Are You Using Your Psoriasis Shampoo Correctly?

Scalp psoriasis affects more than 50% of the people who have body psoriasis.  Dandruff and dry itchy scalp affect millions of people worldwide. Finding the right product to treat these problems can often be a daunting task.

There are hundreds of products on the market for scalp psoriasis, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and dry itchy scalp. Most people have tried MANY of them because they simply cannot find one that works.

What To Look For In A Psoriasis Shampoo

There are two main active ingredients recognized by the FDA for Over-The-Counter products to treat these conditions; Salicylic Acid and Coal Tar.  Both of these ingredients help the body to more quickly remove dead skin cells to help reduce scaling and dandruff.  The FDA provides a range for the quantity of these active ingredients that need to be included in the shampoos for them to work.  The lower the amount the less beneficial.  For example, salicylic acid can range from 1.8% up to 3% concentration.  If you suffer with a severe case or you want faster results you may want to look for the higher concentrations.

Using The Shampoo Correctly

You cannot use a psoriasis shampoo like you do your regular daily shampoo.  Most people think they can just lather up and rinse right out.  If you read the directions on these shampoos it will specifically say that you should lather in the shampoo and leave it on the scalp for several minutes.  This is very important because the active ingredients need time to do the work.  This is one of the most common mistakes that people make when buying a psoriasis shampoo. You will literally be washing your money down the drain if you don't use it correctly.

In addition, because psoriasis is a serious skin condition that can range drastically from from mild to severe you may also need to consider using a cream or scalp oil in addition to the shampoo just to get it under control.  Once you get the psoriasis back in check you can simply use the psoriasis shampoo to maintain the results.

A good quality psoriasis shampoo will also contain a conditioner.  You should not have to buy a separate conditioner to go with these shampoos.  The ingredients found in many general conditioners can be great for conditioning your hair but may also irritate or dry your scalp.  The conditioners used in psoriasis shampoos are formulated to be used with the active ingredients to provide you with healthy looking hair and scalp.

So take your time, read and follow the directions and you will see the benefits of using a medicated psoriasis shampoo.