Skin (and Scalp!) Health is Our Passion 👱‍♀️

When you think of dermatology, scalp and hair health probably isn’t one of the top things that comes to mind. We’re happy to tell you (since we love all things healthy skin, even healthy scalps!), that we DO treat mild to severe scalp and hair conditions like alopecia, dry scalp, dandruff, and hair loss. Read on to learn more about how our dermatologists can help you take care of your luscious locks and scalp concerns.

The average person can expect to naturally lose about 50-100 hair follicles daily. But what if you’ve noticed that you’re starting to lose well over 100 hair follicles a day? If your hair loss is becoming noticeable, it might be time to see your dermatologist. The most common causes of hair loss include genetics, frequent stress (which we are all feeling this year!), poor nutrition, certain medications, trauma, or injury. It could also be early signs of Alopecia Areata or other skin conditions that your dermatologist can diagnose. 

Alopecia Areata, is an autoimmune skin disorder that causes unpredictable hair loss on the scalp, face, and in some instances, on the body as well. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, it is caused when your immune system attacks your healthy hair follicles, causing hair growth to slow to the point where it may stop growing altogether in some areas. Roughly 6.8 million people in the US. are affected by the condition. Although there is no cure for alopecia areata, our dermatologists can help put together a treatment plan that is best for you.

Everyone experiences mild to moderate dry scalp at some point, especially during the dry winter months, but for some, it’s a much more chronic problem. Common signs of dry scalp are chronic itching, flaking, irritation and redness. According to WebMd.com, this is typically caused by washing your hair too frequently, contact dermatitis, (an allergic reaction to products you apply to your scalp), changes in the weather, and aging. Some remedies to help with dryness can be done at home by applying certain types of oils, or moisturizing over-the-counter shampoos, to the scalp. This includes coconut oil, tea tree oil, aloe vera, or witch hazel. Check out the rest of the list provided by Healthline.com here.

Dandruff is a common condition that causes the skin on your scalp to flake, it can also be considered to be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. Like dry scalp, you can treat most of your dandruff issues yourself with over-the-counter shampoos. If you’ve tried a shampoo specific to dandruff for at least a month and you have still not seen any improvements, or its getting worse, call your dermatologist to schedule an appointment. Your provider can determine if its dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis or another condition like eczema, or psoriasis.

Your overall skin and hair health is very important to us! If you have any questions about any of the above or how we can help you with your hair health, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we will be happy to answer them. If you’re wanting to make an appointment to see one of our dermatologists, call us or send us an email today!