Shampoo For Psoriasis

Shampoo for Psoriasis is a shampoo that, as the name suggests, is used to treat psoriasis which is a skin condition where the process of skin production by the body occurs too fast causing dead cells to build up on the surface of the skin which in turn causes skin redness and irritation as well as formation of flaky, white patches of skin. There are generally two types of shampoo for Psoriasis.

One of which, the coal-tar shampoo for psoriasis contains tar products (A left over by-product of coal processing and distillation which is used to treat multiple skin diseases such as eczema and dermatitis) and the other is medicated shampoo which contain active ingredients for scalp psoriasis such as clobetasol propionate (a topical steroid) and ketoconazole (A form of antifungal medication).

One agent that is found in both forms of shampoo however, is salicylic acid, a monohydroxybenzoic acid derived from an anti-inflammatory agent salicin, produced by willow bark which is used in the shampoos to dissolve the layer of dead cells. However, these shampoos are usually used as treatment for mild cases of psoriasis. The more common brands of these shampoos (Dermarest, Herbal Glo, Neutrogena etc.) are available over the counter in most local drugstores. To use these shampoos more effectively, patients should massage the scalp for a prolonged duration and keep the shampoo on for 5 to 10 minutes daily. It is important that the shampoo is used consistently for up to several weeks.

Although these shampoos for psoriasis are generally safe to use on a daily basis, prolonged use may cause irritation of the skin around the scalp. Therefore, once the lesions caused by psoriasis are under control, it is best to cut down the usage of the shampoo so as to avoid said irritation. Also, although it is imperative to use a shampoo for psoriasis, there are now shampoo of psoriasis that is designed to be used along with our own cosmetic shampoos and conditioners for general hair care.

Back to Seborrheic Dermatitis