my scalp is covered in psoriasis!! help

I have tried everything!! creams,shampoo,medication nothing works,can't put my hair up cause one side is so bad now it shows,I have huge balled spots.I know life could be worse but its sore an itchy, I have crohns and for some reason my humira is creating the problem even though its supposed to cure it.
Any home remedies to help?? I am almost ready to shave my head and I really don't want to :( any feedback is much appreciated!!!!I have had it for years and have tried researching and nothing seems to help!

Thank you traveler!! I will try..I read apple cider vinegar works also so I have been trying that and aloe..its so hard to get rid of this
Where can you get the tree oil from? And is it pricey?

Perhaps this is a side effect of the Humira? As I recall, though it has a pretty good success rate, there are those where the antithesis happens, and it exacerbates the problem. I understand very well. I was misdiagnosed with psoriasis when I really (or so it would seem) had PRP.

I had it on my entire,...entire,...body, except my face. Everywhere. I eventually resorted to PUVA therapy and methotrexate chemotherapy. But that was me, and that was ages ago, and that's a fraction of an answer to your queries.

Have you asked your doctor about this being related to Humira and stopping it, giving it time for the drug to get out of your system? Back in the day, we used coal tar preparations. They still make them, shampoos and topical ointments. Controversial but they've been around for years.

I resorted to wearing head bands to hide my scalp, clipping my hair back and wearing comb hair pieces to cover the thinning bald spots. Topical aloe, a LOT of it to maintain moisture, felt good, but I mean literally, slathering it on over a dozen times every day to just keep it moist.

Another controversial topical method I've heard of is DMSO, but be fore-warned, you will not find a doctor to condone this, but we've used it in veterinary medicine on our horses for arthritis and tendonitis and noticed some of the side effects included healing of their chestnuts that were often inflamed.

I have used it, but a side effect is that for some people it makes the body smell like garlic,...to other people, but not to you! I'm not recommending it, just sayin'....it's something I know has been used, and with psoriasis being related to inflammation, it made sense.

Diet plays a huge role. Hate to say it, but it does. Things that inflame are: dairy, sugar, flour, spices....often things we're told are "healthy" (but not for any of us with compromised immune systems and inflammation).

Good luck to you.

Sookie

Hi,

I've had psoriasis on my scalp since 1963 and have never been able to permanently get rid of it. It's difficult to apply the thick jell that I have (Diprolene) into my hair since it is longer. But I do manage to apply some to where it reaches down to the top of my neck.

Does T-Gel really help keep it under control? I do have it on about 100% of my scalp. I'm so very lucky to still have great hair at the age of 64. If I ever went bald I would look horribly disfigured as it came into view.

Fortunately, my hair stylist says this will not happen to me.

But I am curious about T-Gel. I've heard of it, but have never really used it.

Thanks,
Chuck

My father suffers from horrible psoriasis on his scalp and i have recently noticed that my scalp gets EXTREMELY itchy during summer, not so much during winter, and i have nasty amounts of dandruff :(. Am i too suffering from psoriasis or am i barely getting it??

I got psoriasis from humira to (treating uc). i got it on my scalp,back,legs and worst is the pppp on feet and hands.
so far t gel and fluocinolone acetonide from the doc and tree tea oil and psoriasis tar from rite aid seems to help but no silver bullet.
someone mentioned to wear a shower cap with your head saturated and moist. I tried with the tar and it did get some relief.

not easy though to bag both hands and feet plus the hair for me

I appreciate your need to help Mosse, but dietary changes can take a long time to show any positive signs and when a person is suffering now, they need help now.

I think a patient should consult a doctor about all aspects of their treatment and not change anything drastically while being treated for an autoimmune diease.  Your doctor should be discussing with you all of your health needs whether it be prscriptions or foods.

Two things worked for me:

1. Derma Smoothe scalp oil (fluocinolone acetonide topical oil). Product used to be $35 a bottle, very effective, but jumped to over $200 last year so I tried a coal tar shampoo

2. Psoriatrax coal tar shampoo. Cost $18 a bottle. Has 5% coal tar which I think is the maximum allowed. I use it every other day and it works great. Completely eliminated my scalp psoriasis.

Good luck.

Chotti, when you say "occlusion" are you covering your psoriasis on your head with ?shower cap, ?towel. Just curious. I usually wrap my scalp up with a towel but is there something better?

Hi Chris,

Sorry it's taken me over a year to thank you for your reply. I think I will take your advice and give T-Gel a try. Do you know if it has any negative effect on the hair when it comes to grooming/styling it? Traditonally I shampoo my hair every single morning -- to loosen up the scales -- and then blowdry my hair back into respectability. LOL

Thanks again,
Chuck

Hi ,

Know what you are describing and you don't mention if it itches. Usually thats a clear sign of Psoiasis. Has the Dr taken a skin sample to verify the diagnosis.

