Out of all of the places that I have psoriasis flares, my scalp is the most uncomfortable and embarrassing. It’s unbelievably itchy leading me to scratch and bleed, and I’m constantly touch my head and hair. Psoriasis spots on my body can be covered up, but last time I checked it was borderline unprofessional to wear a Yankee cap to a client presentation.
When I have flare ups on my scalp, I have used a few different treatments in the past. One of my tried and true go-to’s is T-Gel – but there’s nothing like the smell of tar in the morning! I’m also a fan of tea tree oil shampoo. There are quite a few out there, but I’ve only used Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo. And the only reason I chose that one was because it was the only tea tree shampoo at Duane Reade that day, so it was the only option.
For heavier, itchier, flakier flares try mixing 100% concentration of tea tree oil with coconut oil and apply directly to the scalp. I usually let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with a gentle shampoo. I like to shampoo twice because the mixture will feel heavy and greasy. My hair tends to be a bit greasy after this treatment, so for the ladies out there, a bun or ponytail might be the best style.
I personally find that when I blow dry my hair versus letting it air dry is helpful to controlling the itching on my scalp. Though I’ve read a few articles recently that say you should avoid blow drying your hair (and using styling products) as they can contribute to drying your scalp and worsening your symptoms. Like most psoriasis treatments, it depends on the person so its definitely trial and error. My advice, play around with different treatments and see what feels the most comfortable.
I’ve also seen suggestions that long hair isn’t ideal for dealing with scalp psoriasis. They say treatment products are harder to rinse out and short hair makes the application of medication easier for penetration to the scalp. I personally don’t consider this an option because I love my long hair. But it could be a good alternative for those willing to make the cut.
Tell me in the comments what your go to scalp psoriasis treatments are. I am always looking for more options!
scalp psoriasis is one thing that has never gone away from me. though the rest of my outbreaks come and go, i have pretty much consistently had scalp psoriasis for eight years (since i developed psoriasis). it’s not very thick and doesn’t prevent my hair from growing, but i get white flakes in my hair and i do itch and scratch my head a lot. i guess i’ve just gotten used to it though. it doesn’t bother me too much.
Sometimes my scalp is fully covered, not just patches. Iuse olux foam and after about a week of putting it on, it usually goes away. I also use the t-gel about twice a week.