Unfortunately there is no cure for psoriasis. Scalp psoraisis treatment aims to clear the rash as much as possible. However, as scalp psoriasis tends to flare up from time to time, you may need courses of treatment on and off throughout your life. There are various scalp psoriasis treatment options. There is no 'best buy' that suits everybody. The treatment advised by your doctor may depend on the severity, site, and the type of psoriasis. Also, one treatment may work well in one person, but not in another. It is not unusual to try a different treatment if the first one does not work so well.

Vitamin D Treatments

These are commonly used and work by slowing the rate at which skin cells divide. However, they can cause skin irritation in some people. Although they are commonly used as creams and ointments there is also a scalp preparation of calcipotriol that can be used to as a scalp psoriasis treatment.

A vitamin D-based treatment is often used in combination with other scalp psoriasis treatments which generally seems to increase the effectiveness of both. For example, an ointment that contains calcipotriol and a steroid is sometimes used.

Steroid Creams and Ointments

These are other commonly used scalp psoriasis treatments. They work by reducing inflammation. However, one problem with steroids is that in some cases, once you stop using the cream or ointment, the psoriasis may rebound back worse than it was in the first place. Also, side-effects may occur with long-term use, especially with the more potent (stronger) preparations.

Therefore, if a steroid is used, a doctor may prescribe it for a limited period only (a few weeks or so, and less for a strong steroid), or on an intermittent basis. As a rule, a steroid cream or ointment should not be used regularly for more than four weeks without a review by a doctor. Steroid lotions are one of the most useful scalp psoraisis treatments. Only milder steroid creams or ointments should be used on your face or for psoriasis affecting skin creases.

Coal Tar Preperations

These have been used as a scalp psoriasis treatment for many years yet it is not clear exactly how they work. They may reduce the turnover of the skin cells. They also seem to reduce inflammation and have anti-scaling properties. Traditional tar preparations are messy to use, but modern formulas are more pleasant. Creams, ointments, lotions, pastes, scalp psoriasis treatments, bath additives and shampoos that contain coal tar are available to treat scalp psoriasis.

Coal tar preparations should not be used during the first three months of pregnancy. However, they can be used later in the pregnancy and during breast-feeding.

Dithranol

This has been used for many years as a scalp psoriasis treatment. In most cases a daily application of dithranol to a psoriasis plaque will eventually cause the plaque to go. However, dithranol irritates healthy skin. Therefore, you need to apply it carefully to the psoriasis plaques only. To reduce the chance of skin irritation, it is usual to start with a low strength and move on to stronger ones gradually over a few weeks. When applying dithranol, you should protect your hands with gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Short contact dithranol therapy is popular. This involves putting a high-strength dithranol preparation on the plaques of psoriasis for 5-60 minutes each day, and then washing it off. Dithranol may stain skin, hair, clothes, bedding, baths, etc. You should not use dithranol on your face unless suggested by a skin specialist.

Salicyclic Acid

This is often combined with other scalp psoriasis treatments such as coal tar or steroid creams. It tends to loosen and lift the scales of psoriasis on the body or the scalp. Other treatments tend to work better if the scale is lifted off first by salicylic acid. Salicylic acid can be used as a long-term scalp psoriasis treatment. However, it can cause skin irritation in some people. You should not use this treatment if you are allergic to aspirin.

Tazarotene

This is another cream that is sometimes used. It is a vitamin A-based drug. Irritation of the normal surrounding skin is a common side-effect. This can be minimised by applying tazarotene sparingly to the plaques and avoiding normal skin. Tazarotene treatment must not be used if you are pregnant because of potential risks of harm to the developing baby. It should also not be used during breast-feeding.

Other Treatments

There are many other treatments available to you in the combat against scalp psoriasis. Please visit my website if you would like more detailed information.