Treating scalp acne can be a tricky process because of the area it is situated, this article looks at some of the best ways that may be used to treat the condition successfully.
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Get rid of acne on the scalp
1. Get Rid Of Acne On The Scalp
Overview Of Scalp Acne
Scalp acne is yet another irritating condition that can affect both men and women alike.
Consequently because this area is covered with hair growth it can prove more difficult to treat it
here with typical acne treatments that can be used freely on other parts of the body.
Benzoyl Peroxide For Scalp acne?
Traditional creams are obviously out and for the majority of the time and the good old Benzoyl
Peroxide is not an option either as it may change your hair color, this may be desirable if you are a
teenager but in most cases it is likely this effect would make it a no go product.
It may be possible to get away with it in a weak concentration but it is advisable not to risk it, as if it
bleaches your hair somewhat, you will have to wait quite a while for it to grow out again.
For the majority of people scalp acne is not normally that serious and it can be cleared with nothing
more than a good medicated shampoo, however like with any form of acne it is important to take
action to stop it getting any worse.
Before getting into that let’s just have a look at a couple of steps you can take to maybe help the
scalp acne condition you already have and possibly prevent a recurrence.
Scalp acne Treatment – Shampoos and Conditioners
You need to keep your scalp scrupulously clean, and this may mean more frequent washing, as you
probably know this can aggravate acne by drying the skin so it is important to use a very gentle
shampoo for this, probably the mildest of all such products is baby shampoo, because it is
formulated for an infants skin it should give you no problems.
Alternatively a product containing Tea tree oil would also likely to be of benefit to you, this natural
product has many applications for any number of complaints and as it as a natural bactericide it is
definitely worth giving this a try, however it is quite expensive, compared to ordinary scalp acne
products but its a small price to pay if it works for you.
Throw all your fancy conditioners away, some of these can contain some very harsh chemicals that
can aggravate acne, two of the best natural things you can use to condition your hair is beaten raw
egg, and beer, either together or on their own, don’t forget to rinse them out well.
I would like to thank my mom for this tip, she was a hairdresser by profession, in the days when
hair was styled using Marcel irons (heated on a gas stove and tested for the correct temperature by
holding them to your lips, no thermostats in those days and many
burned lips!) I digress.
You could also try experimenting with a quality anti-dandruff shampoo lots of people have reported
some success with this type of product, it may be worth adding here that as everyone is different
you may find one shampoo more suitable for you personally than
another brand, the drawback is that this type of product is generally quite expensive.
Shampoos containing Zinc may also work quite well as one or two seem to be appearing on the
2. market.
Use these medicated shampoos with caution though as they are quite strong and over-washing your
hair with these products may cause it to go dry and out of condition, so alternate them with a mild
one.
You can find a list of acne-irritating ingredients here, some of these may be found in hair care
products, avoid them if you can.
Other Treatments For Acne On The Scalp
Another scalp acne treatment often used is a salicylic acid product, whilst this can be very effective
on other areas of the body it might not prove that good on the scalp, but it will certainly be worth a
try.
One thing you should try and avoid are any products that contain certain types of oils, as many hair
care products often do, not only that but certain products that are used to style hair contain many
noxious chemicals that will do your acne absolutely no good at all, perm solution for instance is a
peroxide bleach, other products may contain ammonia neither of these are good for your skin.
When Your Head Acne Treatments Fail
If you have tried a few different things and your scalp acne still persists it may be worthwhile
paying a visit to your doctor, who may first actually confirm it is actually acne you are suffering
from and not some related condition, and may be able to offer you an alternative by way of an
antibiotic or other prescription, either as a tablet or in some other form, that will probably to the
trick and clear your scalp acne
Probably one thing you will not have to deal with is any embarrassment that you generally feel if
you suffer from facial acne, for the most part your hair will cover the affected areas and are less
likely to be noticed by anyone.
Causes Of Scalp Acne
The causes of acne can usually be attributed to the one or several factors that often trigger
outbreaks, and the scalp is no different in this respect plus you have the added problem that the
scalp, by nature of its position, is not kept as oil-free as the face because it does not usually receive
the same attention.
A build up of natural oil plus the use of hair products that may also contain the wrong types of oils
all contribute to providing a breeding ground for scalp acne bacteria in base of the hair follicles.
Some Tips For Scalp Acne Sufferers
It is important to ensure the hair and scalp is kept as clean as possible as mentioned above.
If your head starts getting itchy you may be able to use some form of cortisone cream, to help stop
the symptoms, although this is probably not going to be an option if you intend going out, but
anyway as for all types of acne avoid doing any scratching especially with
your fingernails that may be dirty.
One last tip for shampooing your hair, always do it gently using the flats of your hands avoid
massaging or rubbing it in with your fingertips, like you may see in tv advertisements, this can
stimulate the oil glands in the scalp to produce more oil, which in this case is something you want to
avoid.
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