Seeing those white flakes of skin on your shoulders is an embarrassing and difficult-to-control problem, but not a hopeless one. The first step is determining whether you're suffering from dandruff or psoriasis, which can resemble each other in symptoms but have different treatment methods.
Dandruff
Dandruff is a chronic condition that causes the skin on your scalp to itch and flake off. It has numerous causes, some of the most common being dry or oily skin, infrequent shampooing, psoriasis, eczema and contact dermatitis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anyone can get it, but men, young adults, people with poor diets and people with certain neurological diseases are more prone to it.
Dandruff Treatments
Most cases of dandruff can be controlled with daily shampooing, but medicated shampoos are available for more persistent cases. If medicated shampoos aren't helping after several weeks use, or if your scalp becomes red or swollen, you should see your doctor, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a common, chronic immune system disease affecting the life cycle of skin cells, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. It causes the body's T-cells to mistake healthy skin cells for wounded or infected ones and attack them, leading to a cycle of increased skin cell production followed by more T-cell attacks, according to the Mayo Clinic. This cycle causes the new skin cells to move to the outer skin layer too quickly and form the thick scales and dry, itchy red patches that signal psoriasis. Psoriasis has no cure and comes in many types, ranging from moderate and annoying to severe and disabling. It typically strikes between ages 15 and 35 and develops on the scalp, knees, elbows and torso, but can show up at any age and anywhere, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Psoriasis Treatments
Psoriasis treatments differ depending on the severity and the person, but can include topical treatments, phototherapy, oral medication and injections, according to SkinCarePhysicians.com. Topical creams are usually prescribed for people with mild to moderate psoriasis and are only used during flare-ups. Phototherapy, which slows the growth of affected skin cells, is recommended for people with moderate to severe psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Oral medications and injections, also known as systemic therapy, are used to treat severe or disabling psoriasis, but should be used with caution because they can have serious side effects, according to SkinCarePhysicians.com.
Cautions
Psoriasis flare-ups are typically triggered by an internal or environmental cause, so people should learn to recognize what they are and avoid them, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Some common causes of psoriasis flare-ups include cold weather, injuries or illnesses, starting or stopping medications, smoking, stress, and heavy alcohol intake, according to the Mayo Clinic. People with dandruff that isn't under control should consider avoiding wearing dark colors because skin flakes from the scalp will often settle on your shoulders and back.
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