Scalp disorders

The skin of the scalp is somewhat different from the skin elsewhere on the body. Not only does it have a very rich supply of grease from the sebaceous glands: it also carries follicles that produce long terminal hairs. Also both scalp and hair are more exposed to direct sunlight, cold and heat than most of the rest of the skin. And, of course, the scalp itself may be affected by many different cosmetic procedures, from simple shampooing to perming.
  Hair stylists may see scalps that look scaly or inflamed. Problems concerning the skin of the scalp of course include some that affect skin elsewhere, and some that affect only the scalp area. Usually only the scalp is affected, but some of these conditions result in damage to the hair too, or even in hair loss.
  Understanding these conditions and advising clients correctly is a vital part of client care.

Scaling conditions

Dandruff
The scientific name for dandruff is pityriasis capitis. The condition is all too familiar: about half of all Caucasians will have had dandruff to some degree before they are 20. In most of them it disappears after the age of 50 or so,
however.
  The top layer of the skin of the scalp (the epidermis), like that of skin everywhere else, consists of dead cells. These gradually wear away



Dandruff can be an unpleasent and unsightly affliction

over time, and are replaced by cells from below. People with a greasy scalp seem more prone than others to this scaling away of the scalp.
  Dandruff is associated with a tiny yeast called Pityrosporum ovale, which is normally present on the
scalp all the time. In dandruff there is an increase in the regular loss of cells from the skin surface and they are lost more quickly: more cells are lost, and the yeast grows more rapidly. The cells may clump together to produce the
all-too-familiar flakes of dandruff .
     Simple treatments include the use of high-quality anti-dandruff shampoos, which contain substances that are active against the yeast. One of the best known is zinc pyrithione. These shampoos give all the cleaning and conditioning benefits that are associated with normal shampoos: they are not, as is often thought, harsh on the hair. Regular use of a shampoo of this type really helps to reduce the scaling.
    Anyone with severe dandruff should be referred to a doctor.

Eczema and dermatitis
The most common problem of this kind is known as seborrhoeic eczema. It is accompanied by reddening of the skin, irritation and scaling. Sometimes it is associated with an unusually greasy scalp.
 




Seborrhoeic eczema

In babies, the condition known as cradle cap may be an early form of atopic eczema, which is a condition associated with hay fever and asthma.
    Dermatitis of the scalp is also indicated by scaling and redness. If it is severe it may lead to hair loss.

Psoriasis
This distressing condition usually affects the skin of the inner knees and elbows, as well as that of the scalp. In some people the whole body can be affected. In a serious case
the whole of the scalp may be covered by scales, and
there may well be some hair loss.


    

     In psoriasis the hair takes on a coarse, asbestos-like
    appearance


    

   Hair loss in psoriasis

The condition can often be helped by coal tar pomades,
but must always be referred to a doctor.

Scalp Infections

Impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin, producing
itching and weeping, crusted sores. It may affect the face
as well as the scalp.
   It is most often seen in young children, and may be associated with nits. It must be referred to a doctor for treatment.

Ringworm
Ringworm of the scalp is a fungal infection, which appears
as pink, scaly patches on the skin. It is more likely to be caught from animals than from humans.
    Any case of suspected ringworm should be referred
to a doctor for medical treatment.

  

 Ringworm of the scalp: sores and hair loss

  

 A severe attack of ringworm