Sensitive scalp: An epidemiologic study in patients with hair loss (2025)

Abstract

Sensitive scalp is a common condition defined by the presence of erythema and/or subjective symptoms as pain, pricking, burning, pruritus of the scalp elicited by triggering factors. Trichodynia is a term that describes a sensation of pain or burning of the scalp and was assumed to be part of sensitive scalp. Main goal of the study was to establish the prevalence of sensitive scalp in patients with trichological disorders. We conducted a retrospective observational study recorded: age, sex, trichological disorder (telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, scarring alopecia, trichotillomania) and scalp symptoms (pruritus, pain, burning and itching sensation). We studied 317 patients. 102 patients (32%) complained of sensitive scalp. Telogen effluvium patients had a significantly higher prevalence of sensitive scalp (p <0.001), pain (p= 0.028), burning sensation (p=0.018), pruritus (p=0.016) and trichodynia (p<0.001) than other patients with alopecias. Likewise, AA patients had a statistically significant higher prevalence of pruritus (p=0.0256) and trichodynia (p=0.0223) than other alopecias patients. Sensitive scalp is a frequent symptom reported by patients with hair loss. Telogen effluvium and alopecia areata seem to be most associated to sensitive scalp.

Introduction

Sensitive scalp is a common condition defined by the presence of erythema and/or subjective symptoms as pain, pricking, burning, pruritus of the scalp elicited by triggering factors as chemical factors (pollution, water, shampoos) emotional factors (stress) hormonal factors (menstrual cycle), physical factors (wind, heat, cold). Sensitive scalp is probably one of the manifestations of sensitive skin, since most of these patients declare to have sensitive skin in another body area. Predisposing factors may be either a history of atopic dermatitis or greasy/dry scalp and an associated factor may be current hair loss.¹ Trichodynia is a term that describes a sensation of pain or burning of the scalp, often “spotty” or circumscribed to the areas hairs are actually coming out.^2,3 Trichodynia was assumed to be part of sensitive scalp.¹ Main goal of the present study was to establish the prevalence of sensitive scalp in patients with trichological disorders.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study on patients of the Dermatology Clinic of Genova from January 2018 to September 2019 for scarring and non-scarring alopecias. All patients gave written informed consent. For each patient, we recorded: age, sex, trichological disorder, namely telogen effluvium (TE); androgenetic alopecia (AGA); alopecia areata (AA); scarring alopecia (SA); trichotillomania (TR)). Scalp symptoms (pruritus, pain, burning and itching sensation) were also recorded. We considered patients with hair loss and pain or burning sensation of the scalp as affected by trichodynia. Patients with other cutaneous and systemic diseases and patients treated for alopecias at the time of enrollment or in the three preceding months were excluded. Hair loss was quantified by doing a pull test and hair trichoscopy during the visit and by a modified wash test (MWT).⁴

TE was diagnosed when patients shed >100 hairs at the MWT and with <10% vellus hairs, AGA was diagnosed when they shedding ≤100 hairs and with ≥10% vellus hairs, AGA +TE when they shed >100 hairs with ≥10% vellus hairs.⁴

Data were statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test, Chi-squared test and, whenever needed, Fisher’s exact test.

Results

We studied 317 patients (254 women, 63 men; age range 16-89 years; mean age 48 years). Eighty-three (26.2%) had TE, 91 (28.8%) AGA, 61 (19.2%) TE+AGA, 49 (15.4%) AA, 16 (5%) SA, 17 (5.4%) TR.

The main results are shown in Table 1. In brief, 102 patients (32%) complained of sensitive scalp and 215 did not. No gender difference was observed (p=0.198). Twenty-eight (27.45%) were under 35 years old, 24 (23.53%) from 36 to 49 years, 50 (49.02%) over 50 years old. Of patients with sensitive scalp 39.22% had TE, 20.59% AGA, 24.49% TE+AGA, 11.76% AA, 0.99% SA, 1.96% TR.

Pruritus was complained of by 28 patients (27.45%, 26 women, 2 men) without any statistical difference (p=0.2231). Five (17.86%) were under 35 years old, 5 (17.86%) from 36 to 49 years, 18 (64.28%) over 50 years old. Only patients with TE and AA had pruritus (Table 2).

