Free hair analysis
Hair Library

Hair Library · Scalp Conditions

Scalp Psoriasis: Symptoms, Hair Loss and Treatment

How scalp psoriasis looks, how it differs from dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, what each treatment step does, whether your hair grows back, and when a transplant can be planned.

Diagram: scalp psoriasis plaques running past the hairline; up to 80% of people with psoriasis get it on the scalp, the hair loss is almost always non-scarring, and skin injury can add plaques
48sources
48in PubMed
12min read

Written by Nazmi Güldeş, Certified Trichologist · Medically reviewed by Dr. Teuku Adifitrian, Sp.BP-RE (Dr. Tompi), Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon · Last reviewed 30 October 2026

Reading level

Scalp psoriasis is psoriasis on the scalp: sharply edged, red plaques under silver-white scale that often run past the hairline and usually itch.[1][2][3] It is a chronic immune disease, not an infection, so you cannot catch it or pass it on.[4] There is no cure, but treatment can clear the scalp for long stretches.[5][6]

Hair loss is what worries most people. It can happen, yet it is almost always temporary.[7] Below: how to tell it from dandruff, what each treatment does, and why a transplant must wait for a calm scalp.

1Quick answerThe short answer, in a few sentences

What Is Scalp Psoriasis?

Scalp psoriasis is the same immune-driven skin disease as psoriasis elsewhere, showing on the scalp as well-defined, scaly plaques. Up to 80% of people with psoriasis get it there at some point. It is not contagious, it tends to come and go, and a topical steroid is the usual first treatment.[8][9][4][10]

Estimates range from 50 to almost 80% of people with psoriasis, and the scalp is often where psoriasis first appears.[11][12]

2Complete guideFrom symptoms and treatment to hair loss and surgery

Scalp Psoriasis Symptoms, Causes and Look-Alikes

What Scalp Psoriasis Looks Like

The plaques have sharp edges and often cross the natural hairline, unlike the blurred redness of seborrheic eczema.[1] On the body, psoriasis favors the outer elbows and knees, so a doctor will usually check those too.[13]

Signs to look for:

  • Silver-white scale on red, raised skin[2]
  • Itch: reported at some point by all 32 people with scalp psoriasis in one study, and stronger with worse plaques[3]
  • Plaques past the scalp margin onto nearby skin[13]
Silver-white scaly plaques of psoriasis on the outer elbow and forearm
Plaque psoriasis on the elbow, a site doctors check when the scalp is scaly. Photo: Jacopo188, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

In 1,593 people with psoriasis, scalp lesions were linked to psoriatic arthritis (hazard ratio 3.89), though under 10% developed it over 30 years.[14] Mention any joint pain at your appointment.

What Causes Scalp Psoriasis?

The immune pathways in scalp plaques match those in psoriasis elsewhere on the skin.[8] Genes carry much of the risk.[15]

Triggers and risk factors in the research:

  • Smoking: a 67% higher risk across 30 studies; former smokers still had a raised risk[16]
  • Alcohol: a weaker, less consistent link[16]
  • Stress: a systematic review found a probable link with onset, flare-ups and severity[17]
  • Skin injury: trauma, chemical irritation and infection can raise new plaques, called the Koebner response[18], and itch may worsen psoriasis the same way[19]

If your scalp itches without clear plaques, our itchy scalp entry covers the other causes.

Scalp Psoriasis vs Dandruff, Seborrheic Dermatitis and Ringworm

Seborrheic dermatitisGlossarySeborrheic dermatitis causes an itchy, flaky, scaly rash on oily areas such as the scalp. It is the Malassezia-linked condition most people mean by a scalp yeast infection.
Open in the glossary → is the condition most often confused with scalp psoriasis, and the two can overlap.[1] Dandruff sits at the mild end of the same spectrum: itchy flaking without visible inflammation.[20]

