Anyone else get scalp acne?

[lora410]

Ehh my scalp drives me insane. I seem to get scalp acne whenever my face breaks out. Anyone else get this?, or find out how to get rid of it? I don't get a greasy scalp until after about 1 week of no wash. I am not an excess oily scalp person, and I usually wash every 3-4 days. Tea tree oil would most likely be to drying for my scalp. I do have neem, rosemary,and ylang ylang though.

[suicides_eve]

i get this some times too. idk what causes it but i think mine could be cloged pores from hair gel. i tend to get most of mine in front hair line so mabay when i wash my face soap resisiude is getting washed up ther and not rinsed too good:shrug:

[nicolezoie]

When I wash my face, when I rinse I tend to sweep some of the very diluted cleanser into my hairline on purpose, and that has eliminated all my hairline acne. That's the only place I get scalp-acne though.

[naturechild]

I am glad you started this thread!
I have mine mostly in the back right behind my ears. I thought I had it under controll with Burts Bee's greatfruit. Then I tryed to wash my hair every three days, it came back.
I think I maybe one of those that HAS to wash every other day. I dont have oily hair at all but my scalp really likes to be clean. I wash only my scalp and condition with organix coconut from my ears down. I love the feel of my hair and my scalp is happy untill I try to lengthen the time between washings. My hair is still nice and clean feeling but my scalp says no way!

I tried tea tree, My BF asked who was stripping their car in our living room. Plus I gave myself a migraine. No more tea tree treatments for me.

[mira-chan]

I used to get this when I used detergent (SLS, SLES, etc) shampoos. I think it was related to the detergent sensitivity. I haven't had this problem since I stopped using those.

[lora410]

I am glad you started this thread!
I have mine mostly in the back right behind my ears. I thought I had it under controll with Burts Bee's greatfruit. Then I tryed to wash my hair every three days, it came back.
I think I maybe one of those that HAS to wash every other day. I dont have oily hair at all but my scalp really likes to be clean. I wash only my scalp and condition with organix coconut from my ears down. I love the feel of my hair and my scalp is happy untill I try to lengthen the time between washings. My hair is still nice and clean feeling but my scalp says no way!

I tried tea tree, My BF asked who was stripping their car in our living room. Plus I gave myself a migraine. No more tea tree treatments for me.


I get mine all over; mainly the back of my head, and the hairline.

[lora410]

I used to get this when I used detergent (SLS, SLES, etc) shampoos. I think it was related to the detergent sensitivity. I haven't had this problem since I stopped using those.

I wish my fix were that easy. I don't use SLS and I have always had scalp acne :(

[squiggyflop]

i have scalp acne too... ofcourse my face is always covered in pimples.. im a greasy girl

[naturechild]

I had it real bad when I was a kid and I used to
.....this has GOT to be bad for your hair but....
I would use sea breeze on my scalp. tip my head over and try to get it only on my scalp. then I would follow up with a deep conditioner on the end. It did help but I am not sure what it did for the length.

Have you tried Nioxin ? it has a great tingle and I think I remember that really helping the acne too.

[TheBlondeApple]

I have the occassional pimple.
Anja

[heidi w.]

I am glad you started this thread!
I have mine mostly in the back right behind my ears. I thought I had it under controll with Burts Bee's greatfruit. Then I tryed to wash my hair every three days, it came back.
I think I maybe one of those that HAS to wash every other day. I dont have oily hair at all but my scalp really likes to be clean. I wash only my scalp and condition with organix coconut from my ears down. I love the feel of my hair and my scalp is happy untill I try to lengthen the time between washings. My hair is still nice and clean feeling but my scalp says no way!

Exzema can be site specific. IF it keeps re-occurring, you may want to see a physician, such as a dermatologist, for a reliable diagnosis. My neice has it just on the backside of the ear. To some, exzema can seem like acne.

heidi w.

[lora410]

i have scalp acne too... ofcourse my face is always covered in pimples.. im a greasy girl

Me to eventhough im not a greasy person. Sometimes I hate horomones

[lora410]

I had it real bad when I was a kid and I used to
.....this has GOT to be bad for your hair but....
I would use sea breeze on my scalp. tip my head over and try to get it only on my scalp. then I would follow up with a deep conditioner on the end. It did help but I am not sure what it did for the length.

Have you tried Nioxin ? it has a great tingle and I think I remember that really helping the acne too.


I used to take the tablets and the first month it clearned it up. Then i stopped and a few months later got more bu tit didn't help. Maybe I should try the poo

[Blueglass]

I tend to have some ance, in various places. I am on Spirnolaction now, it controls it.