TE patients had a significantly higher prevalence of sensitive scalp (p<0.001), pain (p=0.028), burning sensation (p=0.018), pruritus (p=0.016) and trichodynia (p<0.001) than other patients with alopecias. Likewise, AA patients had a statistically significant higher prevalence of pruritus (p=0.0256) and trichodynia (p=0.0223) than other alopecias patients, but not of sensitive scalp, pain, burning (p>0.05).

On the contrary, in AGA patients the prevalence of sensitive scalp, pain, burning, trichodynia was not statistically higher than other alopecias patients (p>0.05).

Of 16 SA patients (16), only one complained of sensitive scalp. Likewise, only 2 of 17 TR patients had sensitive scalp (trichodynia).

Discussion

Sensitive scalp is a common condition in the general population (44% of French population and 35.77% in China)^3,5,6 and its pathophysiology and etiology are still poorly understood. To our knowledge, this is the first epidemiological study of sensitive scalp in patients with hair loss. In our study, 102/317 (32.18%) patients with hair loss had sensitive scalp, mostly women (86, 84.31%). Why women prevail is unclear but they may have an increase in pain perception related to higher anxiety scores than men. In fact, an increased pain perception in women has been reported.⁷ Sensitive scalp, trichodynia, burning and itching were more prevalent in patients over 50 years (49.02%, 43.2%, 44.11% and 64.28%, respectively). Such an increased prevalence of sensitive scalp with age may be related to the loss of nerve endings in the epidermis due to age⁸ and to the chronic use of irritants in shampoos. Cosmetic and care products may unbalance scalp microbiome inducing immunological or inflammatory responses, especially in elderly.^5,6 Moreover, elderly may have a higher perception of their own body due to a decreased level of daily activity. Among patients with sensitive scalp, trichodynia (72.52%) (patients with pain (39.22%) or burning (33.33%) sensation of the scalp) is more reported than itching (27.48%). Causes of sensory differences referred by patients with hair loss are not known but they may be related to qualitative differences in innervation. Indeed, different C nerve endings and their mediators bring abnormal cutaneous specific sensations. ⁸ Most symptoms of sensitive scalp may be caused by neurogenic inflammation that probably results from the release of neurotransmitters such as substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal peptide inducing vasodilatation and mast cell degranulation.²

Patients with TE reported more sensitive scalp (p=0.000007) than others. In addition, TE reported more pain (p=0.028585), burning (p=0.018361), itching (p=0.016089) and trichodynia (p=0.0006) than others. In literature, the association between trichodynia and TE has already been reported,^3,8,9,10 although trichodynia may be also signaled in AA,¹¹ AGA and AGA+TE.^9,12 Researchers reporting trichodynia in AGA, however, did not consider the possibility of the TE+AGA association. The difficulties about studying trichodynia are due to its uncertain pathogenesis. Ericson et al. demonstrated that patients with trichodynia have an increase of a neuropeptide release (stress-related Neuropeptide (SP)) by cutaneous peripheral nerve terminals that induces and perpetuates an inflammation of hair follicles inducing abnormalities in the hair cycle.^3,13 This hypothesis may explain the concurrence of trichodynia and inflammatory alopecia such as AA (p=0.0223), as in our case. Hoss and Segal considered trichodynia associated to an underlying psychiatric disorder such as depression (TE group), generalized anxiety, somatoform disorder and obsessive personality disorder (AGA group).^10,14 We agree with the hypothesis of a multifactorial pathogenesis.

As for AGA patients, they report more frequently itching (p=0.0009) due to a concomitant seborrhea and dandruff and to the use of irritant shampoos to obtain itching relief. By contrast, AA patients report itching (p=0.0256) which often precedes the development of new patches. The itching in AA patients may be caused by mast cell release of histamine and tryptase as well as lymphocytic infiltration with release of IL- 31.¹⁵ Generalized itching preceding AA universalis has been reported even in the XVI century.

Conclusions

Sensitive scalp is a frequent symptom reported by patients with hair loss. The pruritus seems to prevail in patients with AGA, while trichodynia prevails in disorders in which inflammation is obvious or highly suspected. A prospective study aimed to establish possible associations between the intensity of symptoms and hair loss is in program.

Funding Statement

Funding: None.

References