Can Arthritis Cause Extra Skin Cells On Scalp?

Scalp Psoriasis

Medically Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on Oct 28, 2021

Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder that makes raised, reddish, frequently scaly patches. It tin pop up as a single patch or several, and tin can even affect your entire scalp. It can also spread to your forehead, the back of your cervix, or backside and inside your ears.

Y'all tin't take hold of scalp psoriasis from another person. As with other types, we don't know what causes information technology. Doctors believe information technology comes from something incorrect with your immune organisation that causes skin cells to grow too speedily and build upwardly into patches. You may be more than likely to get scalp psoriasis if it runs in your family unit.

scalp psoriasis About half of the estimated 7.five million Americans with psoriasis - which can touch any skin surface - have it on their scalp. Sometimes the scalp is the only place they have information technology, just that'southward uncommon.

Scalp psoriasis tin be mild and well-nigh unnoticeable. But information technology tin also be severe, concluding a long fourth dimension, and cause thick, crusted sores. Intense itching can bear on your sleep and everyday life, and scratching a lot can lead to peel infections and pilus loss.

Symptoms

Symptoms of mild scalp psoriasis may include simply slight, fine scaling. Symptoms of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis include:

Scaly, ruby-red, bumpy patches
Silver-white scales
Dandruff-similar flaking
Dry scalp
Itching
Burning or soreness
Pilus loss

Scalp psoriasis itself doesn't cause hair loss, but scratching a lot or very hard, picking at the scaly spots, harsh treatments, and the stress that goes along with the condition tin can lead to temporary pilus loss. Fortunately, your pilus usually grows dorsum after your skin clears.

If you have any of these symptoms, encounter your physician or dermatologist. They may just accept a expect or do a skin biopsy to rule out similar weather similar seborrheic dermatitis.

Topical Treatments

The first line of defense force is treatment you apply directly on your skin: medicated shampoos, creams, gels, lotions, foams, oils, ointments, and soaps. You can go some of these products over the counter, just stronger ones crave a prescription.

Over-the-counter products oft contain one of 2 medications approved by the FDA for psoriasis:

Salicylic acid
Coal tar

Prescription products for scalp psoriasis may have higher concentrations of either or both of these, likewise every bit other FDA-approved medications, such as:

Anthralin, an older prescription medication
Antimicrobials, which care for bacterial or yeast infections that can come with scalp psoriasis
Calcipotriene, a strong derivative (different form) of vitamin D
Calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate (a vitamin D derivative combined with a strong steroid)
Other topical steroids
Tazarotene, a derivative of vitamin A

To work, these treatments must exist put on your scalp, non but your hair. Follow the directions exactly until your skin heals, which can take eight weeks or more. Once your psoriasis has cleared, y'all can help keep information technology from coming back by shampooing regularly or twice-weekly with a product that has coal tar or other medications.

Office Treatments

If y'all have mild scalp psoriasis in a few areas, your dr. or dermatologist may consider injecting steroids directly into those areas.

If your symptoms don't respond to topical treatments, phototherapy with a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation or not-light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation light source may aid. For example, the excimer laser focuses high-intensity light on affected areas and avoids the surrounding good for you pare. Ultraviolet (UV) lite -- sometimes delivered with a hand-held device called a UV comb -- can be used to treat the entire scalp. If y'all have very thin hair, or a shaved caput, your doctor may recommend that you go out in natural sunlight for brief periods.

Medications for Severe Scalp Psoriasis

If you accept moderate to severe scalp psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a drug you accept by mouth or one that'south injected or pumped through a needle into a vein. Oral medications include:

Corticosteroids
cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
A strong grade of vitamin A called a derivative (Soriatane)
apremilast (Otezla), a small molecule inhibitor taken twice daily

Since these medications can crusade serious side effects, including liver impairment, they require a doctor's close eye. It's also important to know that oral vitamin derivatives are different from -- and more powerful than -- vitamin supplements bought over the counter. Ordinary vitamin A and D supplements practise not help.

The latest form of FDA-approved medications are called biologics. These drugs, which you lot get by injection or IV, may keep your peel from making besides many cells. Co-ordinate to the American Academy of Dermatology, 11 biologics may work:

adalimumab (Humira)
brodalumab (Siliq)
certolizumab peg (Cimzia)
etanercept (Enbrel)
guselkumab (Tremfya)
infliximab (Remicade)
ixekizumab (Talz)
risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi)
secukinumab (Cosentyx)
tildrakizumab-asmn (Ilumya)
ustekinumab (Stelara)

Living With Scalp Psoriasis

There is no cure, but many treatments tin help symptoms, control flare-ups, and forestall it from coming back. People who follow their treatment plan rarely have to endure astringent scalp psoriasis for long.

Psoriasis support groups can also offer valuable tips to help medical treatments work better and ease the stress and sadness that this common condition can cause.