Scalp problem, hair loss, flakes and dryness

Hi

I've been losing hair at the front of my head for the past few years now, since about the age of 16-17. I'm now in my early 20s and still losing more hair. I also have a regularly itchy and dry scalp with white or yellow flakes everywhere. I lose a lot of hair during combing and when washing it so have reduced to washing my hair only a couple of times a week or at the most 3 times.

Also I often find 'scabs' on my scalp which itch like crazy till I pick them off (gross, I know!) and there are even some small 'bloody' bits in places. My hair strands always have something whitish-clear stuck to them like glue (oil?). The texture of my hair used to be curly-wavy, now it's very thin, brittle and frail. Another thing is that my scalp tends to have a foul smell even as soon as 2 days after washing my hair.

I have tried plenty of shampoos and treatments, from basic anti-dandruff to gels, creams and sprays which are supposed to treat the scalp (Folligen by Skin Biology for example) but so far, nothing has worked.

Do these symptoms ring a bell at all? Is there an established condition that matches them?? PLEASE PLEASE help as this is stressing me out to no end now and I just want to know WHY and WHAT is causing it. Thankyou!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Hair fall is a physiological phenomenon due to the natural course of life of a hair. A hair falls after it has grown up and entered the later part of its growth (called the telogen phase). As different hairs in the body are in different phases of their growths at a given time, few of then fall daily a normal routine. Sometimes, more hairs enter into the telogen phase at the same time and fall with obvious note by the person.

At other times, it may be due hair disorder or some other underlying disease. So, the causes for excessive hair fall may be physiological or pathological and include hormonal changes, fungal infection, physical effects (traction, heat, chemicals), psychological & stress-related reasons, thyroid disorders, iron deficiency anemia, excessive intake of Vitamin A, hereditary reasons etc. I suggest you to take opinion of a Dermatologist who will do a methodical medical check-up and advice accordingly.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.