Dermasolve Psoriasis Blog

Scalp Psoriasis Treatment For Natural Black Hair

by Michael Marenick on Jun 30, 2020

Scalp Psoriasis Treatment For Natural Black Hair

Psoriasis can lead to hair loss in African Americans if left untreated

By Mike Marenick

Natural Black Hair

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that doesn’t discriminate. If affects people of all ages, races and genders. Psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body including the scalp. There are only a few active ingredients that are recognized by the FDA for the treatment of psoriasis that can be used in topical skin and hair care products. When choosing the right product(s) for your scalp psoriasis it important to remember that African Americans may require different products more suited for their their skin and hair.

African Americans Often Get Misdiagnosed

Having darker skin color can hide some of the tell tail signs of psoriasis. Redness of the skin is one the most identifiable symptoms in early detection of scalp psoriasis. In people with darker complexions the skin will often get darker in color instead of turning red. This is known as hyper-pigmentation. As the psoriasis begins to heal the opposite effect happens and the skin may lose pigmentation and turn lighter or even white. The different appearance of scalp psoriasis in people of color can often lead to a misdiagnoses. There are other symptoms of psoriasis that are common to all skin types. These include scaling, dandruff and the build up of dead skin cells known as plaque build up. If you  are having scalp problems it is important to get a clear diagnoses from a doctor that is familiar with the symptoms of psoriasis specifically in people of color. Just because you have one of the typical psoriasis symptoms does not necessarily mean you have the disease. You could simply be suffering from dry scalp and dandruff problems. Or you could have seborrheic dermatitis. An accurate diagnosis can make finding a treatment solution much easier.

Psoriasis Can Cause Hair Loss

Black Hair Loss

Natural black hair can dry out more quickly and become brittle. Most shampoos used to treat psoriasis require that they be used every day. The continued use of these products can lead to temporary or even permanent hair loss. The active ingredients found in these medicated shampoos often include salicylic acid and coal tar. Both of these ingredients accelerate the removal of dead skin cells which is exactly what is needed to treat the psoriasis. But they can also cause the scalp and hair to become very dry. In addition, it is very important to avoid excessive scratching. It may seem like a good idea to scratch the scaling to more quickly remove the build up of dead skin cells. However, the scratching could possibly damage the hair and you. Instead of only scales coming out you may see clumps of hair. Hair loss from psoriasis is usually only temporary during the time of a flare up. After the condition begins to heal the hair will typically return to normal.

What Works for Natural Black Hair?

Dermasolve Scalp Kit

Having darker skin and different hair texture will require a psoriasis treatment that includes several products. There is no way you can avoid using a psoriasis shampoo. These shampoos are formulated specifically to treat scalp psoriasis and other symptoms such as scaly build up, flaking and dandruff.  To be effective they must be used properly which means shampooing in and leaving it on the scalp for several minutes. You cannot simply wash the shampoo in and out like you would with a normal daily shampoo. Also, many people will say to avoid shampoos with sulfates. Sulfates should be a non-issue if you are buying a quality psoriasis shampoo that also contains conditioning agents. In addition to a scalp psoriasis shampoo, you should look to include a scalp oil and topical cream as part of your treatment. Scalp oils are often made from a blend of several different natural oils. They are effective at conditioning and moisturizing the scalp and can accelerate the removal of plaque cell build up. For natural black hair these oils can give your hair a healthy looking shine. If you are not going to shampoo daily then you should use a topical cream between shampoos. In addition to the common active ingredients a good topical cream will also include several nourishing ingredients. These may include various vitamins, minerals and protein that the scalp needs to heal and be healthy again. Often these nutrients will come from essential oils, herbal extracts or even food based ingredients such as eggs. An egg actually contains every nutrient necessary for life and when formulated correctly can provide significant nourishment to the scalp.

For people with darker complexions and natural black hair it is important to treat your scalp psoriasis with a series of products and not only a psoriasis shampoo. By incorporating a shampoo, scalp oil and topical cream into your daily routine you will see much faster improvement in your scalp psoriasis condition. For directions on how to use these three product to treat natural black hair conditions please see this page.  VIEW PAGE.

If you have any questions or need additional information please feel free to call us at 973-396-8480