Sensitive scalp: an epidemiologic study in patients with hair loss

Successful Treatment of Refractory Trichodynia With Onabotulinumtoxin-A

Trichodynia is a common symptom, which is characterized by a painful, burning or stinging sensation of the scalp, often in patients presenting with hair loss. It is typically associated with co-morbid psychiatric conditions and remains challenging to treat, with no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treatments currently available. We herein report the successful use of off-label onabotulinumtoxin-A in treating a patient with trichodynia who has failed conventional therapies.

Sensitive Scalp and Trichodynia: Epidemiology, Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management

Sensitive scalp (SSc) is considered a sensitive skin on the scalp, with its particularities. Although it is not rare in the dermatological practice and the term is commonly present in personal care products, this entity is poorly investigated in the medical literature. The etiopathogenesis is still uncertain, and the sensitivity may be associated with hair loss. Clinical manifestations are subjective symptoms of pruritus, burning, pain, pricking, and/or trichodynia, often with scalp erythema. SSc can be triggered by several factors (endogenous or exogenous). The diagnosis is guided by the anamnesis, and there are still no specific trichoscopic features. Trigeminal trophic syndrome and postherpetic neuralgia are the main differential diagnosis to be considered. We organized the therapeutical approach in three steps: scalp care, topical and systemic treatment.