Acne
During puberty when changes to the body's chemistry are taking place, skin becomes oilier and prone to breakouts. According to the Mayo Clinic, the development of acne can be hormonal or genetic, causing some people to develop acne postpuberty.
Acne is caused by the overproduction of sebum in hair follicles. Each follicle on your skin has an oil-producing gland sending oil up to lubricate your hair and skin. When hair follicles become plugged with sebum and dead skin cells, a soft whitehead appears under the skin, forming a pimple. A follicle plugged near the skin's surface may turn dark, causing a blackhead to appear on your skin. Blockages occurring deep inside a hair follicle cause a painful red lump or cyst under your skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's not known what causes the increased production of sebum that leads to acne. The Mayo Clinic has determined that greasy foods and chocolate don't cause or affect acne, as once was believed.
Scalp or hair dryness and hair loss aren't related to acne itself. If anything, people suffering from acne tend to have greasier hair.
Dry Hair Loss
Hair that becomes dry, brittle, and begins to fall out can be a symptom of a serious medical condition or simply a chemical reaction.
If the thyroid gland isn't working properly, your metabolic rate changes, causing changes in physical appearance. Most people who suffer from a thyroid condition experience dry brittle hair and hair loss. A thyroid condition may also change the pattern of your acne breakouts.
Diet can affect the health of your hair. Malnutrition, eating disorders, weight loss surgery, and crash diets can cause hair to become dry and fall out. If you experience diet-related hair loss, talk with your doctor about vitamin supplements. B vitamins, vitamin E, fish oil, and Omega oils can help your hair become healthier.
If you've recently colored your hair, excessively wash your hair, or swim in chlorinated pools and notice dryness and loss, make an appointment to see an experienced hairdresser.
Hair loss and dry hair are symptoms of numerous medical treatments, drugs, and conditions. If you experience hair loss and believe it to be medically related, contact your doctor.
The Connection
A connection between acne, dry hair, and hair loss lies in the treatment options for acne. Topical acne treatments normally only dry the area where they're applied; however, the medicine is absorbed into your skin and could also cause some scalp dryness. Oral acne medications like antibiotics or isotretinoin (Accutane) are taken to kill bacteria and decrease oil production in your hair follicles. By decreasing oil production in hair follicles, oral acne medications can cause dry hair and eventually some hair loss.
Another connection between the hair follicles of your skin and scalp is a condition called folliculitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, folliculitis occurs when hair follicles become infected. Folliculitis can cause whitehead pimples on your face and scalp and hair loss. Hair follicles having sustained damage from acne, shaving, wearing tight hats, excessive sweating, dermatitis, cuts, wounds, or adhesives used for applying fake hair are more susceptible to infection. The bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause folliculitis can be found in hot tubs and on dirty razors or can develop from your own ingrown hair, high levels of yeast in your body, or the herpes simplex virus. Although mild folliculitis clears up without any treatment, if you notice white pimples spreading on your face, neck, or scalp, call your doctor or dermatologist.
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