question-icon

What Causes Scarring Hair Loss?

default
Posted on Mon, 31 Mar 2014
Twitter Mon, 31 Mar 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 21 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on
Question : 61 year old juvenile diabetic diagnosed with scalp shingles month ago. Now, blister is now scabby hole, and large bald spot..large amount of hair loss in the area. What should be done? YYYY@YYYY
doctor
Answered by Dr. Johny Chacko (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Shingles scalp with hair loss Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to healthcare magic, Shingles can cause a type of hair loss called scarring hair loss. Because of the severe infection and inflammation a lot of hair follicles will be permanently destroyed causing scars. Scarring may not happen all over the bald spot you see now. Some of the hair can grow back. So right now what you should do is keep the area clean and prevent bacterial infection. You may keep warm saline compresses and gently remove the scabs and apply antibiotic cream like Mupirocin three times a day till all the scabs heal. Then you should wait atleast 3 months to assess the damage and area of scarring. Unfortunately medications cannot grow hair from scarred scalp. Only option will be to transplant hair into the scarred patch. Hope this helped, Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Johny Chacko

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 1916 Questions

Ask a specialist now
premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Ask a Dermatologist
Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

173 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
backtotop2
What Causes Scarring Hair Loss?

Brief Answer: Shingles scalp with hair loss Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to healthcare magic, Shingles can cause a type of hair loss called scarring hair loss. Because of the severe infection and inflammation a lot of hair follicles will be permanently destroyed causing scars. Scarring may not happen all over the bald spot you see now. Some of the hair can grow back. So right now what you should do is keep the area clean and prevent bacterial infection. You may keep warm saline compresses and gently remove the scabs and apply antibiotic cream like Mupirocin three times a day till all the scabs heal. Then you should wait atleast 3 months to assess the damage and area of scarring. Unfortunately medications cannot grow hair from scarred scalp. Only option will be to transplant hair into the scarred patch. Hope this helped, Take care.