What's the scaly stuff on her scalp?

Question

My friend has been to the doc b/c a little over a year ago she had a small patch of scaly skin. The doc said it is a fungus because she always put her wet hair in a ponytail and then puts on her scarf to leave her house everyday - basically the skin isn't breathing and has all that moisture there...you get the picture. Ok so all they can tell her is it's a fungus. It's gross. It's dandruff x 10,000. It's like scales. It's encompassed half of her scalp and her hair has thinned a bit - you can't see the scalp through the hair or anything like that. But she says her hair falls out easily. She can sit and pick at her scalp and pick off tiny chunks - small like the head of a nail - and thick. So does this fungus have a name? The stupid docs haven't really told her b/c they aren't sure I guess. I told her I'd ask here to find out more if possible.... anyone know anything?

It's no excema. And I don't think it's psoriasis - at least that's what the docs have stated. This is a grown up we're talking about here - not a child. Anyway... a good dermatologist sounds like the answer. a PCP ain't gonna do it.

Answer 1

From your own description it sounds to me like Psoriasis.
Scales or fish scales that flake off in big chunks and the hair is thinning. I have Psoriasis and used to have it on my scalp and it was not nice. However I tried most preparations which worked for a period and then failed. In the end I cleared my by using lemon juice in the rinse water. Wash my hair with shampoo, then rinse off. Then add lemon juice about two table spoons to clean water, saturate the hair and then dry. Now if I find any outbreak, I hit it with lemon juice straight away and that keeps it at bay. Have not had to use lemon juice now for several years.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Tough actin' Tinactin!!! No, really she needs to see a good dermatologist to treat it. And tell her to stop with the wet hair thing.

Here are a few things that might be causing it and ways to treat it.

A. Since it isn't getting better, you likely should return to your Pediatrician for a recheck. At this point, he might order both bacterial and fungal cultures of the area to get a better idea of what might be causing the spot.

In a school aged child, the most common things that would cause a scaly spot on a child's head include:

tinea capitis - a fungal infection (ringworm) on the scalp, which would usually not respond to a topical antifungal cream or ointment and instead needs an oral medication, like griseofulvin
bacterial staph infections - which if you are in an area where MRSA is common, treatment with Bactrim (TMP/SMX) would be appropriate
seborrheic dermatitis - a greasy, red, scaly, itchy rash that can be found on a child's scalp, behind their ears, and on the sides of their nose. It is often treated with antidandruff shampoos and steroid oils and lotions, but is not very common before a child begins puberty.
Less commonly, children with psoriasis, dermatomyositis, and lupus erythematosus, may have a scaly red scalp.
In addition to seeing your Pediatrician again, it may help to begin using a medicated shampoo, including something like Selsun Blue, Head and Shoulders, Nizoral, or Neutrogena T/Gel.

Like with cradle cap, it is sometimes also helpful to try and remove scale from a child's scalp by rubbing it with mineral oil and then washing it out with a dishwashing liquid or a tar shampoo.

Answer 4

my sis used to have this its called eczema, this MIGHT be what ur friend has, b/c the symptoms sound the same as my sister's...
they have creams, ointments, hair treatments, and medications she cna take orally, thts what my sis did and it gradually went away in a few months, and its all gone now, they also have medicated shampoos, but the doctor should prescribe them, if he doesnt then get a second opnion from a dermatologist

Answer 5

keep hair open for Allahs sake ....try another doc..needs to be taken seriously...probably itches..

watch out if TAR means TAR SHAMPOO then its cancerous ...dont use AT AT AT ALL><

MY dad is a scientish and he said Selsun is not good for health at ALL....PLZ AVOID it!!!!