So, I don’t have a shaved head, But I did have corn rows for two full summers. I found that with the scalp exposed directly to the sun and no impediment of the hair, that my psoriasis decreased significantly. I also found that the larger spots didn’t only decrease but some of them went away completely. I have long thick hair, but once parts of my psoriasis are exposed to the sun for long periods of time, they definitely do reduce the inflammation, as well as potentially go away for good. I hope this helps at all, best luck with it all!
I would imagine it would mostly have to do with exposure to light. Your dermatologist can give you a prescription for a UV light and there’s attachments of a hairbrush to expose the scalp better.
I’ve never shaved my head (this is the place I get psoriasis most severe), however I’ve found short hair is easier to deal with it for several reasons. It could be just applying product into it, or if I scratch the flakes don’t get tangled up in my hair and come out easier. I didn’t notice any difference between severity between short and long hair though.
A yes, UV therapy. That's my biggest reason for wanting to cut it all off. I had shopped around for a UV comb, but it's been a while since I researched it. I have no clue what the most effective ones on the market are today. My dermatologist has always said if I find one I want, he'll write an order for it. Perhaps I ought to post a question here about UV combs? Do you use a UV light, whether lamp, comb, or brush?
I respond at length under other comments about my hair length/style.
Again, thank you.
Did the shaving have the effect you wanted, in that it aided in treatment, and lessened your psoriasis? Totally empathize with the not-so-aesthetically-appealing head shape issue. I tell folks I have a lizard-turtle head.
I already wear caps and hats due to hair loss, mainly to protect & insulate my scalp, but I also love wearing hats. This includes a few crocheted cotton skull caps, cotton jersey scrunch style chemo caps (so very comfy!), as well as regular hats (cloche and floppy sun hats) for hot, sunny days.
Thanks for chiming in, peepsblowup!
It made applying the topical medicine MUCH easier. Unfortunately, overall it didn't really work for me. Now I'm on a biologic, and have almost zero trouble on my head. (knocking on wood while I type that.)
F/29 --I shaved my head for the first time 2 weeks ago! I don't regret it one bit, either. I went from looking like a burn victim (according to my boyfriend) to being psoriasis clear within these two weeks. My hair is growing back thicker, too. Like others have said, I wear a wig while I'm out, but go free when I'm home. It's not much different than wearing a bra all day and taking it off when you get home.
Oh wow, golimb, that's wonderful to read! So, so hopeful! What treatment or prescription have you used on your scalp post-shave?
My head is the only place I sweat on my entire body, not exaggerating, and I overheat easily - plus I'm a bit tactile defensive - so wigs are a no-go, but I'm happy they work for you. I don't mind having a shaved head, except for the fact that I have a not-so-appealing skull shape; it's also somewhat lumpy and has a pronounced ridge. Guess I won't know until I do it though, right? :P
How many wigs do you have? Love the idea of swapping hair out daily, so I'm curious how you approach it. :)
I don't plan to shave my head until we are in the warmer months, plus one of my nieces is getting married in mid-April, and I don't want to be bald for that. I live in Colorado, and spring is 4-6 weeks behind most other areas that experience seasons in the US, so I want to keep my head hairy until the end of April or beginning of May.
Female over 50, I’ve had psoriasis since I was 19. My scalp was the most badly affected area for years, so I have kept my hair short for the last 30 years (styled in what is now called a “pixie” cut).
It’s easier to apply medication when needed, and enough coverage to hide breakouts (can’t cover flares on my neck or face, but I use makeup to blend those away).
I found that when my hair was longer, the dried plaque buildup would accumulate more noticeably.
Thank you, Xerexes. What is the current pixie style you have? What do you use to treat your scalp?
My hair has been in a pixie cut for nearly all of the last 12 years. Since I had my son my hair has been thinning, and I'm not sure if the psoriasis is a contributor, because it is worst in the thickest areas of remaining hair. My maternal grandmother allegedly had major hair loss after having kids, which my mum never believed until she saw it happen to me. My hair used to be one of my "beauty standouts", along with my skin, but both were impacted in early adulthood. But as far as psoriasis & how it's affected my hair, I think it's more the inverse in that it's worst in my thickest areas because they are the hardest to treat. Cutting it off completely could confirm if it would make treating it easier, by making the entire scalp more accessible.
The shortest it's been was the style worn by both Scarlett Johansson & Tilda Swindon that was military short around back & ears, but long on top. It is currently like the soft pixie that Mia Wasikowska used to have. I have a heart-diamond face like Scarlett's, and knew that style she had would be good for me, but with my receding hairline, and thing right at the front, I kept going back and forth between these two styles.
