Scalp Sores
Scalp sores not likely from hair chemicals
Could scalp sores this be an allergic reaction to hair care products?
Maryanne asks;
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I seem to have developed, what almost seems like scalp sores on my head as well as on my elbows and knees. I’m wondering if maybe I could be allergic to what hair care products my hair stylist is using on me? Maybe the hair color she uses or even the hair care products she styles me with. I don’t take any medication other than Aleve for my arthritis occasionally, and have been allergy tested recently to no avail. Have you seen this before in the hair salon? Could it be an allergic reaction that they don’t have a test for? |
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Hairstylist Jeffrey Cook answers;
“Scalp Sores Not Usally From Hair
Care Products”I am not a doctor of course, but in working with the public in such an intimate setting as the hair salon, I have seen many hair and skin diseases and disorders over the years.
This doesn’t sound like a typical allergic reaction from hair color or hair care products to me. Allergic reactions from hair color or hair products vary but are more often reactions such as; dermatitis, an itchy scalp, or rash of some sort. Some extreme cases can include other symptoms that are outlined in this article on hair color and allergic reactions.
However, your case sounds more like Psoriasis or possibly an even rarer form of Psoriatic Arthritis to me. Psoriasis is usually characterized by small red pockish scalp sores, or a white silvery scale where the skin simply sloughs off. Psoriasis sometimes will also mirror itself on the body in quite a miraculous manner. Many people misunderstand this condition and believe it should be treated topically, like dandruff and eczema. This is false.
Psoriasis is a systemic immune disorder, but don’t be freak out just yet. Although there are no cures for these conditions, there are treatments to alleviate the symptoms.
The first line of treatment you might consider, would be coal tar, aniline derivative shampoos or external steroids, but there efficacy rates are low and sometimes are greasy, stinky, and quite time consuming. Couple these with UVA and UVB treatments weekly and you might as well move in with your dermatologist.
The next treatment that might be considered is a mild form of chemotherapy drugs such as Clonesporin or Methotrexate. Usually these are more effective long term solutions, however they have there side-effects. You do have to have periodic liver enzyme tests as well as tuberculosis test every 6 months or so.
Finally, there are a few of these pricy yet effective, injectable type treatments which include Humira, Amevive, Enbrel and Raptiva. They have proven to be most successful in the treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis but again have side-effects and certain tests that must be done to insure the proper response from the drug.
I hope that this has at least given you some food for thought about what could possibly be going on with you. Of course I am not a doctor, so a visit to your dermatologist for a diagnosis whenever scalp sores appear is really the best advice I can give to you.
Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!
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This post is in: Hair Care
September 30, 2008 By: Jeffrey Cook Leave your comments (3), Your input matters.
