How to manage folliculitis and psoriasis effectively?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have psoriasis on various parts of my body: my arms, trunk, and legs. Additionally, I shave the back and sides of my head. Sometimes, after shaving, I notice spots there—occasionally just a few, sometimes quite a lot. Despite consulting dermatologists, I have never received a clear answer regarding whether these spots are psoriasis or folliculitis. The severity of these spots has worsened significantly over the last couple of weeks. I attempted to stop shaving my head for a while, but unfortunately, there was no improvement. Currently, I am using a combination of Calcipotriene and Betamethasone dipropionate cream, as well as Clindamycin cream, but I am unsure which to apply to my head. Clarifying whether these spots are psoriasis or folliculitis is essential for determining the appropriate treatment.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

First, you need to understand that psoriasis is a recurrent autoimmune disease. It is commonly said to play hide and seek with the patient, meaning that it can be active at times and dormant at others. However, none of the pictures you provided show any signs of an active psoriasis condition. Instead, they appear to be folliculitis. This folliculitis can be treated with the help of Clindamycin cream or gel. Such lesions often occur when psoriasis is actively treated with petroleum jelly or steroid application. Additionally, one of your pictures shows that you may have applied hair dye. If so, please try to avoid using them, as they can exacerbate any skin condition.

I hope this information helps you. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you.