Rita’s mother died suddenly six years ago after hip surgery. “Her death could probably have been prevented if better care had taken place. This was an incredibly stressful period, during which psoriasis developed on my scalp. As a result, I have terrible itching, flakes and a large bald spot on my head, which is almost as big as a hand.”
To hide her bald spot, Rita has let her hair grow so that she can wear it in a bun on her head and thus hide the spot. “There are only a handful of people who know about this. I’m very ashamed of it.” Even though Rita has tried everything – special shampoo, cream, oils – nothing seems to provide relief. What can Rita do?
Psoriasis is a skin disease in which the skin produces new cells too quickly and new skin layers are continuously created. These cells die but remain in your skin, which can cause thick patches of flakes. According to hair and scalp expert Willeke Pietersma Can psoriasis be hereditary? “If you are hereditary, psoriasis is latent. Psoriasis can flare up due to factors such as a virus, a wound on the skin, medicines, but also due to stress – as in the case of Rita.”
Because so many new skin layers stack on top of each other, hairs can no longer come through the skin layer on your scalp, which may have caused that bald spot, Pietersma explains. “She absolutely does not have to be ashamed of this, but something needs to be done about it. First of all, an attempt must be made to remove the layer of skin, which will hopefully cause the hair to grow again. Because of that bald spot she is probably not feeling well. her skin, she continues to experience stress and has ended up in a negative spiral. A (temporary) solution could be to fit a hairpiece so that she does not have to worry about her bald spot being seen.”
Light therapy
“I assume that Rita was seen by a GP and/or a dermatologist who made this diagnosis and also prescribed her a special (intensive cleansing) shampoo. Some people find it difficult or are hesitant to intensively shampoo the scalp themselves. In that case Rita would go to a ANKO-certified hair specialist who can help and advise her with this,” says Pietersma.
She also states that Rita can go back to her practitioner, a doctor or dermatologist, and ask for treatment with light therapy is an option for her. This therapy can soothe the scalp and remove the skin layers and itching.
Rubriek: Asking for a friend
In this weekly column Asking for a friend we submit reader questions about health to one of our experts. Do you also have a pressing health question for a GP, midwife, dietitian, psychologist, dermatologist or other health expert? Then email it to weekendmagazine@rtl.nl and who knows, you might see the answer appear here.
2024-02-12 13:12:51
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