The Root of the Problem

I'd get rid of the psoriasis on my scalp.

For seven years I wore my very thick hair very short because it seemed to be easier to deal with. About six months ago I decided to rebel and let my hair grow. I love the way it looks but I hate the way it flakes. (After all these years people can say I'm flaky and they'll finally be right!)

I wasn't about to cut my hair, so I started gathering information on every possible non-prescription treatment. Here's what I've tried that actually worked for me.

Wash that P right out of your hair
My hair was looking dull from years of using coal tar and salicylic acid shampoos. The steroid shampoo prescribed by the dermatologist made it worse.

I read some anecdotal reports on the internet that hair color helped reduce the itching and flaking that every scalp psoriasis sufferer is all too familiar with. I was desperate so I tried it. My scalp still itched a little but the flaking was significantly reduced.

Pick a shade close to your natural color if you don't want your roots showing. If you decide to make a dramatic change, you may want to seek your hairstylist's help.

A word of caution: Don't try this if you have any open sores on your scalp.

Wish for oily hair
Medicated shampoos can dry out your scalp too much and actually make the itching worse. After a while you start acting like a dog that can't quite get that last flea scratched.

I was in this predicament when a friend told me that she used extra virgin olive oil to treat the eczema on her child's scalp. I was skeptical but willing to try it because I heard the magic words: It washes out in one shampoo.

It's true! It really does wash out in one shampoo, and it leaves your hair soft too. It's also relatively cheap, for a psoriasis treatment.

Olive oil can be used as a moisturizer anywhere on your body. Sometimes when I take a bath I put a little in the bathwater. It's a little messy going on but the skin absorbs it well.

Words of caution: Use extra virgin olive oil and be careful when using it in the bathroom, as it will make the bathtub and floor slippery. Keeping it in a spray bottle cuts down on the danger since you're not likely to use as much of it.

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