ConditionWhat you seeWhat sets it apartUsual first step
Scalp psoriasisSharp-edged plaques with silver-white scale, often across the hairline[1][2]Red dots and twisted red loops on trichoscopy[21]High-potency topical steroid[10]
Seborrheic dermatitisBlurred, dark-red patches with yellowish, greasy scale[1]Thin branching vessels on trichoscopy[2]; diffuse hair loss is more frequent[1]Topical steroid with an antifungal[1]
DandruffItchy flakes, no visible inflammation[20]Limited to the scalp[20]As for seborrheic dermatitis, its wider form[20][1]
Ringworm (tinea capitis)A fungal infection of scalp and hair, mostly in children[22]Contagious[23]; confirmed by fungal culture or a KOH test[24]Antifungal tablets; creams alone are not enough[22][24]
Contact dermatitisCan look like psoriasis, for example after topical minoxidil[25]Yellow exudate and mixed vessels[2]Patch testing to find the cause[25]

How Doctors Confirm It

Examination plus trichoscopy, a magnified look at the scalp, is often enough; a biopsy is kept for doubtful cases.[2][9]

The vessels give it away more than the flakes: in 96 Korean patients, red dots, globules and twisted red loops marked psoriasis, branching vessels marked seborrheic dermatitis, and the scale looked alike.[21]

Diagram comparing trichoscopy of scalp psoriasis, with red dots and twisted loops under silver-white scale, and seborrheic dermatitis, with thin branching vessels under yellowish scale
What a scalp magnifier shows in each condition. Not to scale. Illustration: Turkey Hair Center.

Scalp Psoriasis in Children, Men and Darker Skin

Children. Among 146 children with psoriasis in Colombia, the scalp was the most often affected site (55.5%).[26] A UK study counted scale at the hairline, scaly redness inside the ear canal and a family history among the seven best clues in children.[27]

Men. Three young men with mild scalp psoriasis and a family history of pattern baldness avoided removing scales that held hairs, fearing faster hair loss.[28] Pattern baldness has its own cause, covered in DHT and hair loss.

Darker skin and textured hair. Hair texture and care practices change how scalp psoriasis looks and is treated.[29] Cleared plaques can leave darker or lighter skin for months or years, more often and more severely in skin of color.[30]

Hair Loss and Treatment for Scalp Psoriasis

Does Scalp Psoriasis Cause Hair Loss?

It can, but most people with scalp psoriasis do not lose hair.[7] When they do, one review says the loss most often sits on the plaques[31], another that most cases are diffuse shedding called telogen effluvium.[7] In most cases the hair grows back.[31]

Sources disagree on how often it happens: a German review calls it rare[1], a 2025 review calls psoriatic alopecia underrecognized and sometimes scarring.[32]

Biologic drugs, mostly TNF-alpha inhibitors, can also set it off; in a review of 96 such cases, most went into remission.[33]

Scalp Psoriasis Treatment, Step by Step

Hair makes the scalp hard to treat, so the form (shampoo, gel or lotion) matters as much as the drug.[34][10]

StepOptionsWhen it is used
Topical steroidHigh-potency steroid lotion, gel or shampoo[10]First line[10]
Steroid plus vitamin DCalcipotriol with betamethasone[34]To start and to maintain[10]
Scale softenersKeratolytics such as salicylic acid[35][34]; tar shampoo[36]Alongside a steroid for heavy scale[10]
Non-steroid topicalsRoflumilast foam[37]; calcineurin inhibitors[9]Mild to moderate disease[9][37]
Light therapyTargeted phototherapy[12]Works better than whole-body light on hair-bearing skin[12]
Tablets and injectionsMethotrexate, cyclosporine, deucravacitinib, IL-17, IL-23 and TNF blockers[9][38]Severe disease, or when quality of life suffers[10]

In a Cochrane review of 59 trials, strong steroids beat vitamin D alone, and adding vitamin D to a steroid gave only a small extra benefit.[34]

Roflumilast foam cleared or almost cleared the scalp in 66.4% of 432 patients aged 12 and over at week 8, against 27.8% on the base foam.[37] Deucravacitinib, a daily tablet, did so in 48.5% at week 16, against 13.7% on placebo.[38]

A 2026 network meta-analysis of 16 trials ranked the IL-17 blockers ixekizumab and brodalumab highest for scalp clearance, with no rise in serious side effects for any agent.[39]

