[Medical Q&A] Will scalp psoriasis cause hair loss?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Zhou Cheng, Chief Physician, Peking University People's Hospital

It will not directly cause hair loss, but it will cause indirect harm.

The psoriasis rash on the scalp is similar to the psoriasis rash on other parts of the body. Epidermal cells rapidly divide and proliferate under the stimulation of related cytokines, accumulating on the scalp and producing erythema and scales.

This process mainly occurs in the epidermis and will not affect the hair follicles in the dermis, so there is no direct damage to the hair.

However, if the patient is always picking at the patches on the scalp with his hands, or if a secondary bacterial infection occurs, causing damage to the hair follicles, it may lead to hair loss and the formation of localized hair loss patches.

In addition, there are many factors that affect hair growth. If psoriasis patients are under too much mental stress or take certain medications (such as Acitretin), it may also cause diffuse hair loss on the entire scalp.