Good evening,

I have been to two different dermatologists approximately 7 times for what is a very irritated area on my scalp (right side, crown). It stays itchy most of the time and can appear scaly, but then progresses to red, blistery, and extremely painful (knife-like constant pain). At first there was staph present, and then that progressed to MRSA, but after treated, and the problems continued, I had a biopsy, at which time I was diagnosed with "chronic itch and scratch." No dermatologist has ever seen my scalp during the worst of the flare-ups because it takes a week or two to get in, by which time the worst is over. I have tried every vitamin regimen for skin/scalp, every shampoo for dry scalp (antifungal, antibiotic, Hibiclens, etc), and the only thing that helps at all during the worst of everything is tea tree shampoos/conditioners. Recently I also made a trip to the infectious disease clinic because of the MRSA, and he, too, indicated that I simply am very dry, which starts the problem in its entirety. He recommended I apply aquaphor to the affected area on my scalp, which I did not do after the day he put it on, because it took days to wash out. That said, I do have thick, curly, dry hair (I am not ethnic, and my hair is not brittle...just curly and on the dry side), so I suppose the aquaphor hides well, but I just didn't feel like that could possibly prevent what I'm currently experiencing.

Have you heard of anything like this? I do not believe it to be psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis after much research, nor does it present like folliculitis. We do have a family history of keratosis pilaris (which I do have, even still now as a 34 year old mother of 4), and I do have a history of eczema, but only during the really dry parts of winter, and it presents itself as circular patches resembling ring worm (my pediatrician as a child misdiagnosed it as ring worm, in fact). Since visiting with the infectious disease doctor, I have started using Head & Shoulders for dry scalp daily, again, and I also started using CeraVe cream, which has been a huge blessing to my keratosis pilaris and ultra dry, cracked heals. But I sit here with my scalp on fire as I type.

Thank you kindly for your time; it is greatly appreciated!