scalp psoriasis - can anyone tell me how to deal with it?

[whodathoughtit]

I have always had dandruff / psoriasis but it's getting really out of hand at the moment. When I was pg it cleared up completely but now it's worse than ever - could bfing be making it worse (not that I plan to stop yet)?

Do any fellow sufferers have any tips or hints as to how I can deal with this? I have tried TGel and it works for a while but then seems to make it worse than ever.

I am sooo tired of having to put up with it and it's making me very self conscious.

TIA.

Have you tried Polytar? I find it more effective than TGel.

Thanks, will give it a go.

Alphosyl? You can get it at most Boots.

there was a great part on embarassing illnesses a few weks ago BBC3 about a young girl who had terrible scalp psoriasis.

She went to a trichologist who succesfully treated it - you might want to google as it will presumably give you more details of teh treatment.

I have found the only way to keep it under control (there is no cure) is to massage oil into your scalp twice a week and leave it in overnight. Put a plastic shower cap on and a towel on your pillow. You can use olive oil/almond oil/baby oil. I use Alphosyl as the shampoo, but I'm not sure it does anything. I'm going to look up this 'embarrassing illnesses' thing now.

Thanks all!

I have bought some Polytar so will give that a go and try your other suggestions if I have no luck. I'm doing oil cleansing for my skin so putting oil on my scalp as well will be no problem!

I'm going to see if I can find that Embarassing Illness thing on iPlayer.

totally wrong it was channelfour! www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/about/episodes/embarrassing-bodies-series-2/episode-2--kids/

I've had this all my life. I've tried all the above but by far the best result from Nizoral shampoo. It's expensive but works.

Yes. Nizoral, everytime. You can wash your hair with it and let it drip down over your face in the shower if you have dandruff in your eyebrows too (keep eyes shut!) Works like a charm. I have a friend who had it quite badly and this worked fast. Sitting in the sun for 20 minutes or so without burning helps too. Before midday and after 2pm to avoid peak rays.

A friend had really good luck using Nu Skin shampoo (not sure which one in particular) and jojoba oil afterward.

Boots do a generic version of Nizoral, somewhat cheaper.

DH had this problem for years, and tried T-gel, nizoral, and some weirdy precription mousse stuff.

Oddly, it has cleared up since he started using l'oreal shampoo, and has been clear for a couple of years.

i have a really annoying itchy scalp for several months every time i have a baby
am sure it is hormonal
i use the blue one - selsun?

I get this badly and find out of shampoos Nizoral is the best. This sounds a bit crackers but two of the best things I have found - which actually clear it up rather than just minimise it are anti-fungal treatments.

I've had appalling and chronic thrush in breasts from breastfeeding and at one point was on the anti-fungal flucanazole for 3 weeks. My scalp cleared up lovely.

Using this logic I then topically applied Daktarin cream to my scalp and it worked really, really well. It also cleared my children's cradle cap like a dream.

I now take a completely natural anti-fungal/candida probiotic - Threelac (not for my scalp but other issues)and it has had the happy side effect of clearing my scalp again. It has also completely stamped out the final vestiges of thrush in breasts too but that's another post.

Is it worth getting a tube of Daktarin cream and try applying it for a couple of days?

Some brilliant suggestions on here - thanks everyone. I'll give all your ideas a go until I find something that bloody works!

Ovenchips - sounds interesting, can you buy the probiotic or is it on prescription? I might try Daktarin too, anything's worth a go.

You can buy Threelac but it ain't cheap (I paid 32 quid for 60 sachets and take one a day). For quickest results I would slather on the Daktarin - my scalp was red raw after peeling off a lovely crust and the Daktarin improved things greatly after 2-3 days.

You have to get it over the counter and explain what you want it for I think - I had some in cos of aforementioned breast traumas. Hope something works for you.

Will def try Daktarin then, cheers!

COCOIS (pronounced co co iss) ointment. It's in a tube and like lard, only smelly. Only available on prescription. Does the job.

Thanks Tarka and PheasantPluckersSon. I love Lush so will have a look at that shampoo bar and conditioner next time I'm in. After doing the oil-cleansing method on my face and seeing great results I'm warming to the less is more approach. And I'll try the smelly lard if all else fails!

I have horrendous psoriasis and most of these shampoos don't come close to doing anything. What helps me is Lush's Snake Oil (it's pink and greasy) smeared into my head every night and SCRUBBED off (you haver to be quite vicious) in the morning with shampoo.

If the scabs are thick, they have to be physically removed by scratching or picking off, before topical treatments do nay good.

You have to do it religiously though, as I find the scabs return within thirty six hours.

I've got a dermatology appointment next Monday, so I'm hoping they'll give me a miracle cure.

There's a Boots own version of Nizoral called Ketoconazole and it's cheaper and just as good.

Well, I'm not getting anywhere with Polytar (and the foul smell is making me and dh quite ill) so am going to try Daktarin on the worst patch and get some Lush stuff to wash it with as I'm wondering if the harsh chemicals are doing more harm than good atm. If still no luck, I'll give Nizoral / Ketoconazole a go.

Thanks again for all your advice, MN is fabulous for questions like this, scalp psoriasis not being the kind of thing I like to talk about in RL .

Where do you buy these Lush products please?