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Home , Hand eczema, Shampoo

Haircare and eczema

By Julie Van Onselen, Dermatology Nurse Adviser to the National Eczema Society. Types of scalp eczema Atopic eczema affects any part of the body, including the scalp. A severely the label or company’s website. Be aware inflamed (red and sore) scalp may result Our is often said to be our ‘crowning glory’ and people with eczema can find it very in that is temporary, and hair will that baby shampoos may contain irritant frustrating not to be able to use everyday haircare products. We know that shampoos, grow back when eczema settles. conditioners and hairstyling can make eczema worse, especially on our scalp, face and ingredients, even though they may be marketed as ‘gentle’ products for babies. Discoid eczema affects any part of the neck. These products can also trigger hand eczema and be a cause of contact . body. In the scalp it will look like round, If you cannot find a shampoo to suit you scaly areas that are very itchy. It is likely If eczema is severe, temporary hair loss may happen, which can be a devastating or every shampoo irritates your eczema, that there will also be discoid patches on consequence of scalp eczema. In this article we explore how haircare may affect eczema you can wash your hair with medical the body. and give tips on how to minimise and be more aware of possible allergic triggers emollients. forms are advised as (). they mix well with , but they may Seborrhoeic eczema (seborrhoeic leave your hair slightly greasy. dermatitis) affects the oilier parts of the body, so is very common on the scalp • Avoid fragranced or scented products, If you have hand eczema, you should and face, including the hairline. It causes Hair washing including essential oils. always wear PVC gloves with a cotton redness and yellow scales. Seborrhoeic and conditioning lining to wash your hair. Ingredients in dermatitis is a reaction to yeasts so, in this • Avoid oil, which damages the skin shampoo often irritate hand eczema and type of scalp eczema, treatment should barrier. Shampoos may be the cause of contact dermatitis. include ‘anti-yeast’ shampoos and creams. Washing hair can be problematic if you have • Avoid tree nut oils (for example, , A contact to shampoo would Sometimes this type of eczema is confused eczema. Even if you don’t have eczema on argan and macadamia), especially for need to be diagnosed through patch or even mixed with , described as your scalp, shampoo can irritate the eczema babies or toddlers, as there is evidence that testing, which can be arranged through a ‘sebo-psoriasis’. on your hands or body. If this is the case, then atopic eczema can lead to the development dermatologist. In babies, is often try using a hand-held shower head to wash of food allergy. Tree nuts are among the called ‘’. This is due to immature your hair over the washbasin or bath. most common food . However, Medicated shampoos oil glands that overproduce and lots of The vast majority of cosmetic shampoos the risk of allergic reaction is small as greasy yellow scales are seen on the scalp. Choosing the right shampoo is even more By the age of 6 months, cradle cap has contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which is ingredients derived from nuts have been important if you have scalp eczema, as generally disappeared. a harsh detergent. SLS is designed to remove highly refined. most cosmetic shampoos will irritate grease with a soapy lather. Shampoos without Avoid a called Irritant dermatitis is caused by • your scalp. It’s likely therefore that you SLS tend not to lather but still clean the hair. As methylisothiazolinone (also known as MI, anything that comes into frequent contact will need a medicated shampoo, which a general rule everyone with eczema should limonene and ). This preservative is with the skin. As explored in this article, can be bought from the chemist or avoid SLS, which is a universal eczema irritant. known to cause contact dermatitis. many haircare products are likely to irritate prescribed. There is a range of medicated eczematous skin. There are other irritants in cosmetic Sometimes the full ingredients are not shampoos available – tar shampoos shampoos, so look at the ingredients list included on the product labelling or for scaly, flaky scalps (for example, Contact allergic dermatitis is caused before purchasing. It’s best to avoid the packaging. If this is the case, you will need to Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo and T/ by an allergy to a specific substance, and following known irritants to eczema found in contact the manufacturer’s careline – a phone shampoos), and also Dermax Therapeutic hair colourant is a big culprit. many popular shampoos: number or other contact details should be on Shampoo.

