Hair Follicle Changes Due to Psoriasis
We all know how much this chronic disease can impact our skin, but did you know that it can also affect our hair follicles? That's right, psoriasis can cause changes in our hair follicles, leading to hair loss and even changes in hair texture.
I have had psoriasis for sixty years, so I have some stories about my hair. Personally, I started noticing changes in my hair when my psoriasis flared up on my scalp. The scabs were so thick that I had to have all my hair cut off in a hospital. At the time I was 6 years old and on my first day of school. That’s another whole story.
Noticing my hair changes
As I got older, I was able to get my hair done at salons, which was also a nightmare. Had severe itching and flaking, but soon I noticed that my hair was thinning and falling out in certain areas. Saying I was devastated, was an understatement, now I thought I was going bald.
I have known for a while that hair loss is actually a common symptom of scalp psoriasis. The flaking and inflammation can damage hair follicles, leading to hair loss and thinning. On this journey, I also learned that the changes in hair texture that some people experience with psoriasis are due to the inflammation affecting the hair follicle's ability to produce healthy hair.
But don't worry my fellow warriors, there are things we can do to manage these hair follicle changes. First and foremost, it's important to get your psoriasis under control. This means following your treatment plan and keeping your scalp as healthy as possible. I found that using medicated shampoos and topical treatments helped a lot in reducing my scalp psoriasis symptoms.
Managing my symptoms
Another thing that can help is taking care of your overall health. Eating a balanced diet, getting enough rest, and managing stress levels can all contribute to keeping your psoriasis and hair follicle changes in check.
And if you're experiencing hair loss, there are options to help with that too. Try using volumizing shampoos and styling products to give my hair a fuller appearance. My hairdresser experimented with different hairstyles to cover up the thinning areas. I have natural hair so I experimented with braids, weaves, twists, plaits, etc. These are some of the protected styles that I tried.
But do keep in mind that the products you are using are not cruel on your skin as I prefer to find myself amazing organic products and some of them have been working great for me. You can also look for what works best for you without harming those follicles more.
Feeling confident in our own skin
It's important to remember that hair follicle changes due to psoriasis are a real thing, but they don't have to control our lives. With proper management and self-care, we can still rock our fabulous hair and feel confident in our own skin. We cannot run from it, but we cannot stop ourselves due to it either. So, stay strong.
If you're experiencing hair changes due to psoriasis, don't give up hope. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about the best ways to manage your symptoms and keep your hair looking and feeling its best. Do not overlook your treatment plan just to appear beautiful, own yourself and be confident in whatever or however you want yourself to be. We're in this together.
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