Not sure if it’s psoriasis?
If your scalp is red, itchy and flaky it could be dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis or scalp psoriasis – so how do you tell?
Scalp psoriasis is much less common than dandruff, affecting only about 3% of the population, so it’s worth ruling out dandruff first before going to see a dermatologist.
Try replacing your usual shampoo with Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Shampoo first.
If you’ve got dandruff, it will quickly tackle the problem and leave you up to flake free1.
Just use it every time you wash your hair (preferably at least 3 times a week). If it’s dandruff, you should start to see an improvement in the first week.
After two or three weeks, you should see no visible flakes.
If you’ve tried this and still have problems…
The next step is to rule out seborrheic dermatitis, which is essentially a more severe form of dandruff.
The causes of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff are the same, so if you have seborrheic dermatitis the dandruff shampoo should have helped reduce flaking – just not as much as you hoped for.
Our Clinical Strength Shampoo with selenium sulfide gives prescription strength protection2 against seborrheic dermatitis, getting rid of the flakes and other symptoms fast.
Still suffering?
You may have scalp psoriasis.
Scalp psoriasis is a genetic condition and has different causes than dandruff; so some effective anti-dandruff shampoos won’t help it. Over-the-counter shampoos containing coal tar or salicylic acid can help to manage psoriasis flaking.
You’ll need to see a dermatologist who can advise you on how best to go about managing your scalp psoriasis, and may recommend stronger prescription shampoos.
More about scalp psoriasis
1 visible flakes with regular use
2vs. prescription dandruff shampoo with 2% Ketoconazole