To be honest the slug thing with cups & rootball description sounds entirely different than P. However MTX is used in treating Psoriasis.

MTX in small daily doses can help P. as it does takes a few weeks for it to absorb into the system to begin working. It is a systemic treatment that helps block the pathway for the small capillary blood vessels that feed the P. & starve the cells from producing more P.

Also take D-3, 1500 mg. daily. Also try occlusion as described above as well. It also starves the P. from the skin side inward to the deep derm layers, to block the P. Cells. It does take a bit of work and patience for the first few weeks. But I promise you will see improvement. Stay diligent .

If you see any results at all after a few months, ask about Stelara. It is one of many bio systemic drugs that helps a lot of people with P. It was approved by the FDA in 2010. Especially if you are covered with P. you will qualify for the new bio drugs to help clear your P.

Are you seeing a P. specialist. I'm surprised he didn't recommend occlusion using (coconut , or many oils) or sun..."light therapy" for 10 minutes daily then work you way up to longer periods. Do not burn or lay out in the sun for long periods during the heat of the day. Morning and late afternoons are the best times for sun treatments. Sun or light treatments referred to as (UVB treatments) are available in the doctors office. This treatment permeates the skin in such a way that helps the body manufacture it's own vit D-3 levels, which in turn can help clear P.

Do all the treatments evey day and in a few weeks you will see Improvement.

Good Luck!

Post Edited (Chotti) : 8/7/2015 12:22:17 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Bellavita,

I was diagnosed with scalp psoriasis around 6 months back. It was quite severe as well. Being a young professional, it was quite dis-heartening for me and I was almost on the verge of quitting the job. Everyday in the morning, looking at the broken hairs on my pillow was so painful. Even, I changed my pillow cover color to a dark one.

I was administered methotrexate and a coal tar shampoo and a multivitamin supplement. But, thanks to my elder bro, I was quick to know that methotrexate is not a safe option and even, I tested liver functioning test to confirm that my liver is working fine after consuming methotrexate for 15 days.

Then, I read extensively over Internet and found that diet, lifestyle changes can help. Also, fish oil and milk thistle. My psoriasis is way controlled without methotrexate or any other pharma medicine.

So, here are the lessons / ideas that I've learnt:

1. For quick relief from scalp psoriasis, Use hair mask and deep oil massage. At night before going to sleep, massage your scalp deep with warm olive oil. Leave it for overnight and wash it off in the morning with a safe shampoo. I use Jason aloe shampoo. The next night, wash your scalp with apple cider vinegar instead of olive oil massage. If you have cuts in your scalp, then dilute this vinegar solution enough otherwise it can irritate the scalp skin. Say 1 part of vinegar with 5 parts of wash. Wash the scalp with this solution, leave it for 30 minutes and then wash with a safe shampoo. Repeat olive oil massage and vinegar wash alternatively for few days and analyse, which one is more effective for you. Then, keep on doing the best option regularly till you have significant relief.

2. I use Jason aloe shampoo and oatmeal soap for bathing. FOr hair oil, I just use virgin coconut oil- cheap and best. You may add a few drops of tea tree oil in your shampoo/ oil for anti-bacterial properties.

3. Now, the most important thing- diet. Reduced intake of nightshades, refined sugar, tablet salt, processed/ packaged foods, carbonated drinks and others. In short, follow Pagano diet. You can search pagano diet on google- www.psoriasisselfmanagement.com/psoriasis-diet/dr-pagano-diet-for-psoriasis/

4. Lifestyle changes- never skin meals or overeat, no smoke, very less alcohol, proper sleep for 6-8 hours, no constipation, regular jogging.

5. Accept your problem. You know, now, I have accepted that I've a lifelong skin problem and I've to follow certain rules to keep it under control. It is a bit painful, but, we are not alone. So, Not a big deal!

Hope it helps. Looking forward to hear from you.

Post Edited (jenny1503) : 12/15/2016 12:52:46 AM (GMT-7)

Sorry for mistypes. Did you know that Magnesium salts (Epsom Salt). added to shampoos, maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon. Added your palm full of soap will help Psoriasis. You can add 1/2 cup or less to your bottle of Shampoo, do not use everyday as it drys scalp cleanly and dry hair out, use Conditioner on hair ....not scalp. Rinse out both well.

Post Edited (BH) : 1/11/2017 4:33:02 PM (GMT-7)