Inflammatory Skin Conditions*

It's distressing to know that our hair may not be growing for one reason or another, and the condition of our scalp itself may be to blame. A dry, itchy, or flaky scalp means ongoing discomfort, while a scalp that peels or scales may be painful. Generally speaking, itching, flaking, peeling, or crusting of the skin characterizes conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrhea, whether at the scalp or elsewhere on the body. Itching and scratching of the affected area may contribute to redness, sores and breakouts - the irritation of the scalp may contribute to hair breakage and/or partial hair loss in the affected area.

The most commonly affected by atopic dermatitis are children - about 60-70% experience relief after puberty. Atopic dermatitis - sometimes referred to as eczema - is characterized by ongoing attacks of itching and rashes. Not surprisingly, the majority of children with persistent atopic dermatitis develop other allergies as well, including asthma. Some develop patches of lighter skin, and chronic scratching or rubbing of the skin may lighten or darken skin color. More severe cases of atopic dermatitis include rashes that develop into fluid-filled blisters.

Psoriasis is a disorder that mostly affects the skin. Patches of skin become inflamed and thickened, and may result in silvery scales. Psoriasis may be mild to severe, covering large areas of the body, and can affect the skin in varied patterns. Seborrhea, another form of eczema, is a rash caused by too many oily secretions (sebum) from glands in the skin. The rash appears reddened with greasy, yellow crusts. Your physician can treat most scalp problems - for more information on these and other inflammatory conditions, contact your doctor.

*Medical information provided is based on reference from the WebMD Health website (www.webmd.com). It is not meant to replace the diagnosis of a qualified physician, and further research of any information provided is encouraged.

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