[Blueglass]

Excema is an allergy related condition, usually controlled with cortisone creme

[sapphire-o]

Yes I get them when I use certain types of shampoo or shampoo bars. I haven't used commercial shampoo for ages, though and don't quite remember which ones caused them. My scalp can't stand the citrus and chamomile CV shampoo bar but other bars are OK. I think for me it's a reaction to some ingredients.

[MissHair]

I have this issue. Ive got like bumps and zits on my scalp where my hairline is, its annoying because I keep popping them and making things worse. No wonder my hairline is receeding when I keep rubbing my scalp til it almost bleeds... Damn zits...

[nomadhome]

I get it a little bit. It gets worse the longer I go between washes and worse when use more gentle shampoo.

[shellblue1]

Yeah, I sometimes get a zit around the hairline. It might be because I use really moisturizing conditioners.

[Kazazi]

Maybe it's worth experimenting with your poo bars a little as some of the plant oils can also be very pore clogging to some people. I had a recent breakout just below my hairline on my neck, where I don't get very greasy skin at all, and I think this was due to some of the deep oilings I had done on my scalp using coconut oil, which can be very comedogenic. Maybe keep a coconut free poo bar on hand and try this when you break out?

[naturechild]

I agree try the poo bars. My hair hated them but my scalp loved them. I had a clean scalp gross hair even after weeks of use and trying new bars. Oh well! I think I 'll just stick with Burt!

[velvetcat]

I do, sort of. I get those 'blackhead' types just on the front and crown area. It's a recent thing too, only started the last 6 months or so.

I'm not sure what is causing it as my hair and scalp seem to be otherwise happy (as in, I'm not super greasy anymore and I don't itch!)

I'm willing to trade off a couple (ok, more like 10 - 15) blackheads a week to not itch.

[jojo]

i never hardly get them on my face but i do on the back of my scalp murders when i catch it with the comb too

[naturechild]

Okay so I think I have this one beat. I had mentioned that my scalp loved poo bars so I got on a thread that talked about different ones and I am trying the soap lady brand Karma to be exact and I have no problems any more. My hair dosent seem to hate it eather. I am going to try this out for awhile.

maybe a different brand of poo bar would work for you too.

[talula_fairie]

I used to have a lot of problems with itching and bumpiness, and then I switched to SLS/SLES free shampoo, and using OCM on my face. I haven't had any problems since.

[chrissy-b]

I notice I get these when I try to stretch out my washes. My oil production has gone down dramatically in the last couple of weeks but the acne still hasn't gotten any better.

I use a tea tree oil shampoo 1x a week, WO 1x a week and CO with V05 (w/ a little TTO added) 1x a week. I'd hate to go back to more frequent washings because my length is really loving this new routine, but my scalp hates it.

Any other ideas?

[detritus]

When I tried to cut out shampoo my scalp broke out too. Maybe you can throw in an occasional shampoo just to help keep your scalp clear. You probably don't need to completely cut out CO. I didn't and my scalp is pretty happy now. Coconut oil also causes pimples for me, so if you oil you may want to try out a different oil or stop for a couple weeks to see if that's the culprit.

[berr]

I had it real bad when I was a kid and I used to
.....this has GOT to be bad for your hair but....
I would use sea breeze on my scalp. tip my head over and try to get it only on my scalp. then I would follow up with a deep conditioner on the end. It did help but I am not sure what it did for the length.

Have you tried Nioxin ? it has a great tingle and I think I remember that really helping the acne too.

I use sea breeze. A stylist is the one that told me about using sea breeze. It cleans buildup from your scalp. I use the sensitive skin sea breeze and only use it probably once every 3 months. My scalp feels SOOOOOOOOOOOO good after doing this. It's like sucking on a mint on your head. It feels cool and tingly.

[NurseMama]

I get them too around the hairline. It seems to cycle with my period (when I break out otherwise). I am so pissed off that at 32 I am still dealing with acne while I am just starting to fight off wrinkles. It just isn't fair. I am a Monistat user and since I have started using the MN, my breakouts have significantly decreased. As long as I use the MN 2x/wk for at least a 12 hour stretch (like through the night) I don't get the acne. When I skip a treatment, it comes back.

I have been trying to figure out why that is working the way the it is, but I haven't figured it out yet.

[GreenGables]

I have this too, sometimes, mostly behind my ears and the back of my head. I usually try to leave them be so they'll disappear by themselves. Maybe you have a worse problem than me and cant stand them. I can if I try ^^

[windswept]

Yes, sufferer from scalpne here! But it's only really started in about the last four weeks. I have no idea why - my routine is exactly the same routine as the last few years - but I have an abundance of pimples in my hair. And they're all over, not around the hairline area or behind the ears, etc. :shrug: It's really perplexing me. And wow, they hurt!!!

