Scalp Psoriasis

[weegiepower]

Does anyone have any advice about how to help scalp psoriasis? My partner has it fairly moderately on the back of his head, ear to ear, as he is a man with short hair it's fairly obvious. He got really frustrated with it the other day and it was the first time in quite a few years I saw that frustration and sadness come out of him because he's generally confident and not that bothered about it.

I said that it's fine, it's not a big deal and I think he's gorgeous, which obviously doesn't actually help the problem he has!!

Does anyone have and tips I can advise him on? He uses T gel when he washes his hair but that's it, he doesn't use anything else like creams etc and I don't know if that's even an option? He has v short hair around the back so could put cream on it without interfering with his hair. He has played around with his diet to help in the past, cutting out dairy and it hasn't really helped. He hasn't always had it and said it started probably about 6 years ago!

Psoriasis is an arse. I’ve had it for years and never found anything that completely knocks it on the head other than pregnancy!

My best results have been with T-gel/other coal tar products but if that’s not working for him then he really needs to step up to prescription medicines. The GP can prescribe a steroid ointment specifically for the scalp and if that doesn’t do the trick he needs a referral to dermatology. There are a lot of treatments they can offer but it’s on a ladder so trial and error moving onto the next stage if something doesn’t work all the way up to some pretty hefty immune suppression medications to get control of an outbreak. I’ve never felt inclined to go that far up although I suspect that it would work, it’s a balance of side effects/results. Outside of medication they may even be be able to offer light therapy (I think it’s TL10? Could be wrong - it’s not a catchy name ).

One of the most difficult things with skin conditions is what works for one person might have zero effect for another.

I've had good results with betacap lotion prescribed by the gp. Apply morning and night.

I suffered from scalp psoriasis from being about 6 to my late 30s - it cleared up after my first pregnancy! (Although I still get the odd outbreak on my feet).

The most soothing and effective treatment I found for me was swimming in the sea! There is also a “Dead Sea” shampoo you can get from health food shops which helped a bit if you can’t get to real sea water.

Has he tried other coal tar shampoos? I used to toggle TGel, Vosene and Alphosyl. I think the Alphisyl was on prescription.

When my skin was very bad as a teen, I saw a “nature path” doctor (who was also a conventionally qualified dr!)) who put me on a low wheat, dairy free diet expect for live yoghurt. He was a big believer in “big salad” and live yoghurt. It did help, but it could have been coincidental with growing up anyway.

Sunshine helps too. Just need to balance dunrxoisure with sunburn risk!

*dunrxoisure = sunshine!

His GP can prescribe Betnovate scalp application (or similar) for the area under the hair; and Enstilar for the rest, e.g. the back of the neck and ears.

Remember though, steroidal topical applications, while very effective, should be used for short periods (weeks rather than months) if possible, and patients should cut down on their use slowly not suddenly stop.

My psoriasis is very severe and I'm on immune suppressant therapy, but I still need to use the Betnovate scalp lotion occasionally. It breaks the cycle. It's bloody miserable having untreated scalp psoriasis.

I really recommend lush shampoo bar (there's a calming scalp one can't remember the name but it's on the website) and body shop banana hair mask which I rub onto my scalp and leave for thirty minutes 2x a week minimum. I found oils didn't work but this did. Mine was severe and my hair was falling out but these things helped me hugely.

I use sweet almond oil which clears it up pretty quickly

I also had this amazing balm by Kylie Jenner of all people through estee edit - the sales assistant in selfridges recommended it to me for my psoriasis and it worked. Unfortunately it’s been discontinued now but I dunno if selfridges might still have some people in the beauty counters who know about this issue

T gel will do nothing for psoriasis . I've had it scalp and body all my life. I use liquid paraffin to clear off the scales and then I use a topical steriod from from doctor to treat the patches. The scales need to be cleared off before the steroid or it doesn't work as well. Leave the liquid paraffin on over night to soak in , then put shampoo straight onto the hair without wetting it. Also a lot of people find that the sun clears it or can make it worse.

My dp gets terrible psoriasis. He used to have it in his scalp and would scratch and pick it in his sleep. His ears would split at the top and bottom and weep, it was such a shame. It has mostly gone from his head now. No idea why, but he still gets it on his body. Things that helped him were a special shampoo from the doctors. I can't remember what it was called but I'll ask when he wakes up. Cutting sugar from his diet, and this is a really unpopular one but he is adamant that it's the best treatment, sunbeds. The ones with special bulbs are the best.

