Hair Loss and Scalp Diseases

There are a variety of hair and scalp diseases; some are very common, while other more severe hair and scalp diseases are fortunately rare. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the hair follicles, causing baldness in patches. It affects 1.7 percent of the population, including 4.7 million people in the United States. In cases where the disease progresses to the point where all scalp hair is lost, it is called Alopecia Totalis, and where hair loss advances to the entire body it is called Alopecia Universialis. There is no known cause for alopecia areata and therefore no known cure. The disease usually hits before age 20, and does not seem to favor one particular gender or culture. Hair loss with alopecia areata comes in stages, with hair returning and falling out in phases. For information on this disease, contact the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) at PO Box 150760, San Rafael, CA 94915-0760, (415) 472-3780.

Seborrheic Dermatitis, an advanced form of seborrhea, is a non-contagious skin disease that causes excessive oiliness of the skin, most commonly in the scalp, caused by overproduction of sebum, the substance produced by the body to lubricate the skin where hair follicles are present. Seborrhea is the form of the disease where oiliness only occurs without redness and scaling. The disease commonly occurs in infants, middle-aged people, and the elderly, and is commonly known in infants as cradle cap. The disease has no cure, yet in infants it usually disappears in time. With adults the condition may persist with varying degrees of severity. Flaking, scaling and redness often are symptoms of this disease. It is easily treated with topical solutions found in creams containing corticosteroids and shampoos containing pine tar, selenium sulfide or salicylic acid. Seborrhea and seborrheic dermatitis are both easily treated and controlled, and should be because left untreated they can contribute to hair loss. In fact, a group of Japanese scientists have linked the overproduction of sebum to hair loss. This is because the sebaceous glands in areas of the scalp where hair is thinning or bald are enlarged, and are thought to cause the clogging of pores and several other problems that promote hair loss.

Psoriasis is termed an immune-mediated disorder that affects different areas and functions of the body. It is non-contagious, and one of the areas of the body it can affect is the scalp. It usually appears as patches of raised red skin accompanied by burning and itching. Several contributing factors are thought to contribute to the outbreak of psoriasis, including emotional stress, certain infections, toxemia, the thinning of the intestinal walls and adverse reactions to certain drugs. At least half of people who have psoriasis have scalp psoriasis. Like seborrhea, scalp psoriasis left untreated can cause hair loss. Fortunately, it can also be treated with a variety of topical creams and shampoos containing tar and salicylic acid. For more information on psoriasis, contact the National Psoriasis Foundation at 6600 SW 92nd Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97223-7195, (503) 244-7404 or (800) 723-9166.

It is vital not to scratch your scalp and pick at the scabs that psoriasis causes, as this could damage the hair follicles in the dermis and cause permanent hair loss. As long as the follicles are not damaged, hair loss caused by this malady is usually temporary and hair will grow back once the condition clears. Some of the best ways to stop the itching are using very common household substances such as mouthwashes like Lavoris® and Listerine®. Carbolated Vaseline® works well along the hairline to relieve symptoms. Hair dyes of all kinds and chemical treatments such as permanents and relaxers should be avoided at all costs with psoriasis. These chemicals are extremely harmful in general, but with psoriasis can lead to irreversible damage to the hair follicle over a relatively short period of time.

Like any of these other maladies, one must keep in mind that psoriasis cannot be cured through drugs, and if any cure exists it is in the form of the body healing itself by the correction of malfunctions in the body. One condition present with everyone suffering with psoriasis is toxemia. When the body becomes toxic, various genetic dispositions mature and psoriasis is but one illness that arises due to toxemia. Toxemia is caused by poor circulation and the thinning of the intestinal walls. The patient’s blood becomes acidic, and thus this acidity comes through the largest organ in the body: the skin. Several cases of psoriasis have been healed through natural processes such as internal cleansing, giving up alcohol, increasing the intake of water-especially distilled water, an increase in exposure to the sun in certain cases, an active reduction in stress by removing stressful conditions and practicing meditation, and the elimination of nightshades such as tomatoes, tobacco, eggplant, white potatoes, peppers (not black pepper) and paprika. One food that is a common plague to those suffering with psoriasis is pizza. Obviously containing tomatoes, pizza also contains every ingredient a psoriasis sufferer should avoid, such as white flour, peppers and hot spices. Additionally, pizza is highly acidic and should be avoided by all means.

