Scalp Diseases
There are a variety of hair and scalp diseases that can cause
hair loss; some are very common, while other more severe hair
and scalp diseases are fortunately rare.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a non-contagious skin disease that causes
excessive oiliness of the skin, most commonly in the scalp. Flaking,
scaling and redness often are symptoms of this disease. Seborrheic
dermatitis is easily treated with topical solutions found in creams
containing corticosteroids and shampoos containing pine tar, selenium
sulfide or salicylic acid.
Eczema is a non-contagious skin disease that produces scales,
reddened inflamed skin that periodically ooze, and itch. Eczema
causes extreme buildup and sores on the scalp, and can cause severe
scarring and permanent damage to the hair follicles. There are
various medicated shampoos and creams on the market to control
the symptoms of eczema.
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disorder that usually appears
as patches of raised red skin accompanied by burning and itching.
At least half of people who have psoriasis have scalp psoriasis
which, left untreated can cause hair loss. Fortunately, scalp
psoriasis can be treated with a variety of topical creams and
shampoos containing tar and salicylic acid.
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes the
body's immune system to attack the hair follicles, causing baldness
in patches. It affects 1.7 percent of the population, including
4.7 million people in the United States. There is no known cause
for alopecia areata and therefore no known cure. Hair loss with
alopecia areata comes in stages, with hair returning and falling
out in phases.
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