It’s not only your hair health you need to think about. Strong, beautiful hair can only grow from a healthy scalp. Some of the most common scalp conditions cause itchiness, rashes and hair loss. So watch out for the symptoms and find out how to treat them!
Seborrheic Dermatitis is one of the most common scalp conditions that is defined by dandruff and patches of grease. In a worst case scenario, it can even lead to hair loss! It’s not contagious but is an obvious inconvenience. Seborrheic Dermatitis is associated with stress and seasonal changes in your body, such as weakened immune system or seasonal depression, so tends to worsen in winter and early spring. Besides these causes, this disease can also be triggered by Parkinson’s, diabetes, obesity or caused by fungus. To fight this condition, you’ll need a prescription-strength ketoconazole shampoo that should be applied directly to your scalp for 5-10 minutes prior to wetting your hair and followed by a moisturising shampoo and conditioner to prevent excessive dryness.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) is a painful and itchy rash reaction to your scalp skin coming from direct contact with an allergen. It can be something in your hair dye, shampoo, perfume or even fabric (if you’ve been wearing a hat or a headband recently). The first step towards treating ACD should, of course, be identifying the allergen and eliminating it. Two to three weeks of topical steroids will deal with the symptoms and clear your skin.
Folliculitis. Exactly what it sounds, folliculitis is a hair follicle inflammation that looks like acne only it’s on your head instead of your face. The tiny bumps can also be quite sore. Folliculitis is often caused by bacteria but can also be a result of heavy conditioner, shaving and excessive sweating. In the first case, your doctor will prescribe you antibiotics. And if there is no bacteria, topical steroid formulations will help combat the inflammation.
Psoriasis might only affect 1-2% of the population but it can happen at any age and to anyone. Look out for the pink patches with a slight silvery scale. The buildup of skin cells that is psoriasis creates rough scaly patches on your scalp that you can’t help but want to scratch, causing itchiness, irritation and even bleeding. Though psoriasis is considered to be an autoimmune disease, when it comes to your scalp specifically, it can also be caused by constant blow-drying and harsh chemicals in your hair dye. To ease the symptoms, switch to gentler hair products and don’t wash your hair every day. You can also use a therapeutic oil cream. Professional treatment includes topical steroids, biologics injections and an excimer laser.
Cysts. As the largest organ in your body, skin can suffer from cysts just as much as your internal organs. They look like marble- or grape-sized bumps that you can usually feel when your brush runs over them. They’re most often smooth and skin- or pink-coloured. Cysts are mostly genetic and if they’re not bothering you, they can totally be left alone, they’re not causing any harm. But if a cyst gets infected, you might feel pain and irritation in the area where it’s located. Incision and drainage or antibiotics will remove the symptoms but not the cyst itself. The only way to get rid of it entirely is through an easy surgical removal. The surgery might leave a tiny scar but it probably won’t even be noticeable under your hair.