Scabies. More of an infestation than an infection, scabies are small mites that can cause severe itching. While their bites are usually found between the fingers, they can appear anywhere on your body and cause severe itching that may result in hair loss if it's on your scalp.
Most people and animals have a tolerance for the mites without developing any skin conditions, but high populations can cause problems. "When something causes the mites to reproduce at a higher rate, they can break out of the hair follicle and may cause acne, hair loss and other skin conditions," Butler said.
Parasitic infections.
Tinea capitus is a disorder that produces scalp eruptions and hair loss in both children and adults. The infection typically is caused either by Microsporum canis or Trichophyton tonsurans.
Fungal infections, allergic reactions to hair products, and inflamed hair follicles can cause the scalp to itch and also damage hair follicles, leading to hair loss. In other cases, scarring on the scalp can cause severe itching, because scar tissue can damage the nerve fibers in the skin.
The good news is that an itchy scalp isn't likely to cause hair loss, at least not directly. However, some skin conditions that cause you to develop an itchy scalp may affect your hair follicles and contribute to hair shedding and patches of hair loss.
There are many scalp conditions that can cause hair loss. The most common hair loss causes are folliculitis, ringworm, piedra, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis of the scalp.
Biotin is often referred to as the "hair vitamin" because of its role in maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. Deficiency in biotin can lead to hair loss, brittle hair, and a dry and itchy scalp.
Scalp issues
While itchy and flaky scalp are result of dandruff in hair, seborrheic dermatitis might also spread to face, chest and groin. Having a healthy and nutritious diet can actually help in getting rid of such scalp issues. Low levels of Vitamin B2, B6 and B3 and zinc are major reason for scalp issues.
Treatment of fungal scalp infection requires 6 to 12 weeks of oral medication, such as terbinafine (Lamisil) or itraconazole (Sporanox), with or without shampoos containing selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue, Head & Shoulders, others) or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
Permethrin lotion, 1%;
Permethrin lotion 1% is approved by the FDA for the treatment of head lice. Permethrin is safe and effective when used as directed. Permethrin kills live lice but not unhatched eggs.
Lice and other crawling parasites appear as tiny, slow moving crawlers on the hair and scalp. The result of infestation is a papular rash with extreme itching.
Scabies is a common disease and typically described as a skin condition with sparing of face and scalp in adults. However, crusted scabies is not conventional scabies. It can also affect the scalp.
If left untreated, longstanding traction can cause permanent damage to the follicles and everlasting hair loss. However, the hair can return with timely action in most cases.
The skin shine vitamin
Dry, itchy skin is often a sign of a vitamin D deficiency. As vitamin D is created through skin exposure to the sun and cholesterol in the skin, in the winter months, when sunlight exposure is less, people often experience dry, itchy skin attributing it to the cold weather.
What you eat or don't eat can cause dandruff and an itchy scalp. Here's how to keep this nasty enemy of your lovely locks at bay. Our scalp has a high concentration of sebaceous glands that produces skin oils (sebum) to protect the scalp.
Symptom of a medical illness — Hair loss can be one of the symptoms of a medical illness, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), syphilis, a thyroid disorder (such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), a sex-hormone imbalance or a serious nutritional problem, especially a deficiency of protein, iron, zinc or ...
Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. This type of baldness is not usually caused by a disease. It is related to aging, heredity, and changes in the hormone testosterone. Inherited, or pattern baldness, affects many more men than women.
Tinea capitis is a fungal infection that can cause patches of hair loss (non-inflammatory) along with redness (inflammatory).
In the scalp, fungal infections often form circular, scaly, inflamed patches. Frequently, there can be temporary hair loss (hair returns when infection clears but if treatment is delayed and scarring results, permanent hair loss can be seen).
Minor damage to the scalp may lead to intracranial infection. The postoperative state of the scalp, skull and meninges is especially noteworthy with respect to invasion of pathogens into the skull. A detailed medical history should be obtained even from patients with minor scalp injuries.