Can Inflammation Cause Hair Loss?

Hair loss can have many factors such as nutrition and genetics. But one cause that is often overlooked is inflammation. In fact, inflammation is a symptom of many different conditions that can cause hair loss and plays the major role in causing hair loss associated with those conditions.

With a healthy immune system, inflammation is a protective mechanism meant to help protect the body from further infection and damage. However, when your immune system isn’t operating normally, inflammation can cause damage to otherwise healthy tissue. Unfortunately, inflammation can also become a chronic issue.

Scalp inflammation can cause the body’s immune system to attack the hair follicles, resulting in alopecia or inflammation-based hair loss. While under attack from the immune system, the hair roots can’t get proper nutrition.

Symptoms include:

· Swelling

· Itchy, red spots

· Flaking and skin irritation

· Rise in temperature at the inflamed part of the body

· Redness

· Fatigue

· Pain

· Digestive Problems

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Possible causes could be:

· Bacterial, fungal, or viral infection

· Allergic reaction

· Stress

· Exposure to toxins

· Sedentary lifestyle

· Seborrheic dermatitis

· Folliculitis

· Eczema

· Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis)

· Alopecia areata

· Psoriasis

If you have scalp inflammation and notice your hair is starting to thin, you should talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about your treatment options. Likely, your doctor will want to run blood tests and perform a physical exam to narrow down the possible causes of your hair loss.

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Some treatment options may include:

· Medicated shampoos

· Topical medications

· Topical antibiotics

· Oral antibiotics

·  Moisturizer or lotion

Many times, hair growth will recover once the underlying issue has been treated. However, if you’re still experiencing issues after speaking with a doctor, consider contacting a professional Trichologist to learn more about hair restoration options. At Emerge Trichology Hair Restoration Center in the Tampa, FL area, we specialize in treating all kinds of hair loss. Call Emerge Trichology Hair Restoration in Temple Terrace, FL at 813-820-0022 to learn more about your treatment options.