Having acne is never fun, but scalp acne can be especially irritating. Breakouts along the hairline and scalp may be hard to identify and treat if your hairstyle gets in the way. Fortunately, you don't have to shave your head to fix scalp acne. Make creative use of existing acne products, avoid acne irritants in hair care products and try antibiotics if all else fails.
Traditional Acne Products
It may be possible to use conventional acne treatments on scalp acne if you can get your hair out of the way. If you have long hair that covers your scalp, part it where the acne occurs and secure it away from the acne with hair ties or clips. Apply a spot acne treatment, such as a gel or cream containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to dry up and clear the acne. Let the product dry before returning your hair to its normal style. If using benzoyl peroxide, be aware that it can bleach hair slightly.
Shampoo
Certain shampoos have been beneficial to some in treating scalp acne, according to an article on Acne.org. Using a dandruff-fighting shampoo can help treat scalp acne as well as dandruff, due to its ingredients. Zinc helps to calm breakouts, while ketoconazole and ciclopirox treat scalp folliculitis, a disorder of the hair follicles that causes breakouts along the hairline.
Products to Avoid
Lots of factors can aggravate acne, according to the University of Michigan Health Knowledgebase. While many of these factors apply to facial acne, some can cause or worsen scalp acne as well. Make sure any hat or head covering you wear is clean, and avoid products that may push oil from your face back onto your scalp, such as headbands that you slide back from your forehead. Avoid shampoos and other hair care products that contain irritating substances such as sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, alcohol, parabens, mineral oil or lanolin. Use warm, not hot, water when washing your hair, and keep your hair and scalp as clean and free of excess product as possible.
Antibiotics
Antibiotic medication is available to kill the bacteria, called Propionibacterium acnes, that thrive in areas on your body where acne is found. These antibiotics can be prescribed by a general practice doctor or dermatologist for severe cases of acne when over-the-counter solutions can't help.
Member Comments