Mum Lost All Her Hair and Developed Mould-Like Scalp Patches After Mistaking Psoriasis for Dandruff

Thirty-year-old Leonie Branaghan detailed how the stress of childbirth triggered sudden-onset psoriasis, causing her hair to fall out and leaving her confined to her home for six months.

Severe Scalp Symptoms and Six Months of Isolation

Branaghan, a stay-at-home mother from Ipswich, Suffolk, initially noticed a small scab behind her ear that she mistook for occasional dandruff. Within months, however, her entire head became covered in thick, white, mould-like patches, and her long blonde hair fell out entirely.

By January 2024, my whole head was covered and my hair had all fallen out. I almost didn’t look human. It looked a bit like mould and I didn’t leave the house for six months.

The Sun

She described the skin on her scalp as intensely itchy, burning upon scratching, and prone to bleeding and oozing a foul-smelling clear liquid. She eventually received a referral to a dermatologist in September 2024, where doctors diagnosed her with psoriasis, an incurable autoimmune condition affecting up to three percent of the population.

Childbirth Trauma and Sepsis as Triggers

Branaghan gave birth to her son, Kobe, on October 2, 2023. Shortly after delivery, both mother and newborn contracted sepsis and were admitted to intensive care, an ordeal that left her with persistent flashbacks and severe sleep anxiety.

Hospital physicians informed Branaghan that the extreme psychological and physical stress surrounding the childbirth complications triggered her autoimmune response. NHS guidelines recognize stress, pregnancy, medicines, infections, sunlight, alcohol, and smoking as known triggers for psoriasis.

Coping With Public Stigma and Ongoing Hair Loss

To manage her appearance during the worst phases of her condition, Branaghan wore wigs, hats, and cancer caps. She recounted instances of public insensitivity, including a stranger questioning why she wore a winter hat during warm weather while she balanced a wig underneath a beanie to conceal her hair loss.

She has tried various topical creams, ointments, and oral and injectable medications with no cure available. Although she desires another child, she stated that the risk of triggering another severe flare-up prevents her from expanding her family, noting that her hands previously split so severely she could not play with her older children or walk to the park.

Urgent Calls for Early Medical Consultation

Branaghan is now actively raising awareness about the severity of the condition and urges anyone experiencing similar symptoms to seek medical evaluation promptly rather than waiting months for a referral. She noted that her scalp has begun showing signs of deterioration again, with her hair starting to fall out in small clumps.

My head is starting to get quite bad again and my hair is starting to fall out again in little bits. If you think you have psoriasis you should not wait for as long as I did to get in touch with someone in the medical profession.

The Sun