Lifting Scale and Caring for Your Hair

Should you soften the scale first? A 2026 Spanish consensus backs a keratolytic plus a steroid for heavy scaling[10], but a 2014 review found only a marginal gain and warned that extra steps hurt adherence.[35]

Day to day:

  • Do not pick or scratch. Injury can raise new plaques[18], and itch may worsen psoriasis the same way.[19]
  • Apply gently. Friction from rubbing in treatments can pull hair out.[31]
  • Colored or light hair: a coal tar solution did not discolor naturally light or color-treated hair in a lab test.[11]
  • Haircuts, shaving and bleach: physical trauma and chemical irritation are both Koebner triggers[18], so avoid nicks and chemical burns while plaques are active.

Scalp Psoriasis and Hair Transplant Surgery

Can You Have a Hair Transplant With Scalp Psoriasis?

We found no trials of hair transplantation in people with psoriasis, so this section rests on how psoriatic skin reacts to injury.

A transplant moves follicles; it does not treat psoriasis. Hair lost to the plaques usually regrows once they settle[31], so grafting it is the wrong answer. A transplant can fit pattern hair loss once psoriasis is controlled; we found no study of transplants into the rare scarring form.

The Koebner Response: Why Timing Matters

In psoriasis, injury to healthy skin can raise new plaques at that spot, and skin incisions are a known trigger.[40][18] A transplant takes follicles from the back of the head and implants them, roots and all, in the thinning area[41]: small wounds in the donor areaGlossaryThe donor area is the back and sides of the head, where follicles resist DHT. An extracted follicle does not grow back in that spot, so extractions are spread out, and the donor supply is the limit of every plan.
Open in the glossary → and many more where the graftsGlossaryA graft is a follicular unit taken from the donor area and placed in the thinning area. It holds one to four hairs, rarely more, so 2,000 grafts is roughly 3,600 to 4,600 hairs.
Open in the glossary → go.

The evidence is indirect:

  • In 8 of 27 people with psoriasis, tape stripping and a punch biopsy of unaffected skin raised plaques[42]
  • Plaques have appeared along incision scars, and some people with psoriasis have been refused surgery over this risk[43]
  • In a 24-year-old man with no history of psoriasis, plaques appeared over both a skin flap and its donor site 6 months after surgery[44]
  • Yet none of 38 patients treated with lasers on the face, neck or scalp developed new plaques[45]

Disease activity seems to matter most. After laser hair removal in 99 people with skin diseases, psoriasis included, flares were linked to active disease, and the authors advise waiting until it is controlled.[46]

Before and After Surgery

Have the whole scalp examined first. After 10 patients developed inflammatory scalp disease following a transplant, the authors recommended a routine dermoscopic check at the pre-operative visit.[41]

After surgery, follow the washing steps in our post-operative hair wash guide. In the flap case, new plaques at the surgical sites cleared with a topical steroid.[44] Shedding in the first weeks has its own cause, shock lossGlossaryShock loss is a temporary shedding phase after a hair transplant, triggered by surgical stress to the scalp and typically starting 2 to 4 weeks after the procedure. The follicles remain healthy beneath the skin, and new growth resumes within 4 to 6 months.
Open in the glossary →, covered in shock loss after a hair transplant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is scalp psoriasis contagious?
No. Psoriasis is a non-contagious, immune-driven disease.[4] The myth persists: in a survey of 333 secondary school students, 14.5% believed psoriasis was contagious.[5] Ringworm of the scalp, which can look similar, is contagious.[23]
Can scalp psoriasis be cured?
There is no cure; psoriasis is a chronic disease.[5] Treatment can still clear the scalp: on guselkumab, 68.4% of trial participants with skin of color had a clear or almost clear scalp at week 16, against 11.5% on placebo.[29]
Does scalp psoriasis ever go away?
It can clear, but it tends to return. Six months after starting maintenance, 40.3% of people using clobetasol shampoo twice a week were still relapse-free, against 11.6% on a dummy shampoo.[6]
Is scalp psoriasis an autoimmune disease?
It is described as a chronic autoimmune disease[4], with the same immune pathways on the scalp as elsewhere.[8]
Is scalp psoriasis genetic?
Partly. In a study of 10,725 twin pairs, genes explained 68% of the variation in psoriasis risk and environmental factors explained the rest.[15]
Can scalp psoriasis spread to the face?
Plaques often extend beyond the scalp margin.[13] In 282 patients, facial psoriasis marked more severe disease, with more itch and more Koebner reactions.[47]
Can hair dye cause scalp psoriasis?
We found no study showing that hair dye causes psoriasis. Para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a common hair dye ingredient, is a growing cause of allergic contact dermatitis[48], and scalp contact dermatitis can mimic psoriasis; patch testing sorts it out.[25]

