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It looks and feels like dandruff but it may be psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition characterised by red, scaly patches of skin.
Flakes of dead skin cells and an itchy scalp. These may sound like symptoms of dandruff, a flaky scalp condition, or they may signal a more serious condition – psoriasis.
 Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition characterised by red, scaly patches of skin.
The National Psoriasis Foundation in the United States explained that the cause of the condition is unknown, but the immune system and genetics are thought to play a major role in its development.
In psoriasis, the immune system is somehow activated, causing a series of events, including the acceleration of skin growth.
Usually, normal skin cells mature and shed in 28 to 30 days. However, a psoriasis patient may find his skin cells maturing in just three to four days. Instead of falling off, the cells build up on the surface of the skin, forming lesions.
Stress, skin injuries and climate factors – a cold, dry winter – may worsen psoriasis.
The most common type of psoriasis that affects the scalp is plaque psoriasis. This appears as raised, red and scaly patches.
Some people with scalp psoriasis may be unaware that they have the condition. For example, a patient with scalp psoriasis may think he has severe dandruff because some of the symptoms are similar. Like dandruff, which may be caused by a fungal infection, people with scalp psoriasis may also have white or silvery flakes. However, unlike dandruff, these flakes are thicker. These patients usually also have itchy, red and scaly raised patches on their scalp.
Medicated hair washes
Scalp psoriasis is commonly treated through medicated hair washes, such as shampoos containing coal tar or salicylic acid, or topical drug applications. However, treating it is a challenge. He said that this is because it is often difficult to separate the hair from the scalp when applying the medicine. This may end up being messy. Sometimes, the medication may get stuck to the hair, hindering its absorption.
- Plaque psoriasis can also affect the rest of the body. Apart from the scalp, it is most commonly found on the elbows, knees and lower back.
- Psoriasis can affect the nails and joints too. Psoriatic arthritis, or painful inflammation of the joints, can strike and may leave a person’s fingers and toes disfigured.
- For body psoriasis, different treatment options include topical steroids to reduce inflammation, vitamin D derivatives to decrease the cell turnover rate and ultraviolet light treatment to slow down the cell division rate.
- Psoriasis stays with a person for life and has no cure.
However, with effective treatment and appropriate lifestyle changes, it may clear for months or even years.
To manage the condition through lifestyle changes, try and avoid psoriasis triggers. Reduce stress, exercise regularly and do not smoke.
Remember to use a moisturiser regularly too. As skin cells multiply and die faster than usual in psoriasis patients, the skin tends to become thick and dry. Studies have repeatedly shown that the regular application of a moisturiser can improve psoriasis in at least one-third of patients. For psoriasis of the body, the moisturiser should be applied immediately after a shower so that the moisture is kept in.
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