Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease, is a skin disorder that causes red, scaly, and itchy patches all over the person’s body. One of the most affected areas in this condition the scalp. It might start with a single patch and spread to the forehead, neck, and back of the head.
Treatment for scalp psoriasis: Shampoos
The days of embarrassment caused by the flaky patches are now over. With the advancement in technology, there are symptoms of scalp psoriasis can be easily dealt with various effective and safe treatment options. The market is flooded with a wide array of shampoos for scalp psoriasis.
Types of ingredients in shampoos for scalp psoriasis
It is very important to understand that all shampoos available are not the same. The ingredients of one scalp psoriasis shampoo differ from another’s. These ingredients help in decreasing the symptoms such as inflammation and scaling.
The main ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for scalp psoriasis shampoos are salicylic acid and coal tar. These ingredients are constituents of shampoos that are available over-the-counter which have a lesser concentration percentage.
Salicylic acid helps in reducing scaling among patients with psoriasis. It is directly applied to the scalp. This, in turn, leads to the softening of scales and hence can be easily removed. For a short period after application, salicylic-based scalp psoriasis shampoos might result in extra flakes because of the shedding of dead cells; however, these shampoos have long-term advantages in dealing with scalp psoriasis. While over-the-counter salicylic-based shampoos are to be applied to a dry scalp, the prescription-based slightly stronger version of these shampoos are to be applied to a wet scalp. Dermasolve Psoriasis Shampoo 8.0 oz, Walgreens T+ Salicylic Acid Shampoo, and Dead Sea Spa MAGIK Mineral Shampoo are some of the popular ones used to treat scalp psoriasis.
Scalp psoriasis shampoos that have coal tar are effective in dealing with itching and soreness. The inclusion of coal tar is considered to be one of the oldest remedies for the treatment of scalp psoriasis. The active compound slows the growth of hyperactive skin cells and also kills the bacteria that might be aggravating the scalp psoriasis. The scalp psoriasis shampoos that have coal tar might carry a peculiar smell and cause a brief itching after use but that is normal. Although the simple derivatives of coal tar shampoos are available over-the-counter, the stronger version of the same requires a prescription. Some of the recommended coal tar-based scalp psoriasis shampoos are MG217 Psoriasis Medicated Conditioning Coal Tar Formula Shampoo, PC TAR SHAMPOO ***GER 6 OZ (Geritrex Corp. comparable to Zetar®), Neutrogena T-Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Original Formula, and Psoriatrax Coal Tar Psoriasis Shampoo.
Directions for use
Psoriasis shampoos are to be gently applied to the scalp and left for around 5 to 10 minutes. After washing, it is recommended to re-apply the shampoo, if required. People who have a sensitive scalp are advised to use the shampoo only twice a week. Some people tend to experience itching after using salicylic-based shampoos.
The purpose of scalp psoriasis shampoos is to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis and not clean the hair. Therefore, people have to also use a regular shampoo to clean the hair once they are done using the psoriasis shampoo.
Pregnant or nursing mothers must consult a doctor before they use scalp psoriasis shampoos. Additionally, if the person is already on some other drugs for scalp psoriasis or has cuts on the scalp, it is mandatory to check in with the doctor before using any shampoos. Doctors recommend that psoriasis patients must change their shampoos over a certain period of time because they become ineffective after repetitive usage.
Precautions
Scalp psoriasis shampoos are indeed very helpful in reducing the discomfort caused to the individual due to the itchiness and soreness on the scalp; however, the ingredients of these shampoos are intended to attack the flakes directly. Hence, they also result in rough hair. To prevent drying of hair as a result of scalp psoriasis shampoos, one can use olive oil or vitamin E oil.