Should You Pick Your Scalp Psoriasis Patches?

Scalp psoriasis. How I hate having scalp psoriasis. At the moment, my scalp psoriasis is pretty good, with only a few lesions causing me problems. The urge to itch, though, is there concurrently and it always results in a loss of hair strands and even sometimes bald patches. As I’ve said, I hate it. I especially hate it when I start getting scalp psoriasis moving to my forehead, as you can see a red, scaly patch covering the top half of my head. I have had comments in the past when this has happened to me, but not right now as it’s not too bad.

Picking at my scalp psoriasis

One of the things I used to do, which I don’t anymore, is pick my scalp psoriasis patches. When I was younger, I could always feel my scalp psoriasis on my head. As it got worse, it would make my head feel like I had paper mache locked around it. It felt glue-like and stuck. In another way, it felt like thick carpet strands. You would scratch the lesion and leave it worse than before. The patch felt ruptured and sometimes blood would stream from it.

My scalp psoriasis is a lot better now, if not, still present. I’ve learned over the years not to scratch it, itch it or pick it, but it’s easier said than done. Sometimes you just do it without thinking or you just really can’t resist the urge to scratch it, itch it or pick it anymore.

To those struggling with scalp psoriasis, I would say definitely mention it to your healthcare team. You need to let them know how it makes you feel, the nuisance it causes and then they can help with remedies to hopefully make it less itchy or to get rid of it altogether. Yes, psoriasis can’t be cured, but there are plenty of treatments which can improve your situation.

Alternative treatments can help, too

But don’t just rely on your healthcare team medicines. From my understanding and from what has worked for me, oils and moisturizers can be really good. Any time I have thick scales in my hair, I apply coconut oil. I go to the shop, buy a tub, pop it in my bathroom drawers and then when I need it, I take it out and scrunch it with a teaspoon to soften it. I then apply it to my scalp, making sure I am getting to all the scales. Now you don’t need to, but what helped me was putting it on overnight and using a hair cap to reduce the chance of the oil spilling onto my pillow and leaving residue behind.

What I found with oils, and particularly coconut oil, was when it came to washing it out, before I did, I could easily lift the scales using a fine comb and the relief was huge. The oil took away my urge to scratch and left my head feeling so much less like something was strangling it. Of course, oils won’t get rid of the psoriasis in your scalp, it will merely make it more manageable and make your head feel soothed. But that’s still relief and, hopefully, combined with your treatment plan from your healthcare, it will help.

Don’t forget moisturizers for your hairline and forehead too. This works similarly as coconut oil; at least it did for me. Just a thin layer helped reduce scaling and makes the redness less angry and itchy.

So, if you’re struggling with scalp psoriasis, try not to pick it. Speak to your healthcare team about what you’re experiencing and see if they can come up with a plan to help. In the meantime, take a look into coconut oil. I have spoken with countless sufferers over the years and that’s how I learned how good it was, and it truly is remarkable. I love applying my coconut oil because not only does it feel good for my head, but it smells good and leaves my hair refreshed too!