I can't help but pick at the scabs on my scalp

Many people have encountered the phenomenon of scabs on the scalp. Most people can't help but use their hands to pick off the scabs after the scalp scabs form. As a result, the damaged area never heals and the area becomes larger and larger. In fact, this situation is likely caused by folliculitis or seborrheic dermatitis. You must get more rest, drink plenty of water, try to eat light food, and eat less spicy and irritating food.

What causes folliculitis?

Folliculitis is mainly caused by the infection of hair follicles by pathogenic bacteria, which triggers a series of inflammatory reactions. We all know that insufficient sleep and high stress levels in daily life can cause physical discomfort. These include itchy skin, redness and swelling, excessive oil secretion and even inflammation of hair follicles.

In addition to endocrine disorders, excessive skin cleansing or exposure to chemical products can also cause the same skin problems. Traditional Chinese medicine generally believes that folliculitis is caused by excessive liver fire, excessive moisture in the body, and wind-heat.

Other causes of folliculitis

1. Other conditions such as irregular diet, vitamin deficiency, gastrointestinal dysfunction, etc. may also lead to the onset of folliculitis.

2. Certain primary diseases: such as hormonal dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, acne, itchy skin diseases, diabetes, chronic lesions, etc. are often accompanied by folliculitis to varying degrees.

3. Corticosteroids damage the skin's ecological environment: one of the typical symptoms of hormone residues under the skin and "withdrawal rebound" after stopping hormone use is bacterial and fungal infection.

4. Skin immersion: such as constant sweating, constant stimulation by various liquids, and failure to clean in time, which can clog the pores and cause inflammation.

5. Skin damage caused by excessive pulling and friction of hair, so we would like to remind all beauty lovers not to excessively perm or dye their hair.

Symptoms of Folliculitis

Simple folliculitis

It is acute folliculitis. At the beginning, small itchy red papules appear at the opening of the hair follicles, surrounded by inflammatory red halos. After scratching, a small pustule may form. After a few days, the pus head will burst, discharge a small amount of pus, and then gradually heal without leaving any scars. It is more common on the head of children and on the scalp and armpits of adults.

Impetigo

Also known as follicular impetigo and superficial folliculostomy. It manifests as redness around the opening of the hair follicles, the appearance of yellow pustules ranging in size from millet to mung beans, with hair protruding from the center, redness around the edges, and itching or burning sensation. After a few days, the pustules may dry up and form scabs, and white scales will remain on the affected area after the scabs fall off. It is easy to occur in the limbs, scalp, calves, etc.

Folliculitis nuchae

It is also known as keloid folliculitis, hairline sore and nape hair sore. It is more common in middle-aged and elderly men, especially those with acne and keloids. At the beginning of the disease, small red papules or pustules appear at the hairline of the neck, merge with each other, and gradually develop into keloid nodules with round, oval or irregular shapes. It usually occurs in the hairy area at the back of the neck. The hair in the affected area is sparse or falls out completely. The disease progresses slowly and often does not heal for several years.

Abscess Folliculitis

Also known as head and neck cellulitis, it is more common in young men. At the beginning, blackhead comedonal folliculitis and perifolliculitis may occur on the scalp, especially on the back of the head. It will gradually grow larger and deeper, becoming an inflammatory nodule the size of a soybean or even a peach pit. Most of them can turn into a fluctuating abscess, which will form several fistulas after rupture, with pus flowing out. The course of the disease is long and continuous, sometimes lasting for several years, and sometimes lasting for more than 10 years.

Folliculitis alopecia

Also known as sheep beard sore, it is a folliculitis that occurs in the male beard area, and is more common around the lips and chin. At the beginning, swollen erythema, follicular papules or pustules may appear, with a beard running through the center of the lesion. After the pustule breaks, it dries and forms a scab, and the patient heals after the scab falls off. However, new blisters may appear repeatedly. The lesions may also cause damage to the eyebrows, eyelashes, pubic hair, and armpit hair.

How to treat folliculitis

Be mindful of your diet

People suffering from folliculitis should remember that they must not eat spicy, greasy or irritating foods, as this will have a great impact on the symptoms. Sweet foods that can cause getting angry, such as melon seeds and chocolate, are also not allowed to be eaten. Drinking alcohol must also be prohibited, but you can eat more vegetables and fruits to increase the vitamins in the body, clear the stomach and intestines, and facilitate defecation. In addition, some foods, such as bitter melon, chrysanthemum tea, and mung bean soup, have a good effect of reducing heat and can be eaten during illness. In general, you should avoid certain foods.

Work and rest routine

In addition to paying attention to diet, it is also very important to maintain a regular schedule, because irregular work and rest time and habits will have an adverse effect on the treatment of folliculitis. Therefore, during the illness, you must pay attention to keeping a regular schedule and develop good work and rest habits, and pay special attention not to stay up late.

No scratching

For patients with folliculitis, scratching is a major cause of secondary infection. Many patients worsen their condition because they can't help scratching. Therefore, you must remember to resist scratching. If you scratch involuntarily when you sleep at night, you can put on gloves before going to bed. In this way, even if you scratch unconsciously, your fingernails will not break the skin, and the impact on the disease will not be significant. This is an effective way to avoid secondary infection of folliculitis.

Oral Chinese medicine

Scutellaria baicalensis and Coptis chinensis root 15g each, tangerine peel, licorice, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Forsythia suspensa, puffball, mint, bupleurum, platycodon grandiflorum 6g each, Bombyx batryticatus and Cimicifuga heracleifolia 3g each, honeysuckle, Viola yedoensis, and wild chrysanthemum 9g each. Take 1 dose daily, decoct in water and take the juice in 2 doses.

3g each of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodes lancea, Polyporus umbellatus, Alisma orientalis, and roasted licorice, 6g each of Poria cocos and Taraxacum mongolicum, 4.5g of Radix Trichosanthis, and 1.5g of Angelica dahurica. Take one dose daily, decocted in water.

10g each of Atractylodes lancea, Forsythia suspensa, and Rhubarb, 30g of Coix seed, 12g each of Phellodendron chinense and Achyranthes bidentata, 24g each of Silkworm feces and Caulis Nicaragua, and 15g of Akebia. Take 1 dose daily, decocted in water for oral administration.