Overview of Hair Loss and Itchy Scalp

           Itchy scalp, which is also known as scalp pruritus could be seen in anyone. As it is a quite common problem, many people might experience it at a certain point in their life. It could be caused by numerous factors and sometimes it could be a symptom of an underlying disease. In some instances, the itchiness is followed by flakiness, scaly patches, bumps, and even hair loss. Hair loss usually occurs in usually with harsh scratching. These scratches could be so aggressive that it might affect the structure of the scalp and strength of the hair follicles. Some people, after scratching season ends, experience severe hair loss. But some of their hair regrows with or without treatment.

When scratching and hair loss are considered, it looks like there is a quite small link. Because think about it, if your hair is such fragile that it falls even scratching a bit, we must have lost a huge amount of our hair until then. But the truth is different. Of course, our hair is strong enough to maintain its existence for decades, but there are some dynamics that anyone can experience. For example, fungal infections, allergic reactions that come from hair products, or inflamed/damaged hair follicles might cause itch. And once it occurs, perhaps you might not realize its severity but a series of scratches cause damage in hair follicles, which lead to hair loss.

But sometimes, unlike cases above, there might be scarring. Due to scar tissue is able to damage the nerve fibers in the skin, it causes severe itching. If your hair loss lefts some sorts of scar tissues on your scalp, it might cause itching.

Itchiness and Damage in Hair Follicles 

           Scratches could be repeatedly and self-assertively, as they damage the scalp’s structure and hair follicles. The damage usually leads to temporary hair loss, pouring blood, scabbing that lasts from the scratching. Sometimes, when it stops, there is a chance for your hair regrow. In some cases, hair loss reveals without itchy scalp. Genetic based hair loss or male / female pattern alopecia (androgenic alopecia) could be given as examples. In these types of hair loss, scratching might cause damage in the scalp, but hair loss does not stem from the itchiness. If you have androgenic alopecia, you are likely to lose some part of your hair without scratching anyway.

           However, consider this, anyone has an itchy scalp sometimes, and it is completely a normal phenomenon. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), most people lose 50 – 100 hairs in one day; these numbers are more in people who have alopecia. But it might be stressful when once it occurs in a severe and stable. Because you are likely to realize crusty areas on your scalp, or you might experience not just hair loss. 

           But besides these, hair loss could reveal on any part of the body. It occurs usually when the body’s hair production cycle gets interrupted or damaged. Still, the scalp is the one place which is affected the most and contains most of the loss. In fact, the scalp contains more than 100.000 hairs. In time they grow, rest, fall out, or refresh (regenerate).

Some Causes of Itchy Scalp and Hair Loss

           There are some reasons that cause hair loss and itchy scalp. One of them is called dandruff (also called seborrhea). Dandruff reveals after excessively active oil glands on the scalp. This is also one of the reasons why it is not seen until puberty years. During adolescence, an influx of hormones triggers your skin’s oil production through very high points. Some experts indicate that dandruff is stem from a yeast infection of the scalp and hair follicles. The yeast could make hair root weak enough to shed, as well as cause inflaming and itching. Luckily, it remains with really rare proportions. But once you have it, don’t neglect to get proper treatment because the result would be more severe in untreated conditions.

           We talked about androgenic alopecia, but how about alopecia areata? Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, which usually begins with sporadic patches in your head. It reveals as more like a few centimeters sized round or oval areas on the scalp. Also, by causing cause tufts of hair to fall out; scalp itchiness and tingling might reveal. Due to it is an autoimmune disease, it arises when your immune system attacks healthy, strong hair follicles. It is also a rare condition; it usually comes from family histories such as from ones who have type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.

           Another reason for cause hair loss and itchy scalp is allergic reactions that are stem from hair products. Sometimes these sorts of products might irritate the scalp and hair follicles and the itching reveals. In most cases, the itching is temporary but if it continues, it damages hair follicles and gives rise to hair loss. So be careful with using products like shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, hair gel, and hair mousse.

Some Treatment Options

           Treatment for hair loss and itchy scalp varies and they usually depend on the severity and dynamics of your condition. Of course, one of the golden rules of getting treatment is realizing your condition and determining that it requires some professional help. But you can’t do that without knowing its general dynamics and symptoms. So consider all of them well. Then, another golden rule is going and seeing a dermatologist. Without a doubt, dermatologists are the people who are likely to provide you the best examinations and offer you the most suitable treatments for you.

           Once you go to the dermatologist, perhaps he or she would recommend stopping hair loss and itchy scalp following things: steroids for reducing inflammation, antifungals to fix yeast, immunotherapy medication (which is for turning your immune responses on and off). Or he/she might recommend these treatments: minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplant. As a matter of fact, hair transplant is one of the most effective methods.

To see the effectiveness of hair transplant, check out before and after contents in our website, https://www.tecnifue.com/before-after/. You can also read other articles in our blog, https://www.tecnifue.com/blog/, and contact us any time you wish.