Scalp pimples are very common, but making a few adjustments to your hair routine can usually clear it up.
What Causes Scalp Pimples?
- An increase of sebum, or oil, production
- A buildup of dead skin cells and dirt in your hair follicle
- Inflammation in the blocked hair follicle
- An increase in acne bacteria
Your scalp is full of hair follicles and oil glands. If the follicle or pore becomes clogged with dirt and oil, this can lead to acne. You can still get scalp acne even if you have good hygiene, but sweat, oil, and dirt buildup from improper or incomplete washing can lead to clogged pores.
However, you may need to reexamine your hair care routine. Lots of scalp pimples are caused by shampoo, styling gel, and hairsprays that leave residues on your scalp and also clog your pores.
Scalp acne caused by hair products is so common that it has its own medical name: acne cosmetica.
Hormones can also cause acne. Androgen hormones, especially testosterone, cause your body to make more oil. The increase of hormones during puberty is often responsible for acne, but adults can have hormonal acne too.
Genetics will affect your skin. If you have an immediate family member who has acne, you’re more likely to have it too.
Types of Scalp Acne
Acne is usually graded by severity and by the type of pimples you have, which might change your treatment.
Types of acne severity include:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
Types of pimples include:
- Blackheads, called open comedones
- Whitehead, called closed comedones
- Papules, or inflamed bumps
- Pustules, or bumps filled with pus
- Nodules or , or painful pimples deep in your skin
- Mixed, which is a combination of different types
Sometimes you can get severe forms of acne that can affect your scalp called acne conglobata and acne fulminans. These are very uncommon though.
Symptoms of Scalp Acne
Scalp acne can appear throughout your hair or along your hairline. Common symptoms include:
- Tiny bumps along your forehead or the back of your neck
- Tiny bumps you can feel but can’t see
- Tiny bumps packed together that you can see
- Whiteheads on your scalp or hairline
- Flesh-colored bumps on your scalp or hairline
- Painful bumps on your scalp
- Deep cysts under your skin with no head
Acne doesn’t usually cause an itchy scalp and this symptom could be a sign of other skin problems like psoriasis.
Sometimes acne affects your emotions and self-esteem. It’s common for people to feel embarrassed and even depressed because of acne.
Treatment for Scalp Pimples
If your scalp acne is caused by your or other cosmetics, it will go away on its own when you stop using them. It can take up to 6 weeks to see improvement, but the first thing to do is to change your hair routine and products.
Switch to shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, and products that don’t contain oil. The label should say things like:
- Oil free
- Non-comedogenic
- Anti-acnegenic
- Won’t clog pores
Keeping the dirt, oil, and sweat off your scalp will help keep your pores clean. You might need to wash your hair more often, especially if you:
- Have oily hair
- Use a lot of products in your hair
- Sweat a lot in the day
- Have dirt or grime in your hair from the day
To wash your hair, focus on the . The hair on your head is dead, and while your hair products can help keep your hair shiny and healthy-looking, it’s actually more important to wash dirt and oil from your scalp.
It’s also important to make sure you fully rinse all the extra shampoo and conditioner off your scalp and face. The pimples along your hairline might be caused by buildup from improper rinsing.
The product residues can also transfer to whatever touches your hair, which can add to the problem. Make sure to wash everything that touches your head, including:
- Pillow cases
- Hats
- Visors
- Headscarfs
- Headbands
- Bedsheets
- Blankets
If your scalp acne is not caused by your products, you might need other treatments. These can include:
- Salicylic acid shampoo
- Sulfur shampoo
- Antibiotics
- Photodynamic therapy
- Drainage for complicated cystic scalp acne
Outlook for Scalp Acne
Lots of times scalp pimples are from shampoo or other products. Just making a switch to your hair routine can get rid of the problem without any other treatment. Other times, scalp acne is a bit more complicated and needs other treatment. The outlook for scalp acne is good, but if it doesn’t get better with some of these changes, talk to your doctor.