Scalp Problems

Many people have hair or scalp problems. Hair may thin or fall out, break off, or Reference grow slowly. Dandruff or an itching or peeling scalp may cause embarrassment and discomfort. Hair and scalp problems can be upsetting, but they usually are not caused by serious medical problems.

Hair loss

Hair loss, including thinning and breaking, is the most common scalp problem. Most people lose from 50 to 100 hairs per day.

Hair gradually thins as people age, although not all people are affected to the same degree. Hereditary thinning or balding is the most common cause of thinning hair. You can inherit this from either your mother's or father's side of the family. Women with this trait develop thinning hair, while men may become completely bald. The condition can start in the teens, 20s, or 30s.

Babies often lose their fine baby hair, which is then replaced by mature hair. Because of changes in hormones, women often lose hair for 1 to 6 months after childbirth or after breast-feeding is completed.

Other possible causes for excessive hair loss, thinning, or breakage include:

• Damage to the hair from hair care products, such dyes and permanents, and from hot rollers, curling irons, or hair dryers.
• Hair-pulling or hair-twisting habits. Trichotillomania is a mental health problem in which a person pulls out his or her own hair, usually from the head, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
• Side effects of medicines or medical treatments, such as Reference chemotherapy Opens New Window or Reference radiation therapy Opens New Window.
• Recent surgery, high fever, or emotional stress. You may have a lot of hair loss 4 weeks to 3 months after severe physical or emotional stress. This type of hair loss usually stops within a few months.
• Diseases, such as Reference lupus Opens New Window and Reference hyperthyroidism Opens New Window.
• Heavy metal poisoning, such as thallium or arsenic poisoning.
• Poor nutrition, especially lack of protein or iron in the diet.
• Damage to the hair shafts from burns or other injuries.

Itching, flaking, or crusting of the scalp

Itching, flaking, or crusting of the scalp may be caused by:

• Reference Cradle cap Opens New Window, an oily, yellow crusting on a baby's scalp. It is common in babies and is not caused by an illness. It does not mean that a baby is not being well cared for. See a picture of Reference cradle cap Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window.
• Reference Dandruff, a shedding of the skin on the scalp that leaves white flakes on the head, neck, and shoulders. It may be a form of a skin condition called Reference eczema Opens New Window, which causes increased shedding of normal scalp skin cells. Dandruff can also be caused by a Reference fungal infection Opens New Window. Hormonal or seasonal changes can make dandruff worse.
• Reference Head lice Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window, tiny wingless insects that cause itching and raw patches on the scalp. Head lice are most common in school-age children.
• Reference Ringworm Opens New Window, an infection of the outer layer of the scalp and in the hair. It usually causes a rash made up of circular patches with raised, red edges that resemble worms. The rash spreads from these edges, often leaving the center clear, giving it a ring shape.
• Ongoing (chronic) skin conditions, such as Reference psoriasis Opens New Window and Reference seborrhea Opens New Window.
• An uncommon, recurrent skin condition called Reference lichen planus Opens New Window. This condition appears more often during stress, fatigue, or exposure to medicines or chemicals.

Sores, blisters, or bumps on the scalp

Painful sores, blisters, or bumps that develop on the scalp may be caused by:

• Infection of the hair shafts (Reference folliculitis Opens New Window) or the skin (such as Reference impetigo Opens New Window).
• An allergic skin reaction (Reference contact dermatitis Opens New Window).
• Viral infections, such as Reference chickenpox Opens New Window and Reference shingles Opens New Window.
• A skin condition, such as Reference acne Opens New Window.
• A cyst, such as an epidermal or sebaceous cyst, a sac beneath the outer layer of the skin that is filled with a greasy white material. These cysts most often appear on the scalp, ears, face, back, or scrotum and are caused by plugged ducts at the site of a hair shaft. Other problems can develop if the cyst becomes infected.

Reference Skin cancer Opens New Window can occur on the scalp, particularly in areas not well-covered by hair. It can destroy skin cells and tissues and, in some cases, spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Skin cancer may appear as a growth or mole, a Reference change in a growth or mole, a sore that does not heal, or irritation of the skin. The three most common types of skin cancer are Reference basal cell skin cancer Opens New Window, Reference squamous cell skin cancer Opens New Window, and Reference melanoma Opens New Window.

Treatment

The treatment for scalp problems depends on what is causing the problem.

Reference Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.