“Burning scalp” syndrome: relevance, place in clinical taxonomy and therapeutic approaches

Abstract

One of the sensitive skin types is the “burning scalp” syndrome. It is the most expressed subjective symptom complex of tactile sensations in the projection of the skin of the scalp. The most common manifestations of this syndrome, which significantly reduces the quality of patient’s life, are burning, itching, pain, trichodynia, redness like flushing and persistent erythema, mild exfoliation and hair loss sometimes. The “burning scalp” formation is heterogeneous and can be associated with comorbid dermatoses (seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, fungal and bacterial contamination, alopecia, etc.), organ and visceral pathology (diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, tumors of the central nervous system, paraneoplastic conditions, immunodeficiencies, etc.), psychosomatic abnormalities (conversion disorders, sensory hypochondria, somatoform pruritus) and environmental influences (aquagenic pruritus, ultraviolet radiation). Now, there are no general recommendations for the “burning scalp” treatment. For long-term accompanying treatment and prevention, therapeutic cosmetics that normalize the microbiome and have antipruritic and anti-inflammatory effects are promising.