What is Scalp Psoriasis
About Your Scalp
Scalp skin is some of the thickest skin of the body with 5 layers, and it carries more blood than the rest of your skin. This is why head wounds bleed so much. Your scalp also contains many sebaceous glands, which produce oil, or sebum, that protects hair. Because of the abundance of sebaceous glands, it’s important to clean your scalp thoroughly. If oil builds up, you can end up with clogged hair follicles or dandruff. Dandruff is caused by bacteria that get trapped in the oil and produce fatty acids that cause itching and swelling. This causes the skin cells on your scalp to replenish more frequently, and flakes of dead skin can get caught in your hair and fall to your shoulders.
Top Tips for Scalp Psoriasis
- Treatments - Some shampoo treatments can be bought over the counter, however, if your scalp is covered with thick scale or doesn’t clear up, do consult your GP. There is a wide range of topical treatments that can be prescribed including coal tar, dithranol, salicylic acid, steroid creams and ointments, Vitamin D based treatments, as well as oils for moisturising the scalp, such as coconut or olive oil.
- Moisturise Your Scalp - When applying treatments, it is important to make sure they are applied to the scalp itself, rather than just the hair. Scalp treatments often make hair greasy, so some people find it more convenient to apply at night and then wash their hair in the morning, if the instructions for use allow. Moisturising your scalp and the affected skin can make the skin much more comfortable – it can decrease the dryness, scaling, cracking and soreness, and itching. Thick scales on your forehead, hairline, behind your ears, or on the back of your neck can be softened with coconut, olive, or peanut oil. Massage a small amount into your scalp, then put on a shower cap overnight, and shampoo in the morning. Repeat for two or three nights. The dead skin should soften and wash away.
- Flare Ups - Psoriasis tends to come and go. After treating their scalp psoriasis, some people may be lucky enough not to have a further flare up, and others may have periods of no scalp psoriasis followed by a flare up where it comes back again.
- No Scratching - It is normal to want to comb or brush hair, and it can actually be helpful to remove loose scales. Just take care not to scratch the scalp as this can cause more harm and irritation.

Ingredients for Managing Scalp Psoriasis
- Clary Sage Hydrosol
- Tumeric Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Brazil Nut Oil
- Aloe vera Gel
- Black Seed Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil