Scalp acne and what to do about it

You may have never imagined getting acne on your scalp, but you have it and now you need to know what you should do about getting rid of it.

The most common and least severe from of scalp acne is called scalp folliculitis. Similar to other forms of acne that affect the face and upper body, scalp acne can be brought on by stress. Stress tends to increase oil production in the sebaceous glands of the skin, including the skin of the scalp. An oily scalp can be made worse by not washing the hair often enough, and by using hair care products that contain oil; these conditions can lead to clogging of the follicles, and scalp acne.

Making things worse is the fact that scalp acne can produce a lot of irritation. Often scalp acne takes the form of small pustules that occur along the hairline which can be crusty and very tender to the touch. Scalp acne can also cause itchiness and soreness, and make it difficult not to touch the affected area.

To treat mild scalp acne, start with your shampoo. Choose an acne scalp shampoo or a shampoo with a formula for cleansing oily hair, as it will break up and reduce the amount of oil on your scalp. You might also have success using a shampoo meant for treating dandruff. If you feel the need to condition your hair, treat only the ends and along the length of your hair that is away from the scalp.

The mildest scalp acne can be treated with facial acne products, such as those containing salicylic acid. Use a cotton swab for keeping the product contained to the area to be treated, so that you do not dry out unaffected areas of your skin.

A word of caution about using acne preparations containing benzoyl peroxide near or on the hair: treating scalp acne with such a product may change the color of the hair it touches, essentially acting like a bleaching agent. Especially if you have colored hair, avoid these products because they have the potential to wreck your stylist’s efforts at the salon.

Do not rule out getting help from your doctor or dermatologist. He or she may be able to prescribe an antihistamine, an oral or topical antibiotic, or a topical steroid which can give you great relief from scalp acne.

Finally, there are other worse forms of scalp acne which can affect any individual. Do not attempt to treat a severe form of scalp acne such as necrotica miliaris, which causes swollen blackish papules, without consulting a medical professional first.