Dandruff is an often embarrassing condition where flakes of skin shed heavily from your scalp. This can leave visible white flakes on your clothing and hair, and cause emotional turmoil all on its own. If this weren’t bad enough, if you have a very flaky scalp, you may also be concerned about going bald.
The good news is that if you have a flaky scalp, it probably isn’t linked to hair loss. Most causes of flak-ing on the scalp are unrelated, but there are certain diseases which can cause the issue. In particular fungal infections, allergic reactions (to a shampoo for example) and inflammation in hair follicles can cause bald-ness.
The reason they can cause hair loss is because they can damage the hair follicle, causing the hair follicle to be unable to produce new hair, which leads to the loss of that hair.
If your scalp is itchy on top of flaky, it can also lead to damage through scratching. The physical damage from scratching can also lead to damage of the follicles and hair loss resulting from it.
What You Should Do
If you’re suffering from a flaky or itchy scalp, your first step should be to get a diagnosis. A medical practitioner should take a look at your scalp and diagnose what the problem is. They may prescribe a medicated shampoo if it is a fungus, or other medication if it is a treatable problem.
Many times any hair loss that occurred due to a treatable condition will reverse after the problem has been resolved.
Certain scalp conditions that result in flaky skin and itchiness aren’t as easily treatable. One such condition is alopecia areata. At the present time, scientists aren’t sure what causes this condition. One theory is that the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles mistakenly. Treatments for this disease include immunotherapy and steroids.
Genetic Hair Loss
Sometimes, hair loss and dandruff can happen at the same time but be unrelated. Natural hair loss can begin at a shockingly young age, sometimes as early as a person’s teens. It can also happen to both men and women.
If you have treated your dandruff only to discover your hair is still thinning, it likely isn’t the flaky scalp causing the problem. If you notice thinning hair, a trichologist may be able to help.
A trichologist can examine your scalp and follicles and give you a better understanding of why you might be losing your hair, and give you recommendations on how to address it. You should see a trichologist as soon as you notice hair loss, because that is when it is easiest to fix.
If you wait till hair loss is advanced, it may be much more difficult to reverse it. Luckily, there are options available for hair loss. At Hair Replacement Clinic in Dayton, Ohio, we are devoted to the field of trichology and can answer your questions about your hair loss. Contact us for a complimentary consultation today.