Treat the Scalp First, Then Weigh a Transplant

Scalp psoriasis is a long-term condition for a dermatologist to manage, and the hair it takes usually returns as plaques settle.[31] A transplant does not suit active psoriasis or hair lost to it; it can suit pattern hair loss once the scalp has been calm, planned with the Koebner response in mind.[18][46]

Not sure whether your thinning is psoriasis or pattern hair loss? Send three photos for a free hair analysis; the medical team will tell you which it looks like and whether to see a dermatologist first. You can also message us on WhatsApp.

About the Author

Written by: Nazmi Güldeş, Certified Trichologist. Nazmi Güldeş focuses on patient education around androgenetic alopecia, evaluating miniaturization through dermoscopy, and assessing candidates for medical treatments and hair transplants.

Editorial Policy & Trust

This entry was drafted with the help of AI writing tools and edited by our team, then medically reviewed by Dr. Teuku Adifitrian, Sp.BP-RE (Dr. Tompi) on 30 October 2026. AI is never used as a source: every study cited here was checked against PubMed on 30 October 2026, and each claim sits next to the study that supports it. Read how we work in our editorial policy.

3 questions

Test yourself

Check what you remember from this entry. Each answer links back to the section that explains it.

  1. Which trichoscopy sign points to scalp psoriasis rather than seborrheic dermatitis?
  2. Does hair lost to scalp psoriasis usually grow back?
  3. Why does timing matter for a hair transplant in someone with psoriasis?
3Scientific evidenceStudy types, references and how to cite this entry
48sources

Evidence behind this entry: 48 publications indexed in PubMed (1988 to 2026): 16 reviews, 14 clinical studies, 5 randomized trials, 5 systematic reviews, 5 case reports, 2 guidelines and 1 lab study. 24 sources have free full text. 1 article has a published correction, shown in the references.

  • Randomized trialpeople assigned to treatments by chance
  • Reviewsummarises many studies
  • Clinical studya study in people without random groups
  • Lab studytested on cells or hair follicles in the lab
  • Guideline or labela professional body, or the official drug label

Every source checked against PubMed on 30 October 2026, including corrections and retractions. See the newest studies on PubMed →

