It's called “dandruff” (pityriasis capitis) when it's on a teenager's or adult's scalp, and “cradle cap” when it's on a baby's. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur in other areas of your body.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
Dandruff flakes are dead skin cells that fall off your scalp. When you have dandruff, your scalp may look scaly or red and feel itchy or raw. Scratching or rubbing your head loosens the flakes. You may notice them more when you wear dark clothes.
Scalp buildup occurs when an oily secretion called sebum accumulates alongside sweat, hair products, and dead skin cells on the scalp. It can have symptoms similar to those of seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and eczema. For example, each of these conditions can cause flakes to appear in the hair and scalp.
A kerion is a large, pus-filled sore caused by a fungal infection. It usually appears on your scalp. It may look yellow or crusty, ooze pus, feel soft to the touch and cause hair loss. Oral antifungal medications treat the fungal infection.
A fungal infection of the scalp by mold-like fungi is called tinea capitis. Tinea capitis (also called ringworm of the scalp) is a skin disorder that affects children almost exclusively. It can be persistent and very contagious. Symptoms may consist of itching, scaly, inflammed balding areas on the scalp.
If your scalp is affected, a nonprescription antifungal shampoo, foam or other product may ease your symptoms. Try not to scratch or pick at the affected area. This increases your risk of infection.
Sebum buildup appears as white or yellowish oily residue on the scalp. It sometimes produces flakes on the scalp and may be mistaken for dandruff, scalp eczema, or psoriasis.
Washing your scalp with warm water is the first step in removing sebum clogs from your head. After that, use a gentle shampoo and massage your scalp with your fingertips. This aids in the removal of all hardened and dried sebum from the scalp. Sebum build-up occurs on the scalp rather than on the hair strands.
Head lice. Head lice symptoms are similar to dandruff; you may experience an itchy scalp that leads to scratching. Eggs, called “nits,” cling to the hair shafts. These resemble small grains of sand that can be mistaken for dandruff flakes.
Scratching your scalp for long periods of time can damage your hair strands. The outside of each hair strand is covered in cuticlescales, somewhat like scales on a fish. The back-and-forth scratching action chips away at the protective cuticle, weakening the hair and making it more likely to break.
The overproduction of sebum can cause scalp buildup. If left untreated, it can lead to symptoms and complications. Home remedies like regular hair washing, exfoliating, and avoiding harsh chemicals are key to preventing scalp buildup. If you have scalp buildup that won't go away, see your healthcare provider.
When we scratch our heads, blood flows to our scalp, causing warmth and even a tingly sensation. Mix that with serotonin from the itch, and you have an amazing feeling of satisfaction and happiness from a head scratch. It's not bad to itch your scalp every once in a while.
What can cause sores or scabs on the scalp? Sores or scabs on the scalp are often harmless and clear up on their own. However, they can sometimes be a sign of a condition that may require treatment, such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis, or head lice.
What does a sebum plug look like? Sebum plugs usually start out white or yellowish in colour but can turn darker if the pore is open and they are exposed to air. They can occur anywhere on the body, but usually form on the face, scalp, chest and back because that is where we produce the most sebum.
Put simply, it helps to protect your scalp and hair, to keep them healthy and feeling moisturized. Sebum forms a kind of barrier on the surface of the skin to protect it from the elements, and oxidative damage (the same harmful force that causes skin aging).
“AHAs, such as glycolic and lactic acid, exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells,” explains Dr. Camp. “Beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), like salicylic acid, are lipophilic, allowing them to mingle with oil deep within the pore and break up oil plugs.” This combination is a sebaceous filament-killer.
Sebum plugs result from hormones and increased stress levels. Sebum plugs usually develop on the face, including the forehead, chin and nose.
Abnormalities in sebum production can impact your hair's health. While your hair requires sebum, too much sebum can clog the pores on your scalp. This may block the nutrition supply from the blood to your hair follicles and result in dandruff or bacterial infections, eventually leading to hair loss.
Sebum is a light yellow viscous fluid, composed of triglycerides, free fatty acids, squalene, wax and sterol esters, and free sterols.
Scratching the itchy rash can lead to an infection. If you have a darker skin tone, seborrheic dermatitis can also cause dark spots and patches on your skin. These can be quite noticeable on the face. Early detection and treatment can prevent dark spots and patches.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, noncontagious, easy-to-manage skin condition. This type of dermatitis causes itchy red patches and greasy scales on your skin along with white or yellow crusty or powdery flakes on your scalp.
If excessive scratching occurs, it can cause additional inflammation, mild infections or bleeding. The problem in seborrheic dermatitis is in the oil (sebaceous) glands and hair follicles. People with seborrheic dermatitis produce too much sebum (the natural skin oil).
A scalp yeast infection causes an itchy rash on your scalp. The rash may be red or purple and appear in patches of various shapes. The rash may crack and crusts may form. This crusting could cause hair loss.