Pimples in the scalp, and especially in men on the back of the head, are often disturbed from an aesthetic point of view. Actually it is a medical problem. Unpleasant rashes cause itching and discomfort when washing your hair. However, the main problem is that they cause profuse hair loss and lead to baldness. Why does acne appear on the back of the head, and how to deal with this problem? This will be discussed in this article.
Skin structure
The skin of an individual consists of several layers:
- The epidermis is the topmost, it is constantly updated. Some cells die and are shed, while others reappear.
- Derma - medium. It contains small blood vessels, capillaries, sebaceous and sweat glands, hair follicles and nerve endings.
- Hypodermis - internal. It is responsible for thermoregulation of the skin and accumulates nutrients.
The sebaceous glands produce a secret to lubricate the hair and forman emulsion hydrolipidic film on the surface of the skin. It has a slightly acidic environment, which prevents the reproduction of microorganisms, regulates the water-s alt balance, protects the epidermis from drying out and protects the skin from ultraviolet rays. When it is damaged, harmful bacteria freely penetrate the dermis and provoke acne on the back of the head in men.
Types of skin rashes on the head
In medical practice, skin acne is called acne. All rashes are classified into the following types:
- Papules are a red bump without pus. Leaves no residue after removal.
- Pustules - a white dot is visible on a reddened pimple - an accumulation of pus. Such acne occurs when an infection enters.
- Knots - a dangerous type of pimple, has a red color with a burgundy or blue tint, affects all layers of the skin, causes pain and reaches up to three centimeters in diameter.
- Cysts - appear one after another, merging into a single chain. After healing, they leave scars and scars.
Do not self-medicate, and if acne appears on the back of the head, then you should immediately contact a dermatologist. External manifestations can signal serious internal problems.
Internal causes of acne
Acne appears not only on the face and back, but also on the skin of the head. They begin to itch and cause serious discomfort. Their formation signals a serious malfunction in the body. You should, without delay, contact a dermatologist, trichologist or gastroenterologist andget tested.
Acne on the head occurs for the following reasons:
- Failure of the endocrine system. In the body, there is an excess release of testosterone or progesterone and a lack of, for example, estrogen. It occurs during adolescence during puberty or with a decline in male sexual function.
- Excessive secretion of sebaceous glands. Pores are clogged, oxygen supply to the skin is disrupted, acne appears.
- Adrenal disease. Everything in the body is interconnected, and the occurrence of problems in one organ leads to malfunctions in other systems.
- Focal infection. The presence of harmful bacteria in the body weakens the immune system, and pathogens begin to multiply under favorable conditions on the scalp, causing acne on the back of the head in the hair.
- Stressful situations and overwork. They contribute to increased production of cortisol, which disrupts metabolic processes in the epithelium, which reduces the level of collagen.
- Deficiency of vitamins and minerals.
- Various diseases of the digestive system.
- Dermatological diseases: mycosis, folliculitis, seborrhea, psoriasis.
- Allergic reaction of the body to various foods.
- Long-term use of drugs - steroids, antibiotics.
Acne on the back of the head in men: the reasons for their appearance
There are many external causes that contribute to the appearance of acne in the scalp. These include:
- Wrong type of water. Great contentvarious impurities in water or chlorine irritates and dries out the skin.
- Poor hair and scalp hygiene. Rare or, conversely, frequent shampooing, improper selection of shampoo, not washing the scalp from sebaceous secretions. Some products cause individual intolerance, and this can cause acne on the back of the head in the hair.
- Using synthetic bedding or headwear. The skin is not saturated with oxygen, there is a strong sweating and blockage of the sebaceous glands.
- Bad ecology, work with various harmful substances.
- Microcracks and scratches that pathogenic bacteria get into.
- Sudden temperature changes. Hats must be worn during cold and hot seasons.
When removing acne, do not self-medicate. For the successful fight against acne on the back of the head, the cause of their appearance plays an important role. Only a qualified specialist can accurately install it and prescribe the correct treatment.
Scalp inflammation symptoms
Before the appearance of acne on the head, the individual feels dry skin and itching. After a few days of discomfort, bumps appear between the hairs, ranging in color from pale pink to dark red. Their diameter can vary from 1 mm to 3 cm, pain appears. When ripe, purulent pimples form on the back of the head, which may appear on other parts of the head. Sometimes the swelling goes away on its own after a few days without forming an abscess or leaving any marks.