References

  1. Sticherling M. [Psoriasis capitis and seborrhoic eczema of scalp diseases]. Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, Und Verwandte Gebiete. 2017;68(6):457-465.ReviewPubMedDOI
  2. Waśkiel-Burnat A, Czuwara J, Blicharz L, et al. Differential diagnosis of red scalp: the importance of trichoscopy. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2024;49(9):961-968.ReviewPubMedDOI
  3. Jaworecka K, Kwiatkowska D, Marek-Józefowicz L, et al. Characteristics of pruritus in various clinical variants of psoriasis: Final report of the binational, multicentre, cross-sectional study. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2023;37(4):787-795.Clinical studyPubMedDOI
  4. Chakith M R S, Pradeep S, Gangadhar M, et al. Advancements in understanding and treating psoriasis: a comprehensive review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches. PeerJ. 2025;13:e19325.ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  5. Malkic Salihbegovic E, Kurtalic N, Kurtalic S, et al. Awareness, Attitudes, and Prejudices About Psoriasis. Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica. 2024;32(4):194-198.Clinical studyPubMed
  6. Poulin Y, Papp K, Bissonnette R, et al. Clobetasol propionate shampoo 0.05% is efficacious and safe for long-term control of moderate scalp psoriasis. The Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2010;21(3):185-192.Randomized trialPubMedDOI
  7. Pourani MR, Khajeamiri Y, Abdollahimajd F, et al. Psoriasis and Alopecia: Unveiling the Links. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual. 2025;15(4).ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  8. Ruano J, Suárez-Fariñas M, Shemer A, et al. Molecular and Cellular Profiling of Scalp Psoriasis Reveals Differences and Similarities Compared to Skin Psoriasis. PloS One. 2016;11(2):e0148450.Clinical studyPubMedDOIFree full text
  9. Kuchnicka A, Fałkowska U, Konopelski P, et al. Application of Trichoscopy and Novel Non-Invasive Imaging Techniques in the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Scalp Psoriasis. Psoriasis (Auckland, N.Z.). 2026;16:549372.ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  10. González Cantero Á, Ferrán M, Pérez Barrio S, et al. Management of scalp psoriasis: Updated treatment recommendations from a Delphi consensus of 53 dermatologists from AEDV Psoriasis Working Group. Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas. 2026.GuidelinePubMedDOI
  11. Johnson C, Edison B, Brouda I, et al. A novel LCD (coal tar) solution for psoriasis does not discolor naturally light or color-processed hair in an exaggerated exposure test model. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2009;8(3):211-215.Lab studyPubMedDOI
  12. Wang TS, Tsai TF. Managing Scalp Psoriasis: An Evidence-Based Review. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2017;18(1):17-43.ReviewPubMedDOI
  13. Geng RSQ, Sibbald RG. Cutaneous Psoriasis: Clinical Aspects and Treatments. Advances in Skin & Wound Care. 2025;38(4):176-182.ReviewPubMedDOI
  14. Wilson FC, Icen M, Crowson CS, et al. Incidence and clinical predictors of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: a population-based study. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2009;61(2):233-239.Clinical studyPubMedDOIFree full textA correction to this article was published: Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Apr;62(4):574.
  15. Lønnberg AS, Skov L, Skytthe A, et al. Heritability of psoriasis in a large twin sample. The British Journal of Dermatology. 2013;169(2):412-416.Clinical studyPubMedDOI
  16. Chen D, Ye G, Yang J, et al. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and psoriasis risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies. Frontiers in Public Health. 2026;14:1840932.Systematic reviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  17. Stewart TJ, Tong W, Whitfeld MJ. The associations between psychological stress and psoriasis: a systematic review. International Journal of Dermatology. 2018;57(11):1275-1282.Systematic reviewPubMedDOI
  18. Zhang X, Lei L, Jiang L, et al. Characteristics and pathogenesis of Koebner phenomenon. Experimental Dermatology. 2023;32(4):310-323.ReviewPubMedDOI
  19. Bahali AG, Onsun N, Su O, et al. The relationship between pruritus and clinical variables in patients with psoriasis. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. 2017;92(4):470-473.Clinical studyPubMedDOIFree full text
  20. Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC. Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology. 2015;3(2).ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  21. Kim GW, Jung HJ, Ko HC, et al. Dermoscopy can be useful in differentiating scalp psoriasis from seborrhoeic dermatitis. The British Journal of Dermatology. 2011;164(3):652-656.Clinical studyPubMedDOI
  22. Mayser P, Abeck D, Bosshard PP, et al. Consensus-based Guideline on tinea capitis. Journal Der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology. 2026;24(10):e1510-e1522.GuidelinePubMedDOIFree full text
  23. Gupta AK, Polla Ravi S, Wang T, et al. An update on tinea capitis in children. Pediatric Dermatology. 2024;41(6):1030-1039.ReviewPubMedDOI
  24. Hill RC, Gold JAW, Lipner SR. Comprehensive Review of Tinea Capitis in Adults: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Clinical Presentations, and Management. Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland). 2024;10(5).ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  25. La Placa M, Balestri R, Bardazzi F, et al. Scalp Psoriasiform Contact Dermatitis with Acute Telogen Effluvium due to Topical Minoxidil Treatment. Skin Appendage Disorders. 2016;1(3):141-143.Case reportPubMedDOIFree full text
  26. Torres M, Flórez J, Páez MS, et al. Pediatric psoriasis: A descriptive, retrospective and multicenter study in Colombia. Biomedica. 2025;45(2):310-320.Clinical studyPubMedDOIFree full text
