Scalp acne is common in both men and women and it affects the people of all ages. Scalp acne can occur on the arms, legs, chest, face and armpits. It mostly appears on the scalp. They appear as small pustules that look like white-yellowish in color. The scalp acne is triggered during the periods of great stress. This condition develop when the scalp contains too much of oil, the hairs are not washed properly or the hair care products contain excess amount of oil. High stress can be the cause of scalp acne and it is also known by different names such as scalp folliculitis, necrotica miliaris etc.

When scalp acne is mild, these appear as small, sore and crusty and appear mainly on upper forehead at the hairline. Some people have many pustules on the hairline and some have few depending on the skin type. The most severe form of scalp acne is known as acne necrotica miliaris which appears as inflamed larger papules which is black in color.

This type of acne leaves the permanent scars which looks similar like a chicken pox. There is more severe form of scalp acne than acne necrotica miliaris which affects the adult African-American men but it can affect any person. This type of acne is a combination of smaller papules and pustules and large cysts and appears to be very large. Scalp acne is also caused by certain micro-organisms like mites, bacteria and yeasts.

Treatment for Scalp Acne

Mild scalp acne can be treated easily than the severe scalp acne. The scalp should be cleaned by a product which contains salicylic acid and should be applied only using a cotton ball or wool. This product can cause excessive dryness so it should be applied on the affected areas. Oily hair is one of the factor of scalp acne, so oily hairs should be cleaned by using a mild shampoo. The severe forms of scalp acne should not be treated without consulting a doctor and dermatologist.

Scalp acne should not be treated with such product that contains benzoyl peroxide because when this product is used it can change the color of the hair. The person who has chemically textured hair should not use benzoyl peroxide as it can lead to hair problems. Antidandruff shampoos such as ketoconazole, ciclopirox etc can be used to treat the scalp acne along with the effective conditioners.

Sometimes medications also provide relief to the person suffering from scalp acne. Various medications are Oral antibiotics, mild topical steroids and topical antibiotics. Oral antibiotics include erythromycin, tetracycline and cotrimoxasole. Oral antihistamines and oral isotretinoin are some of the mild topical steroids which can be taken to treat scalp acne. Some topical antibiotics include clindamycin and erythromycin which can sometimes lead to dryness of the skin. These all medications are helpful in the treatment of scalp acne.