Psoriasis and Hair Loss

Hi,

I have male pattern baldness. it started at age 18 from my temples and has been receding terribly over the years, and more esp over the last 5 years. I am now 43. I used to have severe psoraisis on the face and scalp and was told the hair loss was because of that. Now the psoraisis has gone down considerably, alomost completely but the receding continues. i also have thick scabs on my scalp on and off that do not look like psoraisis scabs, i think it could be symptomatic of systemic yeast/eczema?

I used to have a very thick full head of hair, more than the average person so the hair loss over the years was more apparent to me than to others. Now, it is apparent to everyone. i just have a strand or two to cover my unnaturally high forehead, the hair on top is very thin, weak and sparse, there is more at the back but that too has recently thinned a lot.

In the last 3-4 months, my hair has been falling out in clumps, and is extremely coarse, dry and brittle. Please dont tell me it is age because this has been happening throughtout my adult life , but has has gotten much worse recently and esp since my first ever perm a year ago. But the frontal hair has been receding steadily since age 18. It has been very distressing and depressing for me, and nowadays, i dont even like to look in the mirror and see my unkempt hair. No matter what i do – hair oils, etc, it is as dry n weak as ever and receding all the time. help would be very welcome and appreciated.

This is an area where I have first hand knowledge, with the worst form of scalp psoriasis one can have. Mine, like yours, burned out in the scalp and I have almost none of if at this time. But I never lost hair because I was careful about not pulling off the plaques which would have almost certainly produced traction alopecia. Psoriasis does not cause hair loss unless the plaques are pulled off and the hair comes out with the plaques regularly.

With regard to hair transplants, I am frequently asked by people with psoriasis, if the psoriasis can be moved from one part of the scalp to another. In my experience, psoriasis can not be transplanted from the affected area to an unaffeced area, but any surgery done on active psoriasis, can make it worse, unless it is treated topically prior to the surgery.

You may have a skin condition and this must be defined by a good dermatologist. The rest of your needs are easily dealt with through traditional hair transplantation, which is extensively discussed in my book, The Patient’s Guide to Hair Restoration.