What to do if acne appears on your head

Most often, acne appears on the face, shoulders, upper back and chest. But they can arise anywhere. And on the scalp too – over the entire surface or just along the hairline.

Which acne most often occurs on the head?

A pimple on your head is no different in nature from a pimple anywhere else: it is an accumulation of dead skin and oil that clogs the exit of the hair follicle.

Most often, several types of acne appear on the head:

• blackheads – black and white dots,
• pustules – inflamed rashes with a white head of pus,
• nodules are large, hard nodules that protrude slightly above the surface of the skin.

 

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Pimples on the head: nodules / shutterstock.com

 

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Pimples on the head: pustules / shutterstock.com

Pimples can be itchy and painful, making it difficult for some to wash their hair. In severe cases, hair begins to fall out , and scabs appear around the acne – crusts that form after pus and blood dry. Such changes can affect self-esteem.

Where do acne on the head come from?

There are several common causes of acne.

Reaction to cosmetics

You can face consequences due to incorrectly selected cosmetics and hair care products. The thing is, if a product contains oil, it can get on your skin and clog your pores. Because of this, sebum does not come to the surface, accumulates and forms acne.

Acne may also appear after using comedogenic products that contain the following substances :

• isopropyl myristate;
• lanolin;
• butyl stearate;
• stearyl alcohol;
• oleic acid;
• algae extracts, coconut and flaxseed oil.

Sometimes an allergic reaction occurs: in addition to acne, itching, dryness and flaking may appear .

Diseases

One cause of acne is folliculitis , a condition in which the pits of the skin where hair grows become inflamed. Initially, small pimples appear that are itchy and feel warm, and over time they develop into ulcers. Most often, folliculitis occurs due to bacterial infection and ingrown hairs.

Folliculitis / shutterstock.com

There are cases when acne on the head indicates a serious illness : pilar cyst, seborrheic dermatitis, squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, if acne does not go away, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Hormonal changes

Changes in hormone levels occur during adolescence and before menstruation, during pregnancy or during menopause in women.

Genetic features

From statistical data , we can conclude that people whose close relatives suffered from acne are more likely to encounter the disease. They also develop acne earlier and cause more discomfort than those who do not have a history of acne in their family.

Lifestyle

These include the following factors:

• infrequent or improper hair washing;
• stress;
• smoking – tobacco damages cells and changes the composition of sebum;
• taking certain medications, such as oral contraceptives, antidepressants, lithium and bromides;
• friction from wearing hats, helmets or headbands.

How can a doctor help?

If pimples appear constantly, in large groups, are very painful and bothersome, you need to consult a dermatologist.

The doctor will conduct an examination and diagnosis, and then prescribe treatment. The specialist will also give recommendations for care, and may also prescribe medications :

• Topical or oral antibiotics to remove bacteria from hair follicles.
• Topical steroids for the treatment of folliculitis.
• Oral isotretinoin to get rid of long-term scalp acne.
• Oral antihistamines to relieve itching.
• Corticosteroid injections to suppress inflammation.

What can you do on your own if you have acne on your head?

Pimples on the scalp usually require medical treatment and cannot be eliminated through home care alone. But independent actions will be an excellent addition to the therapy prescribed by the doctor.

Eliminate or select care

Avoid using shampoos, conditioners and other hair care products that contain oils, as they can clog the pores on your scalp. For the same reason, it is better to avoid styling products. Everything that your head touched after using this cosmetics needs to be washed.

The good news is that if you stop using the products that trigger your acne, your breakouts will go away within six weeks.

Choose products that are labeled “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic.” Antibacterial soaps, products with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, and anti-dandruff fungal shampoos containing ketoconazole or ciclopirox are also suitable .

Learn to wash your hair correctly

Even the best hair care product can cause clogged pores and breakouts if left on the skin after washing.

To effectively wash away product residues, follow these rules :

• wet your head and hair – use warm, not hot water, so as not to dry out the skin;
• scoop the shampoo into your palm and then apply it to the roots – this is necessary in order to apply the product evenly and not miss any
• one area on the head;
• massage your head for about three minutes with soft circular movements, do not scrape the skin with your nails;
• rinse your hair lengthwise with the resulting foam – there is no need to use an additional portion of shampoo, because the surfactants in the foam will wash away the dirt from the hair quite well. And excess shampoo will only dry out the scalp;
• repeat the procedure if necessary;
• Rinse the shampoo thoroughly with clean water.

If you use conditioner, it is important not to apply it to your scalp or hair roots.

Don’t shave your scalp

Folliculitis can be caused by ingrown hairs after shaving. Therefore, if problems arise, it is better to refuse the procedure. But if you still need to shave, it is better to do it according to hair growth, apply a special cream or gel. For shaving, it is better to use an electric razor, which does not shave so close to the skin.

Do not wear anything tight against the scalp or neck

Choose loose hats, avoid scarves, bandanas and headbands. And if you need to wear a helmet, it is better to choose a model that has ventilation.

You should also avoid wearing chains, tight collars and scarves.

The thing is that tightly fitting objects rub the skin, and they also absorb sebum and products that you apply to your hair.

Use over-the-counter products

Here are the substances that should be included in preparations for topical use:

• Benzoyl peroxide – it absorbs excess sebum and reduces the formation of bacteria on the skin;
• salicylic acid – it allows you to control the production of sebum;
• Tretinoin is a retinoid that renewsthe skin and helps keep pores clean.

Before use, carefully read the instructions, or better yet, consult a doctor – he will select the product individually, based on your condition and the cause of acne.

To relieve itching, you can make compresses : moisten a cloth with cool water and apply to the skin for 10 minutes.

Wash towels and pillowcases regularly

The more often you wash everything that touches your scalp, the better. If you don’t do this, sebum and the skincare products you use will accumulate on your clothes, which can cause new acne and delay recovery.

Towels should be washed once a week in hot water and dried thoroughly between uses. It is better to change pillowcases twice a week, and the rest of your bed linen weekly.

Maintain hygiene

Wipe sweat from your neck, forehead and ears. It can clog the sebaceous ducts, causing dirt and sebum to accumulate in them. In rare cases, an allergy may occur to sweat, causing rashes.

Wash your hands before touching your head or face to avoid transferring bacteria and preventing the spread of infections.

Brush your hair regularly to avoid tangling. Use a personal comb. Don’t forget to remove hair from it, and wash it periodically in hot water.