  27. Burden-Teh E, Murphy R, Gran S, et al. Identifying the best predictive diagnostic criteria for psoriasis in children (< 18 years): a UK multicentre case-control diagnostic accuracy study (DIPSOC study). The British Journal of Dermatology. 2022;186(2):341-351.Clinical studyPubMedDOIFree full text
  28. Grimalt R. An Unusual Compulsive Behavior Related to Scalp Psoriasis and Hair Follicle Anxiety in Young Men. Skin Appendage Disorders. 2026;12(1):8-11.Case reportPubMedDOIFree full text
  29. McMichael A, Shahriari M, Stein Gold L, et al. Guselkumab for Moderate to Severe Scalp Psoriasis Across All Skin Tones: Cohort B of the VISIBLE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatology. 2025;161(9):912-922.Randomized trialPubMedDOIFree full text
  30. Alexis A, McMichael A, Vashi N, et al. The Impact of Post-inflammatory Pigment Alteration After Psoriasis: Novel Data from the VISIBLE Study. Dermatology and Therapy. 2026;16(4):2031-2045.Clinical studyPubMedDOIFree full text
  31. George SM, Taylor MR, Farrant PB. Psoriatic alopecia. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2015;40(7):717-721.ReviewPubMedDOI
  32. Pirov E, Ramot Y. Psoriatic Alopecia: Clinical Features, Pathogenesis, and Emerging Treatment Strategies. Skin Appendage Disorders. 2025;11(6):576-585.ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  33. Gu Y, Sebaratnam DF, Makhija M, et al. Biologic-Induced Paradoxical Psoriatic Alopecia: A Systematic Review. The Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2025;66(8):441-447.Systematic reviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  34. Schlager JG, Rosumeck S, Werner RN, et al. Topical treatments for scalp psoriasis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;2(2):CD009687.Systematic reviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  35. Shokeen D, O'Neill JL, Taheri A, et al. Are topical keratolytic agents needed in the treatment of scalp psoriasis?. Dermatology Online Journal. 2014;20(3):doj_21762.ReviewPubMed
  36. Griffiths CE, Finlay AY, Fleming CJ, et al. A randomized, investigator-masked clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of clobetasol propionate 0.05% shampoo and tar blend 1% shampoo in the treatment of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis. The Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2006;17(2):90-95.Randomized trialPubMedDOI
  37. Gooderham MJ, Alonso-Llamazares J, Bagel J, et al. Roflumilast Foam, 0.3%, for Psoriasis of the Scalp and Body: The ARRECTOR Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatology. 2025;161(7):698-706.Randomized trialPubMedDOIFree full text
  38. Duffin KC, Griffiths CEM, Hoffmann M, et al. Deucravacitinib, an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in patients with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis: Efficacy and safety results through week 16 in a phase 3b/4, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (PSORIATYK SCALP). JAAD International. 2026;25:28-40.Randomized trialPubMedDOIFree full text
  39. Lai IC, Lee KC, Huang GL, et al. Systematic review and network meta-analysis of biologics and small molecules for scalp psoriasis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2026;40(11):1785-1795.Systematic reviewPubMedDOI
  40. Ji YZ, Liu SR. Koebner phenomenon leading to the formation of new psoriatic lesions: evidences and mechanisms. Bioscience Reports. 2019;39(12).ReviewPubMedDOIFree full text
  41. Saad S, Cavelier-Balloy B, Smadja J, et al. Inflammatory complications after hair transplantation: Report of 10 cases. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022;21(11):5938-5941.Case reportPubMedDOI
  42. Baker BS, Powles AV, Lambert S, et al. A prospective study of the Koebner reaction and T lymphocytes in uninvolved psoriatic skin. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 1988;68(5):430-434.Clinical studyPubMed
  43. Alolabi N, White CP, Cin AD. The Koebner phenomenon and breast reconstruction: Psoriasis eruption along the surgical incision. The Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery = Journal Canadien de Chirurgie Plastique. 2011;19(4):143-144.Case reportPubMedDOIFree full text
  44. Persaud SR, Rodriguez-Unda NA. Koebner Phenomenon Psoriasis after Right Ankle Free Flap Reconstruction. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2026;53(4):374-377.Case reportPubMedDOIFree full text
  45. Sachsman SM, Madkan V, Yamauchi PS. Absence of Koebnerization Following Ablative and Nonablative Laser Therapy in Patients With Plaque Psoriasis. Dermatologic Surgery. 2016;42(4):521-525.Clinical studyPubMedDOI
  46. Pezhdam P, AliAsgari M, Sadat Ansari M, et al. Safety of using laser for hair removal in patients with skin diseases: a retrospective study. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2024;26(1-4):31-35.Clinical studyPubMedDOI
  47. Young Park J, Hyun Rim J, Beom Choe Y, et al. Facial psoriasis: comparison of patients with and without facial involvement. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2004;50(4):582-584.Clinical studyPubMedDOI
  48. Encabo Durán B, Romero-Pérez D, Silvestre Salvador JF. Allergic Contact Dermatitis Due to Paraphenylenediamine: An Update. Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas. 2018;109(7):602-609.ReviewPubMedDOI
Written byNazmi Güldeş, Certified Trichologist
Sources48 references
Medically reviewed byDr. Teuku Adifitrian, Sp.BP-RE (Dr. Tompi), Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon
Last reviewed30 October 2026
Last updated30 October 2026
Cite this entry
Güldeş, N. (2026, October 30). Scalp psoriasis: Symptoms, hair loss and treatment. Turkey Hair Center Hair Library. https://turkeyhaircenter.com/scalp-psoriasis/
Spotted an error? See our corrections policy · How we use sources
Next in Scalp ConditionsScalp Pain and Hair LossTrichodynia, folliculitis, tight styles and scarring alopecia: which treatments help and which signs need a doctor.Read next →Reading path · step 3 of 5Scalp Yeast InfectionHow a scalp yeast infection differs from dandruff, ringworm and psoriasis, and which antifungal shampoos help.Continue the path →

