Dry, red skin may be annoying, but milder cases don't always harm your appearance. When you start losing your hair, though, it's important to find a way to manage the problem before it causes significant damage. Depending on the cause of your flaky skin and hair loss, you may need to change your skin care routine or even your diet, but you still have a chance of healing your skin and saving your hair.
Causes
Severe cases of seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff, can cause oily, scaly skin, itching, redness and hair loss. Although more common on the scalp and ears, it can occur anywhere on the body. Excess skin oil production and the yeast malessizia may be to blame for this condition, according to experts from the University of Maryland. Hypothyroidism, meaning an underactive thyroid, may cause dry skin and hair loss, but you're also likely to experience additional symptoms such as fatigue, low tolerance for cold, muscle weakness and cramps.
Risk Factors
People with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and conditions that compromise the immune system, such as AIDS, are more susceptible to seborrheic dermatitis. Stress and fatigue may also contribute to this this type of dermatitis. Outbreaks may be worse when the seasons change and during winter. Hypothyroidism is most common in women older than 35, but can occur in anyone.
At-Home Care
You may be able to control seborrheic dermatitis by shampooing daily with a shampoo containing zinc, selenium, salicylic acid, ketoconazole, coal tar or resorcin, suggest University of Maryland experts. Scrub your scalp with your fingertips for five minutes, then thoroughly rinse out all shampoo. If you suspect your thyroid is underactive, ensure your diet provides sufficient iodine, zinc, selenium and vitamin B3, or niacin. These nutrients are essential for thyroid function, although diet alone may not be enough to correct hypothyroidism.
Prescription Treatments
If using medicated shampoo daily doesn't help your seborrheic dermatitis, your health care provider may prescribe a stronger shampoo or other topical treatment containing ketoconazole, selenium or corticosteroids. For hypothyroidism that diet alone cannot correct, your health care provider may prescribe the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine, according to experts from Columbia University.
Considerations
Many conditions can cause dry skin, note Columbia University experts, and consulting your health care provider is important for proper diagnosis. Accurately diagnosing hypothyroidism requires both a physical examination and blood tests. Contact with skin irritants in soaps, shampoos, hairpins, clothing and other materials may cause skin redness and itching, so inform your health care provider about any substances or items you've been using next to your skin.
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