Scalp Diseases and Hair Loss

There are a variety of hair and scalp diseases that can cause hair loss; some are very common, while other more severe hair and scalp diseases are fortunately rare.

Seborrheic Dermatitis is a non-contagious skin disease that causes excessive oiliness of the skin, most commonly in the scalp. Flaking, scaling and redness often are symptoms of this disease. Seborrheic dermatitis is easily treated with topical solutions found in creams containing corticosteroids and shampoos containing pine tar, selenium sulfide or salicylic acid.

Eczema is a non-contagious skin disease that produces scales, reddened inflamed skin that periodically ooze, and itch. Eczema causes extreme buildup and sores on the scalp, and can cause severe scarring and permanent damage to the hair follicles. There are various medicated shampoos and creams on the market to control the symptoms of eczema.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disorder that usually appears as patches of raised red skin accompanied by burning and itching. At least half of people who have psoriasis have scalp psoriasis which, left untreated can cause hair loss. Fortunately, scalp psoriasis can be treated with a variety of topical creams and shampoos containing tar and salicylic acid.

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes the body's immune system to attack the hair follicles, causing baldness in patches. It affects 1.7 percent of the population, including 4.7 million people in the United States. There is no known cause for alopecia areata and therefore no known cure. Hair loss with alopecia areata comes in stages, with hair returning and falling out in phases.