Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the scalp caused by a reaction to an irritant or allergen.
Anabel Kingsley Brand President
April 1, 2022
What is Contact Dermatitis?
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the scalp caused by a reaction to an irritant or allergen. The most severe (and most publicised) form of it is anaphylaxis from hair colouring — but this only occurs in a very small percentage of people. More commonly, contact dermatitis produces a milder reaction characterised by an eczema-like irritation of the scalp.
Causes of Contact Dermatitis
A reaction can be brought on by many things, most commonly:
sensitivity to a specific ingredient in one of your hair products
sensitivity to a hair dye
sensitivity to a chemical straightener
stress
an existing or newly-acquired food intolerance
the combination of the products you use to style your hair.
Patch-testing can often determine the cause of contact dermatitis, so you may avoid the irritant or allergen. However, this can be difficult if the ingredient to which you are sensitive is commonly used.
Cradle cap most commonly occurs in the first three months of a baby’s life. The good news is it can be easily treated, and the baby is likely to be unaware of the condition.
A good scalp environment refers to a scalp that is absent of excessive oil or dead skin cell build-up. The benefit is that it optimises healthy hair growth.
