Most Common Scalp Conditions You Need To Know

Quick overview

Scalp conditions are any abnormal body conditions that can lead to hair loss. Scalp conditions exhibit several symptoms, such as itching, dandruff, peeling, ringworms, etc. however, these are only symptoms of an underlining problem. If proper care is not given to it, it may escalate into a more severe condition.

For a fact, hair loss can be very embarrassing. Our hair impacts our looks tremendously, and the reason is that it is the most visible part of our body. That is why we think everyone should take their hair seriously. And that is why we prepared this article for you.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most common hair conditions, possible causes, and solutions or control. So, if you’re already suffering from any, then this article is for you. And if you aren’t, then you’ll need the information here to take up preventive measures.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Also known as pattern baldness, because of the nature of its occurrence, this type of condition can affect just anyone, both males and females. It is considered a permanent hair loss, and it comes in a specific pattern, often an “M” shape in men or a patterned thinning in women.

In men, Androgenetic Alopecia often leads to complete baldness, whereas, in women, it doesn’t necessarily do so. Most often in women, it expresses itself through regular hair thinning, but the hairline may not be lost.

Causes

• Hormonal imbalance: The primary biological cause of this condition is the DHT hormone, which attacks hair follicles. This hormone essentially converts testosterone, and because men have more testosterone than women, it explains why hair loss due to DHT is prevalent in men.
• Age is another chief cause of this condition, making both men and women vulnerable.

Treatment

While many people resort to several treatment options, currently, there are only a few FDA approved treatments for this condition;

• Rogaine (Also known as topical minoxidil) and
• Propecia (finasteride)

Other treatment options are hair transplant, stem cell hair transplant, etc.

Alopecia areata

Known as a sudden hair loss condition, Alopecia Areata is a frequent hair loss condition that produces baldness in males and thinning in women. However, unlike Androgenetic Alopecia, this hair loss does not cause permanent damage to the follicle and usually causes patchy hair loss. Unless the situation is extreme, the follicles will preserve their ability to produce hair. Therefore, if this problem can be treated promptly, victims may begin to enjoy normal hair growth in the shortest possible time.

Causes

Alopecia areata occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, causing them to diminish in size and significantly delay hair development, to the point where hair may cease growing completely.

Treatment

The good news is that there is a vast range of therapy options available for people suffering from this condition. The bad news is that this condition is highly unpredictable, necessitating a great deal of trial and error to be effectively treated.

The truth is that there is now no proven permanent cure for Alopecia Areata; nevertheless, these drugs can assist in the regrowth of hair and prevent further hair loss. Also, keep in mind that one sort of treatment may not be effective for everyone. Therefore it is critical to check with your doctor if you are having this type of disease.

The following are examples of alternative treatment options.

• Use of topical agents: In the case of topical medicines, pharmaceuticals can be applied directly to the scalp to stimulate the growth of new hair. Topical medicines such as Minoxidil, Anthralin, Corticosteroid, and others are examples.
• Steroid injections: Steroid injections are another option for treating this condition. They are hormones that stimulate new hair growth if the patient is fortunate enough to have this happen. Patients should be aware that this does not imply that they will not experience further hair loss in the future.
• Oral medication: Medicines like Cortisone and other immunosuppressants are effective in treating this condition.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is also a type of autoimmune disease that is passed down from generation to generation. It is a chronic inflammatory condition with periods of remission (during which symptoms disappear) and relapse (when symptoms return).

The scalp is affected by psoriasis in half of those who have the disease.

Psoriasis is characterized by rapid cell growth, resulting in bumpy, white, or red patches with silver-gray scales, itching, scalp lesions (similar to seborrheic dermatitis), symptoms that begin with dandruff-like flakes and progresses to more severe symptoms.

Commons causes

Many factors can cause psoriasis. Below are a few known causes;

• Stress
• Weather
• Smoking
• Cuts
• Medications

Treatment

Luckily, there are a variety of treatment options. Some can be fast or slow. However, it is still up to the doctor to decide which is best for you. They include;

• Steroid or topical retinoid agents
• Coal Tar (available in shampoos, creams, etc.)
• Creams with Vitamin-D

Ringworms

Ringworm affects the outer layer of the scalp. Symptoms include a rash with raised red margins and circular spots.

The rash spreads from the circle’s borders inward. The rash appears ring-shaped.

Unlike many scalp illnesses, ringworm is infectious and may be spread by sharing personal things such as hats, combs, brushes, cloths, or towels.

Treatment

Antifungal shampoos and prescription medications such as griseofulvin (Gris-PEG), terbinafine, and itraconazole are effective treatment alternatives.

Some precaution ties to take also are;

• It would help if you washed your hands before and after administering topical treatments to prevent the spread of ringworm to other parts of the body.
• Because ringworm is highly contagious, antifungal shampoo should be used on everyone in the family.

Conclusion

It will be necessary to stop here to save you the burden of reading for an extended period. Even though we only photographed a few of these circumstances, they represent the majority of the cases.

Keep in mind that self-medication should be avoided. Before taking any drug, always seek the professional advice of a physician.