Learning to Live with a Chronic Skin Condition
- Singer Beyonce Knowles says she’s lived with scalp psoriasis since she was a child. She explained she would use oil to treat it while expressing how emotionally connected she is to her hair. Although she did not name the topical treatment by name, topical treatment is the mainstay treatment option for psoriasis and can come in many forms, including gels, foams, and shampoo.
- Scalp psoriasis is similar to psoriasis that forms elsewhere on the body, except the red, itchy patches develop on the scalp on top of the head. It can be difficult to treat due to the presence of hair, poor accessibility, and unacceptable cosmetic appeal.
- There are seven types of psoriasis, with plaque psoriasis being the most common.
People with a family history of psoriasis increase their risk of developing the chronic disease. - Symptoms for psoriasis can often be managed with different treatments and some lifestyle adjustments. Treatment options include topical creams, phototherapy, or systemic treatments such as oral medications.
Singer Beyonce Knowles, 42, is on the cusp of a new album release next month. She’s the first Black woman artist to have a number one country song to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. In this moment of new beginnings, she is also revealing her personal hair journey and how a psoriasis diagnosis impacted her flowing locks growing up.
Psoriasis is a chronic auto-immune skin condition that causes red, itchy patches to develop on the skin or, in the case of scalp psoriasis, on top of the head.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramThe multi-time Grammy winner says she has suffered from scalp psoriasis since she was a child. According to research published in Dermatology and Therapy, scalp psoriasis can be difficult to treat.
“Due to the presence of hair, poor accessibility, and unacceptable cosmetic appeal of topical therapy, patients also tend to have poor adherence and satisfaction with treatment. Regiments can be complex and are highly dependent on patient preference,” researchers said in the study.
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During an interview with Essence Magazine, Knowles noted how important her relationship is with her hair.
“The relationships we have with our hair is such a deeply personal journey. From spending my childhood in my mother’s salon to my father applying oil on my scalp to treat my psoriasis – these moments have been sacred to me,” Knowles explained.
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer didn’t say what oil she used to manage her psoriasis.
The first line of therapy for scalp psoriasis patients often involves topical corticosteroids – an anti-inflammatory medicine. Corticosteroids may come in foam, gel, solution, shampoo, or spray.
Other scalp psoriasis treatment options may also include phototherapy. However, while phototherapy effectively manages psoriasis, the presence of hair makes it difficult to apply.
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While discussing her hair and why it means so much to her, Knowles added that she cut her long hair in favor of a pixie cut in 2013 while preparing for motherhood.
“So much of my identity as a performer has been connected to flowing hair. Cutting my hair off was me rebelling against being this woman that society thinks I’m supposed to be. I was a new mother, and something about the liberation of becoming a mother made me want to just shed all of that. It was a physical representation of me, shedding the expectations put upon me. I just wanted it off,” Knowles explained.
RELATED: Beyonce’s dad, Mathew Knowles, is a breast cancer survivor.
Helping Your Manage Psoriasis
Psoriasis Is a Chronic Disorder that Can Be Managed
According to the National Institute of Health, “Many people with psoriasis have a family history of the disorder. Researchers have identified certain genes linked to the disease but still don’t fully understand the disease process. They do know that it isn’t contagious.”
Dr. Saakshi Khattri, a dermatologist/rheumatologist at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “It is a chronic condition, which can ebb and flow. You can have good days and bad days.”
Dr. Saakshi notes that while anyone can develop psoriasis, the disease is more common in people between 30 and 50. Researchers believe genetics and environmental factors may play a role in the development of psoriasis.
Common symptoms often include:
- Red patches of skin covered with silvery-like scales
- Small scaling spots
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed or itch
- Itching, burning sensation, or soreness
- Thickened or ridged nails
- Swollen or stiff joints
WATCH: Treating plaque psoriasis
Topical medicines in the form of skin creams are considered mainstays in treating psoriasis symptoms. The topical you take depends on the kind of psoriasis you’re dealing with and its related symptoms.
The seven different types of psoriasis include:
- Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the disease and causes dry, raised skin patches that may be covered in scales. The patches may be itchy and tender.
- Nail psoriasis: This disease can affect fingernails and toenails and might cause nails to loosen from the nail bed.
- Guttate psoriasis: This disease typically affects young adults and children and is often caused by a bacterial infection like strep throat.
- Inverse psoriasis: This type of psoriasis mainly affects skin folds, so it will often present in areas such as the groin, buttocks, or breasts and can worsen with friction or sweating.
- Pustular psoriasis: This rare form of psoriasis causes pus-filled blisters to develop in widespread patches across the body.
- Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is also a rare form of the disease. It can cover the entire body with a red, peeling rash that may itch or burn intensely.
- Psoriatic arthritis: With this form of the disease, joints may become swollen and painful. Sometimes, joint pain is the first or only symptom, while other times, other symptoms like nail changes will occur.
Other psoriasis medicines include oral drugs.
- Methotrexate: This medication was approved for psoriasis in 1972 and can be administered orally or intravenously. It works as an immunosuppressant that inhibits rapidly dividing cells. According to the American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines, methotrexate is typically administered in doses ranging from 7.5 mg to 25 mg weekly as one dose or divided into three dosages over 24 hours. Common side effects include fatigue and nausea.
- Apremilast (Otezla): This medication suppresses an enzyme inside inflammation cells. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache.
- Cyclosporine: This drug isn’t used for long-term psoriasis treatment due to potentially serious adverse effects. However, it does have a role “as a rapid-acting medication for severe, recalcitrant disease, acute flares, and erythroderma.” Nephrotoxicity (kidney issues) and hypertension (high blood pressure) are cyclosporine’s most common adverse side effects.
Other systemic treatment options for psoriasis Biologic drugs or biologics, which are given by injection or intravenous (IV) infusion (a slow drip of medicine into your vein), may also be provided. These drugs target only specific parts of the immune system, while other systemic drugs target the whole system.
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