Please can someone help me - sudden scalp (psoriasis?) issues

[Alwaysthesame123]

I'd be so grateful if anyone could give me any advice. I have suddenly developed masses of white, dry scales and bumps on my scalp, literally overnight. It started about 3-4 weeks ago and at the same time I noticed a couple of raised nodules at the back of my ear (which although have gone down are still there to feel). My doctor suggested I use some steroid mousse and Nizoral 2% shampoo. It hasn't worked, in fact it has made the scaling even more intense.

Today the gp suggested starting a treatment involving oral tablets and a tar based treatment but I was also given the option of seeing a dermatologist as she wasn't 100% sure that it is psoriasis as it is not at all itchy. I have asked to see a dermatologist before I go down the psoriasis treatment route but I am suddenly feeling so upset by all of this. I just don't understand why it has suddenly happened, I can't think of anything that could have caused it. Same shampoos, soaps etc, diet the same, nothing has changed.

I'm just so worried that it will not go and because my hair is very dark I am feeling extremely conscious of it all - I actually don't want to got outside in case someone sees it and when I have to talk to people I'm just conscious of it the whole time. I probably sound pathetic and I know that there are so many people with health issues that are much more serious that this - but it has left me feeling just horrible.

[RockinD]

Start by banishing sodium lauryl sulphate from your life, in toiletries and toothpaste.

I can't guarantee that it will work, but it worked for me.

I now wash my face, pits and bits in the shower with Dove's hypoallergenic bar, wash my hair with Timotei pure conditioner and clean my teeth with Sensodyne.

My experience of skin problems (mine and DD's) is that if you are not careful you get into a cycle of strong drugs that are not actually that successful and may be damaging.

Good luck!

[Alwaysthesame123]

Thank you RockinD, I will look into that - had a quick google of it and it seems SLS are in a lot of products that I would never have imagined. I really don't want to start taking tablets/using shampoo like Nizoral and would rather look into alternative methods.

[WTFlike]

Try good old Head and Shoulders. It clears it for me.

[moonfacebaby]

Neutrogena T-gel shampoo is excellent - I use it everyday & my scalp psoriasis has cleared up.

[peachdaiquirionmytoes]

Scalp psoriasis, like pretty much all chronic skin conditions, is extremely difficult to bring under control. What works for one person will have no effect on another. After 10 years of being fobbed off by GP, I eventually got referred to Dermatologist who gave me Capasal shampoo and another steroid lotion. The shampoo worked immediately, for about 3 months and now back to square one. I find massaging either coconut oil or Epaderm into scalp at night, then washing off in morning is still the most effective way of keeping it under control. However, you do need to keep it up, as soon as you stop, its back again. Some people are really lucky and find a wonder product, or give up dairy/gluten/SLS shampoo and it disappears, others just have to go with it.

[kazzawazzawoo]

I've had scalp psoriasis most of my life, I'm 49 now. Nothing has cured it for long. Betnovate scalp lotion gets rid of it temporarily, but it comes back within a month or so. I've tried excluding gluten and dairy, it didn't help, although I know it does for lots of people. I think mine is caused by stress and I can't seem to do anything about that.

[kazzawazzawoo]

These days I use coconut oil which soothes and moisturises.

[hollyisalovelyname]

OP are you stressed sbout anything.
I've had it for years- stress induced.

Betnovate gets rid of it but mist if the time I forget to use it. I wake myself at night scratching it. Poor dh .
Mind you, his snoring is unreal!