Skin disease, a large number of diseases, in addition to the direct negative effects on human health, impact on his psychological state. In addition, the dermatological disease is psoriasis is a chronic disease, successful treatment, which is still challenging for physicians and conditions satisfactory life to the patient.
Characteristics of localized psoriasis of the head
Often the first area of skin lesions in psoriasis, comes from the hair of the head. In some cases, the disease is limited to the area, but often, especially without treatment, a new plaque will eventually become visible to other parts of the body. Reasons due to which psoriasis affects the scalp, consider the special structure of the epithelium in this area, as well as the inevitable daily skin damage in the process of combing.
According to statistics, the psoriasis occurs in 1 out of 100 people, but in different regions this indicator varies. About 80% of patients have lesions on the scalp, and a quarter of them the disease is limited in this area, the other, eventually spread to the skin of the palms, the feet, the outer surface of the joints, etc.
Psoriasis no one is immune, however, accumulated clinical experience allows the doctors to share the risk. So, most of the pathology occurs in women, early stages of the disease is usually recorded in patients 15 to 25 years. The risk of psoriasis is increased, people, parents, brothers or sisters, who also suffer from this disease.
Reasons
Psoriasis - a mysterious illness, to explain the appearance which is difficult even for modern scientists. Every year there are new and new theories about what will cause an inflammatory reaction and the excess synthesis in the skin cells of the body of the patient. When the leading hypothesis is genetic: he says some people have a innate predisposition to accelerated renewal of keratinocytes, which in the case of the manifestations of the disease, leads to specific reactions of the immune system. The result is a vicious circle: the more produced new cells that form plaque, the more the inflamed skin in this area (the body treats it as something alien), and the more damaged the skin under the influence of the immune system cells - the active share of the keratinocytes.
In some cases, the starting point for the development of the disease is a disease of the immune system, which in turn is the result of extreme stress or infectious disease. So, it should be noted that among the HIV-infected psoriasis occurs three times more often than the population on average.
It is interesting the Middle ages plaque on the body of the sick was called the "rose of the devil". It was believed that these characters are a manifestation of the curse and can be sent to the healthy people, when you touch. The tragedy was, that before the nineteenth century doctors did not distinguish psoriasis, leprosy, scabies and other skin diseases, so anyone who has suffered with chronic skin disease were banished from society and forced to wear a white dress, which hides the body and face, and bells warning others of "danger of infection".
How to psoriasis on the head: the signs of defeat
Psoriasis scalp is also called seborrheic psoriasis, although this term is also true, the lesions of other skin areas with high density of sebaceous glands — ear-areas, nasolabial folds, chest, and between the shoulder blades area. The disease first manifests itself usually by flaking, similar to dandruff. The appearance of plates is accompanied by itching and the skin in this area is covered with silvery scales. It is important that psoriasis, even in patients with severe inflammatory process is not observed alopecia, which is characteristic of this disease.
Psoriatic plaques tend to grow and join together to form larger units — they are "wax lake". Under the skin is easily traumatised and bleeding, so patients are, in spite of the intense itching, resist the urge to scratch the affected area.
Some of the plaques of psoriasis a reddish or even purple color, the other — they look like blisters with clear liquid. Disease characterized by a chronic progressive course: the periods of exacerbation followed by periods of remission, when symptoms deteriorate, but to remove all the symptoms of the disease is usually not possible. Thus, depending on the individual patient, the psoriasis may be a small cosmetic defect and is not accompanied by unpleasant sensations, and a serious debilitating condition, preventing his personal life, work, and even limit the patient's ability to self care.
Features care
A major British politician Winston Churchill, who himself suffered from psoriasis, once promised to erect a statue of pure gold to the person who found a cure for this disease. Unfortunately, it is still a reliable way to definitively deal with this skin lesion was found. But this does not mean that there is no cure, medicine has a variety of tools that will help to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis and improve the quality of life of the patient, which extends to the rest of the skin without sudden worsening and recurrence.
Treatment of psoriasis of the scalp is especially in this form, the external signs of the disease are the most noticeable to others (they can not be hidden under clothing), so patients experience intense psychological distress and looking for any ways to get rid of plaque. In addition, the seborrheic psoriasis is characterized by itching, so patients often require symptomatic treatment, the purpose of pain in the affected area.
External preparations for the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp
Medications that are intended for direct application to the affected area psoriasis, can be selected individually. The patient should be prepared for the fact that the first medication prescribed by the doctor can be inefficient — it takes time to find the optimal combination of effective medicines.
