Medically reviewed by Katlein Franca, MD When psoriasis affects the scalp, it causes thick, silvery-white or gray scales that may be inflamed and itchy. You may also feel burning or other discomfort.

“In psoriasis, the epidermis builds up rapidly, producing a thick scale,” says James W. Swan, MD, former professor of medicine in the division of dermatology at Loyola University Medical ...

Certain psoriasis treatments can cause liver toxicity ... itchy skin skin with silvery, gray-white scales skin that is itchy, dry, cracked, or bleeding thickening, pits, or ridges in your nails ...

One downside of scale softeners, especially salicylic acid-containing creams, is that they can be too harsh for the skin. Using these creams more than necessary can also worsen psoriasis symptoms.

But with psoriasis it's much more quick than that and so the whole process may be in a matter of a week or so, and so that's why the thickened skin and the intense scale that happens from it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, psoriasis, which has no cure, “causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin. The extra skin cells form scales and red patches that are itchy and ...

Two posters presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting highlighted the importance of improving ...