Please help me, what is wrong with my head (pictures attached)?!

[Helpmyheadplease]

Posted before a while ago but it’s back unfortunately so trying again for help.

I’ve got some kind of eczema flare up/dry skin on my scalp. It’s open, weepy and looks like big patches of raw skin. Sort of like when you would fall and skin your knee when you were a kid and it looked all wet and gunky. Sometimes it goes all scabby but the skin falls off and leaves the big open wound, then the skin scabs over again and falls off and leaves a big open wound again. It’s in this vicious cycle and started 2 years ago.

It was all over my head and on my face and inside my ears at one point, but now that’s all cleared up apart from a big stubborn patch at the back of my head.

I’ve been to the GP and they’ve been really helpful about it and referred me to dermatology at the start of 2021 but in the meantime we’ve tried everything- lots of different steroid creams, antibiotics (it was infected with staph at one point), antifungal creams/washes/shampoos. The most effective thing so far was antifungal tablets, I took them for 2 weeks and it completely disappeared for a good while. Then I woke up one day and it was back again on the same place in my head. I was going to phone back for more fungal tablets but I didn’t want to be annoying and be thaaaat person that keeps calling the doctor and being annoying so I just left it until the dermatology referral came through, which thankfully it has and I’m going in a few weeks.

It’s very itchy and painful But I m not picking it, and I wore white gloves during the night to see if I was scratching it accidentally when I sleep and I’m definitely not.

Does anyone know what will happen at the appointment? I’ve never seen a dermatologist before, I don’t even know what this is (I’m guessing eczema?) and my skin was fine before all this started. Does anyone know what they’ll do to fix it? The antifungal tablets have been the most effective thing so far, but even then it just came back. I’m starting to get worried that nothing will make it go away for good.

I’m so sick of the back of my head being a big wet and crusty mess😩 brushing nevermind washing my hair is agony, I can’t ponytail it without it being really obvious, I can’t even lie on my pillow at night because it hurts so much and when I do my head sticks to it with all the gunk.

Ask your deem about Scalp psoriasis.
Clobetasol is a topical corticosteroid used in the first instance for this.

Its potent and works well on scalp psoriasis, but you need to see a specialist, which tbf you are.

*derm

Oh gosh poor you that looks sore.

I am not a doctor but would say if antifungals worked then that’s a big clue it’s fungal! How long was the course of tablets, did you take the full course? I had them once for fungal toenails and seem to remember taking them for ages (at least a month if not two) so maybe it needs longer to fully kill the fungus.

My guess is they may take swabs at the appt to take away and culture, and see if there is an infection (fungal or bacterial) and then will go from there in terms of treatment.

I would definitely phone the GP for some more anti fungal tablets if your appointment isn’t for a few weeks.

That looks so sore you poor thing. Sounds like you've been waiting for a long time to be seen by dermatology. I wouldn't be inclined to do anything until your appointment. Although it must be absolutely miserable it might be better for the dermatologist to see it at it currently is?

I saw a dermatologist and was diagnosed with both perioral and seborrhoeic dermatitis on face and scalp. Mine is definitely not as bad as yours. Everything my GP prescribed - the various tar shampoos etc - had made it worse, so even though you must be feeling absolutely desperate I do think it's best to have it looked at properly rather than trying different things in the meantime.

Hi OP

It looks very similar to the problem I used to have.

The dermatologist I saw at the Chelsea & Westminster took a swab of the weeping part and some skin cells from the area.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis. Well to be more exact I was diagnosed with an immune system disorder and psoriasis was the main symptom.

My consultant prescribed a coal tar shampoo (much stronger than the ones you can buy off the shelf). If you haven't already tried coal tar shampoo, it might be worth giving it a go? If it's not psoriasis the shampoo won't do any harm.

Random patches still crop up from time to time, especially if I'm run down or have a cough/cold.

Good luck in getting it sorted out

Thanks for the advice x I’ve tried coal tar shampoo but it didn’t help unfortunately, although maybe the one I was using wasn’t strong enough, thanks so much for the advice anyway though.

I just want it to go away! I just went to run my hand through my hair there and my hand is really sticky and wet from just briefly touching my scalp for like a second! It looks like I’ve always got a big patch of greasy hair but it’s because my scalp is always oozing and it’s so embarrassing😩

Damn that looks painful

💐

My Dd18 had similar, but not as bad, pharmacist recommended Lymecycline which GP then prescribed (during lockdown so over phone). Worked wonders and also cleared facial acne at same time. Never got a formal diagnosis though

It's difficult to tell from the photo but it might be a kerion. Normally you'd need anti fungal tabs for at least 6 weeks.

Have you been allergy tested? There’s a common allergen in many shampoos that can cause flare ups like this.

have you had a swab taken?

I was going to suggest a kerion too. Is the area raised? Have you had any hair loss?

I hope you get some answers soon!

You were referred 18 months ago and you're still waiting? That's awful. I hope you find an answer soon.

Ouchy! I get psoriasis and it doesn't really look like that, it's more flaky and cracks but they can differ from person to person
Please see a specialist it looks so sore

Yeah I was referred about 18 months ago, I think they’ve just been so busy with covid though so not their fault it’s taken so long, but I’m so desperate to have normal skin again! 😩

I don’t really have any hair loss round there, it’s at the back of my head so I can’t see it properly but I’ll get my mum to have a look at it tonight and she can tell me what it looks like. I can only see it in photos because of where it is but it’s so gross😩 it feels a bit raised but I think that’s just the scabs because they’re thick x

It looks better than the last time you p

** sorry, it looks better than the last time you posted, I remember it looking really bad. If antifungals help ring the GP again and keep ringing and chasing up the appt.

Have you tried anti fungal cream directly on its? Ignore if you have.

I'd have said it looks just like the psoriasis I used to have (it cleared up on its own in my 20s), but if it's responded to anti fungals treatment in the past, then I don't know!

Is it possible you have a bacterial infection as well as the fungal one? I'd want that looked at by a GP ASAP before waiting for dermatology.

I would also look at diet to see if that’s linked I’d you haven’t already.…… dairy…… gluten…… sugar? All the usual suspects

Get back on the anti fungal tablets. You obviously weren’t given a long enough course of them.
You also need a shampoo with anti fungal properties so something with apple cider vinegar or turmeric in it. Avoid SLS/sulfates and parabens.

Oh you poor thing. I have quite bad scalp psoriasis and it doesn't get quite that bad, is that just after picking at it or is it getting like that with no touching?

Can you pay to see see a consultant dermatologist ASAP? I did in the end and it was priceless to get the right treatment. 18 months is shocking to wait.

For now I'd recommend sleeping in a silk hair cap, off amazon, it will help if you are scratching in the night and stop you sticking to your pillow. I wouldn't know what else to suggest whilst it's such an open sore.