Tag: scalp

October’s QOM- What causes sores or cysts on the scalp?

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Greetings hair Doctor,. I recently shaved my hair bald due to hair loss. I’m experiencing painful sores or cysts on the scalp and they are tough to regrow patches. What should I do? I really want healthy hair.

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Hi there,
It sounds like you could be having Dissecting Cellulitis, a very stressful and painful scarring type hairloss with recurrent sores or cysts on the scalp. Sometimes these sores or cysts on the scalp can ooze when they form sinuses or tracts. When they heal, they form scars which prevents regrowth of hair. Hence why you say it is tough to regrow hair in the affected areas.
You may have to be on long term antibiotics or other medications to help stop the progress of the condition. The best thing to do is to go to a dermatologist in order to be examined and have tests done including  a scalp biopsy so that you can find out what is wrong with your scalp. A fungal infection of the scalp can present in a similar manner, which can be easily cured with a course of antifungal medication.  Once you have determined the exact cause of your #hairloss, then hopefully you can get the best treatment for your condition.
Here’s a link showing what Dissecting Cellulitis looks like:
http://dermnetnz.org/acne/scalp-folliculitis.html
Here’s an article by the British Association of Dermatologists detailing the management of the condition:
http://ow.ly/Tiaj4

August’s QOM- What’s the difference between dry scalp and dandruff?

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Hey Doc, need some help. How do u differentiate between dry scalp and dandruff, and what’s the treatment for each? What causes or aggravates them? Pls help.

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A completely dry scalp i.e. where there is no oil and the skin cracked is actually not common.  There are persons who have genetic and other unusual skin disorders where all of their skin including their scalp is dry. What people often refer to as “dry scalp” is actually dandruff. A flaky scalp does not necessarily mean it is dry. There are also other conditions that can result in a flaky scalp: psoriasis, discoid lupus and other scarring type hair loss.

For most persons they are experiencing  seborrhoeic dermatitis which most often refer to as dandruff. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is caused by inflammation of the scalp caused by a fungus that lives on the scalp that feeds on the sebum that our scalp hairs produce. The scalp produces a lot of sebum even more than the face. Your hair type which is excessively curly does not make you be aware of it. For other races with straighter hair it is quite obvious how oily their hair can get. You actually do not need to oil the scalp ever.

The number one thing to alleviate dandruff is to wash your hair often. Do not go a week without washing your hair. You will see a difference in how your scalp reacts. Antifungal shampoos used directly on the scalp can be helpful. Ketoconazole, Selenium sulfide, Zinc Pyrithione II, and Tea tree oil containing shampoos are helpful. Leave them on for ten minutes. Rinse then wash your hair with the regular shampoo afterwards. 

 

About

Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica. She has an avid interest in hair and scalp disorders.  She is a member of the Medical Association of Jamaica,  Dermatology Association of Jamaica and is an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia.

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