A psoriasis shampoo can help with scalp psoriasis, dandruff problems and dry itchy scalp.

by Mike Marenick

Having a scalp condition can be both physically irritating and emotionally draining. You worry that people will see you scratching your head or notice flakes of dandruff. But you can’t stop the scratching because the itch simply won’t go away. The good news is that help is not far away. There are many great over-the-counter psoriasis shampoos that are available that use proven medications that treat the symptoms of scalp psoriasis, dandruff and even just a dry itchy scalp.

Do You Have Scalp Psoriasis?

Many of the symptoms of scalp psoriasis are also symptoms of other scalp conditions. These symptoms include dryness, itching, redness, flaking and irritation. The reason it is important to determine if you have scalp psoriasis or some other scalp condition is because psoriasis goes much deeper than just the scalp. Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that can be treated with over-the-counter medications but may also require your doctor to monitor you more closely. Consider these common scalp disorders:

• Dandruff and Dry Scalp – In general dandruff is just flaky skin on the scalp. But what causes the flaking can be several different things. A true dandruff problem will produce white flakes of skin that have a thick texture. However, you could also have a flaking problem if you are using certain hair care products that can cause a build up on your scalp. Scaling from these types of products often appear more translucent in color rather than white. In addition, if you are using a product that contains minoxidil for thinning hair problems this could also result in flaking. The flakes that occur from minoxidil appear off color (grey or tan) and not white or translucent.
• Seborrheic Dermatitis – This scalp disorder appears as a chronic intermittent rash affecting areas rich in sebaceous glands. It is often identified by it’s greasy look that is accompanied by yellow scaling. It is often limited to the scalp, however it can appear in other area’s of the body that is typically hairy and where skin touches together. Seborrheic Dermatitis is believed to be caused by a fungus called Malassezia.
• Scalp Psoriasis – This is an auto-immune disease that causes the body to attack healthy skin cells. Basically it thinks the area is hurt and tries to heal it by producing new healthy skin cells. But because there really is no injury the body rapidly over produces skin cells causing a thick silvery plaque build up. Unlike seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis is typically dry and not oily and the patches are white or grey in color. Scalp psoriasis can occur around the edges of your hairline, behind the ears or throughout your entire head.

A Psoriasis Shampoo Can Help With Many Scalp Conditions

The good news is that most quality psoriasis shampoos are formulated to treat the symptoms of all of the scalp conditions listed above. These shampoos use active ingredients that have been tested and are recognized by the FDA for the treatment of these conditions. A psoriasis shampoo should help your scalp to more quickly get read of dead skin cells. This will prevent further dandruff and flaking. In addition, it should help nourish and moisturize the scalp which will stop the itching and heal the redness.  There are several active ingredients that are used in psoriasis shampoos.

• Salicylic Acid – This is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) known for its ability to penetrate into the skin and help loosen the bonds that hold skin cells together. This allows the body to more quickly exfoliate the dead skin cells that have built up from the psoriasis.
• Coal Tar – This active ingredient is a by product of coal. It is black in color and can have a very strong odor. Coal tar is also known for its ability to help loosen dead skin cells so they can be removed more quickly. Many people avoid using coal tar shampoos because the strong odor often has to be masked with an even stronger fragrance.
• There are also several other (not as popular) ingredients such as Zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole and Blue Lagoon algae.

Typically the exfoliation or removal of dead skin cells is achieved using these active ingredients. The moisturizing and nourishment comes from other ingredients. These may include herbal extracts such as aloe, vitamins such as C and E, and minerals like copper. A top rated psoriasis shampoo may even include food based ingredients such as eggs. Did you know eggs contain every vitamin, mineral and protein that is necessary for life? In fact, they contain over 70 different nutrients that can be beneficial to the skin if formulated correctly.

What Other Medical Conditions Are Associated with Scalp Psoriasis?

If you have actually been diagnosed with scalp psoriasis then you need to be aware that psoriasis is often associated with other medical conditions. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that affects the joints. Approximately 30% of the people who have psoriasis will also get psoriatic arthritis. Also, people with psoriasis are more likely to have type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have shown that there are underlying physiological links between psoriasis and diabetes. Lastly, it is extremely common for people who have scalp psoriasis to also have psoriasis on their bodies.

Psoriasis Shampoo, Psoriasis Cream and Scalp Oil

Sometimes these scalp conditions are so bad that you may need more than just a psoriasis shampoo. Sometimes a combination of a shampoo together with a psoriasis cream and scalp oil can greatly accelerate the healing process. Because shampoos are often left on the scalp for a very short period of time adding a psoriasis cream to your treatment will provide your scalp with nourishment throughout the day. A scalp oil can be used to more quickly remove the scaly build up. There are lots of great psoriasis shampoos available that will treat your psoriasis symptoms effectively so your scalp will look and feel healthy again soon.