Hormones
Medicines on the basis of steroid hormones can quickly reduce inflammation and itching. Unlike steroids systemic effects (used in the form of tablets or injections psoriasis), these creams and lotions do not have pronounced side effects on the body. However, their regular use can be harmful to the health of the skin area of application often discolour'd by, becomes thin and more susceptible to infection, which significantly complicates the treatment. With long-term use of topical (local) steroids can cause withdrawal symptoms after cessation of exacerbation and the drug, the disease returned with renewed vigor and even more symptoms. Therefore, there are several restrictions on the use of topical steroids. They are not:
- use frequently and long-term (up to 5 days);
- use for sensitive skin areas (face, neck, folds) and large areas of skin lesions (more than 20% of its surface area).
It is important that the use of ointments, creams and shampoos on the basis of glucocorticosteroids was made only after consultation with your doctor.
Non-hormonal creams and oils
To improve the condition of scalp psoriasis without resorting to hormonal preparations. Based on creams, lotions and shampoos of this group of active substances, which has anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor, soothing and moisturizing effect: zinc pyrithione, tar, salicylic acid, kertio, and others. Their application is useful regardless of the stage of the disease — they reduce the formation of plaques, scaling, itching and inflammation.
Efficacy and safety of non-hormonal creams and oils, depending on the main active ingredient. Thus, drugs based on zinc, you can apply without any restrictions on frequency of use, when the tar means dry skin, so it is recommended to use 1-2 times a week along with moisturizing emulsions.
Cosmetics
Patient, long time suffering from psoriasis often turn to cosmetic remedies to improve the appearance of the scalp, but not having medical effects. We talk about all kinds of shampoos and oils, which is designed to relieve irritation, soften the skin and make peeling plaques lower. To assess the real effectiveness of such tools is not possible — especially when they are used together with treatment prescribed by a doctor.
Symptomatic treatment
Some drugs that help for psoriasis of the scalp, can not change the course of the disease, however, greatly facilitate the patient's condition. Because the factors that affect the activity of the pathological process, very much, it is important to treat the patient's health as a whole, and fight the consequences of the disease (eg. infection affects the skin or drugs the liver).
Physiotherapy
Uv radiation to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis of the scalp many patients, therefore physical therapy, which is based on the use of artificial light is a very popular method of treatment of this pathology.
With light therapy uv light (UVB) light is applied to a wavelength that is visible to the human eye. Each session lasts a few minutes, and the whole course of treatment lasts for 6-8 weeks.
PUVA treatment involves a combination of light therapy for the skin light substances. To get treatment in the form of tablets or creams, and then comes to the sessions of irradiation with uv-light spectrum of A. This method is effective even in severe forms of psoriasis, however in the long term can increase the risk of the patient's skin cancer.
Naturotherapy
Operating environmental factors is another important approach to the treatment of psoriasis. Stay at resorts with special weather conditions (Dead sea coast of the Caucasus mineral waters, etc.) contribute to lengthening periods of remission and relief of symptoms. Many patients report the effect of using therapeutic mud and baths with herbal decoctions, use of bees (apitherapy) and applications of naphthalene oil and other rare chemical compounds that have proven efficacy in the complex treatment of skin diseases.
However, the final guidance does not exist, the success of such methods depends on the individual characteristics of each patient.
The repair way of life
Change of diet (avoidance of foods that provoke exacerbation of psoriasis), the rejection of the use of alcohol, regular exercise and psychotherapy, which aims to reduce anxiety, help patients with seborrheic psoriasis. Some patients report that a healthy lifestyle helps not only to reduce the symptoms of the underlying disease, but also the general well-being by addressing the factors that trigger other pathological conditions. It is important to follow the recommendations of the doctor and positive criticism related to the promotion of full refusal of medical treatment in favor of non-traditional methods.
Patients with psoriasis often become depressed about the realization that this disease appeared in the times, stays with them for life. However, a positive attitude and active position in relation to new approaches to treatment to promote the return of the high quality of life and reduce unpleasant symptoms. No need to tolerate psoriasis is just a problem that has a variety of options. Don't let illness spoil your life.
Why is it important to start the treatment of seborrheic psoriasis in a short time?
Without a doubt, completely cure psoriasis is impossible, but you can reduce the frequency and duration of exacerbations if competent and, most importantly, the time to start the treatment as soon as the first character. It is helpful to choose the drugs efficacy and safety, which is confirmed in clinical trials.