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If you find yourself with
flaky patches that are accompanied by slight swelling, redness
and small blisters that may weep could mean either contact dermatitis
or eczema.
These 2 conditions are very similar
and only different in how deep they penetrate into the layers
of the skin. The patches are produced when you come into contact
with something that you are allergic to. Initially the symptoms
are confined to the area that the allergen touched and further
contact can result in a spread of that irritation to other areas.
You need to seek the help of your
family doctor as soon as you can and isolate the cause of the
irritation. Once the allergen is found you need to avoid it to
prevent further problems.
The ingredients found in perming
solutions are the main culprits in allergic or irritant reactions.
Colouring products, shampoos and other styling products can also
cause allergic reactions but these normally occur within an hour
of use.
You can tell the difference between
an allergic and an irritant reaction because an allergic reaction
is immediate and an irritant reaction occurs after repeated exposure
to the product.
You will often find that you may
be especially sensitive to certain brands so it is advisable to
change makes and find one you are not allergic to. Always have
a patch
test
before a chemical based hairdressing
service to ascertain if you are going to have problems.
One of the most common forms of dermatis
is:
Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
This is severe form of dandruff that
often runs in families. This condition is charaterised by flakes
that are more yellow than white colour, accompanied with excessive
oil production and red itchy skin, in the most severe cases spreading
to the eyebrows, beard and around the nose. It may even on occasions
spread to the neck and chest.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is most commonly
located along the front of the hairline but can occur anywhere
on the scalp. It often begins at puberty when the increase in
sex hormones increases sebum production.
The most important component of any
treatment is frequent shampooing. This will stop the sebum from
accumulating and the seborrhoeic dermatitis will be controlled.
Commercially available products such as Nizoral 2% or Selsun 'Yellow'
will assist in controlling this condition.
Changing your diet also helps this
condition. Sufferers should eat a low fat, low sugar diet and
cut down on the alcohol.
See a
trichologist or doctor if you are unsure.
(With acknowledgements to the "Picture
Guide to scalp and Hair Problems" by David Salinger IAT
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