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Hair Loss Caused by Psoriasis

Friday, December 18th, 2009

One of the most unsettling effects of psoriasis, aside from chronic physical discomfort, is the hair loss that can occur for those who have problems with their scalp. The scalp is one of the most commonly affected areas for people with psoriasis.  For those who are thus affected, hair loss can be a major concern for the simple reason that scratching the scalp damages the hair follicles, causing hair to fall out at an abnormally fast rate. This can mean that, not only does a patient have to cope with an irritated and itchy scalp, but also experience the cosmetic issue of hair loss.

In general, treating the underlying issue will bring hair loss under control.  There are, of course, different treatments for preventing and/or restoring hair loss, but for our purposes, the first step is to identifying the main problem, which is psoriasis. Note: if you are experiencing suspicious new scalp problems you probably should visit a doctor who can positively diagnose if this is psoriasis or another scalp condition.

For people suffering from psoriasis, treating the problem can be as simple as finding a moisturizer for a dry scalp, in which case heavy conditioners or hair oil treatments can be massaged in to bring almost instant relief.

Medicated shampoos designed to combat psoriasis on the scalp can be the best good way to stop itching and, by extension, hair loss.  I have had a lot of success using two medicated shampoos by Neutrogena – T/Sal (which contains salicylic acid) and T/Gel – Stubborn Itch Control (which contains coal tar and menthol).

The skin under your hair is more difficult to reach for obvious reasons, and thus topical treatments can be difficult to apply.  In any case, for those who are determined enough (or possibly for those who are willing to shave their head), steroids can be effectively applied to the scalp for relief from itching, irritation and swelling.

Unfortunately, hair loss is a common issue among people suffering from psoriasis on the scalp.  This symptom, which results from damaged hair follicles, can have a major impact on a person’s self esteem and social life. If you need more information about finding relief, don’t hesitate to visit your dermatologist with a list of questions in hand.  Researchers are constantly on the lookout for a cure for psoriasis, so there is a good chance that there will be new options at your disposal all the time.

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Psoriasis Shampoo Update – Using a T/Gel, T/Sal and Selsun Blue Rotation

Monday, October 26th, 2009

I switched back to Neutrogena’s T/Gel (Stubborn Itch Control, active ingredients: coal tar and menthol) as of about 4 days ago… and what a relief it is.  T/Gel – Stubborn Itch Control continues to be the most effective shampoo for suppressing the deep itch that would otherwise have me scratching my scalp all day.   Constant scratching all day can lead to scalp damage over time, including hair loss.

I tried out Selsun Blue (active ingredients: selenium sulfide and menthol) for a few days to see if this well-known dandruff-treating shampoo, would have a positive effect on my psoriasis, which tends to flare up only on my scalp.  For a about one-and-a-half days my scalp seemed to react well, but soon after that my psoriasis itch came back in full force.  Thus, Selsun Blue might be an acceptable shampoo to rotate in with T/Gel (the current reigning champion for battling psoriasis in my case).

A method I use to keep the pruritus (itchiness) at bay is to “keep it guessing,” as it were, by changing shampoos around every other day.  For example, my shampoo rotation tends to include T/Gel, T/Sal and regular shampoo.  Using regular shampoo gives my scalp a break and is also significantly less expensive.  Now I will most likely use Selsun Blue in the rotation as well, probably for however long it takes to use up this bottle (which cost me almost ten bones).

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Effective Psoriasis Treatments: Keratolytics

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Keratolytics are topical treatments that soften skin and remove dead skin or scales.  The word “keratolytics” is derived from the word “keratin,” which is a major component of the skin as well as durable tissues such as hair or nails.  A common keratolytic used for psoriasis is salicylic acid, which is present in Neutrogena’s T/Sal shampoo.

Keratolytics can be used to complement other psoriatic medications.  For example, after salicylic acid clears off dead skin from the epidermis, then another treatment such as a coal tar or a topical retinoid will be able to access treatable skin more easily.

Other keratolytics include:

  • Urea - The active ingredient for Nair (a common hair removal product).  Urea can irritate the skin, cause additional itchiness and can be toxic if applied too liberally.
  • Propylene glycol - A moisturizer and solvent, used in everything from anti-freeze to massage oils.  There are opposing views as to whether prolonged exposure to propylene glycol causes bodily harm.
  • Sulfur - An ingredient found in dandruff, acne and seborrheic dermatitis treatments.  Sulfur solutions can be administered in combination with a long list of other chemicals and treatments to treat psoriasis.
  • Resorcinol - Used for both psoriasis and acne to soften and/or loosen up hardened skin.  Resorcinol can be used as an anti-itching agent as well as an antiseptic.
  • Cade oil - Can be mixed with salicylic acid and other antifungal elements to make effective keratolytics / anti-dandruff medications.

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The Goeckerman Regimen for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

The Goeckerman Regimen is a psoriasis treatment that involves exposing the skin to UV-B light shortly after soaking up heavy doses of coal tar.  This particular psoriasis treatment has been in use since 1925, when a doctor at the Mayo clinic named Dr. Goeckerman developed it.

Coal tar or UV-B light have proven to treat psoriasis on their own so, from the point of view of “heavier treatment is better,” it makes sense that the two working together would have even better results.  On the other hand, there are others (including Neutrogena, maker of T/Gel) who recommend avoid mixing these two, since coal tar can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

The Goeckerman Regimen is called a “regimen” because it’s a deliberate, intensive, prolonged process that is designed to clear up psoriasis treatments quickly.  It’s traditionally done at a hospital over the course of a few days.  Depending on the dermatologist in charge, different degrees of UV-B light are administered in combination with different levels of coal tar concentrations (usually 1-5% solutions).

Advantages:

  • A high rate of success
  • It can suppress psoriasis for a relatively long time.

Disadvantages:

  • It’s a messy process
  • Too much coal tar can stain your skin
  • Both of these elements, coal tar and UV light, are suspected carcinogens (possibly cancer-causing), so I would be hesitant to combine the two in such intense concentrations.

Obseration:

  • The Goeckerman Regimen bears a close resemblance to another psoriasis regimen – PUVA – which combines psoralen with UV-A light.

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