Help with Scallp Psoriasis

Hi L.,

All types of psoriasis are systemic and can be helped internally. You said it showed up around Christmas. Did anything change in his diet? Any changes around the home? Look for those first.

An absorbable multivitamin will help as well. Avoid the Flintstones and Walmart generic ones. Avoid GNC also. These actually do more damage than help. I can recommend one if you like.

Renew lotion can be massaged into the scalp. (I do it for my elderly Dad) and that helps immediately. Renew is not greasy so it doesn't make the hair look that way.

Hope I helped!

M.

My husband has this. He use to use T-gel shampoo a lot..but recently over the past couple years I had him switch to head and shoulders intensive care. He likes this product and it smells better.

I will say this about my husband, he finds out that when he grows his hair long is when it really breaks out. When he shaves his head he has less problems. It is also worse when its longer and hot outside. So during the summer he definitely keeps his head shaved.

I don't have psoriasis but have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. I find it goes in phases - it seems to get worse in the dry winter. I find the more often I wash the more in control it is. I did try a steroid treatment years back but it caused me to break out on my shoulders and back. I would be hesitant with any steroid treatment, especially on children. I tend to rotate through shampoos because they'll stop working after a while but do find Selsun Blue is the best overall one.

Hi L., I shop with a wellness company for all my personal care & household items and they are toxin and chemical free. there are products that will help and/or clear up the psoriasis!! there is currently one person I am helping with that problem. I would love to show you this and help you shop to your needs and get same prices as me, I currently have a $1 special!! give me a call, ###-###-#### thanks, J.

We have the same problem with my daughter. We use T-gel. It works great but unfortunatly smells pretty bad. I usually shampoo her head at the gym, so the scent is left in their towels (i know that is bad, but I am suuuuper sensitive to odors) I only shampoo every couple of days too.

I have really bad psoriasis on my scalp, and the single most beneficial remedy has been a liquid vitamin D supplement, one drop a day. Neutrogena makes a T-Sal shampoo that does not smell bad, and really helps. Also the book The Psoriasis Cure by L. LeVan is excellent and helps you understand what psoriasis is, and how to eliminate it from your body without using harsh steroids, which is the standard treatment. Especially since your son is so young, I would be really skeptical of using steroids on him. The natural remedies have almost entirely eliminated the psoriasis from my skin. Good luck!!

Hi L.,
My younger sister went through the same thing all while she was growing up. The ONLY thing that helped her was Neutragena's T-Gel shampoo. While it doesn't smell all that great & wonderful--it worked amazingly well. Best of luck to him!

my husband has this problem - and it is always worse over the winter. We tried every product on the market and nothing worked. The doctor prescribed a medicated shampoo, and it has worked wonders! No flakes, and no itch! They tried a lotion you apply to the scalp also - but that wasn't too great. Ask your doctor to prescribe a shampoo.

Wow!! Okay I have scalp psoriasis but am much older than your son. Mine is plaque posoriasis which looks as though, even on body/scalp that you can peel it off. There is not cure for psoriasis but some shampoo's can help some. Forget the head and shoulders if thats what it is because it only masks' the problem. I found using a lilac shampoo and rinsing with vinegar helped some. Other times I use the lilac and "sweet grass" shampoo. You don't want anything harsh. My Physician gave me a lotion for my hair to keep the itch away. I believe it is called Betamethasone. If you scrub hard and you put this on, even vinegar (mix half water half vinegar) because you sure feel a burning sensation). I expect it but your still never prepared, so I don't know that your son would like it "period". I also have cream that I use for other patches around my body. I have checked everywhere for solutions, I even had some company on the internet call me after writing, asking for $600.00 to send to Africa. I think not. I didn't even know if this place was real. I've been to Dermatologists, going again this month. I even have it in my nails which I didn't know until last yr via Dermatologist. This is where your Dr. my send you, especially if your son is complaining of itch.
Believe me its not fun and ppl. look at your hair like you have something contagious. I've had ppl. say to me "whats in your hair" or do you have "psoriasis". I'm glad some ppl. know what it is. At times I could just crawl under the table. Get the help for him now if you can, they say stress and the immune system is the problem. I don't know. I would hate for your son to get it worse as he gets older and others begin to see it, if not controlled. Nothing worse than being made fun of especially around girls when they are at that age. Good luck and make sure he gives you something to at least assist the itching. If nothing else for the scalp, use the vinegar. Another one is, and he won't like this. Put baby lotion in his hair, let it soak in for about an hr. Then wash out, it may take about 3 washes but the flakes should come right out. All my best to you and your son and Good Luck with your Physician. My apologies for the not so good experiences'. I didnt get this until I was maybe 49, so have been putting up with it for 4yrs. now.

Hello, I would definitely ask for a referral to a derm. I have what's called inverse psoriasis which affects scalp, underarms and a few other specific places. (I don't actually have it on my scalp so I cant' be of help there.) Because that's not very common, when I moved and my meds stopped working the first derm i went to told me that wasn't what I had, etc. I suffered for a good 6 months until I could get in to see a good derm. Moral of the story, you need to find a good doc! They aren't all informed and current on research. Good luck!

My husband has the same problem. I use a mixture of 1 cup olive oil and a few drops of tea tree oil mixed together in a bottle (like for hair color). I apply the oil mix to the scaly spots and cover with a plastic wrap and he wears it all day under a hat or bandanna. After about 8 hours he goes and agressively washes his hair. It seems to help him. I hope it can help you.

I have just begun to research the topic of psoriasis. One of the things I have come across is a book called Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb. ISBN 978-0-345-50539-2. Publisher Ballantine Books.
In here is a chapter on psoriasis and there are several dietary suggestions as well as using castor oil to rub on thick skin lesions or a 50-50 mixture of olive oil and peanut oil. This might be used in the afternoon when you know you are not going out and then shampooed out at bedtime.You might want to try a pure soap - castile soap that have no chemicals added.
Dr. Pagano also suggests stewed fruits such as figs, apples, raisins, apricots, pears, peaches, or prunes.
Try your public library - Dr. Pagano is a chiropractor from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Good luck!
Jane

If you can, take him to the dermatologist. I have learned that general drs and pediatricians really don't know much about skin conditions. Derms know more and have a much better idea of what will work.

Suspect my son has it to. My dad has a significant case, my sister moderate and am hoping my son has to deal with just his scalp but that's probably wishful thinking.

A ped might not formally diagnose it and may opt to refer your to a dermatologist. The wait for an appt with a derm in the Twin Cities is months!

Anyhow, here some very unproven tactics I have used:
Neutregena T-Sal Shampoo (can be harsh so swap out with Burt's Bees or any shampoo w/o lauryth sulfates)
Don't shampoo every day.
Keeping the hair short (ok for boys not so much for girls)
Sunshine
Vitamin D (which is what you get in the sunshine)
Fine tooth combing every day
Scalp massage
And when it gets bad...Massage aquaphor into the scalp. Let it stay for 24 hours and then wash and use the comb gently but thouroughly. My son has funny coarse hair and so the aquaphor barely makes it greasy at all.