Conditions
Psoriasis
Around two per cent of the entire population of the UK suffer from the skin condition psoriasis, and it’s one of the commonest skin complaints in kids. Psoriasis takes the form of a shiny, red, raised rash in which the skin forms flaky scales and then crumbles or peels away from the body. In kids it often appears on the knees, the elbows, the face, under the hair on the scalp and around joints where the skin creases.
There are several different types of psoriasis but they are all the result of skin cells reproducing too quickly. Normally it takes 21 – 28 days for new skin cells to develop. In psoriasis sufferers that process only takes two to six days. Cells build up on the surface of the skin causing red, flaky, crusty or silvery patches to appear. Kids can’t catch the condition from anyone else and it isn’t caused by poor hygiene. In fact, in around 30 per cent of cases it’s hereditary. It’s rare in babies and very young children and tends to arrive with the approach of puberty. There is one form however, called guttate psoriasis, which does occur in younger kids. The symptoms are the usual scaly red rash, and it often comes in the wake of a respiratory or throat infection.
Though psoriasis isn’t harmful in itself, it can be extremely awkward and uncomfortable, especially if it occurs on the hands, face or feet, and it has a nasty habit of hitting kids just when they are starting to become self-conscious about their bodies and appearance. There is no specific medical cure and the condition can come and go over a period of many years. So what sort of treatment is available?
Your doctor can recommend creams and ointments to rub onto the affected areas. Moisturiser can also relief the itching. Coal tar shampoo, which you can get from the chemist, is effective on psoriasis of the scalp. In very bad cases, it’s also possible to treat the condition with a therapy which uses ultraviolet light.
For most kids and parents though, it’s a question of managing the condition through childhood and into adolescence with a combination of creams and ointments. Helping your child get into a treatment routine, knowing what conditions may make it worse, and providing emotional support are all just as important.
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I'm 17 and been suffering psoriasis for about a year now it goes in the winter but comes back in the other seasons, it's on the back of my neck so i don't wear my hair up to avoid questions from people and i've tried 2 different creams for it but they don't seem to work.
I am really feeling bad for you.. Even I had been suffering from psoriasis like how to are going through but on a different place on my body.. Thanks to www.getpsoriasissolutions.com without which life would have been very difficult.. This site provided all info I have to know to get it fix.. Hope it helps you..
I am 15 and have severe psoriasis on my scalp for a few years now. I have been to my GP a few times and they prescribed me Capasal shampoo and Betnovate cream, yet neither have worked. Any other suggestions as to what i can use will be a great help. Thanks.
Hi I have the same problem as u and I've also had the same treatments as u and nothing has worked for me either. I don't know what to do. But I know what your going though. I'm 13 year old and have had it since I was born.
I am 14 and my scalp is shocking. My mum has got it all over her body really bad but for my head i use 'diprolsalic scalp application' its really good and gets it away for a few days but you have got to use it regularly
hi my daughter has suffered with psosriasis since she was a baby i never found any of the treatment we were offered really helped on a long term basis, although shes now nearly 8 and has been clear of the contition 4 nearlly 12mths, my question is my little girl ha got olive skin type, and where the psosriasis was really bad she now had pigmented skin (white patches)i wanted 2 know if this would inprove over time and her skin would ever go back 2 normal ??
Hi i,ve had severe psoriasis for 30 years and i can tell you it's all down to food intolerance, the most likely food is yeast but it,s an over active immune responce to something it just takes time to work it out. Try not to use anti- biotics unless you have to. good luck.
Hi my little boy is nearly 4 and has psoriasis of the scalp. I have tried a polytar shampoo from the doc and betnovate scalp applicator and tried tgel shampoo but none of this is helping. Ice also tried baby oil but no effect, please can someone recommend anything to help as its very sore and uncomfortable for him!
Betnovate scalp aplication was the only thing that would ease mine and Nizoral shampoo
Hi i'm 14 and I have very severe dandruff that can sometimes become like this i've had it all my life it's very demeaning when it comes to school is there anything I can do?
my daugther is 10 and since christmas has had a corner of her mouth that keep peeling when the dry skin is flacked off the skin underneath is red and shiny. my mother suffers from psoriasis and thats why i'm thinking she has it to.she also has dry spots on her face.has any one got the same
Can anyone recommend a good shampoo to use on my psoaris in my scalp that would reduce the amount of itching because im itching quite alot and everyone at school thinks i have got nits because im itching my head so much.. all suggestions welcome
Polytar is a good one
Hiya, I have had psoriasis in my scalp for years now, and it's embarrassing because people also think I have really bad dandruff. The product T-Gel helped to calm mine down a little, as the tar got to work straight away. Hope this of help x
Dream Cream from Lush is the best moisturiser/cream I've ever used on my psoriasis - have had it for 36 years. I used to wear clothes to hide my psoriasis (e.g., high necks and long sleeves) but decided in my mid twenties that I didn't care anymore, had it since I was 2, and as soon as I started uncovering it started clearing up in those areas. Only stubborn area now is scalp which seems much harder to treat. Also I strongly recommend a sugar free diet and homeopathic treatment. x
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