No doubt you’ve heard of psoriasis. This condition occurs when skin cell production increases beyond a normal rate. Normal production is completed in three to four weeks. If you’ve got psoriasis, this reduces to just three to seven days.
This means you end up with more skin cells than you need. It causes patches to form that take on the appearance of scales or plaques. The scales can differ in appearance depending on your skin tone. Some people have one or two patches whereas others are more severely affected and have large patches on various parts of the body. It’s also possible to get scalp psoriasis, and this has links with hair loss.
Does Scalp Psoriasis Cause Hair Loss?
No, it doesn’t cause it to occur. However, psoriasis can be itchy. If you scratch or pick at the scaly skin on your scalp, it can potentially lead to hair loss. As with everything else, hair loss prevention is the best course of action here, so let’s look at what you can do to improve the situation if you have scalp psoriasis.
How to Treat Scalp Psoriasis
The first thing to try is a topical treatment. Since the scales and plaques are dry in nature, it can help to soften them as much as possible. Coal tar shampoo is a common option for starters, and you can buy it over the counter. It’s ideal for reducing the amount of inflammation and itching on your scalp.
It might sound odd but try keeping your nails short too. It’s best not to scratch your scalp at all, but it’s easy to do it without thinking. At least if your nails are short, you won’t cause much – if any – damage if you do forget and scratch the scales there. It’s scratching that tends to cause damage to the hair follicles and leads to hair loss. Therefore, if you want to stop hair loss derived from psoriasis, it makes sense to reduce the inflammation and itching that causes you to scratch to start with.
Other products include salicylic acid, which softens the hard patches. These OTC products are obviously not as strong as those available via prescription, but they’re a good first line of defense if you have mild scalp psoriasis.
If you use a topical treatment, make sure you read the instructions and follow them properly. You must apply anything you use to the scalp rather than to your hair. This can be tricky, but it gets easier with practice. It can take a few weeks to notice a difference, hence why regular treatment is required.
How Do You Know if It Is Psoriasis or Not?
There are common symptoms including itching and burning and of course the presence of the scales. However, a proper diagnosis via a healthcare professional is best. Seborrheic dermatitis can present with similar symptoms; a dermatologist should be able to confirm which condition you have and suggest the proper treatment.
Can Hair Loss Due to Psoriasis Grow Back?
The good news is that yes, it should grow back once you have the psoriasis under control. Obviously, hair loss prevention is the best tactic to go for, but if you have already experienced hair loss, taking good care of your scalp and reducing the appearance of the scales is the next best thing to do.
It’s important to treat your scalp with care. Make sure you use a conditioner once you’ve shampooed your hair and avoid using a hairdryer if you can. This will cause your scalp to become drier still and undo the work you’ve done with a shampoo and conditioning treatment. You want your hair to retain as much moisture as possible, and the same goes for your scalp, otherwise, hair loss becomes a bigger risk. Air drying is a great tactic to help you with this.
You can also talk with your haircare provider to make sure you’re doing everything you can to take care of your hair while treating the psoriasis. Of course, you should also seek advice from a health professional or dermatologist. They’ll be able to determine whether you should use any prescribed treatments to reduce the appearance of your psoriasis and therefore reduce any hair loss you might experience too.
To learn more, contact the team at Unique Hair Concepts.
