Can eczema cause hair thinning?

Question

I've been managing eczema on my scalp for a few years now, and I've observed that the hair in the affected areas feels much thinner than the rest of my hair. Could this be a direct effect of the eczema? Can eczema cause hair thinning over time?

Aditya Hegde · Accepted Answer

Yes, it can. I use a health tracker to log my diet and noticed that when my eczema flares up, my scalp gets super dry and my hair volume drops. Focus on keeping your scalp barrier healthy and tracking your nutrition; it makes a huge difference.

Meera Krishnan · Answer

Hair thinning is a very common side effect if eczema affects your scalp directly. The constant skin inflammation and scratching weakens the hair shaft over time. It is highly recommended to see a skin specialist who can target the root cause with proper medical lotions.

Shalini Mukerjee · Answer

My dermatologist explained that severe eczema causes a lot of scaling on the scalp, which blocks the hair follicles from receiving proper nutrients. Because of this, the new hair grows out much thinner than usual. She put me on a mild steroid lotion for two weeks, and the thinning stopped once the skin healed.

Rahul Bhat · Answer

Haan, it definitely can because of all the scratching. Don't worry, once the eczema is under control, your hair thickness usually goes back to normal.

Kamla Devi · Answer

Beta, don't worry so much. When the skin on the head gets dry and itchy, the roots become very weak, which makes the hair look thin. Just apply a little bit of pure mustard or coconut oil very gently, and don't scratch it with your nails.

Can eczema cause hair thinning?

5 answers

Consult a dermatologist

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