A 29-Year-Old Woman with Treatment-Resistant Dandruff
January 2022
in “
Clinical Cases in Dermatology
”
scalp psoriasis erythematous plaques silvery-white scales pruritus hair loss dermoscopy skin biopsy calcipotriene betamethasone dipropionate intralesional corticosteroids retinoids keratolytic agents methotrexate acitretin cyclosporine apremilast etanercept secukinumab itching betamethasone corticosteroids
TLDR Scalp psoriasis is hard to treat and may need various medications.
Scalp psoriasis, affecting up to 80% of psoriasis patients, presents as erythematous plaques with silvery-white scales and can cause significant pruritus and hair loss, impacting quality of life. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, with dermoscopy and skin biopsy aiding in ambiguous cases. Treatment is challenging, with topical agents like calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate as first-line options, and other therapies including intralesional corticosteroids, retinoids, and keratolytic agents. Severe cases may require systemic treatments such as methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine, apremilast, etanercept, and secukinumab.
