A person may develop sensitivity to certain ingredients in products that they use on their scalp, especially if they have sensitive skin or have been using chemical products for a long time. These irritants can cause ‘contact dermatitis’ which is a condition where the skin becomes irritated and forms a red, itchy rash from direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. Some examples of these substances are:

• Chemicals in hair styling products: Alcohol, turpentine, bleach, dyes, perming or straightening substances
• Fragrances & Phthalates: Found in hair sprays, shampoos, scalp treatments
• Sulphates & Soaps: Chemicals like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) help to create foam and lather but are irritating to skin; harsh soaps are alkaline and disrupts the acidic skin mantle
• Certain topical scalp medications

How Can I Treat Contact Dermatitis Due To Chemical Irritants?

Just like how we avoid eating foods we know will make us sick (like cheese when you are lactose intolerant!), we know that treating contact dermatitis starts by avoiding the substance itself to allow the body to heal.

1. Avoid irritating substances – Look through all the products that you use on your hair and scalp, and bin those which are expired or seem to trigger your skin allergies. When in doubt, stay on the safe side and avoid any products that look like they contain the substances mentioned above. 

2. Bring down a flare – Thoroughly rinse off your scalp and hair using lukewarm water, as hot water can cause further skin inflammation. Avoid products that are too soapy or seem to lather a lot. Most importantly – contact your doctor so they can assess your scalp and identify if there are any concurrent yeast infections going on. They can prescribe topical or oral anti-inflammatory and anti-itching medication to calm your scalp down, as well as advice on the right shampoos to use. 

3. Prevent recurrence – Now that we’ve made progress, let's not go back to square one… No matter how tempting a trending hair product may be, always look through the ingredient list to make sure that none of the offending chemical irritants are on that list. 

Suffering from constant scalp reactions is not normal, and if you find yourself unable to identify which substances are causing your contact dermatitis, get in touch with our professionals today.

We all know someone who sneezes right when they walk into a dusty room! Substances that cause allergies – raised bumps on hives on the skin, swollen eyes, and a runny nose – are called ‘allergens’, and when we form a skin reaction to those allergens, we call that ‘allergic contact dermatitis’. Skin allergies can happen in response to house dust mites (“I’m allergic to dust,” should actually be, “I’m allergic to dust mites!”), foods like nuts or dairy, medications, or hair products.

Although the sensitive pH value of our scalp can cause skin allergies to commonly occur on our head, allergic contact dermatitis can happen on any other areas of our skin too. The hands are a common area, since we use our hands every single day. If we do a lot of housework, we have a higher chance of coming into contact with an allergen. Even unknowingly touching a plant or caterpillar can cause sudden allergy reactions.

Symptoms of a scalp skin allergy are itchiness and dryness that may form scales or flakes. The ‘dermatitis’ in contact dermatitis simply means an inflammatory response of the skin where it turns red, swollen, and warm to touch. If left untreated, symptoms may last from days to weeks, and even lead to hair loss due to inflammation affecting the hair follicles.

How can I treat an itchy/flaky/sensitive scalp due to skin allergies? 

Similar to treating contact dermatitis, treating skin allergies also starts by identifying your triggers and doing your best to avoid them! 

1. Identify allergens and avoid them – Keeping an allergen diary can help if you are in the early stages of figuring out what your triggers are. If you know that dust mites are your Kryptonite, being extra careful to keep a dust-free environment with regular housekeeping will reduce the frequency of flare-ups. In areas where you can’t bring along your vacuum with you, carrying a face mask at all times will help. It is important to remember which medications you have had bad reactions to in the past so that any future doctors you may meet know not to prescribe the same class of medications.
2. Know when to get help – If you come into contact with a known allergen, rinse out the area thoroughly to prevent progressive symptoms. At times where it is too late and the skin redness has progressed to a severe rash, this is where you need to visit a doctor. Medications can be prescribed to calm the inflamed flare and reduce itching, as well as barrier creams to help healing. Not getting treated early can only make the skin condition worse and aggravate hair loss.
3. Stay vigilant – If you seem to be getting recurring symptoms even after constant treatment, observe and let your doctor know. Skin patch tests can be ordered by your doctor to identify anti-allergen proteins (IgE tests), which help to identify which substances you are allergic to in the environment. Antihistamine medication should be kept on standby for you to use in the event that you accidentally come into contact with the allergen, especially if the allergens are unable to be identified.

It can be tempting to self-medicate with creams or herbs, but flare-ups tend to keep occurring as long as the causes are not identified. Journey together with your doctor today to find the correct diagnosis and allergen avoidance, and prevent flare-ups from progressing to the point of full-blown life-threatening allergies.