Individuals prone to the formation of an inflammatory rash, you must constantly monitor the edge of the hair near the neck, forehead, temples, inspect the back of the head. When identifying the first symptoms, contact a dermatologist or trichologist. Advanced forms of the disease are difficult to treat and lead to hair loss and baldness.
How to get rid of acne on the back of the head?
The appearance of acne on the back of the head of a man can be provoked by many reasons. The treatment process is recommended to start from the following points:
- Make changes to your diet. Revise the daily menu, add to it a sufficient amount of products containing trace elements and vitamins: various greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals and dairy products. Significantly reduce the consumption of smoked meats, fatty meats, canned food, spicy and s alty foods.
- Give up bad habits. Nicotine and alcohol adversely affect the effectiveness of treatment.
- Remove the allergen. It can be found in shampoos, conditioners, medicines and foods.
- Go to the doctor if the measures taken do not improve the condition. After the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe an effective therapy.
Doctor's advice to help fight acne on the head
Dermatologists advise to combat acne on the back of the head in men:
- Choose the right hair hygiene products. Shampoo for men, which contains salicylates, dries the scalp and promotes the healing of purulent pimples. Preparations containing selenium sulfide,help eliminate itchy rashes. Antifungal additives in shampoos cure dandruff. A tar shampoo or soap will help with the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis.
- Apply hair styling products carefully. The scalp from them becomes dry or, conversely, oily, pores become clogged. All this contributes to the appearance of dandruff, itching and rashes.
- Get short haircuts. A he althy scalp is easier to maintain with short hair. Long - increase sweating, provoke the reproduction of bacteria, cause inflammation and acne.
- Don't pop pimples - you can cause widespread infection to new areas of the scalp. Possible serious complications.
Diagnosis of disease
Before making a diagnosis, the doctor identifies the causes of acne on the back of the head in the hair, conducting the following examinations:
- Data collection for anamnesis - when talking with the patient, the doctor listens to complaints, receives information about the state of he alth and heredity, about previous treatment experience, if any.
- A visual inspection of the scalp and hair condition is carried out.
- CBC ordered.
- Blood biochemistry is taken - the content of trace elements is detected in the serum, the level of sex and thyroid hormones is determined.
- Computer diagnostics are carried out - trichoscopy, which allows you to get complete information about the condition of the scalp and hair.
- If necessary, a phototrichogram is taken to clarify the cause of hair loss.
- Consultations of other specialists are scheduled.
Based on the data collected, it turns out what caused acne on the back of the head and an individual treatment program is developed. During the course of therapy and after its completion, control trichoscopy is performed to evaluate and correct treatment.
Treatment with physiotherapy
A good effect in the treatment of acne on the head is given by physiotherapy procedures. Most commonly used:
- UV irradiation - dries, sterilizes and gives anti-inflammatory effect.
- Microcurrents - low-frequency pulses penetrate deeply into the layer of the epidermis, improve lymph flow and blood flow, nourish cells with oxygen and activate metabolic processes in them. They are used for various inflammatory and fungal diseases, seborrhea, hair loss, dandruff. They give a good effect on subcutaneous acne on the back of the head.
- Cryotherapy - use to treat low temperatures.
- Galvanization, or vacuum disincrustation - allows you to remove blackhead rods.
- Darsonvalization - based on the use of high voltage alternating current. The procedure accelerates metabolism, improves skin nutrition and oxygen supply, and destroys pathogenic microflora.
All physiotherapeutic agents have contraindications for use. They are not recommended for various neoplasms, purulent processes, infectious diseases, a tendency tobleeding, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, heart attack and stroke.
Drug therapy
Treatment of acne on the back of the head in men depends on the cause of their occurrence:
- Infection of a bacterial nature - antibiotics "Tetracycline", "Azithromycin", "Erythromycin" are used in the form of tablets for oral and external use in the form of gels, solutions and ointments. With complex treatment, antifungal drugs are also prescribed.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - drugs are used to restore the intestinal microflora "Linex", "Laktovit", "Laktiale".
- Allergies - antihistamines are prescribed: Telfast, Loratadin, Zodak. In addition, drugs that normalize the nervous system are used: Glycine, Novo-Passit, Persen.
- Hormonal disorders - antiandrogenic drugs help. With a deficiency of nutrients and trace elements, they are replenished with vitamin complexes, brewer's yeast, selenium, calcium, zinc.
For topical use, ointments "Ichthyol", "Levomikol", "Boro-Plus" are often used. Damaged areas are treated with hydrogen peroxide, camphor and salicylic alcohol. For diseases caused by fungi, it is recommended to use special shampoos "Ketoconazole", "Nizoral".