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COOL

Tips for choosing a /colour technician

Ask if they have knowledge * of eczema and understand If you colour your hair at home with these If you have seborrhoeic dermatitis, you Hairstyling products the issues with scalp eczema should be recommended or prescribed products, be sure to check the ingredients and haircare. an ‘anti-yeast’ shampoo (for example, T hese include hair , hairsprays, setting list. PPD is often associated with henna but is Dandrazol, Nizoral or Selsun). Some and products to help hair shine and to reduce only present in black henna, which is used for make sure that they have emollient companies also manufacture . As with shampoos, avoid products with tattooing. The henna used in hair colouring is * an experienced colour shampoos for eczema and dry scalps ingredients that are known to irritate eczema and -red henna. technician (a hairdresser who that are fragrance-free (for example, try to find styling products that suit you. However, specialises in hair colourant). Unfortunately, there are no hair colourants E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo, Eucerin they are all likely to irritate to some extent, specially recommended for people with Do they offer you a DermoCapillaire shampoo and Oilatum especially if scalp eczema is flaring, and in rare patch eczema. So, when you are looking to either * test? (You should never have Anti- Shampoo. If you have cases they may cause allergic dermatitis. If scalp buy hair colourant product to use at home or your hair coloured without a infected scalp eczema, Dermol 500 eczema is problematic, it’s a good idea to keep have your hair coloured at the hairdresser, it’s ). Lotion can be used as a shampoo. It haircare simple (using only a shampoo that suits or an emollient for hair washing) and try to stop a good idea to make sure the hair colourant contains an antibacterial agent that may Can the technician colour or reduce the number of products used. You could does not contain PPD. An experienced help in reducing the bacterial count on * your hair with no-touch or colourant technician will be able to colour your skin and in preventing reinfection. then re-introduce hairstyling products individually, minimal touch to the scalp? to try to work out what may be causing the your hair without touching your scalp – low irritation. lights and highlights are put on in packages, Do they have a choice of Conditioners Keep hairdryers on a warm setting as a hot setting so the colour does not touch the scalp. * products for sensitive will dry your scalp, causing itching and irritating It is important to talk to your colour technician scalps, including SLS-free Conditioners are more problematic as shampoos? they are made to stick to hair and keep your eczema. at your hairdresser, who will give you it smooth and shiny. As they don’t wash guidance and recommendations for suitable Can hairdryers be set to out during rinsing, they are more likely hair colourants to use. The hairdresser * warm and can the hairdresser to irritate scalp eczema. One alternative Hair colouring should always do a skin test before colouring allow extra time in your to cosmetic hair conditioners is to use and bleaching your hair – this is a patch of the colourant appointment for hairstyling if placed behind your ear and is put in place needed? diluted cider for shine. If your Hair colourant is a common, known sensitiser hair is prone to tangles or knots, another for people with eczema, especially permanent by the hairdresser. You need to remove suggestion is to spray oil diluted hair colourants containing an ingredient called it after 48 hours and observe this area. If in warm water. A special detangling paraphenylendiamine (known as PPD). This the skin underneath the small patch is red comb can be very helpful, as it will get should always be avoided. Semi-permanent hair and raised, this indicates sensitivity to that through hair that is not conditioned and colourants or tints generally do not contain PPD. particular hair colourant. You may have seen prevent knotting. a dermatologist and had patch testing to a

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range of possible skin allergens, which may Hair bleach removes natural synthetic pigment. Some people may be allergic to the chemicals have included a hairdressing battery. If you Allergy to hair bleach is possible and people in and some may get scalp burns from have had this kind of patch testing, you will with eczema are more likely to be irritated by using these products. A scalp base protectant know the exact hair colourant ingredients you bleach, especially as there will be direct contact can be used to prevent burning, although are allergic to, so take your list and check with with a sensitive scalp. should not this could also cause irritation. Due to the your hairdresser. use bleach on sensitive scalps or if the client has potentially irritating nature of relaxers, they are perhaps not suitable for people with scalp If you are using a hair colourant at home, you eczema. eczema, or only to be used with great care. should still proceed with caution and do your own patch test, either behind your ear or put Perming and on the inside of your arm, for 48 hours. You could use a cotton bud to dab a little colourant straightening Hair loss and eczema In summary on your skin, and cover with non-allergenic Generally, people with eczema would be Eczema can result in patchy hair loss, due to T his article aims to offer practical tape. The principle is exactly the same as the advised not to get their hair permed, as all eczema flares and on the scalp. advice for anyone with eczema, hairdresser patch test, described above. If your usually irritate. However, some people Hair loss in eczema includes thinning, poor hair especially scalp eczema, on haircare. skin does not react, you should be okay with with eczema may be able to tolerate perms quality and bald patches. This hair loss is usually Finding the right haircare routines, the hair colourant on your scalp. However, if – they are slightly less irritant than alkaline reversible. You can help prevent further hair loss products and styles for you is key this small area of skin becomes red and itchy, perms, which should be avoided by people with through eczema by drying hair naturally or with to managing your eczema. do not use it. It could cause a nasty reaction eczema. a hairdryer on a cool setting – this will also keep – severe allergic contact dermatitis – when the scalp cool and reduce . A good hairdresser, and especially Heated straighteners and curling tongs are a larger amount of hair colourant is applied an experienced colour technician, usually very hot, and the heat is likely to irritate Hair loss in eczema can also be caused by on your scalp. Remember that if you colour is very important to prevent eczema, causing itching and drying. You need braiding/weaving causing trauma to hair your hair yourself, you won’t be able to avoid irritation or allergy from hair to be very careful as a scalp burn, as well as follicles and hair shaft abnormalities. If you have touching your scalp. Sometimes an allergic colourants. being very painful, could damage the skin scalp eczema, loose would be more contact dermatitis can be quite dramatic and barrier and cause an eczema flare. helpful to prevent additional traction injury in a If your scalp eczema suddenly cause redness and swelling of your entire face sensitive scalp. can sometimes erupts with swelling after using a too. It can cause your eyelids to swell, making it There are a number of chemical hair- develop in eczema – this is an irresistible urge new haircare product, we advise difficult to open your eyes, and this swelling can straightening products (called relaxers), which to pull out hair. It usually occurs in children and you to always seek immediate last several days until treatment takes effect. are used by people with tight curls. A young people and is not related to eczema, but medical attention. This can be a frightening experience and may is a lotion, cream or – it works by constant scratching of an itchy scalp may lead to also upset your eczema generally. This is why breaking down the chemical bonds of the hair hair pulling. Trichotillomania is a psychological it’s always best to be cautious, so make sure shaft, disrupting the shape and reconstructing condition and cognitive behavioural therapy that you check the hair colourant ingredients to the hair bonds. A relaxer has to be applied at or habit reversal are the recommended avoid known allergens and do a self-patch test. the lowest point of the hair, so on the scalp. treatments.

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