I’d had occasional flakes on my scalp over the years.
Then one day I woke up and my scalp was worse than ever.
I tried to fix it myself using scrubs,dandruff shampoo, prewash oils the works.
Courtesy of Elizabeth Denton
I even got a lice comb to pick away at the patches.
(Gross, I know, and most definitelynotrecommended by doctors.)
Nothing worked for more than a day.
White patches along the writer’s hairline turned out to be scalp psoriasis.
I sat in her zen Melrose Place office truly wishing this was a Botox appointment.
Before I saw Dr. Samolitis, I had sort of self-diagnosed my scalp psoriasis.
“It’s usually thicker and scaly [compared to seborrheic dermatitis].”
The writer’s scalp psoriasis before (left) and after (right) two weeks of using clobetasol propionate shampoo twice a week.
If it’s just on the scalp, it could go either way.
Again, the exact diagnosis isn’t essentially important.
After I learn this, I show Dr. Samolitis the red patches in both of my armpits.
Now, to help keep her scalp psoriasis under control, the writer is using prescription clobetasol propionate shampoo (left) once a week and prescription fluocinonide (right) on flare-ups in between washes.
The patches are in both of my armpits, in similar areas.
Dr. Samolitis adds, “Symmetry is another feature of psoriasis.”
And let me tell you, these red patchesitch.
She recommends I add an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to up the healing process.
But the skin is thicker on the scalp so there’s less of a concern there.
(But you don’t have to take topical-steroid holidays from over-the-counter hydrocortisone.)
I’ll cross that bridge if I get to it.
I’ve been treating my scalp and underarms for a few weeks and I’m already seeing results.
It makes me wish I had gone to a dermatologist sooner.
The liquid fluocinonide is helpful on nonwash days.
I usually wash my hair every few days, so I up it to every other day.
In between washes, I apply the fluocinonide liquid to my problem areas only.
It’s a bit messy but otherwise nonoffensive.
“UV combs can be helpful as well,” he continued.
These are futuristic-looking, glowing combs.
He recommended using one three times a week.
For now, though, I’m lucky not to have to go down either of those paths.
It’s a pretty easy solution.
My underarms, however, are another story.
The red patches have faded a bit, but the progress is much slower.
Either way, at least now I have some answers and can tackle this annoying condition head-on.
This content can also be viewed on the site itoriginatesfrom.