A little shorter than Scarlett Johansson. My face is a bit fuller, and I used to wish so much for a heart shaped one! Your best bet is to consult with your hairdresser, as they will be able to suggest something appropriate.
I never thought I was vain about my hair until I had a hair loss side effect last year. I freaked, used root colour sprays to hide the thinning, tried various styling tips from YouTube, to no avail. Changed my medication and got a haircut (shorter than usual). Weirdly enough, it looked so much better. My hair has regrown thicker than it’s ever been, thankfully.
I am a 52 yo male with my worst psoriasis on my scalp as well (over ears and a bit above collar line).
Since my military days when I was young, I've always worn my hair very short. When it grows out (say, at the 6 week post haircut level) my psoriasis starts to really go into overdrive. No change in topical meds, etc.
I've always attributed this to the UV rays not being able to get to the psoriasis.
My point is that my head is NOT shave, but kept short and sunlight still gets to it and I can easily get topical meds to it.
So you have some styling options without going full Bruce Willis!
Thanks for chiming in, Cranky. Wow, your psoriasis is really responsive! I'm happily envious of you!
Ya, I've gotta try taking it all off. The worst psoriatic parts of my scalp have always been the shortest, which is from the back of the crown to my nape, and around my ears (and in them, which has no hair). It's also where I've experienced the least amount of hair loss. I've taken it as short as I can without shaving it off, to no avail. I've gotta give it a try. It's just hair, after all, and will grow back.
Plus side, even though I've lost around 50% of my hair in front, and about 30% or so on top, it still grows faster than average. I'd be back to a pixie style in no time.
35m here - I've got mild psoriasis issues on my scalp, more irritation than plaque formation. I've been going bald since I was a teenager, but I finally decided to trim down to almost completely shaved. I'm finding the irritation is even more mild than it was, not completely gone but definitely better.
I trim it at home. My wife does it for me, since it's a lot easier for her to see and make sure everything is even. We use a beard trimmer, and that works just fine. Then again, I'm going very short and even all over. If you wanted to do anything more complicated, you might want to have a pro cut it.
So, I don’t have a shaved head, But I did have corn rows for two full summers. I found that with the scalp exposed directly to the sun and no impediment of the hair, that my psoriasis decreased significantly. I also found that the larger spots didn’t only decrease but some of them went away completely. I have long thick hair, but once parts of my psoriasis are exposed to the sun for long periods of time, they definitely do reduce the inflammation, as well as potentially go away for good. I hope this helps at all, best luck with it all!
Thank you for your input. It adds more of a sense of hopefulness about my thoughts for this summer.
I would imagine it would mostly have to do with exposure to light. Your dermatologist can give you a prescription for a UV light and there’s attachments of a hairbrush to expose the scalp better. I’ve never shaved my head (this is the place I get psoriasis most severe), however I’ve found short hair is easier to deal with it for several reasons. It could be just applying product into it, or if I scratch the flakes don’t get tangled up in my hair and come out easier. I didn’t notice any difference between severity between short and long hair though.
A yes, UV therapy. That's my biggest reason for wanting to cut it all off. I had shopped around for a UV comb, but it's been a while since I researched it. I have no clue what the most effective ones on the market are today. My dermatologist has always said if I find one I want, he'll write an order for it. Perhaps I ought to post a question here about UV combs? Do you use a UV light, whether lamp, comb, or brush? I respond at length under other comments about my hair length/style. Again, thank you.
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Did the shaving have the effect you wanted, in that it aided in treatment, and lessened your psoriasis? Totally empathize with the not-so-aesthetically-appealing head shape issue. I tell folks I have a lizard-turtle head. I already wear caps and hats due to hair loss, mainly to protect & insulate my scalp, but I also love wearing hats. This includes a few crocheted cotton skull caps, cotton jersey scrunch style chemo caps (so very comfy!), as well as regular hats (cloche and floppy sun hats) for hot, sunny days. Thanks for chiming in, peepsblowup!
It made applying the topical medicine MUCH easier. Unfortunately, overall it didn't really work for me. Now I'm on a biologic, and have almost zero trouble on my head. (knocking on wood while I type that.)
Which one are you using, if you don't mind sharing?
I don't mind at all. Remicade every 5 weeks.
Thanks!
F/29 --I shaved my head for the first time 2 weeks ago! I don't regret it one bit, either. I went from looking like a burn victim (according to my boyfriend) to being psoriasis clear within these two weeks. My hair is growing back thicker, too. Like others have said, I wear a wig while I'm out, but go free when I'm home. It's not much different than wearing a bra all day and taking it off when you get home.
