriasis from easily mixed seborrheic dermatitis. In the future, the papules will coalesce to form psoriatic plaques that have a different configuration and sometimes spread to the entire surface of the head.
The course of psoriasis of the scalp may be mild in the initial stage with the appearance of single rashes. These rashes then go through all three stages of development. In severe form, the rash occupies the entire significant area and spreads to the face and neck in the form of a crown - an inflamed edge covered with silver scales. Hair roots do not suffer, but bacterial, fungal or mixed infections often join the psoriatic process, leading to complications that are not so easy to treat. The crown looks like this:
Stages of psoriasis in the head
The disease lasts a long time, exacerbations are replaced by remissions. The frequency of exacerbations and the severity of symptoms depend on the presence of provocative factors.
Progressive stage
Rash and inflammation are accompanied by severe itching. At the initial stage there is a Koebner symptom - the appearance of psoriatic rashes at the site of scratches and abrasions.
Stationary
The process is the same, it does not spread, but does not go out.
Regressive
The process gradually decreases, the itching disappears, the rash fades, the inflammatory infiltrate decreases, gradually the appearance of a stain; The color of the rash fades, starting from the center to form brighter ringed figures. Sometimes they begin to fade from the periphery to the center and then take the form of whitish rings (a symptom of psoriasis on the head is Voronov pseudoatrophy). The healing process can take a long time, and gradually only white depigmented spots remain on the skin.
Treatment of psoriasis in the head
Psoriasis of the scalp requires systematic treatment under the supervision of a physician. Crucial lifestyle, smoking and alcohol abstinence, diet are crucial. It is necessary to treat the disease in a complex way, applying techniques taking into account the characteristics of the patient's body. Complex therapy can include modern European methods, pharmacotherapy, as well as oriental methods that have been proven for centuries. Such treatment can significantly improve the patient's condition immediately and lead to the development of a stable remission within a few weeks.
PRP - therapy - the method is based on the ability of platelets (red platelets) to secrete growth factor that stimulates the regenerative capacity of cells. By centrifugation, the patient's blood is enriched with platelets and then injected into the scalp in the direction of the point. The technique can significantly accelerate the onset of remission and prevent the development of relapses.
Autohemotherapy - treatment is performed by intramuscular injection of a small amount of blood from the patient's vein. It has a general stimulating effect, restores the epithelium of the head. Stable remission is observed after treatment.
Reflexology refers in different ways to specific points on the body that are reflexively connected to organs and tissues. It is one of the oldest and most effective traditional treatments. The effect on the points is acupuncture (acupuncture), cauterization, massage, etc. These methods of treating primary psoriasis have been used in oriental medicine for thousands of years. Treatments are performed by a reflexologist.
Vacuum therapy - the effect of diluted air on biologically active points - is one of the reflexological methods. This can be done using boxes or special equipment. Promotes rapid regeneration of altered tissuesAs a result of the use of vacuum therapy, the affected areas are significantly reduced.
Phytotherapy - dermatologists widely use medicinal plants in their practice in the form of infusions, decoctions and ready-made pharmaceutical forms. When used properly as part of a complex treatment, they are very effective in both the early stages and long-term forms of the disease. If you add phytotherapy, the effectiveness of other treatments increases, the risk of developing undesirable drug effects decreases.
Treatment of primary psoriasis in the clinic
In a specialized clinic, the disease is treated by dermatologists who are trained and have clinical experience in the treatment of this disease by all known methods. In their work, they use new Western therapies, along with traditional Oriental methods that have been used successfully for thousands of years by ancient Chinese and Tibetan physicians.
To avoid relapse, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease
Professional clinics use different methods with an individual approach to each patient. In combination with drug treatment, several complexes of traditional methods can permanently save the patient from scalp problems.
The effectiveness of treatment in the clinic is noted not only by patients receiving regular supportive care, but also in their comments and opinions by colleagues from other clinics in Moscow.
Prevention of psoriasis in the head
Prevention of psoriasis in the head is especially important for people with inherited predispositions who are relatives of the patient. This includes eliminating the effects of the following factors:
- any prolonged exposure to the skin;
- nutrition and sedentary lifestyle;
- long-term stress and heavy loads;
- smoking and alcohol abuse;
- hormonal disorders - if you suspect such disorders, you should immediately contact an endocrinologist;
- intoxication - timely treatment of all chronic diseases that contribute to impaired metabolism and immunity.
A dermatologist can tell you how to treat psoriasis after an examination. Therefore, you should not delay with the advice of a specialist, because it is very easy to treat the early stages of the disease. Can we treat this process? It is completely impossible to treat the disease, but if a person is treated regularly, there is a great opportunity to get rid of relapses for a long time.
Diet for psoriasis?
There is no specific diet, but the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp consists of a proper diet 4 times a day, which contains all the substances necessary for the body in the diet. Foods that irritate the skin should not be on the table:
- spicy, salty, sour;
- fruits rich in essential oils (fresh garlic and onion, radish);
- fried, smoked, canned foods;
- caffeinated beverages - strong tea, coffee, Coca-Cola, etc. ;
- Alcohol - they contribute to the development of relapses of the disease.
It has been found that meat foods cause aggravation, so the diet should include more complex carbohydrates, lean meat, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.
Drug treatment for scalp psoriasis?
Medications are selected according to the patient's condition and the presence of certain symptoms of the disease. The following external agents are used in the early stages of psoriasis:
- when wet, solutions and creams are prescribed to relieve these symptoms and prevent bacterial and fungal infections;
- if the skin is dry, then it is treated with ointments; ointment with salicylic acid - has a emollient effect; Ointments with tar have the same effect; Ointments that are an analogue of zinc and vitamin D3 + glucocorticoid betamethasone help a lot - it helps to quickly eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis;
- Ointments and creams containing corticosteroid hormones are prescribed for the treatment of common forms of psoriasis;
- shampoos are widely used; so tar shampoos eliminate inflammation, soften peels; Shampoo with zinc has an antiseptic and emollient effect, eliminates inflammation; Shampoos have been used for a long time.
Folk remedies for psoriasis?
Is it possible to treat psoriasis of the scalp with folk remedies? Most specialists use folk remedies for the symptomatic treatment of this disease (elimination of certain symptoms). But you have to be clear:
- on the recommendation of a dermatologist, the disease should be treated with folk remedies;
- it is not possible to cure the disease with folk remedies alone; Dermatologists prescribe complex therapy in combination with traditional medicine.