Head injuries can have several causes, such as folliculitis, dermatitis, psoriasis, or an allergic reaction to chemicals, such as dyes or softening chemicals, for example, and are very rare to be caused by a more serious disease, such as skin cancer. .
To identify the cause, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist, who will be able to evaluate the scalp and, if necessary, request tests to identify the reason and indicate the best treatment on a case-by-case basis.
- Thus.
- Treatment is usually done with special care on the scalp.
- Such as washing regularly or avoiding wearing hats with wet hair.
- As well as using shampoos and ointments that can soothe inflammation and help heal wounds.
- Such as antifungals or corticosteroids.
Despite the various causes of head injuries, some of the main ones include:
Also known as dandruff or seborrhea, seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that causes flaking, redness, yellowing crusts and itching that can appear on the scalp or other areas such as the face, such as the eyebrows, ears, and corners of the eyes. Nose. .
Although its causes are not without rather known, this disease has a chronic evolution, with periods of improvement and aggravation, without definitive cure. Seborrheic dermatitis can be triggered by emotional stress, allergies, scalp oil, alcohol consumption, certain medications, or infection with the Pityrosporum oval fungus.
What to do: It is necessary to consult a dermatologist to start treatment, control the formation of wounds and prevent hair loss, by using antifungal shampoos or ointments, corticosteroids or other components such as salicylic acid, selenium, sulfur or zinc.
It is also recommended to stop using hair creams and ointments, which fatten them, wash hair more often and avoid wearing hats and caps. Learn more about identifying and treating seborrheic dermatitis.
The most common scalp moth is called Tinea capitis, caused by fungi such as Trichophyton and Microsporum, and mainly affects children.
Headworm fungi affect the hair shaft and follicles and often cause circular, scaly, reddish or yellowish lesions that cause hair loss in the affected area.
What to do: the treatment is guided by the dermatologist, with antifungals such as griseofulvin or terbinafin, taken for about 6 weeks. In addition, shampoos made with selenium sulfate or ketoconazole can help eliminate infection.
Learn more about preventing and treating scalp moth
Skin response to contact with chemicals on the scalp can also cause head injuries. Some of the products that can cause this type of reaction are hair dyes, progressive or permanent brushing products, such as ammonium hydroxide or formaldehyde, or any type of product that contains substances that cause an allergic reaction in the person.
Injuries may appear within a few hours or days of contact with the product, and flaking, redness, itching or burns may occur in the affected area.
What to do: The first step is to find the cause of the reaction, avoiding again any contact with the product. The dermatologist may guide the use of corticosteroids, pills, creams or ointments, as well as lotions containing anti-inflammatory and healing scalp agents.
In addition, when using hair care products, especially when using chemicals such as the progressive brush, it is recommended to avoid direct contact of cosmetics with the scalp, which reduces the risk of irritation and dryness of the area.
Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair root, which is usually caused by an infection by bacteria and fungi that inhabit the skin, causing the appearance of red balls, full of pus and causing pain, burns and itching, which can also lead to hair loss. Hair.
What to do: Treatment is guided by the dermatologist and may include the use of antifungal shampoos, such as ketoconazole, or the application of antibiotics, such as erythromycin or clindamycin, depending on the cause identified by your doctor.
Learn more about the causes of folliculitis in different parts of the body and how to treat it.
Also scientifically known as pediculosis, lice infestation is more common in school-age children, caused by parasites that can live and multiply on the scalp, feeding on blood.
Parasite bites can cause small swollen spots on the scalp, however, sores may occur due to the intense itching caused by this infection, resulting in scratches and scabs forming on the scalp.
What to do: To eliminate lice infestation, it is recommended to use specific shampoos, fine combs and, if necessary, antiparasitic drugs, such as ivermectin, from your doctor’s hand. If there is an infection of the wounds, antibiotics may also be needed.
To avoid pediculosis, it is advisable to avoid sharing brushes, combs, hats and glasses, and prefer to keep hair glued in case of crowds. There are also repellent sprays that can be applied to hair, sold in pharmacies. Learn more about getting rid of lice and nits.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease linked to changes in immunity, which causes red spots with whitish peeling or intense, dry gray.
In addition to the skin, it can also affect the nails, which become thick and detached, as well as swelling and pain in the joints. Scalp psoriasis causes severe itching and peeling of dead skin, similar to dandruff, in addition to hair loss.
What to do: Psoriasis treatment is done according to the recommendations of the dermatologist and rheumatologist, with lotions containing corticosteroids, such as betamethasone, salicylic acid or clobétasol propionate.
Learn more about treating scalp psoriasis.