My Action Plan for Dealing with My Scalp Psoriasis Flare

Currently, I’m suffering a painful flare-up of scalp psoriasis. The plaques are thick, angry, and very itchy. It hasn’t completely covered my scalp but it is concentrated in quite a few areas.

It pains me further to say, this is my first flare-up of scalp psoriasis in quite some time. It's disappointing. I have had success on a biologic injection for quite some time. I do, however, now, have an action plan for what I intend to do about my latest scalp psoriasis flare-up.

Falling back into a familiar routine

I am going to go back to wearing a shower cap and applying coconut oil daily. When I’ve had scalp psoriasis in the past, this approach helped soothe my plaques and make them easier to lift and remove from my scalp. It also helps with the itch, which trust me, at the moment, is very bad.

I intend to first heat up the oil to make it softer, then apply it to my scalp before bed with a shower cap afterward to prevent it from staining my pillow or making my bedroom messy. In the morning, I will lift the plaques using a very thin comb without removing my hair at the same time.

In the past, I’ve itched, scratched, and removed the plaques by picking them, which more often than not, created a bald area. However, using a comb has helped to stop this, while still giving me relief.

The benefits of a short cut

I intend to keep my hair short so I can keep it from causing a nuisance. The last time I went to the barbers, the hairdresser used a sponge on the end of the razor which stopped him from accidentally picking my plaques or making things uncomfortable for me.

In the past, I have completely stopped going to the barbers because either the plaques were too thick to actually cut the hair or I was concerned they may accidentally snip a plaque and cause it to bleed. You have to be careful with plaques to make sure they don’t become injured or bleed.

Keeping my hair short, though, will help when applying the coconut oil and using the shower cap and I’ve generally found in the past that short hair makes lifting and removing plaques much easier, while avoiding the dreaded bald spots that could appear.

It's time to talk to my doctor

The third and final part of my action plan involves staying positive and telling my medical team what’s going on. So often, with this condition, we want to hide. We wish we were without plaques as quickly as possible and want treatments to work as fast as they can.

For me, coming to a realization that understanding psoriasis is chronic, it will flare from time to time and sometimes treatments don’t work as well as we want them to has been important.

So, I intend to remain as positive as possible and keep my health team informed of what’s happening as that’s a big part of coping with this disease. If the coconut oil doesn’t work or I’m noticing further flare-ups in my scalp, I will ask them what we can do.

Perhaps we can increase the biologic dosage or I can take a scalp treatment, or perhaps a different oil may soothe the plaques and make them even easier to lift. Whatever it is, I intend to ask them for their advice and do my own research so I can bring it up at my next appointment.

Determination and positivity

That’s, basically, my action plan for my scalp psoriasis. I hope I will be successful in bringing this disease under control. I know, though, that it may be some time before I get full relief in my scalp. I am determined in the meantime to remain positive and keep my health team informed.

Psoriasis is a lifelong battle. But it’s something I will triumph over.