[happymommy]

I started getting them horribly on the back of my head when I started COing. Moisturizing shampoos and condish's are a no-no for me.

I found adding a half mil TTO to about 6 to 8 oz condish in a squeeze bottle (this usually lasts me three scalp washes) keeps it at bay and keeps the TTO odor from lingering.

[DecafJane]

I get a few pimples on my scalp, particularly when I exercise and don't wash every day. I only get a couple, and don't mind them as you can't see them - unlike the ones on my face. ;)

[joyellen]

Unfortunately I have a few on my hairline near my temples. They haven't always been there. I'm thinking about trying poo bars and seeing how that works out.

[jojo]

I notice I get these when I try to stretch out my washes. My oil production has gone down dramatically in the last couple of weeks but the acne still hasn't gotten any better.

I use a tea tree oil shampoo 1x a week, WO 1x a week and CO with V05 (w/ a little TTO added) 1x a week. I'd hate to go back to more frequent washings because my length is really loving this new routine, but my scalp hates it.

Any other ideas?

I find if i wash my hair more than twice a week i get them more too and tea tree is great advice i forgot about that one but will purchase one at weekend x

[ktani]

I sometimes break out on my scalp if my diet has been too acidic and I have not been drinking enough water. No big deal, I just watch what I eat and increase my water intake. It can be uncomfortable but with me, I know that it is diet related.

[Alia]

Yuck. I get this along my hairline and behind my ears. Making sure the hairline is very clean and lots of clean pillowcases and/or a satin night cap--which is quite effective birth control, btw-- at night helps, but they're still there, if less.:rolleyes:

[Reila]

i've also recently started experiencing this. I wonder if it's because of the Head and Shoulders that I also recently started using. Or maybe monistat? Or I wonder if it's from touching my scalp a lot.

I've read that when some people start taking biotin their face starts breaking out because it's like clearing out all the toxins and stuff and then breakouts occur less. Could it be the same thing with your scalp? Now that it's getting cleaner, maybe it's breaking out and hopefully will settle -- or hair is trying to grow now but gets blocked or something.

Clearly I've been thinking about this lately! And possibly over analyzing! :justy:

[meliel]

This thread is old, but just wanted to add something here anyway because I'm currently experiencing this issue... I almost never get pimples. Not on my face, not on my scalp. Two days ago, I did a castor oil treatment on my scalp because my hairline has been thinning a bit. It seems to have been getting better, but now I've developed pimples on my hairline just above my temples (they can't be popped, though... Just kind of like annoying bumps). Just in that area that usually recedes in older women/men. I don't know why this is suddenly happening, I've used castor oil before and never experienced this. Have I not washed it out properly? Should I do an ACV rinse, and if I do, will that dry out my fine hair and cause it to break easily? I'm trying to prevent hair breakage and damage... Oh my. Someone help me. :pray: Also wondering if it's a bad thing that I get pimples in this area, growth-wise? Does it damage my hair follicles or the skin or anything? I hope it doesn't prevent growth in the specific areas where I get these pimples and that the pimples heal and allow hair growth? I don't understand this in particular...

[Anje]

This thread is old, but just wanted to add something here anyway because I'm currently experiencing this issue... I almost never get pimples. Not on my face, not on my scalp. Two days ago, I did a castor oil treatment on my scalp because my hairline has been thinning a bit. It seems to have been getting better, but now I've developed pimples on my hairline just above my temples (they can't be popped, though... Just kind of like annoying bumps). Just in that area that usually recedes in older women/men. I don't know why this is suddenly happening, I've used castor oil before and never experienced this. Have I not washed it out properly? Should I do an ACV rinse, and if I do, will that dry out my fine hair and cause it to break easily? I'm trying to prevent hair breakage and damage... Oh my. Someone help me. :pray: Also wondering if it's a bad thing that I get pimples in this area, growth-wise? Does it damage my hair follicles or the skin or anything? I hope it doesn't prevent growth in the specific areas where I get these pimples and that the pimples heal and allow hair growth? I don't understand this in particular...

Is it itchy or irritated? Something about your description makes me wonder if it's dermatitis rather than acne.

I don't think you necessarily need to do anything, though an extra shampooing might not hurt, in case there's still some oil clogging pores or irritating your scalp. It probably won't hurt your hair in any way. And if you want to do an acv rinse (not necessary, imo), it won't hurt your hair as long as you dilute it well in water -- lots of us always do mild acidic rinses with only positive results for smoothing our hair, keeping scalps happy, and/or counteracting hard water.

Edited to add: I'm spinning this off as a new thread. Hopefully that will help you get more advice. :)

ETA2: Here's the new thread: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=124518