Diseases

Alopecia means baldness. Usually we have about 300,000 hairs on our heads, and we lose anything up to 300 hairs each day. Each hair grows at a rate of around about a centimetre a month, a phase in the life of the hair called anagen.

After about three years of life the hair falls out, a phase called catagen. The hair follicle then goes into a resting phase called telogen before starting a new three-year hair growth cycle.

Hair Loss Causes

There are many conditions that can affect the growth and life of a hair, the most common being so-called male pattern baldness where there is gradual loss of hair from the front and sides of the scalp, causing a receding hairline, and thinning of the hair on the top of the head.

Infestation means the presence of a living parasite either on the body (such as head lice), or within the body (such as scabies in the skin or tapeworms in the gut).

Skin infestations most commonly occur with scabies, caused by the mite sarcoptes scabei.

The pregnant female mite burrows into the skin, laying eggs as she goes, usually between the fingers, on the feet, or on the genitals. The body mounts an allergic reaction and the response is the formation of red papules which are itchy, particularly at night.

Cross-infection between close contacts is common. There may be an associated allergic rash affecting the inside of the thighs, the abdomen and the armpits. Unless there is a very severe infestation (called Norwegian scabies) the rash does not extend above the neck.

What is Flaky Itchy Scalp? – This is not the same as dandruff. It is basically dead skin that flakes off of the scalp and appears on the shoulders. In addition, the scalp is red and itchy and tender to touch, whilst the hair appears dull.

Flaky Itchy Scalp Causes – There are many reasons why this can occur, the main ones are nutritional deficiencies, hereditary illnesses, stress, failure to properly rinse shampoo, sebum deficiency, harsh hair products, pollution, central heating and air conditioning.

Flaky Itchy Scalp Advice – Clearly the real cause of the problem must be investigated, but following the advice on this site will be advantageous as it will help rule out any nutritional deficiencies that may exist.

What is Dandruff? – Also known as seborrhoeic dermatitis and is not to be confused with a flaky scalp, this condition is when the skin becomes scaly on the scalp and starts to shed at an increased rate.

There is also an increase in sebum from the sebaceous glands. The scales become oily and fall from the scalp appearing as white particles on the clothes, especially around the neck and shoulder area. It is known as ‘cradle cap’ when it occurs on the heads of babies.

Dandruff Causes – Dandruff is usually caused by an infection from a yeast called Piyrosporum ovale, which irritates the skin and increases the production and shedding of skin cells. Other causes can be poor diet, stress, food allergies, sluggish metabolism and hormone imbalance.

Fleas and ticks, normally resident on animals, are happy to feed on humans where their bites cause itchy raised papules which may become secondary infected. A number may transmit other diseases such as a Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. While those carried by domestic animals are usually responsible only for the bites that they inflict, these can be a source of considerable distress. Domestic animals should be de-flead.

Fleas and Ticks Treatments

The obvious treatment for these irritating conditions is not to get them in the first place. Pets – particularly cats – can bring these unwanted visitors into your home, but you can make them less welcome by treating the pets first.

Lice are parasites that live on blood, which they suck through piercing mouthparts. There are different lice which infest humans: the head louse which affect the scalp, causing itching. The female lays eggs attached to hairs, and the empty egg has a white shell, commonly known as a nit, which can be seen attached to the base of the hair.

Head Lice

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t get head lice from wearing someone else’s hat, using their comb or towel, from sitting on train or bus seats or using the same mat in a school or health centre gym. You only get them by bodily contact (head to head contact), which is why this is common in children. Which is why they can become so rampant among young children working enthusiastically on a joint school project together, their teachers and the rest of the family when they come home.