Scalp psoriasis- help please

[Skyr2]

I have scalp psoriasis and have had for so many years I can not remember not having an irritated scalp, but it has been much worse in last 7 years, which is when I realised it was a problem and psoriasis as opposed to irritated scalp. It really gets me down, I think it is now close to my forehead and am worried it will start covering my forehead too.

I have tried every over the counter shampoo there is tgel, body shop ginger, nizoral, poly tar, capasal , dermalex and more, it is just getting worse.

I have had prescription applications but nothing has ‘cured’ it betacap, dovobet (which was like lard and I could not get out without using a strong greasy shampoo so prob undid the good it was doing) now have enstilar which apparently is the rolls Royce of treatment, it clears scalp scales then they come back a day later.

The doctors I do not think take it seriously, I know it’s not life threatening so do understand but it has completely affected my life and I really want to get on top of this.

How do I see a dermatologist is this private ?

Do you have any other advise or magic cures / products I could try ? How does everyone else cope with it and how often do you use treatments, scrape scales etc. ( sorry that sounds disgusting but if you have psoriasis you know what I mean).

I've also used Diprosalic, as suggested above by @BasinHaircut. It works well for treating outbreaks that aren't on the scalp, but they do also to a lotion for the scalp that I haven't tried. I get the ointment in Spain, so not sure about availability in the UK.

After trying every shampoo under the sun - I've had scalp psoriasis since birth - the one that works for me is Anti Flake by Philip B. After 2 weeks of washing hair, there's no more psoriasis, no itching. It's amazing. You can get it on Amazon or Space NK. Expensive but so worth it when you're suffering for years and can never wear a dark top! Make sure you don't get the newer version of the shampoo called Anti Flake II, as that doesn't have the same effect.

I suffer from psoriasis. Mine comes and goes sometimes it's absolutely horrendous. I get it in other places as well as my scalp.

I have been prescribed all sorts of things but I have found that Phillip Kingsley itchy scalp range is pretty amazing for me. No other hair product works prescribed or not.

@Skyr2 Enstilar is excellent but you shouldn't be stopping and starting it like that.

I will say, one of the best things for mine is when I bleach my hair. Thought it was weird, then I found that peroxide can actually be used as a treatment!

Yes my scalp was much better when I highlighted it. The problem now is that my scalp is so raw that there's no way a hairdresser will dye it and I'm wary of trying to dye mine blonde.

Nizoral use to work for me but isn't working this time round.

The lack of sleep theory is interesting. Mine flared up badly each time after I gave birth. Thinking about it now the last time my scalp was good was when my eldest was 2 and she was sleeping through. My scalp is terrible at the moment but my youngest dc2 still wakes 1/2 a night and if she doesn't then my eldest wakes me

My 'magic cure' after 30+ years of this was a number 4 clipper cut. I first did it at the beginning of the first lockdown and my scalp has been clear ever since. I'm assuming that the sun getting to my scalp made the difference.

@Peasbewithyou no only 1 child. It’s never come back and only reading this thread am I remembering the horror of trying to wear a dark colour and feel for everyone.

I also sweat less since DS. Weird.

This is really Interesting, lots of products I have not tried so will get started. Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to reply to me.

I am restarting betacap twice a day for a week ( this was what I was advised originally) and It does not seem to do any good but at least I can put it on and not feel like I have a load of lard on my hair.

@JamieLeeCurtains Enstillar and Dovobet I struggle to remove from my hair and leaves a greasy residue - what do you use ? And how long do you use it for 1/2 weeks ?

Another Q. What do people use to condition their scalp when washing ? Other than the steroid treatments, do you use a normal conditioner ?

For those with psoriasis I have to say my dh had this / has this and it was very severe. He was refered via the dermatologist for sun therapy and the difference has been amazing. No more flakes. Took about 25 treatments - basically in a special subbed for 10 seconds to start with building up the time over the weeks to a few minutes. Bonus is he has a nice all over tan now!
He has private medical policy through work but if you don't it's worth asking about it if you have a consultant - the treatments were £25 each (we got sent the bills) so overall with consultations was probably £1k of treatment. Some info here www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/complementary-therapies/light-therapy

@HardAsSnails

My 'magic cure' after 30+ years of this was a number 4 clipper cut. I first did it at the beginning of the first lockdown and my scalp has been clear ever since. I'm assuming that the sun getting to my scalp made the difference.

