Scalp psoriasis driving me batty batty bonkers.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Is there anything new out there? Dovenex and betnovate solutions are hardly effective anymore, all cocois does is make my hair smell different and what was a simmering case of scalp psoriasis has flared into a full on tight scalped flaky itch fest. I need to get some more coconut oil in to at least help temporarily descale it.

It's a bit of an all round whinge really. I'm itching all over which usually means its about to explode all over my body and my arthritis is beginning to flare. Sometimes I think it would be really nice not to have this.

The ginger shampoo is great,I agree its not quite as effective as it used to be. I use it in between Loreal washes.

I forgot - I did try fish oils but they gave me really bad tunny ache. No idea why.

How thick is it? Would uv therapy help?

T-gel sorted mine out. It contains coal tar. But this is also in cocois.

My dermatologist friend suggested the olive oil soak under a shower cap when mine was really bad but I have to confess I never did it.

Mine is heavily stress related and has mostly gone away at the moment (Phew) but you have my sympathy as it is so unpleasant and sore (people never get the sore bit).

T gel was very good for my scalp but makes my hair like straw

This stuff is good at taking the heat and itch out of the scalp and I never used it for long enough to see if the flaking improved. I gave the shampoo/ conditioner to my ds as his was worse and he thought it was very good. The redness and irritation were reduced.

I have used the Oregon grape lotion and it definitely helps take the heat out of the skin.

It is very expensive.

Nizarol every couple of weeks, Loreal blue with orange lid most days mixed up with Tresemme low sulphate shampoo.

Works until I get stressed then all flakes breaks loose.

marc, uv therapy is brilliant for me, but I dont think they do it for scalps do they? (and it took 6 months to see my derm last time!)

I'll try the oregon stuff if the loreal doesnt help.

The worst bit for me is the embarrassment. I dont mind people seeing the psoriasis on my body, but my scalp psoriasis leaves a snowstorm wherever I go and I end up having to surreptitiously brush it off car seats and peoples sofas :( I feel like people are looking at my shoulders all the time.

Start by eliminating sodium lauryl sulphate from your toiletries. It's designed to clean engines, so stands to reason it won't do your scalp or your skin much good!

Makes you wonder then why it is in Alphosyl, doesn't it?

OhYouBadBadKitten, I have scalp psoriasis too. It never goes completely, but a few things make it easier to live with.

I use coconut oil to moisturise it and to deal with the tight skin and pain. I only use shampoo without SLS and silicone, ie Boots Naked range. I use Salcura conditioner (order online). No styling products apart from a little oil to stop frizz. I use Betacap but not all the time as you get rebound problems, ie it comes back worse than before. My doctor said to try 2 weeks using it then 2 weeks without.

I have also cut out sugar and most alcohol and gluten, not sure if that has helped.

Occasionally when my scalp is really itchy I use Nizoral shampoo a couple of times, but only maybe twice a year.

There is also a scalp spray from Salcura which soothes and moisturises, it's natural. Boots sell it in big branches or you can get it online.

Good luck. Hope these help

Ive had it for scalp OYBBK, im in Ireland though, am not sure where you are.

I know the feeling, I feel the same embarrassment. Am constantly checking my hair, my shoulders, cleaning up after myself. Its embarrassing. Id shave off all the hair if I didn't have such a wonky shaped noggin! Can't even go to the hairdresser with this.

Shaving off my hair has been tempting cos then I could just plaster it in creams!
If I don't get on top of it soon I think I will ask for a referral back to my derm to see what can be done. I ought to try one more cycle of dovenex/betnovate and then I can say I've really really tried. I'm going to go shopping for new shampoo this morning. I don't know whether to go sls free or go for the loreal stuff! I might try the sls free stuff first - go back to basics and then see what happens.

Just gettong on this thread quickly will read later. I find my scalp becomes resitant so give it some time and try again. Nizoral is ok. Then stops working. Then the dovonex and repeat...do uou find the same? Cocois is vileI agree

I know what you mean about the flakes. I hate that it restricts what I can wear and am forever brushing my shoulders clear, checking chairs at work etc.

Dollybird I teresting what you say - I find products actually tend to reduce it as does blow drying. Shame im too lazy

I wear a lot of black whixh is stupid. Tbh mines fine unless I scratch really

I find exactly the same SPB, except it works less and less each cycle.

Just about the UVB treatment - there are light combs available, look online!

I have a similar scalp condition and whenever it flares up I use Salicylic Acid, it's like a really greasy cream but my god it works wonders.

I was prescribed a jar of it in 1995 and i'm still using the same tub as it hasn't seemed to lost it's effectiveness

Coconut oil is fantastically soothing especially if you leave it on over night x

Used most the things you listed but my hair fell out, as a last ditch I finally tried one that wasn't from my GP as they never seemed to work.

After reading up on the internet, I bought the Philip Kingsley stuff.
I used it for a couple of weeks then around every three months for the last year and for the first time in ten years it's settled down.

I really thought, what with how bad it could get (scabs, hair loss etc) that a none prescription wouldn't work.

It does weigh your hair down, but when it washes out (I alternated with my normal stuff) it's really conditioning. I put the toner on my scalp in between washes if it's itchy, then it doesn't get out of hand, and it works instantly.

It's quite expensive (I think around £20 per bottle) but I've only bought one bottle of each and have only used about half in a year because it worked like magic and I went back to my generic shampoo.

I got the Philip Kingsley flaky/itchy scalps shampoo and the scalp toner for flaky/itchy scalps, there's also a scalp mask you can buy that's in individual treatments for a couple of quid, again
I bought them at John Lewis.

Sorry if that was a bit garbled, been up all night, hope it helps :)

Bless you, I could of written your post many times over the past 17 years!! Only thing that now works for me is my meds that I inject, although have found a but of comfort with using head and shoulders regularly.

Hope you get some comfort soon

Salicylic acid is what I used to use when I was little, it allowed the scales to be lifted so the coal tar could work on it. So messy!

I've bought some of the naked shampoo as they didnt have the loreal one. However the splendid news is that my rheumy has given me a great big shot of long acting steroids in the bum. He reckons it should help the psoriasis for a while (just as long as I don't get a rebound)

I'll have a look at the Philip Kingsley stuff just in case.

Thanks everyone for your advice and sympathy!

By all accounts the PK stuff if the same as the body shop ginger shampoo!

Well that would be more affordable!

Ginger is supposed to be good for inflammation.