Dandruff is a common scalp issue that can be easily treated. Psoriasis, however, needs medical attention. Educate yourself, right here, on the similarities and differences between both these conditions. Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments for each scalp issue. Continue reading. Dandruff can be easily treated at home (discussed later in the article) and the treatment options are quite different from the remedies for scalp psoriasis.
What Is Scalp Psoriasis?
Scalp psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes scaly, red, and itchy patches on the scalp (3). Your skin cells multiply fast in this condition, causing the dead skin cells to buildup in patches on the scalp. These rough patches are often covered with white scales. The exact cause of scalp psoriasis is unknown. It is thought to be caused by a combination of the immune system, genetics, and environmental factors. It may be aggravated by weather, stress, infections, and injury. There are a lot of other factors that may trigger dandruff and scalp psoriasis. Let’s take a closer look.
Causes Of Dandruff And Scalp Psoriasis
Dandruff
Harsh hair care products like shampoos, dyes, hair sprays, creams, or gels may irritate the scalp and cause flaking, itching, and redness. This is also called contact dermatitis. Irregular scalp cleansing and shampooing may cause oil buildup on the scalp that eventually flakes off skin cells. Excessive dry scalp and skin can cause flakiness. You may also experience flaking on your body skin. Malassezia (a type of fungus) that feeds on the sebum on your scalp also contributes to dandruff (2). Oversecretion of certain male hormones may also cause dandruff. This is why dandruff is more common among men than women. Those who have a weak immune system are also likely to have dandruff.
Scalp Psoriasis
Unlike dandruff, scalp psoriasis is a chronic condition. As stated earlier, the causes of this condition are not clear. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition in which the antibodies (that are supposed to fight bacterial and viral infections) attack the healthy tissues, causing over-production of skin cells. Under normal circumstances, dead skin flakes off from your skin’s outermost layer in microscopic fragments. However, in psoriasis, the new and healthy skin cells rise to the surface before the older dead skin sheds, causing cell buildup that appears like scaly patches. Psoriasis shares the mechanism of both autoinflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Currently, this condition is described as a systemic chronic inflammatory condition that has an immunogenetic basis (4). Let’s take a look at the symptoms of both the conditions to help you distinguish between the two.
How To Know If You Have Dandruff Or Scalp Psoriasis
Dandruff Symptoms
Dry patches on your scalp Skin flakes falling off your scalp Itching
Scalp Psoriasis Symptoms
Red, dry patches of skin covered in thick, silvery scales on the scalp Cracked skin that may bleed Itching, burning, or soreness May cause swollen and stiff joints
Now that you know the difference between the two conditions, here is how you can treat or manage them.
Treatment For Dandruff And Scalp Psoriasis
Dandruff
Dandruff is not a serious medical condition. But if it keeps coming back, knowing how to treat chronic dandruff can help you find relief. The treatment process includes consistent care and the use of specific home remedies and medications. You can use any gentle anti-dandruff shampoo to clear dandruff from your scalp. If you have excessively dry skin, keeping the scalp moisturized may also help. When buying shampoos for dandruff, look for these ingredients:
Coal tar Zinc pyrithione Salicylic acid Ketoconazole Selenium sulfide
If you prefer natural remedies, tea tree oil is an excellent natural treatment for dandruff (5). Unlike dandruff, psoriasis cannot be cured or treated. However, it can be managed with prescription medication.
Psoriasis
Depending on the severity, the doctor may prescribe topical ointments, biologic medication, or steroid injections. Mild psoriasis can be managed with topical creams. Such creams slow down the skin cell buildup and reduce inflammation, redness, and scaly patches. These include (6), (7):
Anthralin (Dritho-Scalp) Calcipotriene (Dovonex) Calcitriol (Vectical) Calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate (Taclonex) Tazarotene (Tazorac)
Moderate to severe psoriasis may require more potent medications that could include (6), (7):
Methotrexate (Trexall) Acitretin (Soriatane) Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, SandIMMUNE) Adalimumab (Humira) Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) Golimumab (Simponi) Etanercept (Enbrel) Infliximab (Remicade)
UV light treatments are also used to control psoriasis patches (8). This treatment can be done at home.
When To See A Doctor
If your dandruff does not reduce even after using anti-dandruff shampoos, you may need prescription-grade products and medications. In the case of psoriasis, consult a dermatologist when you notice the first symptoms. Psoriasis may also be accompanied by stiff pain and inflammation in your joints, indicating psoriatic arthritis (10). In such cases, consulting a rheumatologist is also recommended. Can dandruff lead to psoriasis? No, dandruff does not lead to psoriasis. They are two different conditions. Dandruff is a common condition characterized by a flaky and itchy scalp. Scalp psoriasis is an autoimmune condition characterized by itchy and red patches on the scalp. How common is scalp psoriasis? It is estimated that 45% to 56% of individuals with psoriasis may experience scalp psoriasis (11). What deficiency causes scalp psoriasis? Studies have found a link between vitamin D deficiency and scalp psoriasis. However, the exact mechanism behind this association is unknown and requires further studies (12). Should you scratch dandruff? Avoid scratching dandruff as it can damage the scalp and lead to inflammation and irritation, further aggravating your condition.
Distinguish between psoriasis and dandruff in this video. Check out the video to gain insights into identifying the differences and understanding the symptoms. Learn about effective ways to manage each condition for a healthier scalp.