Wow, That definitely would not suit me or my face shape.Also I am just not brave enough.

I get my hair dyed (brown) at an organic salon, the dye is Kevin Murphy range and really kind to my scalp ( no stinging) and during lockdown when I could not dye, I wondered if no dye would clear my scalp but it made no difference so it’s not the hair dye for me.

I am a worrier though and always stressed so that doesn’t help.

I've never noticed it make a difference personally, but given mine always flares in the autumn I take a daily vitamin D supplement too. That might be worth a try?

I found alternating between diprosalic scalp application and cocois ointment really helped mine and also changing to a sulphate free shampoo. However I am currently pregnant so had to stop using both. Randomly I tried putting sudacream on it and it has actually really helped keep it down and stop flare ups the past few months. Definitely doesn't work as quickly as the diprosalic or cocois but has helped.

Psoriasis is an auto immune condition. Change of diet will do bugger all

That's not true. Many autoimmune conditions go hand in hand, DP is coeliac, has psoriasis, crohns and dermatitis herpeformis. All are kept at bay mostly by following a gluten free diet. Stress is another big factor, but we can guarantee that if he consumes gluten one of the first big issues is a psoriasis and DH exacerbation. If we are lucky that's all that happens, if we are unlucky he has a Crohns relapse.

@BasinHaircut @Peasbewithyou mine started whilst pregnant with my only DD and never went away. I have tried everything. Literally everything. I’m in a huge flare up at the moment after a few years of ‘remission’ where only Aldi anti dandruff kept it at bay. Then it suddenly didn’t. Back to horrendous psoriasis I’m currently treating with coconut oil overnight and alternating between a few organic chemical free shampoos but they don’t work, make it worse, I just have to use something.

@JamieLeeCurtains Enstillar and Dovobet I struggle to remove from my hair and leaves a greasy residue - what do you use ? And how long do you use it for 1/2 weeks ?

@Skyr2 You should use Enstilar on skin till it's clear, which could be up to 4 weeks in some cases, and then switch down to every other day, every few days, every week, so you gradually stop. Otherwise you'll get a flare-up.

I wish GPs explained this properly.

As for your scalp area under hair, Betnovate scalp application or Betacap. Same rules about weaning off.

Ask for a Dermatology referral from your GP, and follow the advice here about good eating, rest, addressing stress, and Vit D.

Do you have any other auto immune symptoms?

I've had scalp psoriasis since I was a child. Dovobet lotion, very sparingly applied and rubbed in, so a couple of drops on my finger rubbed into the areas, is the only thing that clears it, for a while. Of course it always comes back. I only wash my hair once a week because even the water seems to aggravate it. Betacap seems to soothe the itching for a bit, but then the next day it's dry and itchy again. I've tried many shampoos, nothing made a difference, so I just try not to rub the shampoo into my scalp too much. Which Head and Shoulders do you all use? I find it strips the semi permanent colour from my hair so don't use it at the moment.

I agree doctors don't take it seriously. No it's not life threatening, but it has made me miserable, affected my self confidence and made me feel like a freak all my life.

Also agree, when I was pregnant it went away, but came back with a vengeance afterwards.

Get a dermatologist, but in the mean time Phillip Kingsley itchy scalp range is incredible. Don't be put off by the price if it works it's so worth the money even if you just treat yourself when you want an itch free scalp. I buy the whole range and the scalp toner although it's quite liquid if I know ok not going out anywhere sometimes I just damp my hair by spraying it with water and shove the toner on whenever I feel it itching. The shampoo works so well as well.
I have psoriasis and it's horrendous. My worst flair ups are stress related though. Try to take 15 minutes a day breather to reduce your stress actively thinking about feeling not stress.
All this helps me anyway.

I found nothing prescribed helped my scalp as well and I've had a lot of prescriptions

I find that a sulphur mix is the only thing that keeps my scalp scale / flake free. I use wash my hair with Nizarol, condition with Body Shop ginger conditioner and the oil my scalp with Sulpher 8 light.

Hello. I suffered for years , on and off...thick scales, so itchy and irritating. Nothing I bought worked for any length of time.
Then I came across on a thread somewhere (maybe it was mumsnet) that it can be caused by overgrowth of candidia in the gut and someone recommended threelac probiotics.
So I just thought why not try them, I take probiotics anyway.
Well, within a week my scalp was almost completely cleared.
Different things work for different people but I found this was a miracle cure for me (for now!)