For Scalp Psoriasis, Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis

by: Mike Marenick

For scalp psoriasis the best treatment is often a medicated psoriasis shampoo. But most people think when we use the term medicated it means it must be a prescription shampoo for psoriasis. Actually there are many psoriasis shampoo brands that can be found on the internet and at your local pharmacy that don’t need to be prescribed by a doctor. These are known as over-the-counter (OTC) drug products that are formulated using medications that are specifically recognized by the FDA for the treatment of psoriasis.

How To Pick The Right Psoriasis Shampoo

When shopping online or visiting your local pharmacy you are likely to find many psoriasis shampoo options. However, just because it says psoriasis on the label does not necessarily mean it is a medicated shampoo. A real OTC medicated shampoo will have a drug facts panel on the box or label of the container. This is required by the FDA and will show the specific active medicated ingredient that is used in the shampoo to treat the psoriasis. If you don’t see a drug facts box don’t buy the shampoo.

Next, look at the active ingredient listed on the panel. There are only a few ingredients that are recognized by the FDA and these are:

Salicylic Acid – The active ingredient Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy Acid (BHA) that is known for its ability to penetrate into the skin and loosen skin cells so they can more quickly be removed. This helps to speed up the bodies natural exfoliation process so scaling is removed. Salicylic Acid shampoos are currently the most popular medicated shampoos on the market for scalp psoriasis.

Coal Tar – The active ingredient is Coal Tar is the 2nd most popular treatment for scalp psoriasis. This dark thick liquid is a by product of coal and has a very strong odor. The odor will often have to be masked by some sort of fragrance to prevent your hair from smelling bad after using it. For those people that don’t have any success using a salicylic acid shampoo a coal tar product may be the answer.

There are some other less popular active ingredients that can be found in psoriasis shampoos such as  Zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole and Blue Lagoon algae.

How are Over-The-Counter Psoriasis Shampoos Different?

If all of these psoriasis shampoos use the exact same active ingredients what makes them different? There are actually two things; the percentage of the active ingredient and the other ingredients in the formula.

When the FDA writes regulations about the active ingredients used in over-the-counter medicated products they often provide a specific percentage range of the amount of the active ingredient that can be used. For example it may state that salicylic acid can be used in a formulation at 1% to 3% and it will be recognized as a treatment for psoriasis. This means that some scalp psoriasis shampoos will have 1% and others can have a higher percentage making them a stronger product. This percentage will be listed right next to the active ingredient on the drug facts panel.

In addition to the active ingredients there will be a list of other ingredients in the formulation. Many of these ingredients are used to help provide nourishment and moisture to your skin. For your skin to heal and look normal again it needs certain vitamins, minerals and proteins. This nourishment often comes from essential oils, plant extracts and even food based ingredients such as eggs.  The price of a medicated psoriasis shampoo can vary greatly. This will really depend on the quality of the ingredients that are used.

Can You Use a Psoriasis Shampoo Everyday?

A good psoriasis shampoo is one that can replace your daily shampoo. It should contain a conditioner and other ingredients designed to give your hair that healthy shine. Look for a shampoo that contains essential oils instead of a synthetic fragrance. Just because it is medicated doesn’t mean it has to smell bad. There have been some major advancements in hair care products and it should be very easy for you to find one that you can use everyday. Many are even safe for color treated hair.

The best medicated psoriasis shampoo

No shampoo will work for everyone. This is why you may read some reviews online where people flat out say a product doesn’t work and others claim it is a miracle. Psoriasis reacts differently to active ingredients for most everyone. When shopping for a scalp psoriasis shampoo you should always look for quality ingredients that will provide the vitamins, minerals and proteins that your skin needs. If your scalp psoriasis is more severe you should consider adding a psoriasis cream or scalp oil to your treatment to help accelerate the healing.