In addition to the dietary suggestions given earlier, it is suggested that those suffering from psoriasis should eat fish, poultry and lamb regularly, maintain a high alkaline diet and consume low fat milk or buttermilk. Fish, especially fresh or canned salmon, sardines and solid white albacore tuna contains Omega-3 fatty acids that are vital for skin and scalp health. Although most fish are recommended, avoid dark-fleshed fishes such as mackerel or bluefish, sushi or shellfish. Poultry such as chicken, turkey, Cornish Hens and other non-fatty fowl are excellent foods for those with psoriasis when not fried. To avoid excess fat, remove the skin before eating and avoid fowl that has high fat content like goose and duck. Lamb is the only recommended red meat for those suffering with psoriasis, being that it is easy to digest and still a great source of protein. Of course it should be prepared any way except by frying. Dairy products should be consumed sparingly, and only low-fat or non-fat dairy products Those suffering with psoriasis can obtain their calcium from sources mentioned earlier in the section on Diet, Nutrition and Hair Loss, such as soybean products, celery, lettuce and greens. White bread should be avoided. And a limited amount of whole grain bread and whole grain products can be substituted, but should be consumed with caution because all grains except millet are acid forming. Additionally, one should eliminate alcohol consumption entirely, except for perhaps a small glass of red wine with dinner to promote rich blood and digestion. For cleansing suggestions, see the section on Natural Hair Loss Remedies.

Lecithin is beneficial for psoriasis, and can be taken in its granular form in the dosage of one tablespoon three times a day, five days a week, either plain or added to water, juice, sprinkled on salad or cereal. After the condition clears, reduce the dosage to one tablespoon taken once per day, five days a week. Lecithin can be obtained at any health food store, and although it can be obtained in liquid or tablet form in addition to granular form, it is best used in granular form due to the high phosphatide content when consumed as such. These doses should not be exceeded, as the over consumption of lecithin can cause a blockage in the absorption of calcium

Eczema is another non-contagious skin disease that mimics psoriasis very closely. Eczema produces scales, reddened inflamed skin that periodically ooze, and the familiar itch that is of supreme annoyance to those that suffer with it. These are however two different diseases that usually require different treatments. However, there are certain treatments that work for psoriasis that work for eczema also. Eczema causes extreme buildup and sores on the scalp, and can cause severe scarring. The buildup caused by eczema can cause temporary hair loss, however the scarring that can occur especially if one scratches the painfully itchy lesions can cause permanent damage to the hair follicles.

Eczema is an illness caused by toxemia as well. And although you can use the various medicated shampoos and creams on the market to control its symptoms, permanent relief is only going to come from removing the cause of the toxemia. Therefore, cleansing and drinking plenty of purified water are keys to fighting eczema. Many of the dietary recommendations are the same for one who suffers from eczema, except there is usually an increased sensitivity to fish-therefore it should be eaten in a limited amount. Also, there is usually a high intolerance of cow’s milk, since eczema is highly associated with allergies. Therefore, you should use soymilk or goat’s milk instead.

Hair loss due to chemotherapy treatments is a common side effect of the treatment. Chemotherapy kills rapidly reproducing cancer cells, however the side effect of this treatment is that chemotherapy also destroys the rapidly reproducing cells that promote the growth of hair and nails. Hair is lost rapidly and in large quantities in most instances. During this process, no prescription, herbal or over the counter treatments of any kind have been found to assist in maintaining the hair. Fortunately, hair normally returns within six months to a year after treatments cease. Patients have found that hair re-grown after chemotherapy is finer in texture and lighter in color at first. These are usually temporary conditions that improve with time. Those recovering from chemotherapy should avoid chemical processes such as perms, relaxers, bleaching and coloring in the hair until it grows at least three inches and not until at least one year after the last treatment. Chemotherapy can cause skin sensitivity and these chemicals can be extremely irritating to the scalp.

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