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Scalp psoriasis
springtimelover
Posts: 745 Forum Member
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I have psoriasis on the nape of my neck in my hairline.
Does anyone know of a cream, lotion or potion that I can buy over the counter.that stops the itching? As where I keep scratching and making it sore one of lymph nodes keeps getting infected and that's painful.
Does anyone know of a cream, lotion or potion that I can buy over the counter.that stops the itching? As where I keep scratching and making it sore one of lymph nodes keeps getting infected and that's painful.
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Having suffered 10 years of this before going onto intensive treatment I found nothing over the counter worked.
Go to your GP. Ask for something from them. For me Cocois ointment used to calm it and soften the crust so that could be combed out. I then used to use Dovonex to treat the cleaned scalp.
If you're male I'd suggest having a really short haircut. My husband gets load on his which goes when his hair is kept really short.
I use the same two treatments, Cocois ointment and Dovonex, however, the scalp and nape of the neck are the only areas which seem to have stayed permanent for me since first diagnosis yonks ago when I was in primary school. Since then at my most stressed periods I have had some body psoriasis which responds well and will disappear, perhaps to come back a little bit many years later in the same spots, but the scalp psoriasis only goes for a day or so with the above treatments and then comes back.
I wish I could say to you I've had success with the treatment and that it's disappeared, but in my case it hasn't, although every case is different and you might have better luck.
In general, there's nothing really that you can buy over the counter, you're going to have to go to the doctor.
I think once you have got it you have it for life.
My Father also has this and is 91 now, he has had it for as long as I can remember. He uses Polytar Shampoo.
Steroid treatments like Betnovate, Xamiol, Etrivex, Dovonex need a prescription AFAIK.
54 seems a funny age to suddenly get it and at the least stressful time im my life but saying that when it first appeared I was having a bit of a problem after a few months stress free.
Thank you again.
Who, if he/she is a decent pharmacist, refer you to your GP straight away.
However psoriasis being what it is it will probably come back at random times in your life. You will never fully get rid of it, just learn to deal with it when it peaks. Everyone is different and certain things will make one person worse (stress, fatigue) and certain things will makeanother person better better(sunlight/ UVB), but if you can find a way of coping with it without continually dosing your skin with steroids so much the better. After years I just get on with life now and accept my skin for what it is and if I look a bit scabby from time to time, too bad:D:o I only resort to steroid ointment to do a temporary blitz for a very brief time if it's particularily bad.
What works best for me is sunlight and I've had UV treatment as an outpatient in hospital too. This is all very carefully monitored BTW, it's not just a case of frying under a sunbed ....please no-one attempt that, they are the wrong light wavelengh anyway !
Good luck, OP:). Do try the Ceanel. Its dear (about £7 a bottle) but you should only need to buy it once.
This worked for my husband, but as regards myself I use Betnovate scalp application (on prescription) which gets rid for a while if it gets too bad but of course it always comes back. I have had scalp psoriasis for 45 years, at varying degrees - sometimes worse than other times. Trying not to scratch and pick is best as it could make it raw and get an infection. I don't use special shampoo as it strips the colour from my hair.
And beware of joint problems..... Mine has now become psoriatic arthritis and the earlier that this is spotted the better :eek:
Just before that scares you only a small percentage of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. Mine was diagnosed a little late so i have had one toe joint removed and others may follow
yes but if you have the redness which goes with some psoriasis a short haircut doesnt help but highlights the fact you have it
this is why i have long hair
The other thing I would recommend is a good hairdresser, they seem to know far more about scalp psoriasis than most doctors, and will tell you that it is fairly common.
The best advice my hairdresser gave me was to stop shampooing my hair so regularly, but instead to smother hair in conditioner, leave for 5 minutes then rinse off in the shower. This really works, shampoo strips the hair and scalp of natural oils, whereas conditioner nourishes them. I still shampoo, but only every 10 days or so, the conditioner and water keeps the scalp and hair clean without stripping it.
i can back this up i tend to not wash the hair too often as i used to now and let the oils in my scalp work their magic
Be careful what shampoo you use, I use head and shoulders menthol and it doesn't irritate it.
A scrub made of olive oil and salt will get rid of the scale and really kill the itching for a day or two.
Psoriasis help organisation is a really good website and discussion forum.
You just need to put the steroid cream on when you have a flare up. One tube lasts me about a year. It hasn't thinned my skin or had any other effect on me apart from reducing the psorasis.
The thing is, you need to take care of it or it will spread and it can leave horrible scars.
I dunno..I only know that my husband's clears completely on his head when I give a number 1 or with no guard cut. If he hair gets,a little bit ling between cuts it comes back with a vengeance.
I would avoid using any shampoos on your hail and use something natural.
I would use Virgin organic coconut oil - around £6 a tub (try coconoil.co.uk or ebay/amazon). Its amazing stuff !