Keep exploring Scalp Conditions

Scalp Yeast Infection

What a scalp yeast infection is, how it differs from dandruff, ringworm and psoriasis, and which antifungal shampoos help.

Read Scalp Yeast Infection Pimples on Scalp

What causes pimples on the scalp, which shampoos and home steps help, and the warning signs that mean a dermatologist should look.

Read Pimples on Scalp Scalp Pain and Hair Loss

Trichodynia, folliculitis, tight styles and scarring alopecia, which treatments help and which signs need a doctor.

Read Scalp Pain and Hair Loss Recovery After a Hair Transplant

The recovery timeline week by week, washing and aftercare rules, and the habits that protect your final results.

Read Recovery After a Hair Transplant

Ask the Medical Team
About Your Case

Send three photos: front, top and sides. You get a technique recommendation, a graft range and a straight answer about what is achievable, before anyone talks about price.

Please tell us your name.
We need a number the medical team can reach you on.
That email address does not look right.
Country * Please choose your country.
Which area concerns you most?
Treatment you are asking about
0 / 500

Your details go straight to the patient coordination team and are stored confidentially. We never share them with third parties.

We typically reply within minutes, 24/7.

Your details are with the team

A patient coordinator will get back to you shortly. If you would like to send your photos now, WhatsApp is the fastest way to do it.

See the results timeline
Turkey Hair Center patient coordinator Real People
Real Support
  • Send your photos on WhatsApp

    Front, top and both sides, reviewed by the medical team.

  • Call us directly

    Speak to a patient coordinator on the phone.

    +90 545 249 91 04
  • 24/7 patient support

    We respond quickly, day or night, in your language.

    Multilingual team, no obligation
Data protectedKVKK and GDPR compliant, 100% confidential

Explore the Hair Library

88 entries, 46 glossary terms and every source linked to PubMed. Pick a topic and keep reading.

Hair Loss18 entriesHair Loss Treatments11 entriesHair Biology8 entriesGlossary46 terms
Authorized Health Tourism Intermediary

Turkey Hair Center is the hair-restoration brand of Healthy Way Tourism, an authorized international health-tourism intermediary.
All medical procedures are performed by licensed medical professionals at authorized healthcare facilities in Turkiye, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health.

About our authorisation