Itchy scalp and hair loss can be very frustrating and worrying,
and there can be a number of factors which cause or aggravate the hair
loss. The hair loss caused by itchy scalp problems is not always
permanent, and will often grow back once the main itchy scalp problem is
sorted out.
In saying this though, it is vital that you take
swift action to properly diagnose the problem and search for suitable
remedies and treatments in order to avoid long term scarring from the
itchy scalp irritation, and thus enable your hair to begin growing back.
Here I'd like to tell you about a few common reasons for itchy scalp hair loss and what you can do to alleviate the problem.
Folliculitis - strong ingredients in shampoos can damage hair follicles and lead to infections such as folliculitis.
Symptoms
are normally small, white-headed pimples around one or more hair
follicles. Deep folliculitis will often result in larger painful red
boils.
If left untreated the folliculitis can significantly injure
the hair follicle resulting in localised areas of scarring and bald
patches where there are no visible follicles; this is known as "cicatricial alopecia".
Antibiotics
are often used to treat folliculitis, but as with all antibiotics they
can lead to a resistance to the antibiotic used. Natural remedies
containing Tea Tree Oil or Lavender Oil can be extremely effective in
treating the itchy scalp hair loss of folliculitis, particularly in the
early stages, and can help to stimulate hair growth.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) -
a superficial fungal infection of the scalp. It is caused by mold-like
fungi called dermatophytes, and the symptoms include red, itchy patches
on the scalp, hair loss and, if left untreated, can also lead to cicatricial alopecia.
The skin might peel or scale and be red and itchy, with swollen blisters or a rash (that can spread) that appears as black dots.
The
rash, being highly contagious, is normally treated with over the
counter products containing miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar
ingredients. Sometimes prescription medications are needed to clear it
up.
There are many natural products that can be used to aid the
healing process and act as natural antibiotics, but it must be stressed
that ringworm is an aggressive fungus requiring close monitoring and
appropriate treatment.
Psoriasis - said to affect some 2.5%
of the US population (about 7 or 8 million people) psoriasis is a
fairly common, non-contagious skin disease in which the skin cells
replace themselves too quickly and cause red lesions covered with scale
to appear.
Scalp psoriasis is said to affect at least half of all
psoriasis sufferers and is characterized by white scales on patches of
very red skin, often accompanied by severe itching and possibly
temporary baldness on the affected areas.
Using a shampoo
containing zinc pyrithione (in its natural form) can be extremely
effective at combating psoriasis and itchy scalp hair loss in general,
as it has very strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Home remedies using birch or avocado oil are also extremely effective in soothing and healing psoriasis.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis - similar in appearance to eczema (Atopic Dermatitis), this is an inflammatory reaction to the proliferation of a yeast called Malassezia (or Pityrosporum Ovale).
It produces toxic substances that irritate the skin. This yeast is
always present on the scalp in small numbers and feeds on the natural
oils produced there.
Imbalances in the levels of oils (sebum) on
the scalp, (often due to harsh shampoos, conditioners and hair dyes) can
cause the yeast to multiply and grow, resulting in dry redness,
flaking, itchy scalp and sometimes cause temporary hair loss. The flakes
of skin are normally characterized by a yellowish colour and oily
texture.
Since the dermatitis is generally caused by the use of
harsh shampoos and the stripping and drying out of the scalp, it is
advisable to use a shampoo containing only natural ingredients like Tea
Tree Oil which will not only help to fight the infection but will
control the yeast and condition the skin, as well as maintain the
natural pH balance of the scalp. Adding Rosemary Oil to the shampoo can
work wonders, in addition to using simple home remedies containing
Manuka or Tea Tree Oil, as well as Lavender to stimulate hair growth.
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