Seborrheic dermatitis can be uncomfortable, and can even lead to hair loss. Learn why hair loss can happen here and what to do to help.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common scalp condition that doesn’t only impact the skin on your head, it can negatively affect your hair follicles too – including increased hair loss.
Below, we will review the basics of seborrheic dermatitis and hair loss including what seborrheic dermatitis is, what mechanisms occur to lead to hair loss in some people, if the hair loss can be permanent, and what you can do about seborrheic dermatitis hair loss.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common scalp condition that consists of increased sebum (scalp oil) production and potential subsequent redness, white and yellowish skin flakes, irritation, and itching.
The excess oil produced with seborrheic dermatitis can induce the overgrowth of Malassezia yeast which can worsen flaking and itchiness.
In infants, seborrheic dermatitis may be referred to as “cradle cap”.
While not everyone with seborrheic dermatitis may end up dealing with hair loss from it, some people can experience new or worsened hair loss from the condition.
There are a few ways that seborrheic dermatitis may take a toll on your hair and increase hair loss.
Firstly, seborrheic dermatitis can be very itchy. This may lead you to scratch your head constantly. Over time, this excess scratching can damage your skin and hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
Also, the overgrowth of Malassezia yeast from the condition, and the increased oil on the scalp constantly can increase scalp inflammation. Excess inflammation is not good news for hair follicles, and could lead to increased hair loss or slowed growth.
Luckily, most hair loss that occurs directly from seborrheic dermatitis can be resolved by simply getting the seborrheic dermatitis under control through medicated shampoos, topical treatments, or other measures.
In rare situations, if the condition was very severe or went untreated for a long time, prolonged, intense scratching of the follicles could potentially damage and scar them, making it harder for lost hair to return. So, it is important to take care of your scalp symptoms as soon as they become a problem.
The best way to start addressing hair loss that occurred from seborrheic dermatitis, is to treat the underlying dermatitis and any yeast infections thoroughly.
Your doctor can help you identify over-the-counter or prescription options that are the best fit for you to clear the seborrheic dermatitis and any fungal overgrowth that may have come along with it. Ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, or prescription antifungals and corticosteroids are all possible treatment options, depending on your exact presentation and severity.
Once the dermatitis and infection are clear and your scalp is feeling healthy, you may be able to consider hair growth-stimulating treatments to help your hair get back to normal faster.
Here at Strut, we offer a few medications that may help you through your seborrheic dermatitis treatment plan.
When you are at the treatment stage to clear the dermatitis, you may respond to the prescription-strength 2% Ketoconazole shampoo. We carry the 2% Ketoconazole shampoo, available online through a quick 10-minute questionnaire-based telemedicine doctor consultation.
Also, once the infection has been fully cleared, but you are still dealing with the aftermath of some hair loss, you may respond well to the growth-stimulating properties of Minoxidil and other active ingredients.
We offer a range of Minoxidil-containing topical hair loss formulations, as well as our Strut Hair Booster with Latanoprost and natural agents including caffeine and minoxidil. However, you are better off waiting for the dermatitis to fully clear before starting on a hair loss treatment topical, to avoid further irritation to the scalp.
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