Do you have scales on your head, but you don’t know why they appear? There are several conditions that may cause problems and scales to appear on the scalp, including eczema, so get acquainted with us through the following paragraphs on one of the most popular types of eczema, hair eczema, its symptoms and causes, in addition to how to treat it and the difference between it and hair psoriasis and natural hair dandruff and other information.

What is hair eczema?

Hair eczema or scalp eczema is a type of eczema that causes inflammation, dryness, and itching of the scalp. It also causes scales to appear, and it can occur as a result of several different factors, and some types of eczema affect the scalp more than others.

Seborrheic dermatitis (seborrheic eczema) is the most prominent type of eczema that affects the hair and scalp, as it appears in oily parts of the body such as the scalp, face and upper back, but other types may appear in the hair.

Causes of hair eczema

As we mentioned earlier, seborrheic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema that affects the scalp, and doctors do not know the main reason behind the occurrence of this condition, but studies indicate that a type of yeast that lives on the skin (malassezia) can be an influencing factor, as these Yeast is naturally found on the skin, and in some people it can trigger an immune reaction, causing dermatitis and itching.

There are also some risk factors that can increase the incidence of this type of eczema, most notably the following:

• Having oily skin.
• Living in a dry or cold environment.
• Having a health condition that affects the strength of the immune system.
• Having a neurological disease such as Parkinson’s disease.
• Having some psychological or mental disorders, such as depression or an eating disorder.
• Take certain medications, such as lithium, immunosuppressants, or dopamine antagonists.

Symptoms of hair eczema

Hair eczema causes the following to appear on the scalp:

• Patches or areas on the scalp that are itchy and inflamed, changing in shape and size over time.
• Waxy or greasy patches of skin.
• skin scales
• Yellow or red color changes, especially in people with fair skin.
• Skin that is darker or lighter in color compared to the surrounding area, especially in people with darker skin.

Hair eczema treatment

The best treatment options depend on the type of eczema present. In the case of seborrheic dermatitis that leads to trichiasis, treatments include topical products that reduce Malassezia yeast growth and inflammation, and help remove scales.

The first treatment steps include taking care of the skin, keeping the scalp clean and hydrated, and replacing any harsh shampoos that are used with gentle, pH-balanced ones.

After this, the doctor prescribes an antifungal cream or spray, and the prescribed treatment usually contains a combination of the following ingredients:

In more severe cases, a mild topical corticosteroid or corticosteroid may be used to relieve inflammation, acute pain, itching, and crusting. The doctor may also prescribe another topical medication that does not contain a corticosteroid to suppress or suppress the immune system.

And in the case of children’s hair eczema, a mineral oil is prescribed to moisturize and relax skin scales, which helps in their fall while washing the scalp.

Hair eczema shampoo

There are several types of shampoos and hair care products that can help in the case of seborrheic dermatitis, which leads to the occurrence of hair eczema, including the following:

• Products containing salicylic acid and tar.
• Dandruff shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, sulfur, coal tar, selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole.
• Antifungal shampoo.

Caution must be taken when using any of these products to avoid any allergic reactions or an increase in eczema symptoms.

Treatment of hair eczema at home

There are some preventive steps that can be taken at home, which can help reduce the chance of eczema and the sudden increase in its symptoms, including the following:

• Avoid using harsh soaps and chemicals on the scalp or oily body parts.
• Head protection in cold or dry weather.
• Use a humidifier indoors, in a dry air.
• Washing and cleaning the scalp after exercise or other activities that cause sweating.
• Reducing and controlling stress levels.

The difference between hair eczema and dandruff

In most cases, the difference between dandruff and hair eczema can be known by looking for clear signs of inflammation. Both cases cause peeling and itching of the skin, but only in the case of eczema do skin spots appear.

Dandruff is a well-known skin condition whose symptoms are limited to the scalp, hairline, eyebrows and facial hair, while eczema appears in many other places on the body. Although both cases cause the appearance of dandruff, in the case of dandruff, it is small, dry, and not thick or greasy, as is the case with eczema, and this dandruff can fall off when scratched.

Many cases of dandruff are simple cases of seborrheic dermatitis, which causes dermatitis, but there are other skin conditions that may produce the same symptoms.

The difference between hair eczema and hair psoriasis

Hair eczema can be very similar to psoriasis of the hair or scalp, but a specialized doctor can tell the difference, and sometimes the situation may require a skin biopsy to know the difference between the two conditions.

In both cases, the person suffers from redness and scaling of the skin, but in the case of psoriasis, the person suffers from thicker and drier skin, and the scales are silver in color. Also, people with psoriasis may experience pain and swelling, and the skin is more difficult to treat compared to people with eczema.

Learn more about scalp psoriasis, its form and the causes of its occurrence through an article: Scalp psoriasis.