WHAT ARE THE MAIN DISEASES OF THE SCALP AND HOW ARE THEY TREATED?
Understanding the main diseases of the scalp is essential so that you can check if you have any hair pathologies and seek the appropriate treatment for your clinical situation. This is because the sooner the problem is detected, the greater the patient ‘s chances of regaining the health of the strands and having a higher quality of life without compromising their self-confidence .
Do you want to understand this better? So, continue reading the article to see what the main diseases of the scalp are and how to treat them.
FOLLICULITIS
Folliculitis is inflammation of the scalp in one or more follicles. It is usually caused by a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. This pathology can also be present in other parts of the body.
Among the most common symptoms are: itching, rash, and even lumps of pus that look like pimples. Appropriate treatment will depend on the stage of the disease. The healthcare professional can then prescribe the antibiotics in topical or oral lotions. Likewise, salicylic acid may be recommended.
SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS
Seborrheic dermatitis, known as dandruff, is one of the most common scalp diseases among humans. In this situation, the patient has excessive oiliness associated with scaling and inflammation of the scalp. This disease is chronic and occurs at varying levels of severity, with a period when symptoms improve and worsen.
The cause of seborrheic dermatitis may be genetically related or may be caused by contact with external factors such as very hot baths, fungi, alcohol, emotional stress, medications, among others.
In addition to the oily scalp, this disease has other common symptoms. These are yellow scales that are burning and oily and white scales that are flaky, itchy, slight redness and in some cases hair loss in the affected area.
Treatment should be done with lotions for seborrheic dermatitis and shampoo that has antifungal, anti-inflammatory effect and properties for control oiliness and flaking. The individual should also know the correct washing frequency recommended by the specialist. After treatment, the person is recommended to use anti-oil shampoo once a week.
PITYRIASIS
Pityriasis is an infection caused by fungi in which the individual usually presents with scaling and itching. This condition can be triggered by excessive sweating, stress, changes in the pH of the scalp, and temporary hair loss.
Treatment for pityriasis usually includes anti-fungal dermocosmetic that resolves symptoms within a few days. However, for the drug to work properly, it must be administered for several weeks and as directed by the doctor.
TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM
When telogen effluvium is present, there is an increase in the daily shedding of the hair strands, mainly noticeable during bathing or when combing the hair when a falling strand is noticed.
This cause tends to be attributed to an event that occurred three months before the start of autumn, as this is the prep time for wires to be spent. Thus, instead of 100 to 120 hair loss a day, cold, postpartum, infectious diseases, surgery, etc. Depending on the possible cause of effluvium, 200 to 300 hair loss is recorded.
In addition to hair loss, itching is seen on the scalp. Treatment with stimulant drugs can be used to speed up the hair growth process. However, it is also necessary to investigate whether the condition is associated with any vitamin or iron deficiency caused by hyperproteic diets.
ALOPECIA AREATA
Alopecia areata, known for hair loss, is an inflammatory disease caused by various factors such as autoimmune and genetic involvement. In this case, the person begins to notice that he has this disease when the hairless, circular defects begin to fall out. The extent of this failure tends to vary among individuals.
This disease is not contagious and is related to emotional conditions, infectious conditions, physical trauma, among others. The good news is that hair strands can grow back even after complete hair loss. This is because the disease usually does not destroy the hair follicles and renders them ineffective due to inflammation.
Current treatments for alopecia areata include minoxidil. For more aggressive treatment, sensitizers (difencipron and anthralin) or methotrexate-associated corticosteroids may be used. It is also possible to apply injectable corticosteroids to the scalp. Thus, it is possible to make the follicle regenerate hair, reduce defects and control the disease.
ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA
Androgenetic alopecia, known as baldness, is a genetically determined hair loss. This disease starts with the emergence of hormonal stimulus during adolescence and causes thinning and thinning of the hair strands. This condition also affects both men and women between the ages of 30 and 40.
People with this disease have thinning hair and lighter scalp. The most open area in males is the anterior region and crown. The central region tends to be the most affected area in women.
To make the strands grow back, the doctor may recommend the use of hormonal blockers, oral medications, lasers, hair lotions, minoxidil, among others. This process is necessary to recover some of the capillary loss and park the process. In some cases , it may also be necessary to have a hair transplant to improve the aesthetics of the patient and to make them happier with their appearance .
It is essential to find a doctor who specializes in scalp diseases so that you can get the right treatment for your disease. It will assist you with the most advanced methods on the market and show you the best option for your case, which may be the use of topical medications, oral, hair implants, among others. Therefore, besides keeping your appearance up to date, you also avoid getting other hair diseases.
