Herpes is a disease which may be involved with some scalp symptoms. Though not commonly thought about as a cause the herpes viruses can effect the scalp areas with lesions, oozing and itching. Not as common as other scalp problems, but it is a possibility for those who are immune compromised or older.
Hair Loss: Severe scalp pain and diffuse loss, herpes virus, scalp pain
"Doctor my scalp is pink and moving hairs around hurts, it itches, burns and there is obvoius hair loss, some of my scalp now has a shine to it. The pain and hair loss appear to be connected. When the flare is not active, the shed seems less, when my scalp is on fire, hairs seem to drop out easily even short hairs. Today the pain is unbearable and scalp is very pink. I just feel very hopeless if I did not see pink or have missing hair I would try and not think about it, but the fact that its pink and the hair loss is excessive showing my scalp scares me very much. I start to physically feel ill after a day of the pain. Then some says it seems to ease up. I have to emphasize the pain - its very intense.
With the herpes virus is there a blood test that can be performed.
I know im asking you some very difficult questions via the internet and I do appreciate your trying to help me. It feels like my scalp is being eaten from the inside out
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
Dear Doctor, thank you for your time.
I am a 37yr old female who 8 months ago began experiencing severe scalp pain, burning, itching and a pins and needles sensation throughout. At that same time I had noticed within a few weeks about 20% of diffuse hair loss throughout the scalp. No rashes, bumps, pimples, bald spots -pain feels deeper in teh dermis and is not relived by anything including Motrin or pain killers. At times burn can travel down face - any ideas? I've been all over to every doc with every test that is normal. Im feeling very hopeless at this point. Does this ring a bell as to any particular skin or systemic disorder to you?
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It may be some varient of Bell's Palsy or some other problem affecting the sensory nerves going to the scalp. Bell's palsy affects the facial cranial nerve and causes paralysis of facial muscles and Herpes Simplex as well as Herpes Zoster have been implicated as causes. I am not saying this is Bell's Palsy but rather the same causes could have affected a sensrory nerve to the scalp. A Neurologist would be the specialist to see. He may want to order titers of antigens to Herpes Simplex. It could be something pressing on the nerve or a varient of a migraine. It does not seem to be a skin and hair problem. It is a nerve problem. I would bet the hair loss is just a reaction due to the stress called a telogen effluvium."
Recalcitrant scalp folliculitis : a possible role of herpes simplex virus type 2
"Recalcitrant scalp folliculitis : a possible role of herpes simplex virus type 2
Auteur(s) / Author(s)
FOTI Caterina ; CALVARIO Agata ; D'OVIDIO Roberto ; BONAMONTE Domenico ; SCARASCIULLI Maria Luisa ; CONSERVA Anna ; CASULLI Claudia ; ANGELINI Giovanni ;
Résumé / Abstract
We report the case of a 70-year-old man with a 1 year history of relapsing folliculitis of the scalp. Bacteriological, mycological and the Tzanck tests from the lesions were negative. Histopathological study showed suppurative perifollicular flogosis. Virological cultures were negative, while HSV nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assays made on swabs and histological sections from the scalp lesions demonstrated the presence of herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) in all samples. Skin swabs of healthy areas yielded negative results for HSV-2 infection. The folliculitis showed a marked and quick improvement after therapy with famciclovir suggesting a possible etiologic role of HSV-2 in the scalp folliculitis."
Revue / Journal Title
The New microbiologica ISSN 1121-7138
Source / Source
2005, vol. 28, no2, pp. 157-159 [3 page(s) (article)]