Psoriasis of the Scalp
It could be a scary experience if you are suffering from hair and scalp disease. Some early signs like thinning or hair loss may occur so the best thing to do is determine the cause of the hair problems. There are various kinds of hair and scalp diseases and one common disease is the psoriasis.
Scalp is the most frequent sites of psoriasis affecting children and young adults. Psoriasis is a systemic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by red, scaly lesions affecting the entire or some parts of the body. A genetic leaning can be one of the factors specially that there are many patients who have relatives with psoriasis. Cause of psoriasis is still unknown but a dysfunction of the immune system can be a contributing issue.
Hair and scalp disease like psoriasis has various levels of severity and it may shows pustular eruptions and shedding of grayish scales. Psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease is associated with some severe forms of psoriasis. The distinctive appearance of psoriasis of the scalp is the inflamed skin that is covered with silvery scales. In severe cases, psoriatic lesions may merge into a solid mass of scales covering the whole scalp. Temporary or permanent hair loss may also occur.
Correct and proper diagnosis is essential to come up with an appropriate treatment with psoriasis because there are other scalp diseases that feature the same signs and symptoms. Psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp have various features in common and can be confusing if not diagnosed properly. Remember that treatment is different for each disease so it has to be diagnosed carefully for suitable treatment.