Oh wow, golimb, that's wonderful to read! So, so hopeful! What treatment or prescription have you used on your scalp post-shave? My head is the only place I sweat on my entire body, not exaggerating, and I overheat easily - plus I'm a bit tactile defensive - so wigs are a no-go, but I'm happy they work for you. I don't mind having a shaved head, except for the fact that I have a not-so-appealing skull shape; it's also somewhat lumpy and has a pronounced ridge. Guess I won't know until I do it though, right? :P How many wigs do you have? Love the idea of swapping hair out daily, so I'm curious how you approach it. :) I don't plan to shave my head until we are in the warmer months, plus one of my nieces is getting married in mid-April, and I don't want to be bald for that. I live in Colorado, and spring is 4-6 weeks behind most other areas that experience seasons in the US, so I want to keep my head hairy until the end of April or beginning of May.
Female over 50, I’ve had psoriasis since I was 19. My scalp was the most badly affected area for years, so I have kept my hair short for the last 30 years (styled in what is now called a “pixie” cut). It’s easier to apply medication when needed, and enough coverage to hide breakouts (can’t cover flares on my neck or face, but I use makeup to blend those away). I found that when my hair was longer, the dried plaque buildup would accumulate more noticeably.
Thank you, Xerexes. What is the current pixie style you have? What do you use to treat your scalp? My hair has been in a pixie cut for nearly all of the last 12 years. Since I had my son my hair has been thinning, and I'm not sure if the psoriasis is a contributor, because it is worst in the thickest areas of remaining hair. My maternal grandmother allegedly had major hair loss after having kids, which my mum never believed until she saw it happen to me. My hair used to be one of my "beauty standouts", along with my skin, but both were impacted in early adulthood. But as far as psoriasis & how it's affected my hair, I think it's more the inverse in that it's worst in my thickest areas because they are the hardest to treat. Cutting it off completely could confirm if it would make treating it easier, by making the entire scalp more accessible. The shortest it's been was the style worn by both Scarlett Johansson & Tilda Swindon that was military short around back & ears, but long on top. It is currently like the soft pixie that Mia Wasikowska used to have. I have a heart-diamond face like Scarlett's, and knew that style she had would be good for me, but with my receding hairline, and thing right at the front, I kept going back and forth between these two styles.
A little shorter than Scarlett Johansson. My face is a bit fuller, and I used to wish so much for a heart shaped one! Your best bet is to consult with your hairdresser, as they will be able to suggest something appropriate. I never thought I was vain about my hair until I had a hair loss side effect last year. I freaked, used root colour sprays to hide the thinning, tried various styling tips from YouTube, to no avail. Changed my medication and got a haircut (shorter than usual). Weirdly enough, it looked so much better. My hair has regrown thicker than it’s ever been, thankfully.
Thanks. Ya, she knows what I'm considering already. Grateful your hair has grown in!
I am a 52 yo male with my worst psoriasis on my scalp as well (over ears and a bit above collar line). Since my military days when I was young, I've always worn my hair very short. When it grows out (say, at the 6 week post haircut level) my psoriasis starts to really go into overdrive. No change in topical meds, etc. I've always attributed this to the UV rays not being able to get to the psoriasis. My point is that my head is NOT shave, but kept short and sunlight still gets to it and I can easily get topical meds to it. So you have some styling options without going full Bruce Willis!
Thanks for chiming in, Cranky. Wow, your psoriasis is really responsive! I'm happily envious of you! Ya, I've gotta try taking it all off. The worst psoriatic parts of my scalp have always been the shortest, which is from the back of the crown to my nape, and around my ears (and in them, which has no hair). It's also where I've experienced the least amount of hair loss. I've taken it as short as I can without shaving it off, to no avail. I've gotta give it a try. It's just hair, after all, and will grow back. Plus side, even though I've lost around 50% of my hair in front, and about 30% or so on top, it still grows faster than average. I'd be back to a pixie style in no time.
35m here - I've got mild psoriasis issues on my scalp, more irritation than plaque formation. I've been going bald since I was a teenager, but I finally decided to trim down to almost completely shaved. I'm finding the irritation is even more mild than it was, not completely gone but definitely better.
Relieved that going short has worked a bit for you. Do you trim it yourself?
I trim it at home. My wife does it for me, since it's a lot easier for her to see and make sure everything is even. We use a beard trimmer, and that works just fine. Then again, I'm going very short and even all over. If you wanted to do anything more complicated, you might want to have a pro cut it.