Scalp Conditions

The scalp is the skin that is located on the top of your head that holds your hair follicles in place. Unfortunately, there are quite a few skin conditions that can arise on the scalp -- some are easy to treat while others can require medical attention.

While there is a danger of hair loss with some conditions, side effects can be quite serious with some scalp conditions, ranging from cosmetic issues like dandruff and oily hair, to serious effects like severe itching and infection.

Whatever the scalp condition, each conditions should be treated appropriately, whether it be by a medical professional, a salon professional, or at home with over the counter products. In addition, several of the scalp conditions are generally more pervasive in younger children while others tend to manifest themselves in adults. This being said, if a scalp condition exists, it is important to seek the advice of a professional and thereafter, the appropriate treatment.

Dandruff

The most common scalp condition is dandruff. In its mild form, you will notice minor shedding of dead skin from the scalp. Other people may experience a more serious case of dandruff, which produces a much more accumulative amount of shedding.

These flakes actually adhere to the scalp. Dandruff (also known as Seborrheic dermatitis) is caused by excess oil on your scalp and irritation from a yeast normally present on your head called malessizia. Interestingly, dandruff appears to impact whole families, but can also be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Fatigue

• Stress

• Extreme weather

• Obesity

• Infrequent cleaning or shampooing

Dandruff is most noticeable in its characteristic form on your head, but can actually occur on many parts of the body, including the eyebrows, lips, outer ear, eyelids, and creases of the nose. Infants commonly get dandruff (referred to as cradle cap) but it is usually temporary and harmless.

Treatment options include over-the-counter dandruff shampoo applied several times a week during normal washing, for up to a month.

For extreme cases, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dandruff shampoo. If dandruff is present on other parts of the body beyond the scalp, use a medicated lotion at least two times a day.

Dandruff is usually a chronic condition with occasional flare-ups and longer periods of inactivity. It's important to avoid scratching your scalp if the dandruff itches. Doing so can cause secondary infections.

Excessive oiliness of the scalp can cause quite a difference in the amount of dandruff on the scalp. If the dandruff does not fall, it may remain on the scalp in what appears to be oily white clumps.

This condition is often caused by sebum or oil, which is at its peak normally puberty or when the male hormone androgenic is off balance. If you notice dandruff that is not inflamed or does not itch, it may not be dandruff, but a mild case of seborrheic dermatitis, which can be diagnosed by a professional.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a quite common skin disorder that most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 15 and 35. This condition is characterized by irritation and skin redness, and appears as thick, red skin with silver-white patches. ,/p>

Psoriasis, like many scalp conditions, is not contagious. This condition is largely genetic and is caused by a defective immune system that believes healthy cells are actually dangerous foreign substances.

Like dandruff, psoriasis can and does impact any part of your body. Red patches present with the condition are actually dead skin cells that have collected on the surface.

Psoriasis is usually a triggered condition that can come from any of the following:

• Viral or bacterial infections

• Stress

• Sunburn

• Excessive alcohol

• Dry skin

In addition, those with certain diseases or undergoing certain treatments for diseases are at a greater risk for developing psoriasis, including those with AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, and undergoing cancer chemotherapy.

Psoriasis is diagnosed by a medical professional following a visual check of your skin and a possible skin biopsy.

There are a variety of treatments available for psoriasis including topical creams like moisturizers and shampoos and systemic treatments like Etanercept, Alefacept, and Stelara. Phototherapy, which carefully exposes your skin to ultraviolet light, can also be used in extreme cases.

Head Lice

One of the most common parasitic conditions of the scalp is head lice, also called Pediculosis capitis. This condition is caused by a tiny insect, the Pediculus humanus capitis.

While there may be hair on other part of your body, head lice typically remain in the scalp area. Lice feed on the blood of their host, causing red spots and itching.

In children, head lice are common in children, and considered endemic. However, unlike the much less frequent body lice, head lice are not known to carry other diseases dangerous to humans.

The most common symptom of head lice is itching, which grows more intense around three or four weeks after the first encounter with the lice. https://roksa.ch Lice can spread through a variety of ways, including:

• Head-to-head contact with another head lice carrier

• Sharing bedding or clothes with another carrier

• Direct bodily contact with a carrier

Lice must move from one host to another through contact as they have no wings and are unable to jump.

Once they find a host, they lay their eggs in follicles. Contrary to popular belief, lice cannot burrow into your scalp. Lice will feed up to eight times a day.

Head lice is often over-diagnosed, and requires careful examination by a professional to accurately pinpoint. Schools are particularly careful about head lice, due to constant contact among young children.

While no one treatment is 100% effective at killing all head lice and destroying all eggs, the most common treatment is a cream rinse and medicated shampoo.

In extreme cases, eggs must be picked off one-by-one from hairs until there are none left, or the remaining lice are dead. As lice are also referred to as "nits," this drawn-out treatment option is where the term "nitpicking" comes from.