There are a lot of different scalp disorders. Many of them
are simply irritating, but some may be more serious causing pain and
occasionally even being dangerous. Some of the most common scalp conditions
are:
·Dandruff
·Seborrhea
·Contact Dermatitis
·Seborrheic Dermatitis
·Psoriasis
Dandruff is probably the most familiar scalp condition. In
its mild form dandruff is simply a flaky scalp that itches. It can be
embarrassing. But sometimes it can be much worse. Large groups of flakes can
clump together in oily mounds on the scalp.
Seborrhea occurs when the sebum gland overproduces and the
scalp becomes extremely oily. This often happens in adolescence and tends to
decline as a person get older. The hair will probably be greasy as well.
Contact dermatitis is an irritation on the scalp. This may
be causes by chemicals in hair products such as shampoo, conditioner, perms, or
other treatments.
Seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by greasy yellowish
scales covering red inflamed skin, and excessive flaking. It is very itchy.
But scratching usually makes the problem worse. Cradle cap in babies is a form
of seborrheic dermatitis. With infants it usually goes away in a few months,
but in adults it is often chronic requiring regular treatment.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition that affects the scalp as
well as other areas of the body like behind arms and legs and sometimes even the
joints. It is usually characterized by very dry scaly flaky skin with a white
powdery look.
Summary
of Scalp Conditions