Definition – what is a skin rash?
Skin rash is a collective term for changes in the skin that are itchy, burning or painful. This can affect any area of the skin and is therefore also found on the scalp. There are many different causes for skin rashes, such as viruses, bacteria, allergies and much more. The scalp brings along some special features due to the stronger hair, which can cause rashes. The therapy is a little more difficult than in other parts of the body, because it is often not possible to apply cream.
Causes of a scalp rash
There are innumerable causes for skin rashes, as the skin is continuously exposed to the environment. One possibility is an allergic reaction, for example to skin care products. Furthermore, rashes on the head are also possible in the context of neurodermatitis.
Various viral diseases, bacterial inflammations and fungal infections also trigger rashes. The causes can be either directly on the scalp or localized elsewhere in the body, and can only lead to rashes in the head area by chance. In the supermarket there is a huge selection of different shampoos.
Each has a slightly different composition and different additives. Some people have very sensitive skin and are allergic to most shampoos and develop rashes. In this case an allergy friendly shampoo should be used. Others only react to very specific additives and can try to get rid of the rash by changing the shampoo normally. Too frequent use of shampoo can also lead to rashes, as the natural protective barrier of the skin is destroyed and the scalp dries out.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of scalp rash is twofold. The rash itself is diagnosed by simply looking at it and the person affected can describe whether itching or burning is present and whether any special events occurred before the onset. The second part of the diagnosis is to narrow down the cause.
This can be done by allergy tests and a detailed interview with the person affected in order to filter out shampoo changes, frequent washing or other symptoms. Infectious diseases are usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as sore throat or fever. A possible vacation trip to tropical countries should also be asked.
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