I got an excellent liquid treatment. As pp says it just does the trick to break the cycle. I have a permanent non scaly red patch at the top of mu neck and the skin feels a bit different there, sprt of papery, but it's rarely scaly or itchy unless it flares up. I wish I could find as good a treatment for my leg. I understand how you partner feels because it's so horrible having visibly bad skin patches. Well meaning people often buy me miracle cures but all they ever do is get my hopes up.. I hope he finds something that works for him.

I suffered with scalp psoriasis for years, it was so itchy, nothing I was prescribed by my gp or bought from the shops worked for me.

Then I developed psoriatic arthritis and the biologic I've been put on for that has cleared with right up.
Biologics are expensive but I find it so frustrating that people are left to put up with the utter misery of psoriasis and the toll it takes on your physical and mental health when there are medications out there that can help.
My rheumatology consultant also told me that methotrexate would clear my psoriasis right up but I can't be put on that for various reasons, although I understand the side effects can be dreadful.
Is it worth going back to his gp and demanding another option beyond the topical treatments?

He needs to see his GP to get a prescription and even then it’s trial and error, regarding what treatment will shift the damn thing.I would not even waste my money buying any over the counter creams or shampoo.The Doctor was also frustrated as nothing he prescribed would ease it and we ended up being referred to a Dermatologist.First treatment prescribed worked, It’s a horrible uncomfortable stubborn bugger but it can be controlled.

Try to see a dermatologist if you can. I eventually (in despair) let my scalp get bad to get a referral. Turns out the GP thought I had eczema so no wonder my psoriasis wasn’t responding. I now have the betanovate ointment which I use for a few days if I get the start of a flare up.

I suffer with scalp psoriasis and have found a few different things that work depending on how bad it is at that time.

Hydrocortisone cream works wonders to bring a bad flare up under control, but I only tend to use it for max 2 days.

My GP prescribed sebco ointment which you can also buy over the counter which works well and I was advised after a week of using every day to use it once a week. You leave it on for an hour and then wash it off.

I've never had any luck with t gel but have used alphosyl shampoo and that's worked ok once the creams have got it mostly under control.

It tends to be at its worst at this time of year, and around October, when the weather is changing dramatically.

I also used baby shampoo for a while as it's a lot milder and that helped it, but my hair was awful with it so it didn't last long.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I'll have a Google and speak to him about what's been recommended!

A relative of mine has it, mildly. Patches which make her hair look greasy and itch. Tried t gel, body shop ginger shampoo, everything. Nothing seemed to help and steroid creams just add to the greasy look.

She's switched to the aveeno shampoo from boots and says it's loads better.

I've had it for years and the only thing that keeps mine under control is when I have my hair bleached. It kind of burns it off which sounds horrific it doesn't actually hurt! It is the only thing that has worked for me but I admit it sounds drastic.

Steroid scalp lotion from the GP. Put it on in the evening (massaging doesn't just help get the lotion into the skin but feels good), sleep on a pillow covered with an old pillowcase, then a towel, then another old pillowcase, and wash it off with T-Gel in the morning. Do this for 3 days, then every other day, then every 4, etc.

After a few days, the lumps will start loosening and then lift off, something that's much easier with short hair than long.

T-Gel - but only the original one - is good because it eases the itching/burning and will get the ointment out easily without drying out the scalp skin. Sebamed feels more like adding Fairy Liquid to your head. The other shampoos that are really cosmetic ones tend to sting the delicate skin underneath the plaques.

I have psoriasis on my scalp. At one point I had to go to the dermatology dept at my local hospital to try treat it. I have long, thick hair which makes it a nightmare.
I've tried t/gels, lush and every other 'miracle' / mainstream treatment and none of them work for me.
The only thing that has worked for my scalp is sebco ointment (I apply and sleep with it on. It stinks and I'd recommend using an old pillow and case). Then washed off with capasal shampoo. I apply sebco once a week and use the capasal every other wash. Also stinks but maybe won't be so bad for short hair! I get both prescribed but I think it can be bought.
Good luck!

My dh uses ‘clever soap’ from Amazon which works for him

My son gets psoriasis on his scalp. His is due to him being on a biologic [ infliximab ]. The only thing that has helped him is Alphosyl shampoo, he tried many other before that made no difference.

He also had to see a dermatologist who prescribed some creams for other parts of his body.

I'd second Sebco too, it worked well for me did a while, and alphosyl- but everything seems to stop working after a while. Definitely ask GP fir steroid scalp treatments also

Ah yes fat, dying my hair was the only thing that ever cleared it up for me too somehow! Haven't done that for a few years so have just had to keep my hair tied back all the time and try to live with it. Never found t-gel or prescription shampoos to work.

My mum uses body shop ginger shampoo, it's the only thing that works for her.