Ointments for acne on the head in the hair
The main disadvantage of ointments when used to treat acne on the back of the head in men's hair is that you need to wash your hair often. Despite this, they are considered the most effective means in the fight againstailment. The most commonly used ointments are:
- Ichthyol - has an antibacterial effect, perfectly fights abscesses. Apply it an hour before washing your hair. Unpleasant odor is destroyed after shampooing.
- Salicylic - kills pathogenic microorganisms, eliminates the inflammatory process. Use one hour before shampooing daily. Apply to the abscess.
- Gentamicin - it contains a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Used for bacterial infections. Apply to acne twice a day.
- Synthomycin - prevents the growth of pathogenic microflora, applied directly to acne, has an antibacterial effect.
Traditional medicine recipes for getting rid of acne on the head
When treating acne on the back of the head and other places of the head, along with medications, you can use folk recipes, after consulting with your doctor. To combat the problem, use the following proven recipes:
- Calendula tincture. Its use helps to improve the functioning of the sebaceous glands. The drug is sold in a pharmacy. For use, you need to dissolve two tablespoons of tincture in a glass of boiled water. Wipe acne daily until it disappears.
- Aloe juice. Cut off the bottom leaf from the plant, squeeze out the juice and lubricate the damaged areas of the skin.
- Tea tree oil. A good antiseptic for acne. Add a few drops of oil to your shampoo and wash your hair. It is not recommended to use in its pure form, you canget skin burn.
- Apple cider vinegar. After washing your hair, rinse your hair with a solution containing equal amounts of water and vinegar.
- Strawberry juice. Squeeze it out of fresh berries and lubricate the damaged areas of the head. Quickly heals wounds, cleanses the skin, kills pathogens.
- Tar soap. Cleanses the scalp, fights harmful bacteria.
There are a lot of traditional medicine recipes in the fight against skin rashes on the back of the head and other parts of the head. They should not be used without consulting a doctor, so as not to aggravate the problem.
Prevention of acne in hair
It is quite possible to prevent pimples on the back of the head in men by adhering to the following recommendations:
- wash your hair no more than once every three days;
- be sure to wear a hat in sunny, windy and cold weather;
- choose a quality cosmetic product that suits your hair type and does not contain oils;
- treat the comb with antiseptics;
- wear hats and sleep on pure cotton or linen sheets;
- wash towels and pillowcases more often;
- don't scratch pimples that appear.
Pay attention to foods, they should contain more proteins, vitamins E, A and B. Eat less or completely refuse:
- alcoholic beverages;
- sweet confectionery;
- fried, smoked and s alty foods;
- fatty meat;
- carbonated drinks;
- coffee.
More use:
- fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits;
- various cereals;
- lean meat and fish;
- hard cheeses;
- natural juices and fruit drinks;
- fermented milk products.
Besides this, exercise, take daily walks, ride a bike, swim, avoid stress.
Shampoos for scalp acne
Using shampoos to treat acne on the back of the head in men is the most convenient method. Simple and quick way to use, does not stain rashes and has, with rare exceptions, an unpleasant odor. The following shampoos are suitable for treatment:
- "Skin-Cap" - glyceric acid contained in the composition of the drug, has an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effect. Used for dermatitis, inflammation of the scalp and seborrhea.
- "Nizoral" - used for diseases of candidiasis.
- "Sulsena" - contains a substance that regulates the sebaceous glands, has an antibacterial effect. Disadvantage - unpleasant smell, advantages - low price.
- "Sebozol" - contains ketoconazole, used for fungal infections, psoriasis, seborrhea and skin rashes.
- "Friederm balance" - one of the components is a compound of zinc pyrithione, which has an antimicrobial and antipruritic effect. The remedy is effective for allergic rashes.
- "Tar 911" is an excellent tool that contains birchtar, which affects the functioning of the sebaceous glands, prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. Used for acne, dermatitis and dandruff.
Conclusion
The appearance of acne on the back of the head in the hair of men is most often a dermatological disease. It occurs when the sebaceous glands become inflamed due to excessive production of sebum or its high viscosity. There may be another reason for the onset of the disease. In each case, the doctor will conduct a thorough examination of the patient and prescribe a specific individual treatment. Naturally, it is quite understandable why some consider acne on the back of the head just an unfortunate misunderstanding, and not an ailment. Nevertheless, as we could already find out, such rashes are not always as harmless as it might seem at first glance. Self-medication is by no means allowed, so as not to harm he alth and prevent hair loss and the spread of acne throughout the body.
